How soon do you see a difference?

[SpideyMom]

Hiya

I've started IF, 16:8. I'm only on day 3 and already feel great. I am a night time binge eater and it's ruined my life to be fair. I'm a healthy weight at 10stone but been stuck in a starving then binging cycle for 15 years.

Its early days but its helped me stop the binging which was my biggest problem. I'd eat so much junk in one sitting I was ashamed. How I'm not bigger I don't know but my body just looks horrible.

I only have around a few kg to lose to be at my comfortable weight. I already feel more focused, alert and in control and overall better mentally.

I was just wondering how many weeks did others feel a difference in clothes? It's my clothes that have become tight hence why I want to shift a few kgs. But ultimately IF for me is about being able to control myself not eating after 8pm (normally I will binge after 9pm).

Thank you

Well just got on the scales for the first time in a while. According to the scales I am back to nearly my starting weight. I am baffled and extremely deflated now. One binge wouldn't have done that. Even 3 occasions of slight overeating over the space of 5 weeks would not have caused it.
When I say I binged nightly before I seriously would binge on thousands of calories. Why am I not seeing any difference when that has stopped?
The scale tonight has made me feel shit! Doesn't look like I've lost any real weight over the last 5 weeks at all

I don't think you're having enough to eat during the eating window. Your body will hold onto the calories. Eat more protein and chuck the scales away.

Can I ask what I should be eating please?

Tonight was chicken and rice for dinner.

I admit earlier on in this thread I wasn't focusing on dieting but stopping the binging. I naturally expected that to make a difference simply because of the amount of rubbish I gorged on every night. But I knew I would eventually have to start looking at what I am eating.

The above food pattern is typical of everyday.

What should I be eating please? Am I eating too many carbs?

How about adding some eggs or a tuna sandwich or wrap at lunchtime?. A small portion of nuts/natural yoghurt will fill you up much more than wotsits. Just think it might help to keep you full and healthy. Better than starving and bingeing.

I grab cereal at lunch just because it fits in with my job. I dont get a lunch break as such so I gab 5 minutes and have some cereal.

I agree about the wotsits but them I fear the calories in nuts. Same with yogurt. However then can fast escalate to the whole pot.

I really thought in simple terms weight loss is about calories in vs calories burnt. When I binged it could be up to 3000 cals at a time and it was every day. So I know for sure now I am eating less now.

I just dont get it. I have an unhealthy relationship with food. Its been very disordered for half my life which is which I think I stick to low calorie foods

I don't know enough to give advice, I'm afraid. I just remember being told to eat whole versions of natural food , not fake diet food full of sweetener.. You say you have only a few pounds to lose, just doing the fasting will do that. But slowly. You don't need to starve yourself.

SpideyMom, aim for three meals a day with protein, vegetables and good carbohydrates.
For example, breakfast could be Greek yogurt with seeds,oats and berries or eggs with toast, tomatoes and mushrooms, lunch could be a wrap/sandwich with tuna/ chicken and salad, dinner could be chicken, rice and vegetables. No eating after dinner until breakfast. You should be eating good quality food during your eating hours. You should prepare lunch for work (even yoghurt, nuts and fruit over wotsits). I'm not qualified to give any dietary advice either, just echoing what LovelyGirlCompetition is saying too and wishing you well.

That's nice * IsFuzzy* See op. We've all got your back. You can do this.

When I started IF (which I combine with low carb) my clothes started feeling looser after about 3 weeks, but the scales didn't start moving until about 2 months in.

Thanks guys. I appreciate all your support.

I will stick with 16:8 simply because I like the routine it gives me. And the fact it cuts off my night time binges is a massive plus. I guess these last few day ive just felt down in the dumps which has resulted in poor food choices. Which then led to me being hard on myself.

My son is staying away this week due but it being half term. I have to work still so its easier for him to spend time with my parents. I do feel like I have to force myself to cook when at home by myself which will result in something quick.

I do know for sure that I need to start looking at what I am eating during my window though.

