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.

Hi 👋 everyone please may I join all you lovely lot ?.

I've been reading this thread for quite a while now just lurking 👀 and I've finally decided enough is enough and I've got to do something about my weight, I'm currently 17 stone and 7 lbs ! :( absolutely massive for my 5.4 frame im obese maybe morbid i don't know, a size 20/22 and I feel absolutely disgusting letting myself become to big.. I've always had problems with food since childhood being starved most of the time by my parent's and surviving off a piece or 2 of bread a day( abusive family) and now at the age of 32 my eating habits are to binge constantly these days..

3 and half years ago I was 11.7 which I looked good at.. I was doing couch to 5k and doing home workouts aswel and was active but then I fell pregnant i had my lovely babies (3 in 3 years) and that changed my whole eating habits after being so good for a good few years before I finally thought my bad eating days were behind me but being constantly exhausted with 3 lil people has made me slip and slip big time.

So anyway here i am 17.7lbs and fed up! I feel constantly tired my knees are starting to really hurt 😞 I look like crap and im scared if I don't do anything now I will be in serious health trouble soon..

I've read up Micheal morsleys fast 800 about 3 times and read thread upon thread of fasting and diets.. I know it all but I just haven't put it into practise.

I love my food which is so bloody hard to break! Going 16 years on basically naff all the suddenly being able to eat what I want when I want has messed my head up I was lucky in my earlier years as I manged to keep to a healthyish weight but now nope!!

Anyway im sorry for blabbing on..
I love reading all your threads on here so inspiring.

I will be starting on Monday a fresh new week once and for all...

I know im probably going to feel awful for a few weeks as I imagine the withdrawal from all the processed and sugar I eat is going to be rough but im going to battle through and do it!

For me to get to 11 stone I will be happy :) so just 6 and a half to go lol.

I will update Monday:)

X

Love it when it's been chatty on here.

@redprincess Don't wait until Monday. Decide to not eat from 8pm (or whenever) tonight and go through until breakfast and that's you started. Also, please be kinder to yourself. There's a million reasons why we overeat and the emotions around it are complex. You will get there.

@BlackCatTabbyCat I would say don't worry too much right now, it's a process getting used to the 16/8. Sounds like you are doing great with the fasting windows, which can be the hardest thing. You might find you are still losing weight despite not being very strict during your eating window - I found this. Once you are in a rhythm with 16/8 then you can start to see what happens on the scale and adjust what you are eating accordingly. Hope this week is going well for you :).

Sorry I missed your post @Jem2409 - welcome and how is it going?

Nice to see lots of people joining - hi @redprincess - definitely agree with @Neeko be kind to yourself. I felt a bit rubbish the first week because of withdrawal and getting used to being hungry (until my body adjusted) - if it helps it worked for me to just keep reminding myself that it was just a bit of hunger or withdrawal. I kept thinking what's the worst that can happen? It won't kill me and it's okay to feel a bit uncomfortable for a while to achieve my health goals in the end. After a week I started feeling really good and the hunger went away! Obviously it could take longer but it's worth sticking it through and preparing your mindset for it. You've got this 💪.

@TarasChoc monthly weigh in sounds like a great way forward!

@redprincess welcome ❤️ and echo what the others have said, take it easy and adjust to fasting gradually. No need to jump in the deep end and have to grit your teeth through it, you can start right away but very gradually, allowing yourself to get used to it.

I'm a lot taller than you but was nearly 23 stone at my heaviest, so I do know what you mean about feeling disgusting... but it is so crucial to show yourself some love and kindness as you move forward! I've had to work on this a lot... Accepting where I am at any given point - despite not being where I want to be - and understanding that I'm doing my best with the tools I have. Not kicking myself when I'm already down. It's really hard to do this, in a twisted society where weight and size and appearance are so deeply linked with people's self worth!!

Welcome to all the new people. I'm on the app so my apologies for not been able to tag people as I can't scroll back to see names.
I think when starting or restarting the first few days are the hardest but drinking plenty of water and eating protein really helps.

@Neeko you asked about weight training earlier. Would you consider a few personal training sessions. I did this and it was invaluable. It sets you up to have good form, with a fair few decent sets you can mix up without risk of injury.

