AIBU to think Intermittent Fasting is a gimmick?

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I know a few people who swear by Intermittent Fasting and make a big deal of only eating between 12 noon and 8pm

To me, this just sounds like (1) skip breakfast and (2) no snacks after dinner

AIBU?

Not a gimmick, it really works. Give it a go.
No skipping of anything, you just eat in a smaller time frame. Love it. Been doing it for years and years.

It’s just another way of reducing calories. I tend to binge eat in the evenings. When I did intermittent fasting it stopped me from doing that and I did lose weight.

Try reading up on it. It's not just about weightloss, it increases insulin sensitivity (so can reverse pre diabetes), reduces cancer risk, reduces heart disease, reduces altzheimers risk , etc, etc, etc.

It's not for everyone. Every body has different biologies and gut bacteria, reacts differently to different foods, etc.

Yes, skipping breakfast and no evening snacks is basically it. That doesn't make it a gimmick.

Eh? How is no breakfast and no snacking in the evening a gimmick?

I've done this for years as I just prefer to eat that way. I've never been overweight in fact I'm very fit and athletic. It definitely works.

Well if you don't have an issue with your weight or you can lose weight easily then i imagine it might sound that way to you, but i have a real problem with food and willpower. Once i start eating in a day, i find it difficult to stop.

Since starting intermittent fasting, i find it helps me not to snack, i eat consciously rather than mindlessly and together with going low carb, I've lost 9kg in 7 weeks. So it works for me. And if it isn't bothering you then maybe just be happy for them to crack on?

If you skip breakfast and snacks you’re reducing your calories so how can it be a gimmick?

No yanbu. It's not like between 12-8 they can eat chocolate non stop but so long as you fast you will be slim. It's another way of restricting calories.

But I do believe there are metabolic advantages to it.

I’ve done it for 6 months. Not lost an ounce.

It’s really great to give your body a break like that though. It doesn’t have to be about weight loss (which is good because I do it and don’t lose weight 😄). ‘Intermittent fasting’ is a whole lot quicker than saying ‘skip breakfast and don’t eat after dinner and have an 8 hour eating window’s

You still have to eat healthily though, not fast food.

Another here who has been using it for a couple of years. I tried it since blood tests warned that I was pre diabetic. After six or so months on IF my next scheduled bloods showed normal HbaiC.

I am not sure how it works except the eating window cannot be a gorge fest either! For me it is a discipline, and encourages me not to snack and nibble outside the eating window period. I have break outs of course when on holidays or at a function/wedding etc. But overall I stick to it. My window on 16/8 is 11am to 7pm. That works for me.

It's worked pretty well for me and helped reverse my pre-diabetes.

It works for me. I break it if I fancy sometimes, but generally it has lowered my appetite for the rest of the day which reduces binging too.

I've always just naturally eaten like that too, for as long as I can remember.

I've always been slim (though not athletic).

Never eat fast food. I ordered a pizza delivery once when I was on holiday.
I only eat fruit, veg, eggs and cheese, seeds and nuts. I eat some whole grain bread, don’t drink alcohol. Occasionally eat a cake or some biscuits, grow most of the vegetables I eat.

There’s hard science behind it - it’s not just about losing weight but could help you live longer.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01lxyzc

I eat breakfast and very often then don’t eat till 4ish as the mid part of the day is my busiest at work.
I rarely eat after 9.

I think I’d struggle not to eat something in the morning though.

For me it is indeed basically skipping breakfast (well, actually I eat breakfast at 11/12 and skip lunch) and not snacking in the evening. Which works well for me for controlling weight and when I stick to it I end up thinking much less about food and eating better overall. I find having the structure of the fasting time helpful. I have more energy eating that way too. It isn't rocket science and it isn't magic (I've seen a few people who thought they could literally eat anything so long as they stuck to the hours...) but that doesn't make it a 'gimmick'.

I don't like people trying to dress it up into something fancy by calling it intermittent fasting when it is just skipping breakfast and not eating after dinner.

@Zarataralara , nuts and cheese and bread are quite calorific, even though they are good for you. You might just be going above the calories your body needs.

Should have said I’m not doing IF to lose weight , it’s part of a medical study.
only another 5 months 3 weeks to go. Hasn’t affected my weight at all but might be having other benefits.

Does anyone manage it with a super early start to do running? I get up at 5am to exercise 4/5 days a week, leave for work at 7.30 and then work full time in a busy on my feet physical job (where I can't have a late breakfast at 11 or whatever) If I didn't eat until lunchtime I don't think I'd be very productive or engaged and think I would feel a bit ill. After running I'm usually STARVING by 8am. But maybe I'm missing something.

I think you just need to choose the window you do want to eat in - so eat earlier but last meal also earlier.