16/8 - 2021 thread

[feliznavidad2]

Anyone else starting afresh in the coming days? I've dabbled in 16/8 in the past but then got a tummy bug and didn't restart.

I'm now the biggest I've been in 10 years and am keen to start taking some action to make me feel healthier and to lose some weight. 👋🏻

Aside from 16/8, I'm going to be reducing my carb intake (although still eating some) and ensuring I eat more fruit and vegetables.

Hello to any others who may be keen to join. I'll be weighing weekly on a Monday and using the Zero app to track my fasts.

Nice to hear other people are doing well! I intended to take the weekend off but ended up "accidentally" eating to the right pattern on Sunday anyway. Much easier with a lie in! Am planning to sign up to a gym tomorrow as well which should mean I can weigh myself as well as do some work to sort out what I laughably call my core. More like a soft centred chocolate caramel.

Hungry now waiting for 1pm but I've got lots to do which helps...

Out of interest, what do others on here do WRT exercise? Do it during the fast time or not? bit worried about keeling over if I try to gym or run.

Hi everyone! Checking back in after being more of a follower than poster.
5 weeks in and I've lost 7lb! Very happy given I have still had cake on more than one day a week! I think if I stick to 1200 calories in my window I'll lose it quicker but am happy with this pace and freedom to eat a few treats here and there.
Mornings can be tough but one tea with skimmed milk is seeing me through most days.
Great to see everyone else's updates.

Morning all

Checking in! Day 2 of returning to normal. Thoroughly enjoying my black coffee currently although my husband accidentally made me tea with milk earlier this morning, I didn't have the heart to ask him to remake it with rooibos so I guess today won't be a 100% clean fast.

@TheThermalStair you asked about exercise. I've been doing mostly yoga and walking, but really need to get back on it properly. There's a spin studio round the corner from our place so I'm hoping to be able to go to at least one class a week once it reopens. I love spin and feel the lack of some sweaty cardio for sure.

We do have some proper athletes though @bjjgirl is one, @IseeSwansea, and others?

What's on the menu today for everyone? If I get time I'll make a lentil salad for lunch - trying to get out of the cheese sandwich rut! And dinner is a chicken and mushroom tray bake from the New York Times.

Can I join please?
I successfully did 16-8 last year in the run up to my wedding which worked really well but I’ve fallen off the wagon now and eating all sorts of sweet rubbish.
I’d like my trousers less tight, it’s my best gauge on weight loss and also to eat healthier which always makes me feel better. I enjoy eating well but my downfall is my sweet tooth which I really need to keep under control. Although last year I’m sure I incorporated a sweet something everyday just to keep my tooth at bay.
The problem I’m going on to nights for a while and I’m not sure how to do it, I couldn’t do a 12 hr shift with nothing to eat and I have an hour drive either side of that to get to work. Does anyone have any ideaS/ experience? Is just a case of swapping the times round?
TIA

@user159

Hi everyone! Checking back in after being more of a follower than poster. 5 weeks in and I've lost 7lb! Very happy given I have still had cake on more than one day a week! I think if I stick to 1200 calories in my window I'll lose it quicker but am happy with this pace and freedom to eat a few treats here and there. Mornings can be tough but one tea with skimmed milk is seeing me through most days. Great to see everyone else's updates.

Congratulations! That's amazing. I have to say I'm a bad faster because I have a couple of cups of tea in the morning (with a splash of s/s milk) just to wake up/be able to work. Telling myself the calories involved are probably roughly the same as swallowing a mosquito...

@ladybranstonpickle that sounds delicious. I have some leftover curry for lunch with wraps, not sure about dinner - maybe roasted veggies and polenta.

2nd week in I’m feeling so much less hungry in the morning - yesterday I actually went an hour over time to break the fast, is that normal?

I do worry I’m stuffing it in at dinner time though, tbf I probably did that before anyway!

Hi all
Well due to training starting again I had last week off as I needed to significantly up my calories.
I'm busy with work but trying to get back to it this week, as it has such an amazing effect on my recovery/ sleep.

If I eat tea after 5 I literally need to go the loo at 0530, which really disrupts my sleep

I'm currently running / circuits at 12, then 2 hours of juijitsu in the evening, 1 hour lesson, 1 hour sparring

Morning all!
Went to the hairdresser this morning for a quick fringe trim...wish I could go to the hairdresser every day! LOL. If I win the lottery I will book a hairdresser to do my hair three times a week!

On my way back bought an almond croissant for my husband (his favourite) and didn't even take half for later.

I haven't weighed myself in weeks...not sure if I want to? Planning on a shopping trip to Westfield this evening after work - I desperately need new bras since stopping breastfeeding two months ago and want to try to find a new pair of white jeans.

@TheThermalStair it definitely gets easier! I was easily doing 17:7 before my break for Easter. As we are having a big lunch today I'm going to see if I can skip dinner entirely and fast until tomorrow morning...

