November IF/eating window accountability thread

[Altoo]

I've well & truly embraced the IF way of life, I fast every day with an eating window of between 4-6 hours on average.

Lost two stone this year, ideally like to lose a bit more as I'm hovering right at the top of ideal BMI, and have been plateauing here for a few months now.

I suspect the reason is that I have days where o have a longer eating window, and days where my diet isn't the best (occasional carb binges still!). On a positive though I'm also a lot fitter and leaner than I was at the same weight a couple of months ago.

I want to try to keep a tight eating window for a month, and take greater care over what I'm eating. If that doesn't work I may consider a period of ADF to shift a few pounds for good!

Would anyone like to join me in an accountability thread for a month?

Hi all,

Interesting about the impact it's having on peri-menopause symptoms. 🤔 I'm not peri myself but struggle awfully with PMT and heavy periods.

Feeling in the zone today, fasted for nearly 18 hours & broke my fast with roasted mushrooms, scrambled egg and halloumi on sourdough at a local brunch place. Was delicious!

@LifeInAHamsterWheel Have you tried adding some pink Himalayan salt to your black coffee? It was recommended to me on a fasting Facebook group and it really helped with the bitterness. I prefer my coffee black now which I never thought I'd say.

Hi @Neeko no I've never heard of that! But willing to give anything a try as I do really miss my coffee. I'll take some to work with me tomorrow and report back!

I had a bit of salt in my black coffee in the early days too. Now I'm hardcore 💪

Had to open my window early today, my DH was having toast & pate and I was feeling the cold. Much easier when I'm in the office (with heating! We keep the heating off during the day at home but have a small heater in the 'office' when we both WFH)

I tried the salt this morning, it was ok, I will try it again in the morning and see but maybe I just need to go straight hardcore and deal with it!

I had a terrible sleep last night and have been awake since 5am so struggled this morning and could really have done with my usual bowl of porridge (made with milk and a load of homemade jam stirred through ) but I soldiered on and didn't break my fast until 1pm when I had a roast beef sandwich, hot with fried onions! It tasted like heaven! I then had a cup of tea and a slice of meringue roulade so really today is a write-off other than that I'm sticking to an 'eating window' given that what I'm eating during that window is high calorie, eek!

However, I am drinking more water now that I ever have which can only be a good thing.

Stick to nailing the fasting (as you are doing) and don't worry yet about what you are eating. One step at a time. 😊

Accidentally managed an 18:6 day instead of 16:8. Keeping busy definitely helps with the fasting.

Agree with everyone else @LifeInAHamsterWheel

Fasted 17/7 today and ate the following:
One chocolate biscuit
Pasta with roasted veg and pesto
Three rice cakes with sliced banana and peanut butter
Chicken, chorizo and leek pie with tenderstem broccoli
A yogurt and an apple

Seems rather a lot but at least I stuck to my window.

ok, well I seem to be ok at waiting till noon or 1pm for lunch, but I was travelling for work yesterday and I did have snacks, plus went out for a few drinks when I got home, so not a short fasting window in the least yesterday, but it will be interesting to see how much progress I make by just waiting till lunchtime to eat.

I also don't wont to weigh myself too much as some people seem to say that it seems to take time for the weight to come off, but your clothes fit a lot better and you loose inches more than weight!

Well I'm very proud of myself, have just come back from a tea-break at work and there was cake - which I didn't eat!! I have a very sweet tooth so for me to turn down a slice of cake is unheard of. And actually I don't feel hungry so I think it's more a case (for me anyway) of mentally overcoming the habit and addiction to certain things.

I've been doing 17/7 and that seems to be working for me for now. December will be difficult as I've got a few get-togethers coming up but will worry about that closer to the time.

Morning. It's been a reasonably good week - I'm now determined not to undo it this weekend! (I shouldn't say undo it really, but I've got a goal of moving down from the plateau I've been on for months, by the end of November!)

Well done on resisting the cake @LifeInAHamsterWheel ! I know myself I'm fine until I break then all bets are off!

Happy Saturday all.

Got a baby with a nasty cold so am feeling shattered, powering through with black coffee in hand at the moment. Feeling lighter but scales haven't really moved.

