To encourage you to fast?

[surveythebest]

If you want to lose weight and keep it off.

I fast from 8pm to 12 pm. Usually have my first something around 1pm

I haven't actually changed what I eat. I make sure I have some nutrient rich food in me but generally my diet is a bit shit

Anyway, I've gone from a size 16 to a size 10. This happened within 3 months. It's been 9 months now and I've kept it all off! Remaining at a size 10

I don't eat breakfast, ever.

When I was in my teens, I almost skipped breakfast because I genuinely forgot to eat. The same happened early twenties but then after I had my son, I started eating breakfast!

Since that time I went from a size 10 to a size 16.

So yeah, for 9 months now, I just haven't eaten breakfast but haven't restricted myself really and still don't have a perfect diet by any means

I am remaining a size 10 and it's working. I suppose I'm an 'all or nothing' person. And I find the fast easy to stick to because I can eat 0! Sticking to 0 is easier than sticking to 3 sensible meals a day, for me

Now I just have lunch, snack a bit tbh, and then dinner, also snack a bit but not loads as find I don't want to

When I ate breakfast, I found I was hungry all the time!

So glad I did this and took the plunge. Just thought I'd share

I'm tempted to try after reading some of these comments... i've gone from 16st to 14st 12Ibs but seem to have ground to a halt

When the eating window is doesn’t matter - in fact I’m sure Tim Spector says that there’s some small evidence that having your window earlier in the day works better, but most people choose to skip breakfast as it works better for them.

I try to do 16:8 - some pointers - I don’t miss breakfast at all. In fact I get LESS hungry this way. Often I don’t even realise it’s lunchtime and technically in my eating window as I’m not starving like I used to be when I had breakfast or a mid morning snack. I exercise fasted (I know some books say you shouldn’t but it doesn’t bother me and I don’t feel faint or anything).

The first couple of days I felt hungrier than I ever have before but then it just…went. And it is so liberating not be be ravenous all the time. It’s like a magic spell! I can just choose what to eat without feeling driven by hunger or emotion. Just choosing good food because it nourishes my body.

Like every other British IFer I have one cup of tea with milk in the morning. Doesn’t seem to affect me too much. It’s a personal choice. Other than that, just water or black coffee.

I definitely don’t binge to make up for it. Why would I when I don’t feel restricted and I feel that it’s doing my body good? A binge would be a punishment, not a treat. I still do eat the odd bit of cake, pizza, chips and drink beer and wine. I’m not missing out on anything. Sometimes I think “eh, I’ll have to later/tomorrow” but then I don’t want it. The world is full of food. It isn’t going anywhere.

YABU in the sense that for many women, skipping breakfast leads to cortisol disregulation and sleep issues.

YANBU to recommend intermittent fasting, it’s extremely powerful for weight loss and health in general.

Fasting doesnt really work weight lost for most people is based what you put in Vs what you put out.

All most diets fasting included do is reduce the amount of calories you put in.

Not eating is one of the triggers for migraine.
I couldn't even consider this!

I always remember Joanna Lumley saying 'Why wake up Annie Appetite?'

If you are missing a meal a day that is going to create a calorie deficit so of course you will lose weight. But if you have three meals within that time window, as I did when I tried it, it won’t lead to weight loss. In fact I gained a few pounds. Intermittent fasting will usually create a calorie deficit no matter which way you choose to do it. I don’t think it’s magic, it just makes it a bit easier to eat fewer calories.

Pretty much just skip breakfast then?

I don't think I can, and not sure if it works for everyone either.

YANBU to fast
YABVU to tell others that they should

It'd good to eat only when you are hungry. If I don't feel like breakfast I don't have it and can go for longer than 8pm to 12 midday as I tend to eat earlier in the evening than that.

Other times I'm ravenous in the morning so I eat something- though I always try and wait until after 8am as if I start too early I'll need a second breakfast.

You’re eating 2 meals instead of 3, if that takes you below what you need to maintain your weight, of course you’ll lose weight. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Fasting also doesn't work for me if I am going to the gym at lunch time when working from home. I'll have a good breakfast and be slightly hungry but not ravenous when I go to the gym. And very hungry afterwards!

I never eat breakfast as I'm rarely hungry before midday. Evening meal is around 6.30pm. I've gained a fair bit of weight over the last few years even though I don't eat until lunchtime. Great that it works for you but I've found that menopause sticks two fingers up to however you've stayed slim in the past.

Works for me but definitely doesn’t suit everyone. My best pal gets dizzy if she skips a meal. I am in my mid fifties and retired, I find just having one (proper home cooked) meal a day fairly easy. Couldn’t have done this with small children and a job.

I haven't eaten breakfast regularly for about 30 years. Like some PP I find I don't feel hungry until I actually start eating, so can easily go until lunchtime on only coffee.
However when I've tried fasting I have always ended up putting weight on. I think it's a mental thing that I feel hungrier because I'm not allowed to eat.

Great that it works for you OP. But it unfortunately doesn't work for everyone.

From experience most people will say 'Oh I could never do that' then admit once they've tried it a couple of times it's much easier than they expected!

I do a weekly 24hr fast on a Monday and I've lost just over 3 stone this year. It allows you to chill out a bit more at the weekend and not to feel guilty!

I have fasted and never did I give up my cuppas!!! Still lost weight so don't worry about that!

I don't think I can cope with the dry mouth/breath that fasting makes you have. I have fasted before and it was unbearable - I was brushing my teeth several times a day and using copious amounts of mouthwash, it was miserable.

I agree with this

I also hate AIBU being used for things like this because these sorts of discussions can be so harmful to people but it’s hard to avoid them when they are not being posted on the correct board!

Think on how breakfast got it’s name, literally!

Oh wow, the billion-dollar weight loss industry must be quaking in its boots....

Perhaps its time to tell every nutritionist, dietician and fat person that you have cured obesity. Bravo!

I would be seeing my doctor if I dropped form a size 16 to a 10 in 3 months with very little dietary changes tbh.

A 24hr fast is what I'd like to try and do. I think it would be good for my over sensitive IBS tummy as well. I do struggle with low blood sugar though after about 16 hours though.

My DH can manage 72 hour fasts no problem and can carry on working. I'd be a shaking mess 😅

Agree I often feel really hungry when I wake up

I just can't see how I could do this - I wake up starving and feel weak until I have eaten - couldnt last till lunch time