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 have been following 16:8 (really 15:9) for 2 months now and today reached half way to my target 8kg weight loss and body fat % has decreased by 2.5%. I am always hungry in the morning so have an eating window of 8am to 5pm.

There is quite a lot of research that it works better restricting eating in the evening as insulin resistance increases during the day and I am now finding I am not longer craving food in the evening. I am combining it with low carb which also seems to help with cravings.

@Wheretheskyisblue that's incredible, well done! I find it so interesting hearing what times work for different people.

I'm a teacher so when I'm at work I find it quite easy to not eat until lunch time once I'm out of the house on a morning and as long as I have my water bottle with me but it's not quite so easy when I'm home with the kids and they start eating at the crack of dawn.

My stomach is rumbling this morning, probably with me already been 13 and a half hours in to my fast. I'm not sure I'll manage a clean fast today and might have to have some tea with milk and sweetener to keep me going.

I honestly just feel so much better for not having spent my evening snacking. I'm a bugger for going to the gym and then snacking all evening afterwards

can I join you please? I've successfully done 5:2 a few years ago and lost lots of weight but I've put it all back on during covid and starting peri-menopause and I am struggling to fast, just can't stick to 500 cals for 2 days. Not tried 16:8 before so wondering if it'll suit me better as I'll quite happily go to lunch before eating anything?

I'll go back and read the thread but can anyone tell me in the morning, can you have tea with milk or does that break the fast? I am addicted to tea 🙄also, on those occasions when you have social plans that might include alcohol etc, what do people do, just make the window later that day to account for that?

Thanks everyone 😀

Morning all!

So week one of 16/8 plus meal replacement shake for lunch and I’m down 6.5lbs! Over the moon with that - and finding the fasting easier to stick to now I’ve moved dinner back to 6pm with the children. Thank you for that suggestion.

thanks for all the links and ideas - they are really helpful.

@anoldcharter technically milk would break your fast. My husband does one meal a day and he has milk in his coffee and squash because he doesn't like water and manages to lose well. I only just started yesterday but so far I've manage to leave my cuppa until 12 and just drink water.

6.5lbs is incredible in a week @Anotheroverreaction! I'd be absolutely over the moon with that.

An hour after my eating window started and I've still not eaten yet thanks to being busy and out of the house. I've even been to Lidl and bought Easter eggs for the kids but wasn't tempted to buy anything for myself.

I am worried that I'm a bit smug at how easy I've found it so far and that I'm suddenly going to really struggle.

Hi there, just joining in if I may. I've been recommended the 16:8 by my doctor - he says he eats like that all the time and has done for years and explained how the 16 hour fast is so good for you. He says he's encouraged lots of his patients to do it and those that manage it all report feeling good. So, I'm taking his advice and have done the 16:8 for the last month, although admittedly I went on holiday for one week of that, so now getting back into it. The GP said that the first two weeks are difficult but that your body adjusts after that, which is what I've found really. He also said definitely no snacks and I am starting to understand why, reading all your information on this thread. My main reason for the 16:8 is to bring my cholesterol down, which I'm having re-tested in two months' time, but I'd also like to lose a bit of weight. It's very helpful to have a support thread like this!

So I weighed myself today and have lost half a kilo in a week... which is only a pound isn't it?!

Can't decide whether to be pleased or a bit disappointed after all that bloody starvation

On the one hand I guess that it's good I've lost SOMETHING... I don't have heaps to lose, only about 4-5 kilos so maybe that rate of loss, if it's a sustainable way of eating for me, is a good thing?!

On the other hand maybe I've just been "cheating" a bit too much with my milky teas...(also addicted to tea @anoldcharter .... although Jason Fung does say i that podcast I sent over that they don't break a fast if it's just a little dash!!)

I think I'll take a leaf out of your book @Wheretheskyisblue and move my eating window earlier so I'm not eating after 6.30/7pm. I had someone else say to me that there are lots of benefits to eating earlier. It feels a bit antisocial but will do it for a week and see if it makes a big difference!

Also going to attempt a bit of exercise this week!

Amazing results for you @Anotheroverreaction - huge congratulations! Can I ask which meal replacement shake you use?!

