Who wants to start intermittent fasting?

cosypompoms · 2023-12-28T20:51:53+00:00

I'm no expert but I have been doing Intermittent Fasting (IF) since September and I've lost 9kg/ a stone. I eat breakfast at 7:30, lunch and the tea at 4. So my eating window is finished by 4:30pm. So it's a 9 hour eating window and 15 hours of fasting. I haven't read any books about it but I do listen to podcasts about it. https://open.spotify.com/episode/7hKdAJpfDEeRnGDEo42MWP?si=RpKRylgHTb6nJtmBPPH9dg https://open.spotify.com/episode/5YEfEhHllXaFxiEO6WZxMq?si=11rhciaDSkKj_V8p2mAU6w I don't know anyone in real life who does IF so thought there would be a community here.

NewYearNewYu · 28/12/2023 20:56

I am up for it, would be good to have accountability. I do a different window as I have no problem missing breakfast and happy to have lunch late. I take medication in the evening which makes me want to eat my own arm so have to allow for this. I can normally manage an eating window of 2pm to 10pm so 10 hours. Sometimes less if I get to bed early and overcome the evening munchies.

Original poster

cosypompoms · 28/12/2023 21:01

@NewYearNewYu you have the right name!
The evening munchies are a killer! That's why IF works doubly well for me as I'm never grabbing an apple once the kids are in bed.

I weigh once a week in a Friday morning only. Dreading the post Xmas weigh in!

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Projectme · 28/12/2023 21:01

I'm going to start 14:10 . Finish eating around 7pm and don't eat again until 9am. I'm going to do this and build up to 16:8 eventually.

I trialled it in early Dec and didn't find it an issue at all. Just getting out of a habit of eating breakfast at 7am when I'm not even hungry...it literally is just pure habit!

Original poster

cosypompoms · 28/12/2023 21:03

My minimum fasting window is 12 hours which might be on a weekend day or now over Xmas.

But really I want to eat with the kids and if I can do that and lose weight that's my aim.

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Original poster

cosypompoms · 29/12/2023 06:09

It's amazing really how much better I feel waking up today having not "treated myself" to eating later over Christmas. I ate tea at 5 and then just had hot water after that.

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determinedtomakethiswork · 29/12/2023 07:26

Placemarking as I am getting back into this when my house is empty again at the weekend. I feel so much better for intermittent fasting. What I prefer is eating between 12 and five. I feel much better going to bed with an empty stomach and then not eating first thing. The first couple of days take a bit of effort, but after that it's okay. The good thing I think is that it stops me having a drink in the evening. As I get older, I realise that's not good for me.

Unabletomitigate · 29/12/2023 07:41

I do intermittent fasting too. I really enjoyed learning more about why/ how it works so I did read the Obesity Code by Jason Fung, he proposes it as a strategy for low income patients who are obese/ have diabetes.
I also really enjoy all the STEM talk episodes on it. They also discuss Keto quite a lot, which I find helps make IF easier. I find it amazing, that as soon as you cut out carbs, you are not hungy. (Ok, it takes a few weeks for the carb cravings to subside...)
If you want an overview of the anti carb movement try Stem episodes 124 and 125 with Gary Taubes.
https://www.ihmc.us/stemtalks/

STEM-Talk

Bi-weekly conversations with some of the most interesting people in the world of science and technology. Subscribe to the podcast.

https://www.ihmc.us/stemtalks

Original poster

cosypompoms · 29/12/2023 08:36

determinedtomakethiswork · 29/12/2023 07:26

Placemarking as I am getting back into this when my house is empty again at the weekend. I feel so much better for intermittent fasting. What I prefer is eating between 12 and five. I feel much better going to bed with an empty stomach and then not eating first thing. The first couple of days take a bit of effort, but after that it's okay. The good thing I think is that it stops me having a drink in the evening. As I get older, I realise that's not good for me.

@determinedtomakethiswork yes the evening drinking is awful for my sleep

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Original poster

cosypompoms · 29/12/2023 08:37

Unabletomitigate · 29/12/2023 07:41

I do intermittent fasting too. I really enjoyed learning more about why/ how it works so I did read the Obesity Code by Jason Fung, he proposes it as a strategy for low income patients who are obese/ have diabetes.
I also really enjoy all the STEM talk episodes on it. They also discuss Keto quite a lot, which I find helps make IF easier. I find it amazing, that as soon as you cut out carbs, you are not hungy. (Ok, it takes a few weeks for the carb cravings to subside...)
If you want an overview of the anti carb movement try Stem episodes 124 and 125 with Gary Taubes.
https://www.ihmc.us/stemtalks/

Thanks for the link. I've never heard of stem talks

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NewYearNewYu · 29/12/2023 10:29

I agree about drinking, I am mid forties and perimenopausal and my body just doesn’t seem to be able to cope with it anymore.
So yesterday I met friends for brunch at 11am but managed to finish eating at 7pm so did 8:16. Happy with that for now.
I know it would be good to reduce carbs as well but we have so much Christmas junk in the house it isn’t realistic for now. Once the dc are back at school I will take anything unopened to the food bank and can get a bit more serious.

Original poster

cosypompoms · 29/12/2023 13:16

@NewYearNewYu 8:16 sounds great to me! I did the same myself and I feel better for it.

