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.

There are recommendations about generally not eating after 8 or less than 3 hours before your bedtime, whichever is earlier... for normal life, not for evenings out of course!! It's to do with how your body metabolises your food differently. Not delved into it deeply but seems widely recommended.

I tend to do 2-8 or shorter windows.

And absolutely agree it's finding what works for you. ... enjoy experimenting!

@NewYearNewYu I think a relaxed day is fine once a month or so or it won't be sustainable lifestyle. Don't be too hard on yourself.
Also great weight loss! Congratulations

@MrInbetween as long as you are eating in your window that's the main thing to focus on.

@pippablackwell that sounds brutal. I could never do 4 days. I have done 24 house though. Do you have black coffee?

@BobbleHatDay I finish eating at 4:30pm and eat again at 7:30am. That works for me

I weighed in yesterday and lost 800g/1.7lb so I was pleased to go in the right direction.

I would love to join - I stayed a size 8/10 for years whilst doing this. I am now a size 16 and pre diabetic

One thing I've found is I am STRUGGLING. To not eat in the morning or until after 1 (I need to eat later on for logistical reasons so can't not eat then).

Before I had no issue. If I didn't eat in the morning, I simply wasn't that hungry anyway until lunchtime.

But now I am pre diabetic, I can't stop eating food and bloody feeling nauseous and light headed if I don't eat

Has anyone found this? Really annoying because it worked for me for many years and kept me slim

@doyouknowhim how long have you been doing it? I found the first week tough but it is second nature now. I don’t know how pre diabetics effects fasting though so you might want to check this with your gp.

@doyouknowhim just take it really slowly, push it back by 10 minutes a day. If you feel hungry, ignore it, but if you feel lightheaded or dizzy then eat. On the days when you feel light headed, keep a note of what you've eaten or drunk and see if there are any patterns. You might see some improvement if you eat more wholegrains in the eating window for example. I've also just realised that if I have too much black coffee in the fasting period, it makes me light headed so I'm sticking to just one for now, and the rest green tea. But everyone has different triggers.

@doyouknowhim gage you spoken to you dr about fasting? I heard on a podcast that fasting is being given as medical advice now for diabetes I'll try and find the podcast for you

Hello, jumping into this thread if that’s ok? Just re-started 16/8 which was my way of life before lockdown. Since 2020 I have gained over three stone mainly through wine and carbs. Have found it very helpful to read everyone on the thread and would like to wish everyone well 💪 in their fasting goals

@PartridgeInAPearShape welcome to the thread.
I’m doing well, though having a lazy day today and have to say it’s harder to not eat till 2pm when I don’t have lots to do.

@PartridgeInAPearShape welcome!
@cosypompoms just had my weigh in and lost the same as you - 800g/1.7lb. I've now just passed the 5kg loss mark so I'm feeling good about that milestone.

@PartridgeInAPearShape welcome to the thread

@NatureGlimmers that's a great loss. Well done you.

I've been doing 16:8 for a week and seen absolutely zero effects 😅 how long does it take to start working?!

Part of the problem is that I don't think I'm overall in a calorie deficit. But I thought the fasting aspect was supposed to help? It's certainly difficult!!

1.6kg lost this week

I am restricting calories 6/7 days

Hello, I’m just starting today.

@herewegoroundtheblueberrybush Yes the fasting definitely helps but doesnt do the whole job - and also very individual. Eg a 73 year old friend of mine lost half a stone over 2 months just by doing 16:8 and no other changes while others lose nowt

Many of us do high protein/low carb or Fast 800 with fasting - and many do smaller windows than 8 hours.

It's early days for you so either add something in if you are in a hurry, or wait and see if not. Worth reading Gin Stephens.

@herewegoroundtheblueberrybush I put on weight in the first week and then only dropped bits for the next few weeks, but then it started to speed up and am now losing at a good rate. Definitely recommend reading Gin Stephens (Fast Feast Repeat particularly). She explains what happens at first and good ways to avoid being discouraged and sticking with it. In the first week or so I was really hungry as my body was getting used to not having regular meals and I ate loads. I'm now only 7 weeks in and my appetite has adjusted I feel full after one snack and one decent sized meal (and often do 20:4 as a result). My advice would be to listen to the hunger signals at the beginning, otherwise you risk your metabolism dropping to counteract it, and don't worry about the scale number until the end of the month - as hard as that can be!

I decided to join the weigh ins and then… discovered scales are broken! I’ll take it as a sign for now.

I’m finding it interesting to pay attention or forget about feeling hungry. Definitely feeling like a brain retraining is starting. I woke up hungry last night though which was really annoying. Managed to push through this morning so still going to manage the 16:8 but does anyone else get woken by hunger?

Fell off the wagon this week. I've not felt well with flu like symptoms and tummy pain. Still not 100% but starting again today. No weigh in as I feel bloated and don't need any more negativity on Blue Monday. Onwards and upwards.

I struggled with late snacking at the weekend. And I find if I snack late I get hungry earlier! Back on it today though, and I have sparkling water in, which I drink much faster than still water to help with hydrating more.

@Pepperypottery once I get to sleep I am fine but I hate trying to get to sleep if I’m hungry. Luckily I’m not really getting that at the moment.

This is my issue with 16:8. I’ve realised that it’s no different to my normal eating pattern, so I’m not likely to lose any weight. There is no magic to the fasting bit. There needs to be a calorie deficit or you won’t lose anything.

Today I have switched my eating window to between 6 and 9 (pm).

My doctor advised me to do it.

This is why I struggle with it too. I’ve never ever not eaten breakfast. If I go too long between Meals I get shaky,
dizzy and nauseous.

@herewegoroundtheblueberrybush I've heard some people put on weight at first so don't give up.

@HairScratcher that's a great loss! Fantastic

@MrsPositivity1 welcome to the thread. Keep us posted how you get on.

@Pepperypottery I have been woken with hunger a couple of times but it did stop

@PermanetlyTiredPigeon move on that's the best way and don't beat yourself up

@pippablackwell I let my hair down this weekend but I try to aim for 12 hours fasting at the very least. I feel awful physically for it though but it's my child's birthday so there's been party food and cake and wine.

@JanuaryJunipers do you like black coffee? It helps a lot.

@cosypompoms thank you

@NewYearNewYu I think that was it actually, was woken by something else, realised I was hungry and couldn’t think about anything else!

@cosypompoms I guess I just have to tough it out!

Mid week is so much easier to follow a routine than weekends. Need to figure out some strategies for days when I’m not at home.