Well yesterday was an absolute right off, manic day at work (7am-11pm) m ant no training and lots of crap food.

2 toffee lattes
1 doughnut
Subway salad, crisps and diet coke
Sushi roll
Pasta sald
Pringles and lots of cups of tea

I was on my feet all day but it was so crap! Good result from the work but I hate not training. Even on rest days I go for a run or do a circuit session.

So today I'm doing a 16:8 starting at 1000, going for a 5km at 1130, circuits at 6 then a
Hard competition class at 730. I'm going to go to bed early then hopefully my extra calories will be off and I can see my abs again

I can tell my weight by the Visibility of my abs (far easier than weighing)

@Thistle72 can you fast in the day?

I used to naturally do a 16:8 on nights

I would sleep 7-3, have a cup of tea, go for a run, then at about 430 have my breakfast.

Go to work at 6, the. Have a coffee when we get in and I would pack high protein yogurts and have my meal at around 10, maybe a yogurt at midnight but then nothing but brus
Until 2 then nothing but water until I got home

It meant that I didn't need the loo during the day as it had already worked through my system and it helped my sleep

@TheThermalStair

Nice to hear other people are doing well! I intended to take the weekend off but ended up "accidentally" eating to the right pattern on Sunday anyway. Much easier with a lie in! Am planning to sign up to a gym tomorrow as well which should mean I can weigh myself as well as do some work to sort out what I laughably call my core. More like a soft centred chocolate caramel.

Hungry now waiting for 1pm but I've got lots to do which helps...

Out of interest, what do others on here do WRT exercise? Do it during the fast time or not? bit worried about keeling over if I try to gym or run.

So I find it helps my exercise, I tend to eat my lunch at the break of fast around 10 prior to a run or circuit session at 12, then I eat like a squirrel (constantly) until around 5, grab a latte and by 6 I'm training and don't get home until 9, then I'll have a up of tea (I allow myself milk)

It has actually resulted in my eating tea with the kids as my work lunch is now earlier

I help people at work with their training plans and diets, so if any one wants ideas happy to share? I've had nutritionists for training in the past and I love writing gym sessions out as i love training.

One of the benefits of adhd is I NEED to exert as it balances me

Hello, I've been lurking but coming out now to say hi!
I've been doing 16:8 for 3 weeks, plus more exercise than I've done in years which is hardly any compared to some people, but I'm trying!
And - I've lost nothing. Zero. I'm so frustrated!
I'm already vegan and try to be healthy but could do better. I can't count calories because I don't have time to do it properly and my family find it really disruptive - it makes me anxious.
I'm 5 ft 1 and 66kg - my recommended weight is 54kg.
Also I'm going to center parcs with my family in 3 weeks and my mother is hypercritical of anyone 'fat' (her words not mine) so I can't face a swimming costume right now!

Morning everyone! My shopping trip was fairly sucessful, 4 new bras but no jeans. I've gone up two cup sizes since pre pregancy! I think that's due to breastfeeding and using the Boob or Bust measurements rather than the standard +4" method.

What was interesting is that we had a cooked lunch and then I didn't feel the need to eat again until this morning. Having breakfast was a real treat! Might skip dinner again tonight, depending on how I'm feeling.

@bjjgirl just draw a line under it and move on. No point worrying about it! Your exercise regime sounds amazing. I really need to do something harder than yoga and walking but just not sure what. I don't really enjoy doing HIIT workouts from YouTube although they are probably the most efficient and easy in terms of logistics...

@wejammin

Hello, I've been lurking but coming out now to say hi! I've been doing 16:8 for 3 weeks, plus more exercise than I've done in years which is hardly any compared to some people, but I'm trying! And - I've lost nothing. Zero. I'm so frustrated! I'm already vegan and try to be healthy but could do better. I can't count calories because I don't have time to do it properly and my family find it really disruptive - it makes me anxious. I'm 5 ft 1 and 66kg - my recommended weight is 54kg. Also I'm going to center parcs with my family in 3 weeks and my mother is hypercritical of anyone 'fat' (her words not mine) so I can't face a swimming costume right now!

Welcome, it's tough to loose weight on a vegan diet without calorie counting as most foods are high carb low protein, plus a lot of nuts and seeds are calorie dense.

I would try to count as much as you can by using mfp for your recipes

@ladybranstonpickle

Morning everyone! My shopping trip was fairly sucessful, 4 new bras but no jeans. I've gone up two cup sizes since pre pregancy! I think that's due to breastfeeding and using the Boob or Bust measurements rather than the standard +4" method.

What was interesting is that we had a cooked lunch and then I didn't feel the need to eat again until this morning. Having breakfast was a real treat! Might skip dinner again tonight, depending on how I'm feeling.

