Starting 16:8 diet tomorrow... anyone fancy joining?

[Leopardpj]

I'm starting the 16:8 diet properly from tomorrow after trying it out a couple of days last week and finding it seemed to suit me OK. Would love it if anyone doing the same would like to share experiences??

My 'kitchen closed' at 6.15pm this evening so technically I think I can eat from 10.15 tomorrow but I'm going to see if I can last until midday and eat 12-8 on weekdays. I don't think I'll realistically be able to do it on weekends but am going to try to stick to the general principles of not snacking in the evening/ eating more 'mindfully'...

I have a stubborn half a stone to lose which I've never managed to shift since having my second dd (who is now 3).

I've always dismissed this diet before as I love breakfast/ brunch so much! But I'm now changing my mentality on it and saying I'm basically delaying my breakfast not ditching it. I'll have a big brunch style meal around 12 and then a decent dinner before 8.

I'm hoping it'll suit me as I am not someone who eats loads of sugar/ junk but I do love my food and hate diets - just the idea of being restricted makes me miserable but if I feel I'm just 'delaying' food I feel loads better. My big weaknesses are milky hot drinks (I'm probably going to allow myself a small splash of milk in tea in the morning that'll make it a lot more bearable for me!) also buttered toast, cheese, and snacking on the kids' tea leftovers at 5pm....

Be so lovely to have some company but if not I can always chat away to myself I guess!!

Also planning to listen to some Jason Fung podcasts which are supposedly v helpful!

Anyone else doing similar??

I'm trying this again, nothing after 18h.
Difficult at first but it definitely works.

Welcome @Starred7 and @LeaveAndNeverLookBack ! Great to have a few of us doing it 💪💪
So I take it you've done it before @LeaveAndNeverLookBack ? Do you do 10-6?

I ate later than planned last night that my Zero app is saying I can't eat until 12.19 today if I want to do the full 16 hours, gahh! I really hope the mornings get easier after the first couple of weeks! I'm not sure I can drink another herbal tea 😂although having said that I have found that the "detox" flavour Yogitea is pretty good, it contains liquorice so has that sweetness to it (but completely natural/ no calories)

On a more positive note, I'm sure my stomach already looks flatter!

You sound like you're doing brilliantly @SoCunningYouCanStickATailOnItAndCallItAFox ! Are you aiming to lose weight?

I'm 5'5 and 68 kilos and would love to be more like 63 kilos as I was when I got married (and before the kids came along!)

Dont worry too much about eating an hour late or so on. Over time, it will still work.

Life needs to be lived.

As the clocks have gone forward and we're now in summer time, I've switched my lunch time food. In winter, I buy four veg and chicken soups for my lunches, with a cheat day Friday, and in summer in have salads, olives and meat, maybe tuna, salmon, chicken. Nice and fresh.

Gonna be a great summer ladies! All those lovely dresses!

I'm combining the continued health kick with facial tanning drops and eyelash serum.

Good luck today. Seven gulps of water gets rid of hunger, but if you're desperate, break the fast.

@Leopardpj
A few years ago, I wanted to lose weight and did breakfast 8am, a big lunch with dessert, then toast for dinner, before 18h, and it worked, I lost 12 kilos in 3 months, so without realising it, I was IF.
I don't think having a big breakfast is going to spoil your diet as you have all day to burn it off.

I've been doing it for about a month now and have just discovered Dr Fung. I think his approach is very sensible and measured. Some I've watched are a bit off putting. The longest I've managed is 18/6 but a normal day is 17/7. I never eat before 11. Now I'm used to it, I'm thinking more about what I'm eating and trying not to snack between my 2 meals. I feel so much better in myself