And top self control on the easter eggs @Pebbleinthesand . I think I'm going to have to avoid having mini eggs in the house over the next week or it's game over..... they are literally irresistible!

Hi all @Leopardpj I also weighed myself and have only lost a lb, but I'm trying not to lose faith. I nearly had tea and biscuits this evening at about 10.00 pm but just had herbal tea instead.

I can't really eat earlier as it just doesn't fit our schedule so I'm determined to continue this for a month and also do more exercise.

Very good to see everyone's tips and good experiences though it does help when I am feeling a bit demotivated.

I'm glad I found this thread. I started 16:8 on Monday. I have never really dieted before but noticed I had gained about 3kg in the last month because I have been out of my regular routine especially when it comes to exercise since my dog has had a leg injury. I just need to go on solo walks until he's able to walk fast again.

I have only lost 0.3kg in the last couple of days, but I am hoping it will speed up soon. My goal was 1kg/week but that now feels completely unrealistic. I eat from 10.30am - 6.30pm. I'm on European time so only 29 minutes until breakfast!

I actually took measurements this morning and found I was 2 inches smaller around the waist, so that's cheered me up about only being a pound down on the scales! I did read somewhere that fasting burns belly fat first, so maybe that's true!

Thanks for the encouragement @Pokerprincess - you're totally right and if I carry on losing a lb a week between now and the summer I'll be really chuffed by the end of that! Have you noticed any change in your measurements at all? Well done on resisting the biscuits!

I've moved my window forward to 10.30-6.30 like you @snoken and it's so much harder in the evening!! But I can definitely see that it could make more of a difference doing it this way around. I'm headachy and feeling knackered this morning which I haven't had previously, finding it much harder. But looking forward to my eggs at 10.30 our time! Sorry to hear your dog's been poorly too @snoken hope they're better soon. That's amazing how much difference dog walking makes! I'm aiming to keep my steps up this week and also try and do some weights.

Well done for taking the time to measure inches @LeopardPJS. I usually forget to take measurements, but I did my measurements when I started this time so I'm hoping that will help me if the scales slow.

I started on Monday morning but I get weighed tonight with slimming world so I'll be interested to see if 3 days IF has helped kick me out of the funk I was in. I certainly feel like it has mentally.

Hello everyone

Have been following this thread as I started IF about three weeks ago. First week I lost 3lb, second I gained 6lb and this week I've lost 3 so currently 3lb down from my original weight. My period is due any day so next weeks weigh in probably won't be worth taking any notice of.

However yesterday I was an inch down on my waist and hips and 1/2 inch on my bust so that's helping spur me on.

Finding it quite easy which is good!

I never join these threads. I decided to start 16:8 again this morning as I've lost my usual eating and exercise routine after a bout of insomnia and feel out of shape and habit. While I've done it myself in the past and learned a lot about what my body needs and what I enjoy, one thing I've never managed to shake is weight being an internal - and fairly punishing - dialogue with myself.

Maybe by joining this I want to externalise it - remove the associations of how I've felt about my body over the years, comments people have made, worrying how I look. I've never been very overweight, and some of the thoughts/comments are about my body type rather than weight, but I don't think women need much to start to feel that negative thought loop and that "gaze"

Anyway, there we are. I'm 44 and I want to stop the old mental habits, or change how I respond to them at least, for the next part of life (hello peri menopause) and for my DD, in case she senses it. I'm not sure what I weigh, but I often look quite different without losing much weight, so it's not always the best guide. So I think I'll do measurements, too, and aiming for 11.30am to 7.30pm. I've had breakfast less since doing this before, it reset something, so it won't be as big a challenge as the first time. Onwards!

Today has been a full week for me and still no loss. I haven't been overeating as I've just had 2 meals. I also did a 7 mile walk with the kids yesterday which is a lot more then we normally do but I'm going to try and make it more regular.

I don't think I'll weight this week, just aim to stay on track and add more exercise in.

I've not weighed or measured myself, but I definitely feel slimmer. @Leopardpj I think I've lost inches from my waist because I'm currently wearing a t shirt that used to be very tight and it feels alright. My stomach looks pretty flat too! I didn't measure myself before but I'll do it later.
I've attached a screenshot of my MyFitnessPal measurements, you can see everything going up 🙈. The weight picture is from the last 10 years, I think the 2 pregnancies are quite obvious haha! I've had another baby since I last measured my waist so not looking forward to seeing what that is currently but I'll check when I get home and update haha.

