Why isn’t 18:6 working for me? Any tips?

[GinaJaffacake]

Hi, I’ll start by saying I’m only on day10 but I’ve used the Fastic app and stuck to timing carefully. My 6 hour window is 11.30-5.30 although on one day I ate until 6.30 but then fasted until 12.30 the next day. I’ve lost 1lb. I’m also recording everything I eat on MFP and I’m eating between 850-1200 a day. I’m being very careful to log everything including anything I drink. I’m drinking far more water than before but still only about 1l a day. I also drink both almond milk and coconut milk but I make sure I scan and log both.
Is it common to have a slow start? Anything else I should be doing. Thanks

Are you due on your period soon at all? I always gain weight just before/when I'm on my period so it could be that?

I would have thought eating that amount of calories per day would have resulted in a slightly higher weightloss unless you are very short and your body doesn't need a lot of calories? Do you know what your calorie TDEE is?

It didn't for me either

I wonder if I need a harder fast for it to shift weight

@TheChild, thanks but I’m 49 and I’m pretty sure I’m menopausal as I haven’t had a period for 2yrs. It’s odd because when I’ve just calorie counted before and stuck to 1200 then I’ve lost weight quickly. It’s almost like this is preventing weight loss.

@knackeredmumoftwo, thanks. That’s disappointing to read as I though it was supposed to be hailed as the best weight loss option out there. I don’t think I could cope with 5:2

I keep seeing these threads and honestly, it really works. It's a long slow process. You probably won't see any weight difference for about 10 weeks, but you will start to see a difference in yourself after a lot less than that. Keep going. It's really worth it. X

@LovelyGirlCompetition, thanks. I didn’t realise it took 10wks. I do feel healthier after just under 2wks but I’m guessing that’s due to the big increase in my water consumption. My calories are under 1200 a day so I’m surprised I’m not losing just from that.

It’s a difficult ‘diet’ option if you need to wait almost 3mths to lose any weight. For me I’d like to lose 2stone but it’s as much about my health now I’m 49 and in menopause.

I tried it for about a month and no difference- my male colleague shifted loads of weight in a few months!
With 5/2 j can feel it working - and going into ketosis- bad breath, cold etc with 18:6 I never did actually feel that hungry so maybe I have a slow metabolism:(

@GinaJaffacake , I just use it all the time as a lifestyle choice now. Don't count calories, just eat sensibility and stop at 8 until 12 the next day. All the horrible mid life middle just melts away and you feel so much better. I prefer to not diet as if I starve, then I just put all the weight back on!. Fasting before bed gives your body all that time to repair and burn off the fat. Helps stop the hot flushes ime. If you use it long term, you really don't have to count calories. ,

[quote GinaJaffacake]@LovelyGirlCompetition, thanks. I didn’t realise it took 10wks. I do feel healthier after just under 2wks but I’m guessing that’s due to the big increase in my water consumption. My calories are under 1200 a day so I’m surprised I’m not losing just from that.

It’s a difficult ‘diet’ option if you need to wait almost 3mths to lose any weight. For me I’d like to lose 2stone but it’s as much about my health now I’m 49 and in menopause.[/quote]
If you're in a calorie deficit then you'll lose weight. There is nothing special about fasting that makes it easier/slower or anything else.
If you're losing weight at 0.5lb a week then your calorie deficit must be smaller than you think. Are you logging properly? How active are you?

@knackeredmumoftwo

I tried it for about a month and no difference- my male colleague shifted loads of weight in a few months! With 5/2 j can feel it working - and going into ketosis- bad breath, cold etc with 18:6 I never did actually feel that hungry so maybe I have a slow metabolism:(

How are you going into ketosis on 5/2 unless you're doing very low carb at the same time? You'll get bad breath from fasting as your saliva glands don't produce as much saliva when you don't eat, but that's not ketosis

I eat one meal a day at about 6pm. I eat what I like at that meal apart from nothing sweet (puddings, chocs etc) and no alcohol. I cope better this way than faffing about with calories and I don't feel I'm denying myself all the time and my mind and body cope well with just this one meal. I drink loads of water all the time and sometimes have a flat white (no sugar) if we're out to be sociable. I'm post-menopausal and couldn't shift the extra weight and belly fat but this way keeps it at bay. If I really have to eat at lunchtime with friends then I make that my main meal for the day and bring the next one forward by a couple of hours until I'm back on track. My BP has gone down and I feel healthier generally but I know it wouldn't suit everyone. Once you've gone through the change you have to be savage to lose weight!

I only lose about 1lb a week, but I think that's ok - it's slow and steady!

@Beeeeeeeeeeeeeep, yep, logging everything and I’m fairly active logging between 9000-12000 steps a day. I went into menopause at 45 and my metabolism fell off a cliff. I always ate between 1200-1500 most days prior to this and was able to maintain a healthy weight. I was what can best be described as a size 11 since having my youngest 2. I had my youngest son at 43, BF for a year and plummeted straight into menopause when I stopped. Without changing either what I was eating or exercise levels I put on 2stone that year and I can’t shift it.