@mumlikeaboss you sound very mentally sorted in regards to your diet brain. Accepting yourself is an amazing gift.

6 months in and there's times I've felt I've made good progress with mine and times I've felt I'm slipping.
That's why I've decided on a monthly weight in. I feel recently like my weekly losses aren't enough, fluctuations on the scales bother me more now as my recent losses have been smaller. I think when I restarted properly a few weeks back I entered into too much of a deficit during the week and my weekends were too lax. I found myself once again having unrealistic goals to lose x amount of weight by a specific time. This is the sort of thinking that leads to my downfall. Previously once it became apparent that I would never hit my target weigh for the holiday/special occasion I would give up and when the time arrived I would be back to square one with nothing at all off. Its a soul destroying circle.
So now I've a lot of really lovely occasions throughout the rest of the year. My attitude now is that as each of them arise I will have lost another bit of that annoying fat I carry. It may not be near as much as I originally hoped or even hope now but having already lost almost 2.5 stone it will be progress.

@TarasChoc that's a fab attitude 🤗 and like you pointed out, maintaining or slowly losing is always streets ahead of where you'd have been before if you let your diet brain tell you you'd 'failed' and given up altogether.

I didn't mean to sound like I have it all sussed myself 😂 I don't by any means! But I do acknowledge that I've come a long way 🙌🏼 I still weigh myself a lot because I love numbers, but it's more just a measure of progress now - the numbers don't equate to anything like they used to. I've proved to myself that I can feel elegant and amazing at 17 stone when years ago I used to feel fat and awful at 14. It really is mostly in one's head!!

But I still have fat and ugly days like we all do 🤣

I also find it hard to tag people from the app. A definite flaw.

@TarasChoc A PT is a good shout actually. Might try that in a few weeks. Today it feels far too cold to consider anything but being cosy.
It does sound like you are too hard on yourself at times (like we all are). Maybe even a pressure as this is your thread and we are all cheering your weight loss along? You have done amazingly well so far and I think your new goals are good ones.
I'm a daily weigher as, like @mumlikeaboss, I like numbers. I'm no longer judging myself for a slight gain. I'm trying to operate within s 3-4 lb range and tighten up when I need to. I've still not kicked my Christmas sweet tooth. I keep telling myself I'll not have a treat tomorrow but then someone makes cookies/buys chocolate/ brings cake/ the day has a y in it and I justify it to myself. I am managing to cut myself off at the end of my eating window so at least that's still working. I also definitely want healthier/less-processed food for meals.

Sorry- that turned into a ramble.

@mumlikeaboss what a lovely way to feel, its so nice to reape the benefits of your efforts.
How are you now health wise, have you changed your medication for your thyroid?
@Neeko sometimes I feel when I'm struggling and not losing that I'm letting people reading the thread down a little. That for anyone following and thinking maybe this will work for them that I'm proving that in the end this is just another failed weight loss attempt. BUT then that kind of spurs me on to tunnel through and prove to myself and others that with enough belief and acceptance of ourselves progress can be made and that all those infrequent small losses add up too!
That sweet tooth is hard to combat! At least you're keeping it within your window and the cravings are reducing.

I love numbers too and like to see the overall downwards trends. I'll still weight daily but maybe just count my losses monthly for now.

Thanks for asking @TarasChoc 🤗
Yes I did increase my dose a little... I'm not sure if it's helped or not TBH!!

Had a bit of a better month in February, just felt a bit more energetic and had less pain... But March has been bl**dy awful so far 🙈🙈 Need to go back to the doc and see if there are any more tests they can run.

Hi again everyone

Thankyou for the lovely messages and especially @mumlikeaboss your message was very sweet 😊 ❤ I appreciate the kind words about self love..

I'm currently eating all the leftovers in the house and tomorrow I'm going to stock up on a few essentials I might need..

I'm looking forward to a new beginning and finally starting myself out..

Will update Monday evening.
X

All the best @redprincess we're cheering for you!

I think I'm going to plan some lovely fresh meals and join you for a fresh start on Monday. I know my sugar intake is massively contributing to my tiredness 😴 so I need to cut back at least short-term.

