Who wants to start intermittent fasting?

[cosypompoms]

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.

open.spotify.com/episode/7hKdAJpfDEeRnGDEo42MWP?si=RpKRylgHTb6nJtmBPPH9dg

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.

https://www.healthyfoodtribe.com/white-green-black-tea/

@brightpompoms interesting tip on the green tea and polyphenols, I will try that. Anything that saves money on my tea habit is always a good thing!

I'm also a 30 plants person. When I was tracking it I would regularly hit 40 on day 1, so I started aiming for 100 per week, which I managed every week in November. I got tired of the admin of tracking it though so I stopped, but I now eat a massive variety of plants that I would never have thought to buy as a result, and it's completely changed how I make meals. I definitely think changing my mindset from restriction to instead thinking about how I can fit in an abundance of diverse plants has been one of the biggest positive changes for me, even more than IF.

I'd love to see the lists of plants people are eating to get 100 per week. I mostly eat whole food, plant based and focus on getting mixed leaves and mixed seeds and I doubt I'm any where near that!

@pippablackwell @NatureGlimmers here's my scribbled list.
My porridge is around 30 minimum. That's a big contributor.

I won't be keeping a list every week but I did it with the kids to show them how great they are.

I also make my own gravy and there's about 20 plants in there and also things like curry and chilli you can go for it with a range of herbs and spices.

Also I came on to say I lost 100g which seems like nothing but I'm very pleased.

I haven’t lost this week but am on my period so will probably lose extra next week. I had the one ravenous day of the month yesterday and managed to ignore it so feeling ok about it all.

No one else weighing on today, I feel like billy no mates 😩

I weighed today and was 62.2kg. I’m pleased, but had silently hoped I would get into the 61s this week. I’ve actually found weighing every day useful because some of my fluctuations this week were higher than my lowest weight last week. I’m going for a ten course tasting menu on Saturday and I’m so glad I can fit things like that into my way of eating.

I’ve weighed today. I am still the same as I was two weeks ago but I’m flickering on the pound below . I can see that I look thinner in the mirror

The 10 course tasting menu sounds tremendous. I once had a seven course one which involved langoustine froth in a little sherry glass. I had to pour it into the plant pot.

It's almost a month since I started, think I've lost 1.5kg, I'm pleased, as I'm definitely eating less, getting more used to feeling hungry - onwards to the next month!
Happy weekend all!

Lots of losses, well done everyone !
I also registered a small loss today, about a lb, bringing me half a stone down on my pre-Christmas weight. I'm very pleased. Yes, it's slow, but I am really enjoying my food, so there's no hurry!

Remember, this is about setting new, life long habits. My partner lost 2 stone through IF, overtime. IF habits are set and mean our food intake matches just what we need to maintain our weight. As we have got older, this is less food than in our younger days.

Our IF habits, include times when we eat out, have a drink or choose something less healthy. IF habits give us freedom to not worry.

@NewYearNewYu I'd like to know what my cycle does to my weight so interesting you say you haven't lost.

@pippablackwell how tall are you? 62kg is something I'll never achieve! I'm 70.1 and if I could even just get and maintain at 69.9 I'd feel wondeful. Even though there's no difference really.

@AuntieJoyce I bet you've lost inches.

@BobbleHatDay I bet eventually you won't even feel hungry often. I felt hungry this week and I thought 'wow what is this weird feeling?' I realised I had stopped feeling hunger.

@allnewfor2024 well done on a great loss. Slowly is more sustainable isn't it

@MarnieCo isn't it wondeful. I sat with my crisps and wine last night guilt free enjoying my Friday night.

Im feeling so much better IF, really surprised at how ‘easy’ it is. I eat pretty healthy any way but was adding extras so this has helped me curve my snacking.

Making the adjustment to it just being how I eat now. Saying that going on holiday next week so may need to ‘reset’ afterwards, especially as it is a walking holiday so not sure I can do IF while hiking up hills!

@OctopusRule let us know how you get on. On weekends I time IF down to at least fasting for 12 hours. Maybe that is more achievable?

Funnily enough I prefer to exercise in the morning before I start eating. If I exercise after lunch it makes me feel a bit queasy. You could try setting out on day one without breakfast and pack snacks in case you get peckish before lunch but you might not need them.

I also find going for my run in the morning I feel a lot better. Problem is my hip joint has started aching so I need to find another exercise!

Just had my final weigh in of the week and unfortunately can't join you all on the losses, I put on 0.3kg/0.7lb. Like pp have mentioned though I was on my period and I have noticed it makes a difference. Usually any gain would have massively demotivated me in the past but I'm happy to realise it no longer worries me and I'm just focused on the long term downward trend.

I also find exercise now easier during the fast. At first on long walks I brought an oat bar with me just in case I felt shaky, but I never needed it and now don't worry.

I’m one who finds it much better to exercise when not fasting. If I exercised in the morning it might be different, but last time I exercised at my 7:30pm class without having eaten that day, I felt pretty woozy and faint after falling, so I always make sure I’ve had something light before I go. Evolutionarily we should be just fine to exercise without eating because that’s how we’d get food before the dawn of agriculture, but for me anything more strenuous than walking during a fast doesn’t work.

@brightpompoms thanks, weirdly feeling hungry in the morning just causes me to be more stubborn and push through until after noon.

Managed 15hours fast both days thud weekend (usually do 13hrs at weekend), so feeling pretty pleased with myself!

I have been amazed at what my body can do in its fasting state, and I think it is already helping me to get fitter. Over the years I've done couch to 5k a few times, and the odd park run, and I've always struggled with 'the wobbles' - feeling low sugar at some point during the run. I thought I'd never manage to exercise without eating first.
To start with I just did Pilates in the morning without eating, which was fine. When I started running again, although my fitness is coming slowly as I'm older now, it's wonderful to run without 'the wobbles' from sugar crashes. More I can feel the energy reserves being switched on when I'm running, like getting back on the motorway with a full tank.
This morning I set off for a run after about 15 hours of fasting, I planned to do my longest run yet -2 km in one go. I felt so good I kept going and did 5! That's my first 5k in years.
I couldn't do exercise in a fasting state after work though - I have to do it in the morning. If I go to the gym in the evening I will have eaten lunch.

Lost 6.6kg with restricted calories and following 1/2 meals a day. I don’t feel hungry and am enjoying healthier high protein meals. I will start reducing my restriction and just stick with the IF with lt goal of sticking around a weight 2.4kg less than current weight