Hi OP, I tried 18:6 (ish) after my sister lost lots of weight with it. I have always been lucky to be slim even though my diet was terrible- until having my LO/entering my 30s! Honestly I would have given up if my sister hadn't recommended the book Delay Don't Deny and that says to not even bother weighing yourself for the first month. I did of course but didn't lose anything! But after a month it started to fall away slowly but surely and I've lost nearly two stone since the start of December. It's probably not the fastest method but it feels sustainable for me in a way that calorie counting etc. doesn't. I have nothing but coffee until lunch most days (used to be black but started adding a splash of milk and it didn't slow down the weight loss) - then a low carb lunch (omelette, scrambled egg and smoked salmon, soup (none of the above with bread) or a sandwich made with one slice of bread). I'll drink tea through the afternoon as usual but only have 2 biscuits as opposed to the half packet I used to have! Then whatever I want for dinner- we have domino's night once a week and I'll share garlic pizza bread, chicken strippers, medium pizza and cookies! We also have date night once a week- that's a posh ready meal and pudding 😋 The rest of the week is just normal family dinners - I maybe try and have slightly less carb than I used to (a fraction less pasta or whatever) but that's it. We also have a treat most normal nights, like a cornetto or a sharing pouch of sweets or something. In the last couple of months I'll have a nice coffee and share something sweet with my husband one weekend morning as well if we're out and about. So I really don't feel like I'm stinting myself at all and think I'll carry on indefinitely. I've gone from overweight to very comfortably within the normal range - I definitely think it's worth sticking it out past the one month mark.

What are you eating though? It's not just about calories, it's about the right balance of macronutrients. If all your calories are going on carbs then this won't be helping you. (And a litre of water is nothing, btw!)

It doesn't work for everyone. I've been doing 18:6 for years, before I knew it was a thing because I'm just not hungry in the morning. Still managed to stack weight on over lockdown.

I'm also 49, and much as I dislike saying it because I love my carbs, I think keto is the key to getting rid of middle aged spread.

Lego with intermittent fasting is a powerful combination. I lost loads and felt super healthy!

Keto not Lego!

You are being too impatient OP. It’s way too early to say it’s not working, this is not a crash diet. I stuck with it and at about 10 weeks I suddenly started to notice the change in my body shape and colleagues began to comment. I deliberately didn’t weigh myself during that time. In fact I didn’t weigh myself for 6 months, and when I did I found I had lost a stone. I was only fasting 4 days a week (my working days).
And remember as pp said watch what you actually eat during your eating hours.

Yes, I think I need to cut my carbs right back. I am eating more healthily but with my tuna salad this lunch I also had cous-cous. I will try to cut as much of the carbs as I can. I’m pescatarian and I don’t eat eggs so I do struggle a bit with Keto.

Sounds pretty normal. You are losing weight, just slowly and steadily. Your age may be a factor. It's harder as you get older (not sure why, but it is).

I'm the same as you - I can maintain on around 1500 cals a day but need to go below 1200 consistently and over a long period to actually lose anything noticeably.

Stick at it

@LovelyGirlCompetition

I keep seeing these threads and honestly, it really works. It's a long slow process. You probably won't see any weight difference for about 10 weeks, but you will start to see a difference in yourself after a lot less than that. Keep going. It's really worth it. X

I agree it took over 2 months for the scales to start moving for me, but I've lost 1.5 stone since Feb this year. Stick with it it's worth it OP :)

Jasmine11
Congratulations on the weight loss to you and all on this thread
Would you do the 16:8 every day to lose the 1.5 stone or just 5 days a week. I like a glass of wine at the weekend which throws the fasting off. I also eat breakfast with dcs so it is more like 14:10 5 days a week. I am 49.

As a non breakfast eater I've been doing 16:8 for practically my whole adult life. I rarely eat before 1pm and if I do it's after 12pm. Dinner at 8. No snacks. Still 30lb at least overweight. Lol.

@user1471554720

Jasmine11 Congratulations on the weight loss to you and all on this thread Would you do the 16:8 every day to lose the 1.5 stone or just 5 days a week. I like a glass of wine at the weekend which throws the fasting off. I also eat breakfast with dcs so it is more like 14:10 5 days a week. I am 49.

I try and do it every day but can be lax at the weekend as I love a glass of wine too :) If I don't manage 16 hours I try and make sure I do a fast of a minimum of 12 hours at least.

@Chicchicchicchiclana

As a non breakfast eater I've been doing 16:8 for practically my whole adult life. I rarely eat before 1pm and if I do it's after 12pm. Dinner at 8. No snacks. Still 30lb at least overweight. Lol.

Could people who are expert in this explain? I’m following with interest as thinking of starting 16:8 but weighing up effectiveness and efforts vs other options