My 16/8 / 18/6 fasting 80 pounds to lose journey

[TarasChoc]

I've just started this Woe last Monday and I'm very happy with how much more naturally this comes to me than anything else I've tried. I fell into it accidentally after starting The fast 800 a few weeks ago. I had a few things on and found the low carb and calories aspect hard to stick to but realised I was still in a decent deficit, eating less sugar and doing a 16/8 without finding it all too hard. I've now fallen into 18/6.
I am tracking calories, I'm only eating two meals and the occasional snack so I don't find calorie tracking hard.

I'm looking at losing 70 pounds so I'll be in this for the long haul. I'm currently doing a lot of research listening to Gin Stephen's podcast and reading Delay, don't Deny , The Obesity Code and Fast, Feast Repeat.
I've been weighing everyday to track the trends but my official weighin day will be Monday.

@TarasChoc I'm carrying a couple of Christmas pounds so would like to lose those and then see what my body does. I'm trying not to have a number in mind as that's what I would usually think like. Due to the prevalence of Christmas sweet gifts, I am still eating too much sugar in my window (cutting down slowly) so I am maintaining for now. Not unhappy with that but need to stay out of the kids' selection boxes! I'm interested to see what happens once I am properly back in the rhythm of work as have only been back a couple of days. It's much easier to resist when the cupboard with the chocolates is far, far away! 😊

I bought some of those Taylor's coffee bags yesterday as they were 2 for £5 in Asda. They are just 100% coffee so won't break a fast but feel more like a treat than the instant stuff I usually drink. Better for me than a mini Chomp bar. 🤣

@mumlikeaboss so sorry to hear that you are feeling stressed. A quick 6lb weight gain is likely to be almost all inflammation/water. Might it settle when you are properly back into the routine? I understand that you have health conditions but are there any of the typical stress-reducing lifestyle aspect - yoga, mindfulness, exercise etc - that you do/can use to help? I agree that it's worth speaking to your doctor but also think you need to be kind to yourself. Have a longer window if that's what you need right now. You have plenty of time to shorten your window later.

Apologies. I see you are already on it with the GP. 😊

@Neeko yes it's almost certainly inflammation weight - I feel so stiff and swollen, ugh!

I know sugar and grains contribute to that a lot, but I'm craving the carbs so badly this last week 😱 I think PMT must be approaching as well...!

I'm averaging 16:8 still and I know that's better than nothing so I'm trying to be patient 😁

I have a bad back as well as joint stiffness, and have just started looking into physio/pilates for that, and also maybe swimming... So 🤞🏻 some of that will help.

@TarasChoc thanks for the low carb suggestion, I would like to try that again. I played around with it a lot back in 2021 and physically it made me feel really good but I found it very challenging psychologically because it is quite restrictive...

I just need to grow up and learn to eat like an adult instead of having a tantrum if I can't eat Haribo, lol 😂

@mumlikeaboss I think you are being too hard on yourself and possibly a little impatient. 16:8 is fine. Keep going. Give it another few weeks and see where you are.

@Neeko yeah, I guess I'm hard on myself sometimes.

I'm absolutely keeping going, have done IF for over 2 years now and have no intention of stopping fasting ever 🙌🏼 I think it's awesome for all sorts of reasons outside of weight loss.

The frustration comes from the fact that I lost 50-60lbs fairly easily, but then I've essentially plateaued for over a year... and I really have at least another 50lbs to lose. Just keep regaining 10-15 and losing them again, Rinse and Repeat! 😅😅

Anyway, don't want to sidetrack this lovely thread with my woes!! I love reading about others getting on so well 🤗🤗

50-60 pounds is amazing! I can, however, understand your frustration.

@Neeko and @mumlikeaboss I think one of the benefits of 16/8 is when you're not actively fully focused on/able to lose weight it gives the opportunity to maintain around a certain weight without too much thought or effort.
And @mumlikeaboss feel free to talk about anything you like on this thread. While fasting is an amazing resource there'll be both good and bad times. I think it's important to recognise both. If we build it up to be this amazing simple journey in our minds, when we do struggle it'll be harder to reset as we weren't prepared for the days of hunger/cravings/hormones.
As @Neeko your losses already are amazing and something to be proud of. I find low carb too restrictive for me long term but even a few weeks low carb for me is a good way to reset appetite for sweet treats.

I'm not going to pretend getting back on track properly this week has been easy mentally.
I had a look back through my weekly weighins and basically in week 19 thanks to my holiday and Christmas I'm back to my week 10/11 loss. Seeing that was a bit of a blow.
But to be honest not continuing this WOE or looking to lose weight another way just wasn't something I entertained. I'm so settled with fasting. Its broken the cycle of either constantly restricting or eating that I've lived with for decades now. Always on or off a diet.

I've had a chat with myself, Christmas is once a year and this year thanks to IF I was two stone lighter.
Holidays are an important part of our lives and something dh and I really enjoy. Over time I'll figure it out and I've stopped thinking I've to be perfect 52 weeks of the year and that anything else isn't good enough.
Having said that I can't make excuses either. I'm trying to lose weight so like there already has been, there will be times I'll have to choose wisely from the menu, decline the dessert or wine or pull back on weekends. Intermittent fasting does make it easier to do that though:)

Happy Friday everyone, I’m too hungry today to make a 18hr fast, so will just do 16hrs instead. I’ve also found myself coming down with this super cold, not covid but exactly the same symptoms. I guess that’s typical after returning to Work in Jan.

Its helping having somewhere to note down your thoughts, helps keep me focused!

Hi can I join in, just read all your posts @TarasChoc and it’s really motivating esp how long you have stuck with it.

I’ve just started 16/8 in fact I can eat in 15 minutes and so hungry! I’m going to have some soup.

