Any teachers/people who have a very routined job do 16:8?

[Teacherteachernotapreacher]

I’m considering trying 16:8 again to help with weight gain since going into early menopause (am now 42 and on HRT). I’m just a bit worried about doing it with the strict routine being a teacher imposed on eating. I do a gym class at 6am normally then in work for 7:30 and won’t get a break to eat until lunch at 12:30ish. I’m worried I won’t make it that far or will massively overeat when I get there. Last time I tried, this is what happened. Ideally I’d have a late breakfast and Miss lunch then have dinner at around 6/7pm but my routine doesn’t allow for that.
any tips on how to make it work when your day routine doesn’t match your hunger levels?!

Hi,I'm not a teacher but my work environment has specifics break/meal times which do not always correlate to my eating window.
Not only that but each day/ week is different.

A good snack is a handful of nuts with an apple and a small chunk of cheese. If I've been fasting for a while then this is surprisingly filling.

My eating window is around 4pm til 7pm but I do have to change it now and again due to work. But that's fine,it's good to shake it up a bit. Some days you can be hungrier than others allow for that too.

I would say not to beat yourself up on the timings and remember that fasting gets easier the more you do it.

I have tried it (perhaps not consistently enough because I didn't lose any weight...). It was often fine, depending on your timetable. Sometimes I had to eat lunch earlier than the 16hr fast as that was the only time I was free. Other days I felt dizzy, especially teaching an intense lessons mid morning. I don't know why some days were better than others. I definitely think you could get into a routine with it and it might be fine for you. I know of someone who has lost weight on it. Maybe it's about getting enough sleep too... I find that hard if I've got to work in the evening / take my kids to their activities etc. But I'd say, give it a go. Way easier than 5:2 which I did successfully until I stopped and put the 10kg all back on again.

Thanks both - the time I tried it previously I found some lessons I was ok but then some I felt quite crappy in. Then I’d eat sooo much at lunch it negated missing breakfast! If I could eat earlier I feel I’d avoid all that. A good snack is a good plan then maybe a small lunch at my break would work. Can’t hurt to try - have to do something!

Can you not just shift your eating window? Break your fast in the morning break (10:30ish?), have a substantial lunch and stop eating at 6:30. I sometimes do this.

I will admit I'm quite often in bed by 9 because I know I won't eat once in bed. 🤔

Interesting idea. I don’t get a morning break but can occasionally take food outside with me on duty. And I try to eat about 7 most nights so maybe that’s a way to think about it. I go to bed early to stop eating too 😂

I'm a teacher and don't eat during the school day.

All day? I think I’d die 😱

well I don't know what 16:8 is but if you are not supposed to eat for 16 hours, then that covers the school day plus commuting quite adequately.

Eat breakfast and skip dinner instead?

Or take a different approach to weight loss in term time (reduce portion size / eat lower carb are my usual strategies) and pick up the 16:8 again during the holidays?

You’re right it does cover that but then I’d have to fit all eating into the evening which would be tricky I think.
Lily - yes that’s an approach idea too. Lots to think about thanks.
I’ve two weeks ish to try stuff out I guess before being in front of a class and not being hangry!

Im a teacher too and considering starting. I think I'd be OK going to 11.30 til break time and then having my dinner round 6. Stopping the late evening snacking would be most beneficial for me anyway as that's my worse habit.