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

I’ve just found this thread - I started 16:8 approx 2 weeks ago and haven’t lost anything :( I’ve been eating approx 1400 calories a day (I run a lot and have an active job) and have nothing off. Am feeling quite low about it and also it’s making me feels hungrier I think (I was fine the first 10 days as felt it was achieving something but now I just feel hungry and annoyed)
Will it start to work soon? I really want it to as don’t miss breakfast really and it’s been an effective way to cut off 500 calories ish a day

Because, as I've posted up thread, it's not just about calories!

How much carbohydrate are you eating, as opposed to fat/protein?

Sorry I did read the whole thread and saw your message but I do manage my carbs well (I think). I’m vegetarian and eat a lot of pulses and beans which maybe is too carby?
Today I had red lentil soup, oatcakes and 2 apples for lunch then vegetable sausages and a puy lentil salad for tea and a yoghurt. Similar most days but not as lentil based - some lentils then maybe carbs for tea or vice Versa but never two meals with carbs a day. Does that sound about right?

That is very carby though - all of those food sources would have been high in carbs. You'd be far better off making, for example, a soup made from loads of green veg. And definitely drop the oatcakes and apples! Can you make veg crudites instead of the apples?

(It is harder to keep the carbs lower when you're a veggie, I do know that )

I've been doing every other day fasting and have lost a stone in 6 weeks. I haven't been especially careful with carbs but obviously lost more when I'm low carb/no take-always etc. I find it really great for energy levels and digestion. I know alternative day feels a bit extreme for some but I'm enjoying it.

I did 5:2 very successfully about 7 years ago and maintained a comfortable and healthy weight for about 2 years before falling off the wagon. Ultimately I didn't want my kids to notice me eating something different or not eating at all. I then did a whole load of reading about the diet industry and dieting in general and became quite vehemently anti diet. Since then had another baby and lockdown has left me with a couple of stones extra so decided to give 18:6 a try and I love it. I did actually lose quite a bit of weight in the first month (a stone) but I had gone from eating eveything in sight, to not.... so of course that was going to have an effect. Weight loss aside, I feel more energetic, less brain fog, more focused, less bloated, enthusiastic about cooking again, just all round better in myself. I don't restrict carbs or count calories, I don't think it's sustainable to live like that (for me anyway) all I do is try and eat mindfully. If I fancy a twix, I have it and enjoy it but I don't eat a twix just because I'm in my eating window. I am at risk for type 2 diabetes after having gestational diabetes and I do not want to even go there. I figure this is a nice balance between dieting and not dieting and my kids haven't noticed a thing. I clean fast so I only have water and black coffee outside of my eating window. This week im experimenting with 20:4 and will relax a bit at the weekend.

i've been doing it about 3 months, and i'm losing roughly 5lb a month, which is ok for me.

I'm averaging a 17:7 sometimes 18, and not particularly eating 'healthy' but i figure slow and steady wins the race.. i plan on starting to make diet changes soon, just little things here and there :)

Its working for me. My diet before was full of junk food. I've cut out dairy, sugar. Drink lots of water. Eat healthy and snack healthy too. Plenty of veg, lean meat, fish, fruit, and potatoes! Not only am I losing weight but I feel soooo much better. Mentally and physically.

I've just switched to grinding my own coffee beans but as yet can't find the taste I like. Would love to have that cup of coffee you get in Costa, Starbucks etc . Any tips?

Ignore my post about coffee. Wrong thread! I can't delete

I think it depends on your body to be honest, I get great results from keto and love it, where as my oh does really well from 18:6 but hates keto.