16/8 support group

[Klaudia14]

Anyone interested in joining me here? I posted this on an older thread so will just copy and paste my story below:

I'm on day 8 doing the 16/8. I'm loving it!! I'm against dieting as restrictions always lead me to binges and feeling rubbish. I haven't weighed myself in 5 years as I got rid of my scales due to a very unhealthy obsession with weighing myself. I am very interested in intuitive eating and have been trying to get in tune with my body but it's been hard and the lockdown has thrown me off guard and I was overeating, feeling bloated and fed up. I'm loving 16/8. My eating window is 11-7 and I find this fits well with my lifestyle. I'm surprised at how much energy I have in the morning. Even managing an hour long walk with the dog ...getting up at 7 as well with lots of energy. Feeling less bloated and just happier overall! I think this is really helping me be more intuitively about what I actually want! Having good, hearty food. Butter and cheese and full fat yoghurt! These foods were always a no no for me but I much prefer theses to fat free/low fat options. I feel satisfied after my meals too .
Oh and I can't do this without a bit of milk in my morning coffee ( freshly brewed filter) so haven't cut that out. And have had a cheeky glass of wine during my eating window ...🍷

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe that is so interesting. I am intrigued to know if it had any positive impact on your MS. I hadn't really delved that deep but you had prompted me to do some reading.
Pandapotato I had arms of steel when my dc were that age. You will be getting plenty of exercise from just lugging a small person about the place.
Relatively good day here. I ate at 9 am as I was craving all the carbs (that'll be the gin!). Had Muesli and a coffee for breakfast. For lunch we had a wagu burger on the BBq in a bap, a sausage and a huge green salad. Followed by meringue with raspberries, strawberries and cream. I think I finished off with a cup of tea at about 14 00. Haven't eaten since and haven't really been that tempted either. Been for a lomg walk and also been painting a ceiling which was quite hard work.

Hoolajerry, your menu for the day sounds fantastic. I'm not getting my timing right, I ended up leaving planned food because the clock struck 7pm and that's my fasting time. I can be a bit too literal at times.

Today I had 2 slices of wholemeal toast with hummus, a small bowl of greek yoghurt with blueberries and a handful of walnuts - and for dinner a plate of chicken stirfry, which was quite nice.

I've drunk less water today but more fruit tea (Starbucks Youthberry, which I had the foresight to buy a large box of).

PandaPotato yes it does, any exercise is better than nothing - not just for weightloss/fitness, etc. but those endorphins... can't get enough of those, especially now.

I'm envious of you for your walks - are you in North or West Wales? I'm in Wales too - not far from Newport in South Wales but quite a small village. I have clients in West and North Wales; I love North Wales best of all. I agree with Hoolajerry, lugging a small child around is a sort of cute and squishy 'kettlebell', isn't it? Definitely good for your exercise quotient for the day.

Both of you put me to shame with your walking. I've realised that I will do it only if it's to get from A to B, however far the distance and however long it takes - but I don't seem to do it for pleasure and I think I'm missing a trick there. I have no excuse!

Regarding my MS, I have a 'relapsing' version and, touch wood, haven't had a relapse now for 2 years or so. I'm lucky enough to be on drugs to prevent or slow these down so it's obviously something that I'd like to help, even if it can't be cured. I've only been fasting properly for just over a week but I've naturally skipped breakfast and meals for most of my adult life - just ate too much of the wrong things with no exercise.

I'm determined to try, up until lockdown I was swimming 3 times a week, doing a boxfit class and an aqua HIIT class and I really miss that. I've been doing exercise at home - still can't master a proper burpee though... maybe by the end of lockdown?

Hope everybody had a nice weekend and that the week ahead will be good. I have too many conference calls, I don't enjoy them but, there's always 'mute mic'...

Morning

Starting 16;8 today. Wanted to say hi 👋🏻

Morning! Just enjoying my coffee in bed while the baby naps. Dh took the kids for breakfast this morning so I could sleep! Bliss!

