How long before I start to see weight loss on intermittent fasting?

[Nchangeyetagain]

I'm post menopausal, about 7lbs over what I want to be, and whilst I've always been quite careful, I just can't shift it.

Started intermittent fasting 7 days ago. Stop eating at 8, don't start until midday following day. Have black coffee/water in am.

I'm not overeating at all during the eating window - but I've not seen any loss at all yet. Am I being totally mad thinking I would see it already? Am I making any mistakes?

What are you eating, how much of it and are you also physically active?

I always found those three things are really the crux of it fasting or not tbh.

7 days is nothing. Its all about how many calories you eat, if you eat lots during your window IF won't do anything.

Good luck, I know patience is tough but 7 days is really early.

You don’t lose weight by not eating for a few hours
you lose weight by burning more calories than you eat. If you’re eating enough calories to maintain weight, it doesn’t matter if you eat them In a one hour, twelve hour or 24 hour time frame.
fasting alone doesn’t make you lose weight, it’s more of a tool to help you eat less, which in turn helps you lose weight.

it sounds like you’re basically eating the same but skipping breakfast? Unless you used to eat a lot after 8pm too? Either way it will be less calories than normal, unless you get hungry and now eat more during the 12-8 period than you used to (not necessarily overeating) in which case you won’t be in as much of a deficit.

breakfast isn’t that calorific assuming you were just eating some cereal or toast. So it may take a while before such a small amount of calories create a big enough difference for you to see them on the scale. I think you’re worrying too early since it’s only been 7 days.

It’s calories in vs calories out. If you’re not burning more than you’re taking in then you won’t lose weight no matter how many meals you skip. Do you know how much you’re taking in?

My understanding is that intermittent fasting is more about body/hormone regulation than weight loss per se (unless you used to eat massive breakfasts). Of course regulation can help with weight loss, eg if you have fewer blood sugar highs and lows you are less likely to want snacks or sweet things, but this would definitely take a while and be subtle.

Also, if you’re only looking to lose about 7lb then you’re presumably quite slim? It takes longer to lose weight if you haven’t got much to lose.

Hi

Thanks all! Yes, of course, sorry I should have said, I do completely realise the calorie in/out, movement etc. I'm VERY diet/food/calorie conscious. I don't count calories or macros anymore, because it's so dull, but I'm pretty sure that I sustain a low number of calories. Prob only about 1200. If that. But even before fasting, I wouldn't eat breakfast. I was tracking my glucose spikes for curiosity over the past two weeks (with a Libre sensor) and I wasn't out of range once, which gives you an idea of things.

But whilst I totally get it's calories out/in whn you're eating, my understanding of fasting is that weight loss starts to occurs when the body doesn't have enough glucose for energy, so it breaks down stored fat instead. So, that's the bonus of long periods without eating.

I am usually very active - at least 3/4 x work outs a week, but I've got a meniscus injury so I've just done one workout this week.

I prob don't need to lose much, but it gets to me that the body of my thirties (I'm 53) is out of reach - yes, I know it's not coming back.

I could prob do with cutting out carbs even more - I have a thing for protein rice crackers - they're my only carbs except from vegs.

I did intermittent fasting on the Zoe app. Wasn't particularly expecting any weight loss, but from 4 weeks onwards lost about 1lb a week. Have not felt like I have been on a diet and the most difficult thing was giving up my early morning cuppa (no milk outside eating window). White tea without milk was an acceptable substitute. I am no longer reporting on the Zoe app and haven't been as strict, so the early morning cup of tea is back. Am still loosing a pound most weeks, am over a stone and a half down and my BMI is now out of the 'overweight' category. Another 6lbs will get me to my target weight. IF has definitely worked for me, however some people in the same study did not loose weight and some even gained.

I've been intermittent fasting nearly all my adult life and certainly for the last 25 years. Still 30lb overweight .

I am 50. I lost 10 lbs in a month when I began IF in January but I had much more to lose than you. I continue to lose at the rate of 1-2 lbs per week. I also do morning gym sessions 3x weekly and at least 12k steps daily.

I don’t watch my calories (I don’t have a sweet tooth or drink much alcohol ….but I love bread and pasta and eat these daily) but I think that when I get closer to goal weight I will have to start because I guess that my weight will plateau.