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.

@Neeko , morning, yes, I do enjoy this woe and I'm glad I found this thread.

We sound very similar in our approach and what you just posted about wanting different things to eat - you just read my mind !
I'm not low carbing, as a rule, but for brunch today I just don't fancy carbs ( last ate 6pm yesterday, so just under 18 hours ago).
Woke up starved but after walking my dog and housework, I've gone off it. I might have scrambled eggs and mushrooms, rocket, etc.

I believe the fewer carbs / sugar you consume makes you want them less ?

I totally agree with that and the book Fibre-fuelled says it's to do with not feeding the microbes that like these things. The longer you go without sugar, the less you want it!
Your body definitely adapts to going longer without eating too and if I keep the sugar down, I rarely get hungry.

Yes, I definitely found that on keto. I didn't crave sugar ( I only lasted 6 days, though). Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy my meals either. And I felt unwell most days. I did lose weight though.

I'm going to have another go at keto.I just need to be more aware of where I went wrong last time ( lack of planning meals mainly and when I did, being overly ambitious - too much messing about, to name a couple of reasons).
Basically, I need to keep it simple !

I’m coming to join you all. I’ve read all of this thread, you are all so inspiring.
I’m in peri menopause and have gained a stone in the last year that is firmly on my stomach and thighs. Despite exercising daily with weights and running most days the bugger will not shift.
My diet could certainly do with improvement, I currently don’t eat my five a day and I have developed a serious craving in the last year for dark chocolate digestives.
So, my plan is to try 16:8 and make sure I eat my five a day before I cave in to the biscuits.
I have to admit to being a little nervous about fasted exercise especially my long runs of 10-12 miles that I tend to do in the morning. Anyone else a fasted runner who could give me any tips here.

Welcome @Runrabbitrun2 😊 I don't have experience of running fasted but do swim lengths, go long walks and do weights with no issues. It takes a few weeks to be properly fat adjusted though so you might need to go easy at first.
Your post sounds a lot like how I felt before I started IF. I felt I was doing lots of the right things but seeing no benefits. The book Fast, Feast, Repeat was a revelation to me. So much suddenly made sense like my Diet Coke habit that was sabotaging my efforts.
Start slowly and listen to your body is my best advice. 😊

Thank you Neeko. Off to download that book now 😀

@mumlikeaboss I'm glad to hear you're a bit better, hopefully the physio will sort out your back issues too.
@Neeko it really does sound like you've hit a lovely balance. I think you've had a very consistent year and reaped the rewards. It must be lovely returning from holidays and not feeling like you semi sabotaged weeks if not months of work!
I'm going to count my 1st year anniversary as September 1st as that's when I really started fasting properly and consistently. I had originally started the fast 800 in late July I think but my social life kept interrupting 😁 and the scales were hopping mad.

@Amdone123 I'm no low carb expert or to be honest massive fan of low carb but I find when I do cut the carbs not only do I benefit weight loss wise but health wise too. I'm more enjoying low carb at the moment because I'm trying to stick with food I'll enjoy even if it gets repetitive.
I'll post my meals here sometimes to give an idea of what I'm having.
Today I had a tuna mayo sandwich on toasted low carb sour dough bread. The bread is 15g carbs for two slices but has around 8g fiber meaning the net carbs are low. I had a quiet decadent crustless quiche I made with salad. Its gorgeous as it involved a lot of cream and cheese but lots of veggies too.
I had some mixed nuts and a couple mugs of tea and that's me very full and done for the day.
I've no interest right now for anything sweet, that took around 10 days to ease. I've no real hunger either. I drink a lot of water. Occasionally I would love some chips or crisps but right now they and wine are all I miss. I'm not planning excluding carbs long term or even medium term but right now I want to kick start myself into a good solid routine and if I make excuses at weekends it will be too easy to spill over into the week too.
You've reminded me that I also usually crash off low carb due to lack of planning and been over ambitious. This time I would like to make a smoother transition to lower carbs as opposed to low carb and not face a massive scales fluctuations or huge increase in hunger and cravings. I think if I stick in keto a couple of months at least then I should make an easier planned transition rather than trying to believe I could eat like that forever.

Welcome to the thread @Runrabbitrun2 the very least fasting will do is cure you of evening snacking. Enjoy reading Fast, Feast, Repeat also look into what happens in your body as your fasting hours increase. Those benefits alone have often stopped me reaching for the biscuits with my cuppa before bed.

@TarasChoc , thanks for your post.
Yes, we probably eat the same way. I'm not really a snacker or even have a sweet tooth, just sometimes I like a bar of chocolate. I'm going to see on Monday how I've done, and change accordingly.

Today I had brunch (11.30am) - feta salad, leftover gammon and seafood sticks.
Tea ( 4pm - I was starved ) - pork steaks, rice and broccoli.
I should be OK now til tomorrow, but I'll see.

I think I eat more when I'm IF than normally... like I feel like I need to pack in the calories! I just ate dessert when I wouldn't normally. It's inside my window though so is that ok??

@atthebottomofthehill , oh, I never really thought of it like that.
I suppose I don't really know what I'm doing!
I just thought I'd cut back, try to not eat junk food.
I'll weigh myself Monday and see if what I'm doing has worked.

@Amdone123 give yourself time to get used of eating over less hours. I think you'll find as time goes on you will be less hungry during your eating window and won't want the extra calories.
Keep an eye on it though as if you're trying to lose weight you really do need a deficit.

I definitely eat more volume of food during IF but that's because I eat far more veg/ fruit/ nuts and seeds than before. Tim Spector has me convinced that the calorie is a warped measurement, so I genuinely don't consider calories now (which has brought about my love of avocado). What I do consider much more is the quality of the food. We still eat ultra-processed foods but way less than before. I also find that if I have something sweet immediately after my main meal then I'm fine. I do best if I have two substantial meals within my window (usually 4-6 hours) and no snacks. I usually only drink water or black coffee (unless having alcohol on a night out) but might have a fruit juice or kombucha with a meal if I fancied something different.