@lyingwitchinthewardrobe I find the endorphins wake my up a bit. We’ve got the baby, a 4 year old and a teenager. She’s spending her evenings more and more with us since lockdown. No one else to talk face to face to! I’m usually frazzled by the time the little ones are down. But having a bit of a plod on the treadmill wakes me right up, which is quite helpful when she’s talking non stop!
We are on the llŷn peninsula in north wales. Also in a tiny village. We are on the coast, so have access to lots of great walks. We try to get out every day. The 4 year old is like a dog basically 🤣 much better behaved after exercise.
I love South Wales. We lived in Cardiff for a bit many moons ago. We usually holiday in Pembrokeshire. But probably not this year!
Glad your ms is under control. I would so love to go for a swim.

Hello, good luck and welcome @swimmingdory. let us know how you get on.

Hope everyone has a good day. The first rubbish weather we’ve had since school closed. Going to try and have a cosy movie with the kids. I’ve loads of left over chicken from yesterday’s roast, so a curry is probably on the menu.

Hi everyone

How are you finding day 1 @swimmingdory?

I've been doing this for a couple of weeks now, I do a rough 9-6 eating window which I know is more than 8 hours but I get bad migraine that can be triggered by hunger. In lockdown I've just loved eating my dinner early, not sure how it'll work after!

Don't own scales so will need to get back to work to weigh myself as there's a machine there, but it's controlled my snacking really well

Day 1 has been ok thank you! Started well with my exercise and a tuna salad at about two but lost the plot a little after that. Trying not to be too hard on myself as I'd said the next few weeks was about getting off the Pepsi max (real problem for me) and securing the fasting window, also continuing the exercise. Figure I can tackle the food a couple weeks down the line x

How long have you all being doing this? How are you finding it x

Hi swimmingdory i have been doing this for nearly two weeks now. Still haven't quite got my food right but I'm getting there (I think). The regime does seem to get easier too. Not sure if i have lost any weight yet. Didn't weigh myself until last week and am pre-menstrual which I hope makes a difference.
Today has been a good day. I ate at 07 00 having fasted since 14 00 the day before. Had toast and marmalade for breakfast. Smoothie for a snack at 10 30 and then bolognaise, pearl barley and a salad for lunch. I did have a mini crunchie but not going to beat myself up over it. Last ate at about 2 i think but looking forward to my breakfast already.
Exercise wise I biked to work and back. Only 20 minutes each way but quite hilly and I work hard. Also walked the dogs for an hour.

Hello everyone, it's good to hear how you're getting on. To be honest I'm not getting on very well, I keep getting up in the morning absolutely ravenous. If I don't eat anything I feel sick and dizzy. This morning I just had a small bowl of fruit instead of my usual toast and cereal, and so far I feel okay so I'm going to go as long as I can until eating again although I know that technically I've broken the fast. Does anyone have some tips for getting started? I feel that once I'm used to it I can manage this way of eating, it's just this awful nausea in the morning so I can't stand. And I'm 53 so definitely not pregnant! I don't want to skip dinner in the evening instead because I think I wake up hungry in the night, and also eating dinner together is important for our family especially at the moment.

I am only on week 1 but also struggling with morning fasts. I'm not a big breakfast fan, but I do workout on weekday mornings and finding myself v hungry till 11am when I can eat.

I thought work would distract me but I have a headache and can't concentrate well. Am hoping it gets easier after the first week.

I did some research and it suggested drinking more water, trying bulletproof coffee, and/or having some salt to balance your electrolytes, so
I'm going to try having miso soup tomorrow morning and see if that helps.

Considering starting this. How is it going for you all?

Hi! A bit of a mundane day here. Stuck to my fasting window of 12-8, but we keep having early dinners, so I was done not long after 6. I had leftover curry for lunch and some spag bol for dinner. Managed not to snack at all and did a 2 mile walk, so hopeful to see the scales move this week.
Glad your first day went ok @swimmingdory. working up to it gradually is fine I’d say. Good luck with the Pepsi max. I can get a bit addicted to Coke Zero, so don’t buy it any more.
I’ve been doing it for about a month now. But only just getting a bit more strict with what I eat in my window as I’m breastfeeding. I think my my body is fully used to the fast now. Not sure I could stomach breakfast!

Mmmmmm crunchie @Hoolajerry! I could murder one!