How are you all?

struggling this morning, still not enjoying the black coffee and I left the fancy pink salt at work!!
Hope the baby is better soon @buonnatale
I can't wait til 1pm!! Think I'll break my fast with a poached egg on avocado toast and some Ballymaloe relish. I'd eat my own arm right now Need to get stuck into some housework to pass the time.
Good luck everyone!

All going well here. I'm doing the Zoe app 14:10 and yesterday I stopped me having that extra Friday night after dinner wine and nibbles so that is a win.

Have been ravenous today during my eating window. Now need to resist the buffet at evening function. Fingers crossed.

All good here. Scales down another wee bit today. It's much easier during the times when you don't have a social life. 🤣

So far so good. I say that, although I'm not sure if I've lost any weight at all but I'm still doing it so that's good! I am now getting used to the black coffee, and actually used to the plain water too. I don't eat until lunchtime (1pm) and actually find it ok now, I'm not falling down with hunger or anything. I have upped my exercise too so am really hoping that I'll fit into some of my 'seasonal' outfits next month as I really don't want to have to buy new clothes and I have a few nights out planned.

Hope everyone else is still on track.

It sounds like you're in the Grove @LifeInAHamsterWheel

The weight/inch loss will happen but getting your approach right for you is most important.

This is my 12th week of IT but this is the first week I'm trying a clean fast.
Up until now I've had a couple of cups of tea with a dash of milk outside my eating window with no issues. But I've became complacent and been drinking the tea too freely plus occasionally forgetting and adding dilute to my water too. I've been less satiated the last week or two so I've decided to clean fast and see how that goes.
I didn't feel my cuppa in the mornings effected me so most likely if I feel its too big a sacrifice I'll add it back in.

12th week of IF*

12 weeks is great going! I'd say from reading the 'science' behind it that even a small amount of milk will interfere with the process so best to try the clean fast if you can. I do think that staying hydrated really helps. I switch between still and sparkling water just to ease the monotony of it!

Morning. How are you all doing?

I am in the "even a tiny bit of milk will affect the fast" camp too but I think everyone has to try things and see how it works for them.

Today, for the first time in over 16 years, I finally weighted in at my pre-pregnancy weight. 🎉 (Not the same shape obviously, but still...) I have been close to this self-imposed target over the years but no matter what diet I was on, it was a struggle, a mental drain and I only ever got within a few lbs of it. I feel so much better with this way of eating and the weight loss is a real bonus.

This may be the first year in my adult life that I am unconcerned about all the festive foods and any nights out. I intend to enjoy them when they appear and go back to this way of eating in between. I'm also going to treat myself to a nice new outfit - or wear something that I haven't worn since my twenties! 🤣

Apologies for the boastful post. I just really needed to tell someone. I hope you all have a good weekend.

@Neeko what a result I'm delighted for you. Its not a boastful post at all, your efforts have paid off and you're happy, you should be singing from the roof tops. It sounds like you've a good plan in place for the Christmas period.

I agree wholeheartedly with you about how much better I feel on this way of eating. For the first time in my adult life I feel I'm eating normally and not either on or off a diet. It's wonderful.

In regards to milk in tea/coffee or not. I feel I can get away with an occasional one and not have any hunger or cravings. If I make it a regular thing during fasting then it increases hunger and my desire for processed carbs.
I can't have sugar free dilute drinks during fasting at all as it really effect me. I now find its just easier to drink plain water all the time as when I'm used of it it's fine but when I add a dilute during my window I dislike drinking water when I return to fasting.

Thanks @TarasChoc. I've been smiling to myself all day.
I was just reading some of your thread and you are doing so well. I think Fast, Feast, Repeat is excellent. It all made so much sense to me when I read it.

@Neeko your 'boastful' post is what I need to hear. I'm new to IF and settling into the rhythm but not feeling much effect yet. I'm sticking with it and gradually trimming my eating window.

I find drinks with sweeteners make my fast harder but have had some on nights out.

@BrownMilk It definitely took me a few weeks to start losing (although I felt better in myself after the first few days of fasting). Keep going. You've got this. 😊