Agree @Leopardpj tummy already looks flatter though I'm under no illusions that is from it having actually had chance to empty properly and not just be continually refilled (with generous portions too in my case).
Actual fat loss to follow hopefully as, yes, want to lose weight. I'm 5'3" and about 66kg or 10.5 stones (so similar weight to you but shorter), and I want to be 9 stone because my clothes will fit better (can dig out some shelved ones!) and that's my best weight when I'm fit. I have been as low as 8 stone in the past as I'm petite build but that's very lean with no muscle and actually I like being fit and having good muscle tone (was sporty pre-kids).
My goal is to be at my best fighting weight and able to run miles and look great naked. 😁

Thanks for the food suggestions @something2say I adore good food so this behaviour change will be all about eating scrummy food. 😋😋
Thanks for yogitea tip @Leopardpj I can't prise my hands of my standard earl grey yet, so tried and tested alternatives are good to know about... At the moment think I'll have to accept that's a step too far for my will power, but maybe as I get into the groove I might be able to crank up the changes, meanwhile I'm not truly zero calories when fasting as I do have a splash of milk. Oh well, as @something2say says... Life is for living. 🤣

What are everyone's goals?
Got a special occasion you want to wear something nice?
General health improvements for life?
Want to regain control over your body after children?
What's motivating you all? 😊

Mine is get back to my pre second child, pre covid weight. My clothes felt uncomfortable and I feel better and more in control of my eating already.
Annoyingly my weight loss has really slowed down and has plateaued this week. I’m on my period as well so feel moody and bloated and want to eat loads of crap but also want to see some more results so trying to resist the urge!
Its been 3 weeks now of VLCD so think I’ll have a ‘weekend off’ where I do 16:8 but don’t limit calories as I’m away this weekend for my birthday. Need some balance! Will get back on it next week.

Yes, no need to be all 'monastic flagellation' about it, think a week off for your birthday is allowed. 😁 Happy birthday! Let's hope your period discomfort is finished for your celebrations. 🤞
Good goal though, let's face it, it's cheaper to slim down than buy a new wardrobe of larger clothes. 🤣 (Not to mention feeling good about yourself and comfy in your body. 👌)

I've got the last bit of baby weight to shift too, so planning on doing similar.

I'm back at work from maternity leave in a couple of weeks so will need to choose timings based on that. I'm thinking I'll be having my evening meal around 6.30pm, so if I call it 11am-7pm that should probably work.
I'll also be having a bit of milk in my morning brew though, can't do without!

Can I join?!

I have about five stone to lose so lots more than many of you. I lost it in 2014 through personal training and 1200 kcal diet a day but two children later and five years of pregnancy/ breastfeeding I need to get back on it!!

I’ve started using protein shakes for breakfast and lunch, then a normal dinner at 5pm with the kids and then fast from 5.30pm - 9.30am/10am.

we want baby number 3 but I want the weight off first to reduce chance of complications so I need to do it now! I’m early 30s so time not on my side.

also getting a rowing machine so will be trying to use that!

Also my sisters wedding in June so I want to look good in a dress for that - wonder how much I can lose between now and then?

Welcome all! Great to have you aboard @Anotheroverreaction @Porkscratching and others!

I managed to last until 12.19 !! (Not that I was counting the seconds or anything, haha!)

I'm already finding it a bit easier than the first couple of days. I'm finding it fascinating how little I actually need to eat in my eating window to be full. I do get hungry during the fasts, but find myself looking forward to a proper meal, not carbs. I'm not particularly missing carb-heavy foods like toast and porridge that are usually staples for me, now that I've stopped eating them. I am really surprised about that!

I had my first craving for crap food (cake/ croissants) today though, after a really stressful afternoon - classic afternoon sugar low! Proud of myself for sitting in the bakery with just a cuppa to chill for ten mins and resisting! Trying to be mindful of the stuff Jason Fung says about insulin. So I'm having a small sweet thing after my dinner rather than on its own at 4pm and I'm really seeing the idea that it spikes your blood sugar less and you don't get the same 'crash' after.

Having said all that I might have chicken fajitas tonight as I'm really craving them😋

I had a tiramisu after lunch today (supermarket pot type thing), taking your tip of pairing treats with meals to limit the sugar spike @Leopardpj. I did enjoy it but it wasn't hitting the spot as much as it does when I'm on regularly indulging in crap!