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Talkinpeace · 29/12/2023 14:05

I shall be restarting strict 5:2 on January 2nd.

I used it very effectively for many years but have lapsed over the last couple of years.
The big numbered threads were my motivation then
they will be in 2024

10kg to lose by Easter
and then stay at Happy Weight for the next 30 years

NewYearNewYu · 29/12/2023 14:59

@Talkinpeace how many calories do you eat on the 2 days?

Talkinpeace · 29/12/2023 16:03

I am old school - I started 5:2 back in 2012 !

Monday : 500 calories - 50 for milk in my tea, the rest in a veg heavy supper
Tuesday : Happy weight TDEE - small lunch, decent supper
Wednesday : as Tuesday
Thursday : as Monday
Friday : Current weight TDEE
Saturday : try not to think about it
Sunday : current weight TDEE

Across a year
24 weeks - strict 5:2
24 weeks - relaxed 5:2
4 weeks - sod that its Christmas

I kept the weight right for ten years that way but the last two years went a bit sideways.
The threads on here kept me sane for years, hence why I'm back.

diamondpony80 · 29/12/2023 20:51

I'm going to start on 2nd Jan. I've read lots about it, watched loads of Youtube videos and done it before (with success) so I'm looking forward to starting again. 18:6 for me with first meal around noon and 2nd around 6pm. I'll probably throw in a few OMAD days as well here and there. I don't really feel hungry until around lunch time and the earlier I start eating, the more I eat during the day.

NewYearNewYu · 29/12/2023 20:55

Yes I often do omad if I am going out on the evening. Means you can enjoy a pub meal without the guilt.

Talkinpeace · 29/12/2023 21:17

OMAD is fine so long as its within your TDEE

Original poster

cosypompoms · 30/12/2023 20:22

@Talkinpeace @NewYearNewYu I had to lock up those acronyms so I'll post them here for anyone else too.

I only did 11.5 hours fast yesterday which is my lowest ever. 🥴 but it's Christmas so I'm sure I'll get over it

Who wants to start intermittent fasting?

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colouringindoors · 31/12/2023 11:07

Place marking.

I'm seriously considering doing this in Jan. I've done low carb before and it worked weightwise but as soon as I started eating any carbs at all I gained it all back.

My challenge is evenings when I drink and snack.... but I am very overweight for my height 😔

Has anyone done low carb/keto for say 4 weeks and then switched to IF with some carbs?

Original poster

cosypompoms · 31/12/2023 11:34

@colouringindoors welcome and give it a go. There's some great podcast to listen to in the opening post on this thread that may interest you.

The evenings are an absolute downfall for me unless I fast. My last meal is done by 4pm so I don't eat after that. It was hard and miserable the first few days but after that it's just normal.

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NewYearNewYu · 31/12/2023 11:48

@colouringindoors i know I will eat most evenings so I do 16:8 by missing breakfast and not having lunch till 2pm. You have to find what works for you. After the first few days you find you don’t get hungry outside your eating window. Initially drink lots of water to curb hunger in your fasting window.

FizzyStream · 31/12/2023 12:16

I did IF all last year and lost two stone. I found it really successful once I realised that switching your eating window around can really help, along with stretching it out for longer occasionally.
I've put on a little weight over the last month as I've just not been doing it so want to get back on track.
My eating window started from being 2pm to 8pm (so an 18:6 fast) which I gradually increased over summer to 20:4 then 22:2 with the occasional 24 or 25 hour fast and I found the weight just fell off. I wasn't as hungry and didn't crave sweet stuff.
Tips from me are:
Drinking lots of water. I hate normal water so drink sparkling and can easily do 2L a day.
Walking for exercise 30-90 mins about 4-5 times a week.
I tried to avoid eating after 6.30pm which helped.
If starting to feel shaky or lightheaded when extending a fast I put 1/4 tsp Celtic salts in some water to replace electrolytes and keep me going a little longer. Or Bovril can do the same thing but some very clean fasters would frown upon that.

I'm actually looking forward to getting back into my routine as I've started to feel sluggish recently.

colouringindoors · 31/12/2023 13:25

thanks @cosypompoms @NewYearNewYu I think I literally need to find something to do with my hands in the evening.... but as I garden most days they're usually rather tired. I know a lot of its habit... and week 1 is the worst...

Original poster

cosypompoms · 31/12/2023 13:58

I think drinking hot water helps in the evening. Plus crocheting or scrolling aimlessly on my phone 🥴

Can't wait to see how we all get on this year.

I did 17 hours fasting yesterday so please with that.

My NY resolution is to try and do one 24 hour fast each month.
I also do 20 mins exercise every day and 90seconds cold shower. Sounds like hell and it was in the beginning but it's normal now and I feel great afterwards

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prettygreenteacup · 31/12/2023 14:13

Yes I will join! 16:8 really works for me, I did it after my second DD to lose my baby weight. I've become decidedly fluffy the last couple of months and of course Xmas hasn't helped, so concluded I'm going back to fasting and doing Dry January. I find that an eating window of 12pm - 8pm works fine for me and I soon adapt to not eating until 12. Will also reduce junk/lower carbs. Ideally even just half a stone would be nice to lose and I know I'll feel better. 5 ft 6 and a size 12.