@bjjgirl just draw a line under it and move on. No point worrying about it! Your exercise regime sounds amazing. I really need to do something harder than yoga and walking but just not sure what. I don't really enjoy doing HIIT workouts from YouTube although they are probably the most efficient and easy in terms of logistics...

What equipment do you have to workout? I can write you one of you like?

Thanks I am drawing a line, just done 5km and now waiting for circuits later.

I had protein yogurt and granola for afternoon snack and chicken and green beans after a nature valley crunchy bar

@wejammin have you read the book Fast.Feast.Repeat by Gin Stephens? She discusses how it can take a few weeks for your body to burn through the glycogen stores and start fat burning. Also have you taken measurements? Often you will see changes there long before anything on the scale.

@bjjgirl thank you for the offer! I really don't know if I would do it. I was a serious weightlifter (squats, deadlifts etc) for years and nothing I do at home really comes close to that in terms of satisfaction/results. Maybe I just need to bite the bullet and join a gym although it's hard to be out of the house three times a week with the baby and a husband...

@ladybranstonpickle, thanks, no I've not read it but I'll see if I can order from the library.

@bjjgirl thank you, I did measure my calories today on mfp and I was on 1350 so slightly over my 1300 goal but managed 55g protein thanks to peanut butter, houmous and tofu scramble. Carbs were high though, I had 2 pittas at lunch plus toast with my scramble, oops!

Good morning everybody!

I have been again quietly lurking but not posting much, but always happy to read everybody’s updates. I have been struggling a bit to keep on track, but I did venture onto the scales again this morning, and it is overall OK, 10 st 8. At least I have not gained any weight in the past month or so, and overall, I have lost 1 st 2 lb since starting the 16:8 sometime in the new year, so I am really happy with that.

I have reached the final weeks of the Couch to 5 k and am now doing three full runs a week, around 27/28 mins long. I think this is really helping me, both with how I feel about my body and also with certain stresses that I think leads to snacking at times, if that makes any sense.

Hope there is sunshine today where you are, and you have the time to get out and enjoy it.

Hello to all, new week is on the horizon! I like new weeks, it feels like an opportunity for a fresh start! No loss for me this week but I'm not expecting it. I'm really appreciating though how well this way of eating fits into my life.

@TheThermalStair re exercise, I'm a lazy lardarse which goes some way to explaining the requirement to diet. I used to ride horses seriously and competitively (but amateur) and since giving up there's no exercise that really appeals. I walk a lot. Last year I ran, but found I did need breakfast first so I'm not running since starting 16:8. However, I've promised to join a gym with DD which I'll do later in the day, during my eating time, which I hope will work. We shall see!

I read the Delay, Don't Deny book which touched on exercise. She says that it's a balancing act, and getting the exercise wrong makes her eat more, which is what I also find. I try to bear in mind that "abs are made in the gym, not the fridge" although I'm not expecting actual abs. So I split out exercise as being for general health and wellbeing, with diet/ eating pattern for weight loss.

Morning everyone. Am feeling a bit fed up with the daily grind tbh. But I'm down below 65kg which is incredible considering the two weeks off I had. My latest project is to try to increase my vegetable intake, especially at lunch. I am so bored of cheese sandwiches! So yesterday I roasted some butternut squash chunks with olive oil and ground allspice, tossed with chickpeas and the last little bit of feta we had laying around in the fridge. Was delicious!

I've been completely ignoring my yoga practice. I think I need to start getting up at 6am and doing it then, although I worry about waking my baby...She's often stirring then although will stay in bed happily until 7ish. Not sure how to re-motivate myself. Perhaps I need an in person class once the studio reopens 17 May.

@anothermadamebutterfly when do you run? In the evenings?

Morning everyone, seems a little quiet around here! Maybe everyone is off enjoying the sunshine :)

I've decided to make a fresh start with the yoga on 1 May, I'll do the Yoga with Adriene calendar as before. I think my previous problem was that I didn't have a set calendar and was just noodling around picking the shortest yoga practice. I've also been waking up around 5:45/6:00am but going back to sleep, so might try getting up instead. It's light enough and I don't feel tired so maybe it's a sign to try out morning yoga instead.

Today's vegetable heavy lunch will be beetroot salad with a dill and yoghurt dressing - an Ottolenghi recipe. I buy the vacuum pack cooked beetroots, so much more convenient than having to roast/steam them yourself!

Hi! That beetroot salad sounds lovely, I love dill.

Well done on getting under 65kg! After my whinge that I wasn't losing anything, I went from 66kg to 64.5kg, and today I'm at 63.6kg! So pleased I persevered.

I tried to log my intake on MFP but it sent me into an anxiety spiral again so I'm just focusing on making sure I have enough plant based protein with every meal. I've been following Fritz Horstmann on Instagram, he's got some great tips and food ideas (also fairly easy on the eye...)

My husband and I have each lost 2.5st since Jan 1st on the 16/8 fasting plan..We cap.our calories and exercise every single day too. We only have a stone or so to go.