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.

I used to use Keto to loose weight, it’s very effective, I could loose 13KG in 2-3 months doing TRE, but it always can’t back on again just as quickly. This time I am eating carbs, for me this needs to be a sustainable lifestyle, whereby if I go out and my friends are having burgers, I can too, it’s just that I close my window for 16-18hrs after that.

@AnxieTeapot that's a great start. Keep going.

Sorry to hear some of you are feeling unwell. Fingers crossed you feel better soon.

I noticed that it wasn't quite dark until almost 5pm tonight (Scotland) so the longer days and reduced germs are coming. 😊

@EarlyYearsMe I was on holiday for 5 days in October. We were booked bed and breakfast and I love a good hotel breakfast buffet so I had breakfast every day and then nothing until dinner and fasted overnight until breakfast again. We also walked a lot and it was fine.

Alternatively, you could just play it by ear and go back to your usual routine after. Some people find that it helps to keep their body guessing.

Sorry you're still poorly @TarasChoc 😥😥 it's such a miserable time of year and we're all feeling super run down and bleurgh... Roll on some sunshine and spring weather!!

I realised I never answered your message up thread - I meant to thank you for reminding me that it's okay to do low carb for a limited time, it doesn't have to be forever!! I tend to be so all or nothing that I've been avoiding low carb as I know I can't keep it up for long... But I think even a few days or a week would be really good for me. I'm so sick of craving stodgy foods that don't make me feel good, need something to break the cycle!

@mumlikeaboss I will be your low carb friend hopefully next week.
I just plan on following foods allowed in the fast 800 for a few weeks. It always helps me reset and get back on track.

I am still in the full throes of this virus. I'm thinking now as it's not covid it must be a flu. The antibiotics are just starting to kick in and are helping with the sore throat and cough but if I'm not more improved by Friday I need to go back to the gp.

At least for me this is temporary and all going well it'll be a distant memory in a few weeks. I need to put it into perspective and stop moaning.

Hi all, hope you've had a good day.

I'm quite new to the process and was just wondering if anyone has experience of getting good results whilst still having one takeaway a week. The takeaway would still be in the fasting window and would still be a fairly measured choice, by choosing the items on the menu with less calories - but whatever way I shake it, I know nothing on a McDonalds/takeaway menu will be too healthy.

I am reasonably strict the rest of the time and I'm looking to see slow and steady results. It keeps me going having something like that to look forward to but I'm prepared to rethink if it will stop me losing weight.

@AnxieTeapot I'd be very surprised if one takeaway a week stops you from losing weight.

I still have a fair amount to lose (about halfway to goal) but I have definitely incorporated takeaways, holidays, meals out with friends, etc., along the way.

Give it a try and see how you get on 🤗

@TarasChoc I'm in for next week 👍🏻

Starting trying to cut back on processed stuff, which I've done okay with today. 🤞🏻

@mumlikeaboss thank you that's brill, I am very all or nothing but always fail this way so trying to have more of a balanced approach this time. Well done for losing half of your goal weight that is amazing!

@AnxieTeapot ditto with the all or nothing mindset!! Which usually ends up being nothing rather than all, lol.

I'm so over being strict / extreme, it has to be sustainable.

My understanding of intermittent fasting, but also how to lose weight generally, is that there has to be a deficit in calories somewhere, so as long as you aren’t eating packets of biscuits every other day, one takeaway shouldn’t impact your results @AnxieTeapot

Hi everyone, I'd like to join too please?
ive been doing OMAD for 2 days and about 17.7 on the other days. I lost 3.5lb in my first week but have about another 1.5 stone to go. I find weekends really hard! Being out and about during the week keeping busy keeps me from thinking about food!

Ah well I went away for 2 nights for work and it all went a bit wrong, some good and some bad food choices, and I had job interviews in my lunch hours for two days on the trot, so it was a busy time!