So you count chicken fajitas as crap food then? It's mostly protein and veg, no? Or do you smother them in extras? 😁

Just had my dinner - nearly two hours over my window deadline 😬, but you can't win 'em all, the timings just didn't work today.
It was homemade chicken and leek soup with rye and spelt bread though, so quality at least.

Did you know spelt is a really slow energy release grain? So it is a very good one for keeping you full for a long time. The Romans called it their marching grain as it was such good fuel! Food with spelt in is great for fasting. 👍

Good luck with your wedding target @Anotheroverreaction . I think it was @something2say

Oohhh something went wrong with the tagging then.

A pp (was it @RollingInTheCreek ?) said they had lost 3.5kg in 3 weeks, so June wedding should be achievable for seeing a good difference.

Ah that's a great tip about spelt @SoCunningYouCanStickATailOnItAndCallItAFox !

I definitely think Fajitas could potentially be a healthy low-carb dinner, but sadly I definitely tend to go heavy on the wraps, cheese and sour cream (I mean come on, how can you not!)

My plans were scuppered anyway as the husband had prepared a nutritious yet flavourless stir fry thinking he was being helpful 😂never mind. At least I ate early, so fasting only until 11 tomorrow, which for me feels infinitely more manageable than 12!

I'll have my fajitas on Friday night to celebrate one week down (and will try not to finish the entire tub of sour cream...)

Your fajitas sound awesome... Fully loaded- Yum! For sure they'll be a great way to end your week (thanks anyway DH!). 😋😁
Think I'm round my week off with a Thai prawn curry. 😏

Hi everyone, I just wondered if you think I will still loose weight if im not specifically calorie counting. I am definitely eating less sugary crap with not eating between 8.00 and 12.00 but god the last couple of hours are tough. But other than that I am eating quite normally but more thoughtfully, ie. No big pastries or toast come midday, but still a big normal dinner with something sweet after. I guess time will tell.

As I have the day off I am about to take the dog for a very long walk to kill some time until midday. But I am sure this will get easier in time. I am oddly enjoying feeling quite empty in the late morning.

I am oddly enjoying feeling empty too - it's nicer than that sluggish feeling you get from filling up more than you need to. And I enjoy the extra relish it gives me for enjoying my food. These unexpected little pluses are really helpful aren't they!

I don't think you need to calorie count to lose weight, if the point of the fast is what you follow.
I'm no expert, but the point to me is - limited eating window automatically reduces your calorie intake as you just don't have time to fit in all the surplus food you normally do without thinking (snacks, meal you don't really have an appetite for etc).
But also if your choices when you do eat are for quality food because quality food will get you through long periods of fast more easily because they aren't empty calories that you burn through quickly, and you don't want to eat food with poor nutrient content when you're getting less food as that won't support the changes long term as you'll end up ill.
So imo (maybe some if the more experienced people will have a deeper view) if your fast is naturally limiting your intake without you having to think about it and the food your are eating is good quality the calories will take care of themselves.

I'm finding keeping busy helps me forget I'm hungry until the clock comes round, thankfully 🤣

Hey @Pokerprincess you sound very similar to me! I had the same question, because the whole appeal for me was that I didn't have to 'calorie count' or get into 'diet head' - I was only delaying having what I wanted to eat, not denying!

So I don't calorie count, because for me, it's not helpful. But what's great is that even though I haven't set any limits on what I eat in my eating window, a couple of things have happened totally naturally by sticking to the 16:8 rules. Namely -

1. I just literally have less time for snacking - because you only have your 8 hour window so your meals are squeezed together... you have to work quite hard to consume the same amount of food!
2. You realise the foods that are ACTUALLy going to keep you going and fill you up without a crash two hours later are the healthy wholefoods and protein... not the processed carbs... so you eat more of those
3. Those foods, with protein and fat, have a higher satiety value and make you fuller much quicker than carbs/ sugar etc, so you eat less at mealtimes but still feel full
4. You start to feel nice in the mornings having given your digestive system a longer break overnight
5. You drink more water (because you need to have SOMETHING while fasting, ha!)

