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.

@alwaysonadiet1 come January you will fly through as you know what to do.
I've found December tougher than expected if I'm honest. I don't use a fasting app, I never felt I needed one. In hindsight I can see now it would be beneficial for manic periods in life or even when I'm out of my routine. Having said that I'm ok with been less diligent over Christmas, it's all a learning curve of how to fast and still enjoy celebrations.
Happy Christmas everyone, hope you all are having a nice time.

Week 18 +3.2
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)
total loss 23.2 pounds

How did everyone get on over the holidays? 😊

We ended up not doing a lot of socialising due to illness 🤦🏼‍♀️ but in a way it was nice to just kick back and relax as a family.

I said up thread that I'd been gaining weight for a while - I'd got up to 14lbs higher than what I weighed over the summer 😰 and was finding it impossible to do anything about it...

Over the last 2 weeks I have somehow managed to lose 9 of those 14 lbs!!! And I'm not really sure why. Been fasting same as usual - averaging 20:4 - but I've also been a lot less hungry so I guess I'm eating less. No idea why.

I just started acupuncture about 3 weeks ago for various health reasons, so I don't know if it's that that's made the difference!

I wish I realised years ago that so much of weight control is hormonal and sometimes out of our control... It helps me to be more positive and just accept where I am, rather than constantly telling myself I'm a failure.

Oh wow, just cross-posted with you at almost the exact same time @TarasChoc 😂

@mumlikeaboss what a result, I'm delighted for you! Can you notice the change in your clothes?
Would it be worth you keeping a food diary to compare for a while if you are eating less/more?

Fasting over Christmas went out the window for me. I've had a heavy cold and busy house with all my family and various partners coming and going. I think I fasted at least 12 hours every day and often more, I just couldn't keep track. I've downloaded an app now to help during busier times.
I've over 6 pounds on since heading on holidays at the beginning of December. I'm fine with that. I've done very little activity and while I ate and drank it wasn't like previous years.
I cannot wait to have a few days fasting behind me and feel less sluggish and bloated!

I tried for 16: 8 hours over Christmas with a couple of non fasting days. I feel like I experienced a bit of appetite correction as I didn't go as mad as I usually do.

I'm aiming for 21:3 today as a bit of a reset.

Yes I have kept a food diary for a while but it's just a very rough note of what I've eaten, not quantities or calorie counts or anything because I find counting stuff absolutely soul-destroying 😁😁

I'm pretty sure I am eating less than usual, but it's very much appetite-driven because I haven't consciously tried to cut down - that's what I'm intrigued about!

Anyway. At the moment it feels really easy to listen to my appetite and only eat what I need - long may it last 🙃

I am starting to feel it in my clothes too, so I'm very happy with that!

Glad you enjoyed your holiday, and 6lbs over Christmas is nothing in the grand scheme of things 😉 it will feel really good to get back in the swing.

I have used an app the whole time I've been fasting... Not exactly to give me any kind of fasting length to aim for (that just stresses me out and feels restrictive) but purely because I love having the data.

For example I mostly stay away from wheat (because of my Hashimoto's) but I notice when I do eat it that my fasts are always shorter and my eating windows much longer!! Something about wheat is very addictive to me and drives me to eat even when I'm not hungry. Useful data to have 🙃

@mumlikeaboss That's an amazing result. Well done!

@TarasChoc sounds like you have a great mindset for moving forward. I'm sure some of that will disappear really quickly. Hope you are fully recovered now. Sorry that you have been unwell over Christmas.

I've gained 3.5lbs since my lightest weight a few weeks ago but have done a lot of socialising, eating of foods I would not normally eat and drinking alcohol when I don't normally drink. I haven't once felt guilty and I don't regret a thing! I have managed to fast every day but my timings have been all over the place. Still have a few social events this week and will get back to normal properly on Sunday. It feels amazing not to be planning a traditional January diet.

@izzy2076 Sorry. I missed your post. Sounds like you've kept a good balance. 😊

@Neeko the lack of guilt and the flexibility is just the best isn't it 🤩

@izzy2076 sorry I missed your post too! Well done for fitting IF around your Christmas 🥰🥰

@mumlikeaboss its amazing!