I did this a few years ago and lost about 20 lbs in five months so aiming again after slowing putting it on again over the last 4 years. I have a summer ball in June as my motivation. I’m 3 stone overweight.

Hello Ladies,
I've been doing IF for 2 months now and I feel the results are quite slow. But what it has done is re-set my hunger. I find that I am not that hungry during the morning and I can now wait until 11-1 to have brunch, then as I am eating so late, I don't get the usual 4pm hunger so for me its been a great way to cut out snacking.

I've had someone take photos of me each month wearing the same tight Bravissimo nightie and like to try and compare the actual change in shape each month, hopefully in a few months it will be more obvious. I just keep thinking of the internal healing that could be happening on the insides first!

Welcome @RoseBucket and @NorseKiwi the more the merrier.
I agree I'm as interested in the healing benefits of fasting as I am the weightloss.
Halfway through yesterday my flu/cold decided to return with full force. I'm feeling very miserable and I'm well fed up of it. It's over 3 weeks now since I first got this dose.
Roll on spring time!

Hi @RoseBucket. I originally read your post as though you ate all your food for one day in 15 mins. 🤣

@NorseKiwi sounds like you are doing well. The NSVs are the best.

@TarasChoc sorry to hear you are feeling poorly. Take care and fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.

The scales showed I'd lost a lb of Christmas gain this morning. Very happy with that.
Hosting dinner tonight for friends so pushing my window a bit later. Currently at almost 20 hours fasted and feeling good. 😊 I'll have a shorter fast tomorrow due to the later window tonight.
I've prepped the main course and I'm always surprised that I can prepare food in the fasted state without wanting to eat.

Hi all. I started 16:8 on 3 Jan as, to my alarm, I gained 7lbs over my 2 week Christmas break.

I lost the 7lbs within a few days but have kept going. I’ve been so busy at work, in reality I’m fasting for about 19 hours most days. But I’m also loosely doing Keto, so haven’t been hungry once. I have lost 10lb now, in less than 2 weeks and feel fantastic. Also doing dry Jan so avoiding loads of wine calories. I’m amazed I haven’t craved anything. I usually drink loads of wine and toast with marmite is my favourite thing in the world.

I realise the weight loss rate will tail off, especially as I am not in the overweight category. I’ve been peeing on those Ketostix and they always go to the darkest colour.

I plan to keep going until the last week of Feb as I am going on a beach holiday then.

Wow, lots of newcomers recently! 🤩🥰

@DillDanding fasting and keto / LCHF do work really well together. Definitely find it harder to fast if I'm overdoing it on bready/sugary stuff.

@NorseKiwi slow doesn't matter so long as it feels like a sustainable way to eat!

@RoseBucket hehe I also misread at first and thought you were doing 23 3/4 : 1/4 🤣

I am on this FB group called "Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle" it has a black, white & red logo, it has 200k members and they arent selling anything, there are lot of hints and tips and before and after photos, I find it to be so motivating

Uffft weighed this morning and have somehow managed to put the 3lbs on I had lost the week before so I'm back at starting weight of 11st 3lbs again now 🙄
I don't weigh daily and I understand it fluctuates if you weigh daily, weirdly I could be 4lbs down tomorrow I know I know. Just annoying.
But I'll stick at it.
On to week 3 now 💪🏻

Could someone explain what keto is whilst fasting?
Thanks

Week 1- 5.5
Week 2 -2.3
Week 3 -1.4
Week 4 -2.4
Week 5 -1.4
Week 6 -1.2
Week 7 -1.8
Week 8 -2.6
Week 9 -2.8
Week 10 -2.6
Week 11-1.4
Week 12 -1.6
Week 13 -1.6
Week 14 -1.4
Week 15 + 5.6 (holidays)
Week 16 -3.8
Week 17 + 1.8 (Christmas)
Week 18 + 3.2 (Christmas)
Week 19 -1.2
Week 20 -1
Total -25.4

I'm currently feeling very fed up, I've got antibiotics for a chest infection and tonsillitis. Hopefully they'll do the trick because I've had enough now of this never ending virus. My fasts are very short this last few days as I'm taking cough medicine, strepsils and honey, lemon drinks.
On the plus side you know you've found a good way of eating when you're itching to get back to it properly.

It’s just following a keto diet but in a fasting window.

So for me, I skip breakfast (and usually lunch) and then have a meal that’s low carb, high fat and protein. Last night for example, I had chicken in a rich cream and garlic sauce with lots of fine beans. I couldn’t finish it. The joys of keto is you rarely feel hunger.

@NorseKiwi I must check if that's that group I'm in. I find my one very motivating and with no selling either.

@DillDanding I think once this bug has finally shifted I'll try eating low carb for a short while. I'm pretty sure with all my carb eating and lack of exercise that my glycogen levels are fully replenished.

@justcouldntthinkofausername could you change to weighing daily? It does help settle your mind when fluctuations happen.

Apologies if I ever miss replying to anyone. I'm not feeling the best and this site is so slow and clunky at times
It can make replying difficult.

Hey all
my ancient bathroom scales finally snuffed it. I don’t think putting my husband’s suitcase on it helped 😬 anyway I haven’t weighed myself today but I can see & feel a difference in my clothes. I will order some more scales come payday.

I’ve been ill for what feels like ages too @TarasChoc , which has made fasting a little easier, I can’t taste anything so appetite is minimal.

how do people manage holidays & fasting? Do you do it whilst away or just extend your fasting windows on the build up to holiday?
I am off to Tokyo & South Korea for three weeks in April. I am going to have to eat all the fried chicken and all the ramen 😀

Would love to join, been going for two weeks now, although only lost 1 pound so far, thought I would have lost more but I'm in it for the long hall. Have 3.5 stone to lose!