I only ate in a 4h window yesterday to try and shift my eating hours earlier to curb evening snacking. Today my hours are 10-6, I've gone for a large breakfast to keep me full, and planning on no lunch so still just 2 meals.

Completely hear you on the internal dialogue @tresleches and I also feel very mindful of that around my DD. I am really not a believer in dieting or thinking excessively about food, weight or body image! What I am really hoping that this is in fact a way of eating which will allow me to avoid that, actually. Am hoping it'll make me healthier and be something I can stick to without compromising things like enjoying my food, eating lots of healthy things, participating fully in family life, encouraging positive associations with food. All of which I consider much more important than weight loss. It would be quite nice to lose just a bit of that lingering baby weight obviously, but am trying not to focus too much on that.

I can definitely feel that there are other benefits too and that's what's keeping me going. I feel like I've broken a cycle of energy ups and downs and 4pm blood-sugar crashing, which is the best thing about it (reducing carbs has helped a lot with this although I'd never cut out any food group completely). I am amazed really that I can function very happily on two healthy meals a day, and no snacks, and I think it's doing my body no harm at all. I am definitely eating way more mindfully- finding that naturally if I have fewer scheduled 'times' to eat, then I gravitate naturally to the foods that I know are actually going to make me feel full and feel good, rather than junk/ excessive carbs. For example, for my last meal in the early evening I've been eating a lot of stir fries with prawns or chicken, loads of veg, brown rice, chilli, ginger, garlic, tamari and spices, fresh coriander, sometimes nuts/ a fried egg on top - finding that both super filling and so much more satisfying than pasta etc which is what I normally reach for when I'm lacking inspiration/ craving comfort!

Interesting that you've noticed the waist thing @Porkscratching ! Let's hope it is a thing!

@Leopardpj I've just measured and my waist is currently 34 inches. It used to be 23 inches when I was 21/22 haha 🙈. Hoping I can get back to maybe somewhere in the 28-30 inch range.
I've noticed similar with the food, I've naturally cut out things like crisps which is ridiculous to me as I could live off the things usually haha. I just had a couple of slices of ham as a snack instead of lunch (tbh I didn't need it, was more picking when I was doing the kids lunches and figured it would be better than having a binge about now on crisps and cheese!)

Just weighed in at slimming world and I've lost 1.5lbs since last Wednesday. Not sure how much of that is from the fasting, but I definitely feel a lot better for it.

I'm usually a serial weigher and jump on the scales almost every morning, but I'm going to really try to hold off getting weighed again until Monday morning when I'm a week in.

I'm trying to be more mindful of how I speak about my body and food in front of DD too. I've realised a lot of my poor body image is linked to hearing my mum speak about herself and food negatively for so long, that and terrible 90s and 00s diet culture, so trying to break that for my kids.

I understand what you mean. My kids are a bit older 18 and 20, but I told them I’m doing it for health reasons. It helps with reducing inflammation (I have arthritis), it lowers blood pressure and blood sugar levels. I haven’t mentioned looks at all. Maybe that’s an angle to approach it from if it applicable to your life.

Happy Easter all!

After my disappointing 1 pound loss the first week I actually lost 3 and a half pounds this week! Which is really motivating me to keep going and get back on it this week once I’ve finished all the Easter eggs obviously

I am definitely seeing and feeling a difference now especially around my middle which is so motivating

How is everyone else doing??

Congratulations!

Did you do anything different this week? I finished my first week today and lost 0.3 kg, which I think is less than half a pound. I’m hoping I will see some better results in the weeks to come.

Morning all, joining you from tomorrow BUT I'm worried about gym days. I lift fairly heavy (for me) and hate that lightness feeling. How do y'all manage exercise and fasting? The last time I did it was during lockdown and the gyms wer e closed.

I work out daily but I do it at 4pm so it falls within my window of eating. I haven’t noticed that it’s affecting my performance really. Not sure I could do a morning session.

Thank you. I tend to find I won't go if I don't go first thing