For me that podcast I posted with Jason Fung was so helpful. He made the point that if you eat a dinner of steak potatoes and veg, and someone offers you another steak you think 'no way, I'm too full.' But if someone offers you a slice of apple pie and ice cream you say, 'oh go on.' That's because steak has a high satiety value- makes you feel full - and the apple pie and ice cream has very low satiety value- even if the calories are the same.

The point he is making is that those foods are so easy to overeat because they don't make us feel full. It's not because we are weak and greedy. It's just the fact of how those foods feel. But what also happens is that our body knows that there's a ton of calories coming in and we're consuming more calories than we can possibly burn in the short term, so our insulin- the hormone that instructs the body to store fat - goes into overdrive because it has to put those excess calories somewhere. Unfortunately that results in us overstimulating insulin and gaining weight.

Basically in his view it's less about calories and more about understanding insulin and how it works. If you stimulate it all day long with carbs and snacks, you'll store way more fat. If you stimulate it less, with protein rich food and long fasts, you won't.

It makes a lot of sense to me and listening to those podcasts has made me more mindful and it's genuinely just put me off eating load of carbs. I am not strict about it but I am more mindful. You start to realise you can feel that crash two hours after when you just crave more and you're not satisfied. So I'm just genuinely more drawn to filling/ wholesome food now after doing this for a few days.

Also, I totally agree the last couple of hours can feel hard in the morning. But even just a week in, I'm finding that less as my body is more used to it. And I'm feeling the benefits more and more.

Random one but do you like the taste of marmite? A tsp of marmite dissolved in hot water is only 7 calories so not enough to break a fast and it's got me through the last chunk of time the past few days! I find it v effective on hunger pangs and that weakness feeling which can be a lack of salt/ minerals (which marmite contains!)

Definitely agree re: keeping busy being so helpful @SoCunningYouCanStickATailOnItAndCallItAFox

I found the morning fine today, I booked an osteopath appointment for the last hour as I knew being yanked around etc would be a very good distraction, and it was! My weird marmite drink worked too!

I had a shakshuka with halloumi to break my fast but weirdly I couldn't even finish it! I think my stomach must have shrunk or something!!

Great post @Leopardpj, these are the things which I'm finding are making this surprisingly successful so far. I thought I'd have totally caved by now - amazed to find that's not what's happened!
Today I forgot my daughter had a doctor appointment just when I would be allowed to eat... So I didn't eat until 2:30! However, I did have 6 rashers of bacon, 3 each rolled up in a wrap with hummous and a tomato in each... Sooooo filling and tasty. Less carbs than bread would have been, and I know bacon is processed meat and salty, but it is protein and will keep me full for aaaaages. Might make that my only meal today maybe.
Dessert was homemade chocolate aubergine brownies. A recipe I discovered in lockdown as it uses no flour (remember when you had to know a mafia boss to be able to procure flour 🤣)! Ingredients are ground almonds, chocolate, cocoa, eggs, sugar and aubergine. So as treats go pretty sustaining and nutritious... Can give you the recipe if you like it's really easy, but such squidge and tasty. 😊

Gonna try your weird Marnie drink tomorrow I think... Not today, to think I've had enough salt for one day. 😁

I didn't break my fast until just before 12 today, so did a bit longer than 16 hours. I struggled a little bit an hour or so before I was due to break it, but then the hunger passed so it wasn't too hard once I got past that bit.
We're having toad in the hole tonight, but I'm not having any extra carbs, just vegetables with it. I'm quite looking forward to it actually, almost ready now 🤤

@Porkscratching excellent will power resisting the difficult final hour! 👏 Hope your toad in the hole was delish- well earned. 👌