@tinkywinkyshandbag and @Finals1234it took me about 4 days to feel Normal. I have a coffee and quite a bit of hot water to drink in the morning. Go easy I suppose if you feel sick. Maybe try swapping your times or having a bigger evening meal. I’m really not an expert and just kind of make it up as I go along! Which is probably why my weight loss is slow!

It’s going well for me @magnarocks. Slow and steady weight loss. But my energy levels are much better and I’m not eating half as much crap!

How has everyone got on today?

Hi everyone, thought I’d join in this thread. My husband and I have been practising 16:8 for a while now (loosely for over a year as we don’t like to have breakfast anyway, but strictly for several months).

We both need to lose weight and it is coming off slowly but steadily. Can’t give figures as we don’t weigh ourselves but I’m about 2 inches bigger all over than I want to get to (based on my “bellwether” clothes).

We eat between 1pm and 9pm and both work from home (he online, me renovating and running an air b&b at the moment, but I often have other work projects that make my days less structured).

@LyingWitchInTheWardrobe I’m very interested in your comments about MS. My husband was diagnosed with relapsing / remitting MS about 18 months ago. He may be eligible for treatment, though he hasn’t had an attack since the diagnosis. Where did you read about fasting being beneficial? He’d love to look into that.

Welcome WinterAndRoughWeather

I think I am fine with the fasting now. I seem to have a different window to everyone else as I like to eat in the morning. I'm currently working full-time and start at 8 but moving to pt from tomorrow which will be much better.
I had toast and marmalade for breakfast with a coffee. For lunch I had lasagne, pearl barley and salad followed by greek yoghurt, muesli and blueberries. I have been a bit rubbish on the snack front with a chocolate biscuit, 2 pieces of dairy milk and a Starbucks iced skinny latte drink. I'm actually not normally a snacker but they are all available at work. I start part-time from tomorrow and think that will make a big difference as I will move a lot more and not have crap food about.
I have biked to work today which is about 40 minutes and have done a 40 minute walk. Need to do a proper workout tomorrow.

Whoever said to drink iced lemons in water is a genius. I love it! This is my treat at night with fizzy water.

Weigh-in day tomorrow so I'll actually see if Ive lost any bloody weight.

Today is day 5 for me, and it's the first day I don't feel faint from hunger so far. I am still hungry but not as crazy hungry as I was the past few days.

My new scales arrived yesterday, and today's weigh is not great but not as high as it could have been bearing in mind all of the lockdown snacking. I was at 71.4kg and I want to get to 65kg. So I have around 6kg to lose. If I put my mind to it I'm sure I could manage it in 2 months, but I have been at this weight since Sept last year and not shifted a pound over the longer term despite being on various diets and exercising since then. I really need this to work!

I have been fitting in 3 meals - breakfast at 11am, (porridge, bananas, strawberries) and then lunch at around 3pm (pitta + salad) then I has a pack of baked crisps, cereal bar, fruit and nuts for snacking. This left me still full at 7pm. I squeezed in dinner as I knew I would be hungry today without this. But I am wondering if I have been eating too much. The trouble is I am starving during fast times if I don't eat this much. Am hoping my appetite will shrink over time - my snacking has definitely reduced.

Will stick at it though and see if next Weds weigh-in shows a difference on the scales.

Would you definitely still feel hungry the next day without three meals Finals?

I ask because one of the things I’ve noticed from fasting is that hunger doesn’t necessarily have a proportional relationship with calories. A lot of it is psychological. I’ve learned not to be afraid of being hungry - it’s drummed into us these days that we must have a snack if we feel even the slightest pang (mostly by the snack food industry), but it used to be standard for people to be famished by mealtimes. I remember that feeling from when I was a kid and how enjoyable it was to eat as a result. Hunger is the best sauce, they say.

Anyway, your appetite should shrink, especially if you cut down on carbs.

Finals1234 I find that I need a big meal in order to not be ravenously hungry. So I will generally have toast or Muesli for breakfast but a proper meal for lunch.
Today I have had toast for breakfast and coffee. We went for a long walk so had a late lunch which meant I did have a snack of a handful of brazil nuts and dry roasted peanuts, an apple and a banana. For lunch I made a tartiflette pizza which is pretty much a carb and fat fest (homemade pizza dough covered in new potatoes, bacon, onion, garlic, brie and cream). It was absolutely delicious though. For pudding I had blueberries.
Weighed myself this morning and I had lost 2.5lbs but I am no longer pre-menstrual so might just be that.
Hope everyone has enjoyed the sunshine.