After work today I did get some Greek yogurt, veg, salad, meat and made a fritata for my dinner. I managed to make enough to feed me for a few lunches and dinners and as it freezes well I feel better now for already having something prepared.

I do enjoy the control that IF gives me but it has really highlighted my poor relationship with food so I cant wait for my CBT to begin to try and change that.

Well I dont know what's happened but my binge eating these last few days has been appalling. I'm ashamed of myself. I really am. The only thing I'm sticking to now is the eating window and fasting window. During my eating window I go steady until about 2 hours before the end and I go mad. Its like I have to get rid of all the food I consider bad. I haven't had my son this week and I find I dont eat well when his not here. Maybe out of laziness but I feel disgusted how much I've eaten.

How can I get this back on track? I think I need to buddy up with someone. I feel really sad about the self sabotage

How are you doing OP? Are you back on track?

Hiya. Well my son returned home on Monday and it's mad but I've not wanted to or felt the urge to binge. Whether last week was out of boredom or loneliness I don't know but since he has been home I've felt back to 'normal' within my window. We ate pizza on Monday as a treat for him as we spent half term apart. It was nice that I felt no guilt and ate 2 slices and was satisfied at that.
So now I need to look at what I'm eating. I feel abit embarrassed posting when I'm eating as I know its not great but I suppose I'm just looking at the positives that I'm not binging.

Today I've had 2 weetabix with lactose free milk and a coffee. A bag of hula hoops. An actimal. 300ml glass of Coconut Milk Drink. A Cappuccino (Tassimo). And 2 scrambled eggs on 2 slices of toast for dinner.
I know I should probably be eating better foods but when I don't binge this is similar to what I eat daily just a different dinner

Hi, I’ve just started reading Fast, Feast, Repeat to learn a bit more about the science behind the benefits of fasting. I also use the Zero (free) app to record my fasts - I’m aiming for 16 hours a day but don’t always start at the same time but you start the timer when you finish eating and it tells you when you should next eat.

I’m finding it really helpful for stopping unnecessary ‘recreation’ eating in the evening on things like chocolate when I’m not actually hungry but just fancy something whilst watching tele. I just tell myself I can have it tomorrow instead and that really helps. Looking to improve my relationship with food and as a bonus lose upto half a stone.

How are you getting on?

I've been looking at that book too. I really need to get one so I can have a read up on the science behind it and understand all the benefits of doing it. Hopefully then I won't feel so deflated that the weight hasn't really come off me but it has benefited me in other ways.

I use an app called Fastic, the free version. I love it. As soon as I start my fast my eating stops. I would binge every night and I was scared I wouldn't be able to fast due to binging nightly for as long as I can remember. It's amazing really how just by using an app it has stopped the night time gorging myself silly. I am not sure how successful I would have been otherwise if i hadn't of used an app. As I wouldn't have anything to prove if that makes sense.

I have fasted now for 46 days. And by this I mean I have stuck to the eating and fasting windows religiously. I've had a few binges along the way, mostly last week when my son was stopping away but considering it was a nightly thing, I'm pretty proud that I've gone this long. My weight loss has been minimal really but that is my own fault. I've not been following any particular diet during my eating window but again that was on purpose as first and foremost I had to bring my binging under control.

I love the routine it has given me. And I do agree with others it is more a way of life. Now I have my son back home I am eating and not even thinking twice or being critical of what it is. No matter what I used to eat I would always be critical of it and hate myself for eating. I dont have those feelings at the moment which is another thing I needed to change, my poor relationship with food.

I think in terms of weight loss I really need to start looking at what I am actually eating but otherwise (im just blanking out last week lol) I do feel better overall for doing it

Hi OP. I've been reading your thread and another one in this section and think you ight be interested in it. In there they are saying 16:8 takes about 10 weeks to start working. There is also another poster who has cut down but is not losing and there is advice for that too. The thread is here
I hope it helps in some way!

Thank you so much. I am sticking at it but still feel a blob. I'm at 56 days now. Though I will be honest I've had a few binges recently

I use a steady consistent 1lb a week on 5:2 so notice a difference in clothes fairly soon