IF newbie confused about fasting patterns, 5:2, 18:6, or a combination of both?

[Snorgismcforgis]

I would like to start IF, mainly with the aim of losing weight but obviously the other health benefits would be great too.

I’m 53, menopausal and have gained a lot of weight around my middle over the last 3 to 4 years - all the usual culprits (bereavement, stress, busy & sedentary lifestyle etc).

I’ve been doing a bit of reading about IF but am confused about which pattern to try. My mum used to fast 5:2 years ago, so was going to try that but it seems there are loads of fasting options to choose from.

Can anyone advise what works for them?

Also can anyone doing 18:6 tell me if they do it every day or a couple of days a week?

I'm 58 and am relatively new to IF. I do 15:9 most days. Occasionally it needs to be shortened to 14:10, and sometimes I extend to 16:8 or more. But this is my pattern daily now. I use a tracker app (Zero), and try to eat clean during my eating window.

So far I've lost 22 lbs this year and am aiming for another stone or so to get to a comfortable weight.

Sorry for jumping on OP. That's amazing *@CatOnAHotShedRoof could you tell me typically what you eat in a day? I've just started 16:8 and wondering how strict i need to be with what i'm eating

@Merrz I'm vegetarian, but eat mostly plant-based.

All I've done really is cut out any non essential bits like biscuits, snacks/crisps etc. I don't drink alcohol very often. I also include some daily exercise, usually a workout from YouTube, for about 25 mins.

Essentially I haven't changed anything else about what I eat, just when I eat it.