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.

I'm on day 2 of the 28 day Fast Start from Fast, Feast, Repeat, and i'm feeling ok.

I have about 5 stone to lose so I am really looking to train my whole body back to good habits, while fitting in with family life and going out sometimes.

I luckily work from home so can be very flexible even though this has probably been my downfall in the past as the fridge is always near.

My starting regime is 18:6 eating from 3pm to 9pm. When I cut down the window in a week I will do it from the late end.

I have never really eaten anything in the morning so that aspect of the fast isn't mentally different, but getting used to black coffee and water is!!

Anyway, all good so far. It's really good to hear other peoples thoughts and tips. The Gin Stephens forum is way out of my financial reach so great to have this thread.

@MissFancyDay I haven't read that book, how's it going?

I've done a 24 hours fast today which ends in 5 minutes. I looking forward to eating but it will be the only meal as I'll fast again until breakfast. I wasn't planning on doing 24 hours but it felt manageable so I just kept going.

Just checking in - weekend was harder but managed 13hours fasting both days, and starting to (slowly move) late evening snacks earlier!

Week has been easier, and done 9:15pm-noon fasting both days. Going to stick with that this week, need to commute on Friday - so will see how that will work. Ideally, want to move the 9pm a bit earlier and more consistent!

I hate calorie counting but I don't think I'm eating anymore in the eating window, so should be having less than I was! Going to hold off weighing for at least another week!

Day 4 of 16/8, and day 5 of exercising seriously daily. Today I’m tired, lacking in energy and my muscles feel heavy & overworked after 10 minutes of warmup with hand weights so I’m cancelling my planned workout and have been for a slow swim and will walk later. I was hungry and a bit irritated this morning. Broke fast with big bowl of oatmeal with berries & nuts & seeds & blob of Greek yog and it was like a hug.

hope tomorrow is better, from memory days 4-6 are the hardest for me as I transition from carb heavy not exercising much to semi-low carb and fasting workouts.

anyone else in the first week of starting/restarting?

@PartridgeInAPearShape I'm not just starting, I'm 4 months in but when I started doing 20 minutes exercise a day I remember absolutely aching from head to toe for the first month. I didn't think it would ever end but it did and now I can't tell if I've exercised. The pain and aches have fully gone away

Thanks for the updates everyone.
I've been doing 16:8 (or 17:7) for a month now. I'm really pleased at the impact. It has quashed my appetite and sweet tooth, making me much better at making healthy food choices. I've dropped eating the junk and am 'nurturing my micro biome' with lots of fruit, veg and occasional glass of wine.
So far only 1kg off, but we've had Christmas, and so many things are better (my skin, back ache, hair, energy levels) that I'm not complaining.
The challenge is now sticking with it - I'm good at most things for a month, but then when the novelty wears off it gets harder xxx

@allnewfor2024 do you think this so better as it's a lifestyle that allows for flexibility and WINE!!! 🍷

I'm enjoying the book, there is a lot of choice and many options, and I'm more used to being told what to do when dieting, so it's a different approach for me.

I don't want to go in too extreme, but on the other hand I want to see results. I think that I'm probably overeating in my window at the moment. I tried to get in two meals and a snack in six hours today and felt a bit gross, so that's a lesson I suppose.

Hows everyone getting on?

I'm weighing in tomorrow. 🥴

I’ve been doing another 40 hour fast (dinner yesterday to lunch tomorrow). I think I’ll keep up this way of eating because it really seems to work for me for now. Saying that, I have been meal planning for the next three weeks 😂

How have you been?

I feel like I’m in the flow of things now but I’ll let you know when I weigh in the morning. 🤞

@pippablackwell wow that's incredible. Keep going! And let's celebrate when it's over

@NewYearNewYu good luck tomorrow. I can't judge how I'll be as it was all wine and chocolate and birthday cake last weekend and then I've been great and I've done 24 hours fasting so who knows?!