@TarasChoc you inspired me.
I bought the book, I'm on chapter 19 now and am currently 4 hours away from opening my 2nd fast.
A relative visited yesterday and looks super skinny! Funnily enough, she started IF just over a month ago, she's just doing 16:8 and she swears by it!
Amazing.
So glad I found this thread ❤️

@justcouldntthinkofausername good luck! I hope you love it!

That's so cool that your relative already found it 🤩 I love it when I bump into people who have stumbled upon this WOL. It feels like an exciting shift in the appalling diet culture everywhere!!

@izzy2076 the appetite correction is one of the best things about fasting.
Welcome @minervamcgonagall2 it'll be invaluable to you to have someone in real life too to discuss IF with.
I've really appreciated the contributions from seasoned fasters like @Neeko and @mumlikeaboss.
I still consider myself a novice and very much on a learning curb so getting advice from people who've worked through holidays/birthdays/Christmases along with all the downsides of life is very inspiring.
I'm still feeling miserable from my cold. Its not the worst of doses but it just hasn't shifted or improved at all since Christmas eve. I'm extremely low in iron too so that's not helping. On the plus side both ailments are temporary and when they're sorted I'll be full of energy.
I've just focused on fasting so far this week. I'm not counting calories or macros but I'm eating well. Dh surprised me with a hotel break this weekend. One where we literally do nothing. I'm sure there'll be eating and drinking involved but I'll follow my usual weekend of 16/8 and it'll be fine.
I've downloaded a fasting app and found it helpful to see the data as I'm going along.

@TarasChoc did you start weighing after the 28 days as advised by Gin Stephens or are your weekly weigh ins from day dot?

@TarasChoc Defintely not a seasoned faster but I'm getting there.
Had a couple of monster headaches this holiday which I'm sure is due to the extra sugar. Looking forward to getting back to my old routine.

@justcouldntthinkofausername I weighed every day during the 28 day fast start but told myself not to expect to lose weight. By the end of it, I'd lost 3-4 lbs but I remember just being happy that the scale wasn't going up and that I felt more in control of my health than I had for a long time. It's apparently common to gain a little as your body adjusts so maybe only weigh if you can cope with that. I have always weighed every morning but go with the trend over time. It's not good to become fixated with the daily number if that makes sense?

Thank you @Neeko
And can we drink alcohol during our window?

Yes. I'm not a big drinker but I have had alcohol a few times and still lost weight. Some people have a glass or two regularly.
This way of eating seems to work differently for different people. Once you are fat-adjusted (I believe it takes 3-6 weeks) just keep experimenting and see what works for you.
I lose best with a 4-6 hour eating window that covers a decent-sized lunch and dinner and no snacking. Not saying that's what I always do, but this is a lifestyle for me and I don't want it to be too restrictive. I honestly think it's the cumulative effect of doing it day after day that works. The difference is that I can do some version of this "forever". I certainly couldn't with s calorie/points counting diet.

@justcouldntthinkofausername I weight everyday and input it into an app where I take my weekly average from on my Monday weight in.
Hands up, I was lax with this over Christmas so I'm prepared to expect the unexpected for the next while.
I hadn't read any books before starting so I wasn't aware of giving it 28 days to get started. I lost weight from the start but I've got a fair bit to lose, I reduced processed carbs and I calorie count. Calorie counting isn't necessary or indeed recommended. However for now I prefer to do so, I find it easy and it's another tool that helps me make better choices. I think in time I'll adjust and not need to count and be able to trust the process but for now it offers an extra security measure that I am on my way to losing this weight for good.

This is a very inspiring thread. I'm looking to start 16:8 - can anyone tell me, if I was going to buy just one of Gin Stephen's books to get started, which one should I go for?

Hi and welcome @CupOfAnxieTea I preferred Fast, Feast, Repeat.

@CupOfAnxieTea definitely Fast Feast Repeat 😊 You could also have a listen to her 'Intermittent Fasting Stories' podcast.

If you're up for a slightly more scientific read, I super recommend Jason Fung's 'Obesity Code' - fab book.

Fast, feast, repeat for me too.

Brill thanks so much!