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

Great, that it works for you and you seem to have built that into your routine, but you don't need to justify it to me.

The only time I consciously skipped breakfast was when I was a teen, and worried about putting weight on. I dont think it made a difference because it just meant I was hungry and ate more later on.

I have a pretty active lifestyle and run 3 to 4 times a week. I'd only have a banana or a something with peanut butter before a run if I go in the morning, and depending on what sort of run it is, sometimes I'd have a second breakfast afterwards. So, no I still don't think I can go from 4 meals to 2.

@surveythebest Can you have alcohol after 8? 🤔

It works for some but not everyone. I tried fasting and I didn’t really lose much. I now eat only healthy meals with plenty of protein (only drink alcohol and have deserts for treats and don’t eat bread or pasta). I try to walk at least 20k steps a day and I’ve lost about a stone and kept it off. It’s not fun but I prefer the way I look now.

I'm 5ft 6 and in April 2022 weighed 11st 2. Fasted (16:8) religiously for 13 months and lost 5lb. Just didn't seem to make a difference! Now doing a combo of fasting and Noom and am slowly losing 0.5 - 1lb a week. I'm mid 40's so maybe it is an age thing? I remember in my 20s skipping a couple of meals and losing 5lb!

I do like fasting though, feel more energetic and mentally sharp so will stick with this going forward despite the practically non-existent weight loss!

Massive research currently being conducted with regards to IF and so far, the results are incredibly positive with long term health benefits, the chance of reversing diabetes and reduction in the chance of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s 👌🏽
It’s important to remember that it’s not a diet, it’s a change of lifestyle and might not suit everyone.
I’ve been IF’ing for a few years through menopause and it’s helped me massively.
I don’t have that sugar low lull or cravings for sweet things in the afternoon that I used to have.
My eating window is between 12-8pm but it’s often shorter as I tend to have tea before 6.
Friends rave about the 48 hour fast but I’ve never tried that.
Black coffee is 🤮 and I don’t like any sort of tea so I just stick to drinking water until I eat at 12.

As someone else with gastritis eating increases the stomach acid and makes it far worse.

You can't lose weight unless you're eating just 800 cals? Are you an older woman/other issues?

It depends a bit on your existing metabolism on whether this is a great idea. If you already have a slightly wonky pancreas - if you're in prediabetes or have had gestational diabetes - this might not go well. If I don't eat on a morning my bloodsugar goes really wonky (it's called the dawn phenomenon) and I feel awful.

I have explicitly said in the OP that my diet is far from perfect (and I actually snack too much! I won't say what on/my complete diet in fear of critique as some MNetters will think I'm awful and indulgent)

Nothing perfect or competitive about my eating at all.

I am a sleep deprived carer to a disabled child. So if anyone can speak about it whilst having DC, I can!

I was relying too much on sugar to keep me going and snacking on it continuously to get me through the day. Fasting has meant I don't crave it in the morning or constantly snack, and overall eat a lot less naturally without feeling deprived

I find it great too, I'm doing 16.8 for just over a year and I've lost 3 and half stone, and managing to keep it off, however I always start at 11 with breakfast, I definitely wouldn't last until 12 or 1 without food, lunch around 2 and dinner at 6, and a small snack in between

Just one to chip in here, but I would really struggle to do IF. With a history of disordered eating it would likely spiral into a “how much longer can I go today without eating” competition with myself. I do see how for some though it works well and I just wish I could be one of those people!

I always said I loved my breakfast until I read a couple of Dr Michael Mosley's books. He explains the biology behind intermittent fasting and why it is good for your health. I rarely eat breakfast now and certainly don't miss it. I have a cup of weak black tea first thing and then lunch at about 12. This morning I set off at 6 for an 8 mile walk. I had more than sufficient energy.
Of course it might not suit certain medical conditions but it's certainly worth a try for many people.

I’ve been intermittent fasting for a couple of months (8pm - 12pm) alongside keto but the last few days I’ve been eating a small item around 8 or 9am but it may be because I’ve had a cold. I’ve lost 10 kg so far. Ten more to go. I don’t think I’ll keep it up religiously once I hit my target but I will use it if the weight creeps back up. I found the first month much easier than the second.

I have a history of bulimia that started at 11... it all stopped by late teens but those disorders thoughts and relationship with food has always been there - for me, fasting means I don't try to competitively under eat and then binge

It'll be different for everyone, of course

Just to give people an idea, I start my day around 3am/4am, every day. So I have a lot of waking hours before 12pm when it's finally time to eat!

I have to say this is the only thing that’s worked for me, I only eat in a 4/5 hour window which is 5pm onwards I’m usually too full to eat much after tea but when I do eat make sure it’s high protein. In the day I survive on plenty of water black tea and coffee and a cup of bone broth.
its come off slowly as I’ve still enjoyed my weekends but not gone wild, but averaging 1-2 pound a week weight loss. Now 9 pounds left to go, heaviest I was 13 stone I am now 11 stone 9, started this at the end of April and my pre covid weight was 11 stone, I’ve tried everything since I put the weight on and now so happy I’m getting back into my wardrobe full of clothes 😂

I used to have an ED and I notice a lot of (what seem like) disordered eating on MN and competitive undereating (and probably orthorexia) and I'm sure lots would either not recognise it as such or deny it.

And being a normal or healthy weight or overweight doesn't mean you can't possibly have an ED...

Not really 'fasting' is it? It's just not eating breakfast, which a great many people have always done, it's nothing new, and it's not some sort of magic weight loss formula.

I enjoy my breakfast. I come from a family that has always eaten breakfast and the whole family has always been very slim. Probably because what they eat for breakfast, and the rest of the time, doesn't include a load of calorie heavy crap.

If you cut out a complete meal every day your calorie intake will be less, especially if breakfast, in the past, has always been a fry up or a sugar laden cereal.

Not difficult to see how it would work for some people really.

It works for me and I do have breakfast (fast from 6pm to 10am) but only if I am cutting down on my sugar and exercising first thing too (I have PCOS and therefore insulin resistance so it's a bit harder to lose weight).

I’ve never eaten breakfast. I’m just not hungry in the mornings and I don’t really snack at night. I’m still overweight!

Well, turns out I can pack in a lot of calories between 1pm and 8pm! No weight loss for me. I only drink black coffee in the mornings, have a healthy lunch then snack from 5.30pm while making dinner.

I've tried it and while it worked for weight loss, it wasn't practical for me as I work a physical job and was starving by lunchtime - to the point where I was feeling dizzy and lightheaded.

To those asking, as I've said upthread I don't find 16:8 works for me for weight loss BUT 5;2 fasting does. I still have coffee with low cal, low carb creamer. I think a couple of coffees with milk wouldn't matter so much, may make a tiny bit of difference but if you fast and still want to have coffee I think it would still work.

I also have had a fair few times fasting where I've had a few glasses of prosecco-and I still lost!

I think there is something to be said for not eating from say 6pm until breakfast.. Also some people swear by two meals a day diet. Its three meals a day plus snacks that isn't great if you have a tendency to put on weight.