That sounds great. I'm not a lover of counting calories either. I've gradually changed my mindset and think more about what food is best for me. Which was a struggle at first as I grew up with the Low Fat movement.
I love avocados too. Last week I mashed one up with 2 hard boiled eggs, dash of mayo and had it on rye bread with slices of cucumber. Was delicious.
Not too hungry this morning but brunch is bacon and egg muffins ( added chive cottage cheese and a little garlic and herb cream cheese).
Side order of mushrooms.

I'm so going to try the avocado and boiled egg. It sounds amazing!
I'm going to a friend's house for lunch today. I have no idea at all what we are having and I'm totally relaxed about it. I've dieted on and off for my entire adult life an previously this would have been an issue for me, counting points or calories and watching what I was having when I was there. That's honestly not an issue now. I'll open my window when she serves the meal, eat and enjoy it all then have dinner about 5 or 6 tonight. Easy!
I know this way of eating isn't for everyone but it's definitely the thing that works for me!

Definitely, and this way you don't feel deprived either.
Enjoy !

What a lovely and inspirational thread. I have been reading through all of the posts and would love to join the thread. After trying most diet and failing for thirty plus years I have become interested in IF for the health benefits claimed it brings.

After a recent health scare I really need to get my act together and live a more healthy lifestyle. I’ve always put other people and my career first. It’s such a shock when the realisation hits that you’re not invincible! I fell into the trap of thinking because I walked at every opportunity I could between work and other commitments that I was fairly healthy albeit overweight. Now the blinkers are firmly off and I need to lost two stone ( two and a half would be even better) and maintain the loss. I know it may not seem like a great deal to have to lose but it has felt so difficult to do. I am in my 50s so the weight loss is more difficult anyway.

I have read Michael Moselys books and listened to Gins podcasts so have some understanding of how to do IF but still lots of learning to take place.

Reading through these threads has been inspirational. I started IF keeping calories to around 1200 and my carbs below 60 in a 16 hour fasting window, and to my surprise have lost 5 pounds in 5 days. I’m amazed but also realise this is related to the amount of sugar and rubbish I was eating and that if I return to those habits I will gain the weight straight back.

I want this to be a lifestyle change and know if I get on the scales and see a gain I will become disheartened so will now be taking Gina advice and not weighing again for 4 weeks.

posting the other benefits I feel will help me keep on track as I’m sure there will be many bumps along my journey.if you’ve read this far thank you for reading my ramblings!

Good morning @sheepdreams , and welcome. Yes, this sounds like the place for you.
We're quite similar - I'm in my 50s and walk a lot, but still have to lose 2 stone really.
Well done on losing 5lbs in as many days.
I was 13st 11 Monday.
Weighed yesterday and I've lost 3lb in 3 days. Yesterday I was ill, so ate chocolate, so not perfect every day, but I'm trying.
The Good News for me is when I don't drink, eat properly, drink water and walk, the weight does come off.
I'll post more later as granddaughter has just arrived !

Amdone123 thank you for the welcome and sharing your story which does sound very similar to mine. Enjoy the time with your granddaughter.

Welcome to the thread @sheepdreams and well done on the great start. I've benefitted so much from this thread. Keep posting and read up and listen to info from people Lauchlan’s as Gin, Tim Spector and Michael Mosley. I really believe in the clean fast but know some people have success without it.

Well done on your weight loss too @Amdone123. Think of the chocolate as being the way of keeping your body guessing 😉

I did my first weights workout in two weeks this morning. It was quite hard and I expect to be sore tomorrow!

@Neeko love that 🤣
@sheepdreams , she's giving me headache but we're having fun ❤️

Happy Saturday all.

posting for accountability. Thank you for the welcome to Neeko.

Accidentally managed a 24 hour fast yesterday. I just did not feel hungry and them by the time I had finished working the time seemed to have disappeared. I did however have hangry symptoms which disappeared when I had a lovely salad with cottage cheese.

I finished the day on just under 1500 calories in a 6 hour window which I am happy with.

Meals: green leaf salad, cottage cheese, ham smidgen St Agur whipped cheese.
Naked strawberries.

Homemade chicken curry, basmati rice and naughtily garlic bread.

glass of red wine.

Steps 11800 (curtesy of 🐕)

I am going to have Fridays as more of a treat day but try to stay within 1500 calories in my eating window.

Wondering whether to follow Michael Moseleys 800 cal fast rest of week for a few weeks has anybody tried this?

Also does anybody drink diet soda drinks as part of the fluids in their fasting period? and if so did you still lose weight?

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

@sheepdreams , morning.

That sounds great - you're in The Zone, which is really important. I once went to a slimming club knowing full well my heart wasn't in it - was a waste of money.

Anyway, I try to have a similar amount of calories to you and I do drink diet drinks. Because I'm also trying to not drink wine, I need a can of diet coke and a bar of chocolate every now and again.
When will you weigh yourself ? ( Mondays here)
I'm feeling lighter and stomach flatter, but I'm making a few changes for next week.

Hi Amdone123

Thank you for the information re diet drinks. They are my downfall I am afraid. If I can’t have a glass of wine it is my default go to. Although I try to have herbal teas they just do t hit the spot, I think I’m addicted to the fizz in the pop!

Im not going to weigh now until end of August and going to try and feel the changes intuitively and by the feel of my clothes. My worry is that until I make this way of eating a habit if I don’t see weight loss in the first few weeks I will give up! as has been the case in the past. I do feel more in coming from of my eating already after this short period.