It's a tricky balance between allowing treats so I don't get obsessed with restriction, but also cutting out the junk so I feel better... I'm so all-or-nothing!! 🙄

One more for the fresh start on Monday please - put on a couple of pound this week! Can definitely relate to all or nothing @mumlikeaboss

My diet has been going great this week and I have lost 1.2kg. This is however mainly down to catching norovirus and not eating for a few days which I don't recommend.

Now I am feeling a bit better I am wondering how to reintroduce 16:8. Still largely subsisting on the high carb brat diet atm which will probably mean it all comes back on in a couple of days.

Since starting 16:8 a month ago I have lost 3.3kg though so hope to stabilise for a week and then reduce further.

@AnxieTeapot it makes it hard to stick to a sensible balanced diet / 'everything in moderation', ay 😁😁. If I was any good at moderation, I probably wouldn't have ended up so overweight in the first place 🙈

@Wheretheskyisblue sorry you've been poorly, hope you feel better soon. Listen to your stomach for the time being, you don't want to upset it again!!

When you feel a bit better, just start increasing the gap between dinner and next morning's breakfast - slide the evening meal / snacks a little earlier and breakfast a little later until you end up with a 16-hour fast. Doesn't matter if it takes a while to get there 😊

Morning. How's everyone doing? I'm on my first black coffee of the day. 😊

Morning @Neeko 😘 I've had my first coffee but going to move on to green tea now as too much coffee makes me feel a bit sick some days!!

I'm up to 19 hours as I had a lunchtime window yesterday, toying with the idea of going for 48 hours as I've got a busy day and lots of travelling.

Feeling a fraud for banging on about IF and how marvellous it is for weight loss though... because my weight is on the upswing again and despite fasting faithfully I can't seem to do anything about it!!! 😏

@mumlikeaboss I have to limit my carbs still while fasting to get any weight loss sadly…

@itsmeagainagain that's interesting.

I have had good success with low carb when I've done it, but I really hate doing anything that isn't sustainable for any length of time!! Because I inevitably "fall off the wagon" and dive back into all the sugary things I haven't had for weeks... which usually means I regain at least some of the weight 🤦🏼‍♀️

Do you think you'll have to stay low-ish carb longterm to keep the weight off...? Or how do you plan to maintain?

@mumlikeaboss Could it just be that your body is focusing on other things aka non-scale victories? Are you drinking enough water or could you be retaining fluid?

@Neeko no nsv's unfortunately 😏 can feel clothes getting tighter too. I'm not bothered about the numbers if I still feel lean, but I do mind if my clothes don't fit!!

Could definitely try drinking more, but I don't think it's just that...

So frustrating if you feel like you are doing everything right. Could it be hormonal?

@mumlikeaboss I have PCOS so have to keep the carbs on the low side most of the time sadly... I've been following 'Fast like a girl' for the last month by Dr MIndy Pelz its amazing..adjusting fasting times and carb intake in line with cycles... feeling good so far and gives me 'permission' to go a bit heavier on 'good carbs'

@Neeko could well be hormonal / stress. I'm trying not to stress myself out about it further! 😁 And am confident that the fasting is doing something good even if I don't see weight loss results.

@itsmeagainagain ah okay 👍🏻 didn't realise you had PCOS. Yes Mindy Pelz is v interesting, would love to get one of her books.

@mumlikeaboss stress has a negative impact on our health for sure. My doctor diagnosed workplace stress for me a couple of years ago and I've been working on reducing it ever since. I felt really awful all the time back then and it's been lots of baby steps around sleep/diet/exercise/boundaries/ putting myself first ever since. Sounds like you are doing everything right/ everything you can. Maybe just keep doing what you are doing for your long term health and try not to focus on numbers/size for now? (Trying to be supportive here- hope it's not sounding patronising...🤞)

Hello!
I just wondered how it's going. My baby girl is now nearly 9 months old, I'm back to work next month so I think that's a good time to start this diet programme. My weight has gone up to an all time high of 14st 6lbs (I'm 5ft 6) 😱 and I really need to do something about it! I wondered how people found this diet? Did anyone get much success? Thank you for any advice xx