Can I join?

I got told off for posting in style and beauty

I've been trying this for the past 3 days and I feel so hungry and honestly quite weak today. I can't be doing it right surely? Not sure I can keep this up.

Prior to starting, I was a habitual snacker. Snacking counter for a good 70 percent of my food intake. I'm not very clued up in regards to HFLC foods or what I should or shouldn't be eating to sustain me.

I've now cut out snacks completely other than a piece of fruit here and there (during the eating window) and I'm drinking ALOT of water!

I'm eating between 12pm and 8pm.

I'll miss breakfast, but have a cup of tea with a dash of milk.

Lunch at 12 will be something like a sandwich and fruit / cheese and pickle bun and a protein bar.

Dinner (4ish) is whatever we're having. Today it's stuffed chicken and potatoes.

Then I'll have something like fruit salad with yoghurt at about 7ish before the cut off point.

I feel as though I've been starving myself all week, yet I have been eating?

Our daily routine has settled into the following, which seems to be working nicely and manageably for us:

• Black coffee in the morning
• Multivitamin and iron supplement at 1pm, followed by 30g homemade muesli and a big dollop of full fat Greek yoghurt
• Couple of snacks in the afternoon (e.g. Fruit; Crispbreads with sardines, cheese or marmite; hard boiled egg)
• Nice big dinner at 8pm, often vegetarian in the week, and rarely with gluten
• A Lidl “mini mix” (mini magnum thingys, really good!) for pudding

At weekends we stick to the eating hours but we love to cook (And eat) so we might make pizzas, have pasta, cake, bread etc, as well as sometimes a brunch instead of the muesli. We have alcohol on Friday and Saturday evenings (cocktail and a bottle of wine between us). Also might have a takeaway at the weekends.

Being pretty ascetic 80% of the time seems to be working for us without feeling like too much of an effort. I do feel like we’ve weaned ourselves off daily gluten fairly effectively.

I am getting quite a lot of exercise at the moment as I’m doing pretty hardcore gardening and landscaping several days a week (and it’s bloody tough going in the heat here - I’m in Portugal). My partner is desk-bound so he does the dog walking for now.

Survived my first fast, did between 1820 - 1020 today... and started again this eve at 1820. Eaten too many biscuits at work but otherwise ok.

Hi all, I've started eating healthily for the last few weeks, have a couple of stone to lose. This week I havent had time to have breakfast, so for the last 3 days I've been eating between 12 til 9. I was out for a walk this evening and the 16:8 diet popped into my head. I think I'll try tighten up on my times and try it out for a while

Lovely to see so many new faces! Good stuff.

I’m pissed off this morning. Put on 2lbs, despite sticking to my fast, 2 meals a day, only fruit for snacks and doing lots of of power walks with the baby. I’m hoping it’s a pre-Menstrual blip.

This is the kind of point where I would usually go “fuck it” and binge. But, I’m feeling so good in other ways since fasting that I don’t actually want to give up. Going to try to have smaller meals and see how that goes.

Have a good day everyone. Dh is back working, so I’m seeing to 3 kids of different ages with different needs. The day should pass pretty quickly without much chance to eat!

Has anyone tried extending fasts every now and again to see how that goes? I think I might give it a whirl, but I’m not sure if it’s compatible with bf’ing.

I’ve extended the fast by accident many times - like on Saturday when we got caught up fixing a water pump and didn’t eat until 4pm. It’s fairly easy to do if you’re busy and distracted.

Hi everyone 👋 I'm going to give 16:8 a whirl, starting tomorrow - I've been reading through the thread and noting tips 👍 I've never tried it before but like the idea of combining it with intuitive eating and regular exercise.
Just wanted to say hello 😊

Can I join too. I started with the PAul McKenna and intuitive eating but found I was never hungry until lunchtime. Am now just trying to use zero to stop snacking in late evening. Only on day 3