Me too @cosypompoms - let's see what the scales say.
And as for your earlier q - yes, I love the fact that I can still have a drink, and I am disciplining myself to drink 'french style' - that's a small glass of red with the food (not before) - maximum polyphenols apparently.
I'm looking g forward to listening to this - interesting the impact of eating (and not eating) on our circadian rhythms and sleep.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2gh3kMWRjXZz7g34Sj26SMg/change-when-you-eat-not-what-you-eat

I read that and luckily it fits with my 2pm to 7pm eating window. Hope it’s accurate.

Im doing 16:8 and on my 4th day and feeling okay (12 noon to 8pm) I definitely struggle about 11am and feel a little sickish

@MrsPositivity1 do you like black coffee? Maybe that would help at 11

@allnewfor2024 I'm going to listen to that link now. Thanks for that.

✅ I've weighed and lost 500g/1.1lb so I'm thrilled with that.

Just weighed in and lost 2llb this week meaning I have lost half a stone this year. Really happy with that although obviously it will slow down from here but just need to keep plugging away.

Congratulations @cosypompoms that’s brilliant!

Going to listen to that now @allnewfor2024 I need some motivation/inspiration.

Had a bad few days. I had started out trying to get 7 portions of fruit and veg a day as well as IF. The last two days I went back to my terrible eating habits of carb heavy and going from salty to sweet and back again and never being satisfied. 😞 Think I have to go back to calorie counting if I’m really going to make a change and keep on track long enough that it becomes a habit.

Great to read that it is going well for others, it’s helping with my motivation levels!

@pippablackwell I don’t know how you are doing that! How do you feel? Can you do all the things you normally need to get done in a day?

I do ok actually. I work a desk job from home, and I have enough energy to go for a walk, though I don’t fast on days where I have an exercise class! I’ve ended up feeling wobbly when I’ve done that Sometimes I feel nauseous, but that passes. I tend to feel colder too, so have a lot of hot drinks. I’ve tried longer fasts before and really not felt good after a couple of days so I avoid that now. Not sure if that’s a me thing or if women in general find it harder to do longer fasts. I should really read a book on fasting!

@NewYearNewYu that is absolutely fantastic news. No wonder you are thrilled!

@Pepperypottery I was on a thread about having 30 plants a week. It said if people are struggling with 5 a day they Tony amounts of things like spices and herbs all add in to the 30 total. Maybe that would be easier?
I have porridge and homemade soup every single day then one other healthy meal. Would something as simple as that work for you?
@pippablackwell I've been wondering how you were getting on. What did you break your fast with?

Well done to those who have lost - it all adds up! And well done to those who haven't lost - there are still benefits I'm sure!
My scales are a bit dodgy, they work on approximates. Having started out just above midway 10 and a half and 11 (so I'm estimating 10st 11) last Fri I came in just above 10 and a half , so I estimated 10 st 8. This morning I had lost a tiny bit but am still just above the 10st 7 mark. I'll call it a half pound loss!! It will be clear when I drop below 10 and a half.
Still very happy with my new habits, so there's no hurry.

@Pepperypottery i do fill in a food diary too as I am always tempted to eat more and it helps to focus the mind. I eat similar size meals each day so even without filling it I know roughly what I can have. It’s most important on off piste days where I am eating away from home. That said when I do OMAD I don’t eat anywhere near my usual calories as that would be one huge meal. I also find it easier to stick to if I eat the same each day. One day eating too much gives three days hunger when I go back to normal. Not really worth it.

Well done @allnewfor2024, you must be pleased with that! But maybe you need some new scales for next Christmas?!

I’ve lost 5lbs since 3rd Jan.

Unfortunately that’s one week of fasting and two weeks of something much like Covid that didn’t test positive. I can recommend it for weight loss!

Thanks for the good advice on here. I’ve never thought of you moving the fasting window around on days where I just needed to eat a bit earlier. It’s really helped