I am back at home and back on the wagon again today, I have ordered myself a "Free style Libre 2 flash glucose monitoring system", you wear the pad/patch in your arm for two weeks and it tells me my blood glucose levels, its going to be fascinating see what makes my blood sugar spike, its like real science results on myself!

That sounds interesting. Was it expensive?

well I live in NZ and it was around hundred pounds. I am just trying to figure out the correct way to get it all set up, essentially you wear one sensor for 2 weeks and you get two sensors, so I'll get a months of data. I think learning if I eat a pizza or chocolate and what it does to my body might change some of my habits
www.mediray.co.nz/diabetes/shop/freestyle-libre-flash-glucose-monitoring-system/freestyle-libre-2-glucose-monitoring-system/#productTabs

I've done a month or two with veri in the uk - they provide the sensors and app. Very interesting. I also took part in a Zoe health study which uses those sensors too. You can pay to access that now.

@NorseKiwi oooh do let us know how it goes with the CGM... I would absolutely love to have one, permanently if poss lol 😂 but can't really afford to right now.

I have regained ALL the weight I mysteriously managed to lose over Christmas 😔 so I'm back up to a good 15lbs higher than what I was last summer 😏

I can't do OMAD right now, my body and brain just won't let me (probably stress)... So just trying to stick to 16:8 and steer clear of the junk food.

Managed 18 hours today, and have just had the yummiest lunch - GF chicken tenders, green salad, and a delish aubergine parmigiana 😍😍😍

I've just looked up the Freestyle Libre and it's around £115 for a starter pack (2 sensors) - but it looks like you can get a free 14-day trial if you've never used them before! 🤩

sample.freestyle.abbott/gb-en/freestylelibre.html

So that's exciting. Definitely going to give that a go at some point, will be absolutely fascinating.

Just completed my third week of fasting.
Week 1 weight loss -3.5
Week 2 +3
Week 3 -2

Is this normal in initial stages? I suppose I was expecting greater results. Seen as I'm Hank Marvin for most part of the day 🤣
I've not been 'dieting' although I've not been binging out either, but I am watching what I eat.

I don't want to have to fast and then diet by eating just fruit, salad etc as I know I'll feel deprived and end up giving up.

Has anyone else had a similar journey to mine in the first 3 weeks then found if they stick to it it works out later?
Hoping so.

TIA

Hey all
im on week 3

I’ve just swapped medications for anxiety and it’s making me super light headed and ravenous, but I’m sticking to 16:8, if I don’t it makes my anxiety & depression worse so I really need to remind myself constantly to be disciplined.

I booked a trip to Paris for my birthday around Easter so that’s a good focus, I want to buy myself a couple of new outfits

It’ll be 3 weeks tomorrow for me.

16 pounds down, but it’s definitely slowing down now.

WEEK 1 TO 20 - 25.4
WEEK 21 (sick) -0.6
TOTAL LOST 26 POUNDS.

Hello everyone sorry for the later than usual update.
I'm not sure how I lost anything at all last week but I'll take it.

I'm feeling much much better now and chomping at the bit to get back to fasting properly and consistently. The last few weeks have been frustrating but you can't plan for the unexpected.
Wishing you all a good week. I'll catch up with all the new posts later this evening🙂

@justcouldntthinkofausername that looks fine to me, I think it's fairly common for the weight to come off slowly. It isn't a crash diet, and the first few weeks can definitely be slow as your body has to adapt to fasting and remember how to burn your body fat instead of constant food intake.

In her book Fast Feast Repeat, Gin Stephens recommends not to expect any weight loss at all for the first four weeks, while you get used to fasting.

It can feel demoralising, but stick with it because it is so worthwhile!!

@justcouldntthinkofausername exactly what @mumlikeaboss said. You are doing well and your body is adjusting.

@TarasChoc hope you are feeling better and well done on a loss through all that.

I had lost a little yesterday and back up again today but on a downward trend. Still eating more sugar than ideal but lots of fruit, veg and protein too so I'm happy with that.