Fast 800 / 16:8 - 3 days in, I'm so hungry

[hungry123]

I am ravenous by 11.30 when my eating window opens. Today I could've eaten non-stop for the entire 8 hours. Definitely gone over 800 calories and to be honest can't see how I could possible sustain so little every day, so was already thinking that I'd be around 1000 plus more exercise, but honestly, I'm fucking starving.

HELP. 2 stone to lose. Would like to lose a stone by Easter as have a nice holiday booked.

I did this last year and honestly thought i was going to pass out the first day 😅 But after around a week, your body absolutely adjusts and i found it loads easier. I was pretty relaxed about counting and went to around 1000calories most days? But i still had a total loss of 12kg overall and was thrilled so keep up the good work!! 💪

That’s amazing @CrispAppleStrudels. How long did you do it for? Thank you for the story of hope!

I find it virtually impossible too although I am sure some of it is mental - once I start eating I can't stop, I think my brain tries to compensate for the "lost" hours and thinks it can't possibly survive on so little. Fasting for as long as possible helps and that does get easier after the first few days. I can't do 800 calories I think that's madness. I'm aiming for 1200

I'm another who can't stop eating once I start. I've found that eating as late as I dare, then brushing my teeth and going to bed helps. I also can't sleep when hungry, so have to eat just before bed otherwise my stomach rumbles keep me awake. But at least I can't eat when I'm asleep.

Yes that's what I struggle with. I can't sleep hungry even slightly hungry!

When I did 16:8 I wouldn't really think how many calories I ate but I just ate healthy and reasonable sizes. After a week or so my body got used to it all and I found it easy.

Oh yes definitely psychological. I’ve been working from home so all too easy to wander to the fridge. When I’m in the office the time goes more quickly and not so many snack opportunities as our restaurant only opens at 12. 1200 sounds sensible.

I did the 12 week programme, the end of which coincided with an appointment to see if we qualified for fertility treatment. The 12kg lost meant that we did. My intention was to keep going, but 2 weeks later i found out that I had fallen pregnant naturally! So i came off the programme to move onto a diet that was more sustainable for baby 😊 Planning on doing it again once i stop breastfeeding this baby.

My eating window is 11:30-19:30. I actually think I’m better stocking up earlier in the day and would prefer breakfast & lunch and could probably like you talk myself out of dinner by cleaning my teeth and getting an early night. Not compatible with our family though unfortunately - I don’t want my tween daughters to see my skipping dinner plus the little buggers actually want to hang out in the evenings (how dare they!!)

What kind of weight loss did you experience? I am already going on the nice holiday feeling chunky so I’m so desperate for this to work!! And need the weight loss first - other health benefits can come later!!!

You'll get used to it after a couple of weeks.

I've been doing 16:8 since July and have lost over 3 stone (last time I looked!). So, keep it up!.

Have you tried doing the keto version? I’m about ten days into fast 800 keto - first few days to a week I found hard but suddenly it flipped and now I’m struggling to eat full meals and not really feeling hungry. Doing 16 hour fasts, eating a lot of protein and veg. Not sticking to 800 probs more like 1000 so that I can have some Greek yogurt and berries which seems to be keeping me on track. Also drinking a LOT, like 3L water a day plus coffee and peppermint tea. I think it’s eliminating carbs that has helped me not feel hungry. Also hoping to lose two stone for Easter. I signed up for the online programme as well which has support etc. figured I’d maybe stick to it more as I had paid £80 for it and it tracks your weight on there. Good luck! Happy to buddy up?

Oh that’s great to hear te your pregnancy. Enjoy your little one! 1kg per week is great.

i haven’t signed up to the programme officially. I’ve got the Fast 800 book, read it probably a year ago and never did it, but looked up a couple of recipes in it the other day and thought right I’ll give it a go.

i think part of my problem is that I’m winging it day by day but actually need to sit and do a meal plan properly.

And accept that it most likely won’t be easy. But will be worth it……… won’t it???

Thanks @dannyufcfan let’s see! And 3st is a great achievement!

Yes am trying to reduce carbs and up protein, though ate a fair bit of both today. I love Skyr which is super high in protein so that’s good. I also love chocolate and crisps and bread and nachos and dips and and and and…..!

I also have to remember to not throw the towel in just because today I wasn’t great. I guess u have to accept I struggle a bit with discipline but any small changes still count and that it’s normal to have an adjustment period to transition to a completely different way of eating. I don’t have to be excellent at it right away…… being kinder to myself is also a ny resolution.

Thanks all. I always appreciate “strangers on the internet” taking time out of their day to chat/reply/share!

I have not counted calories. I've just, within reason (cut out a lot of chocolate and no fizzy drinks), eaten what I want. If you're actually counting calories, as well then I see no reason you could not lose at a faster rate.

A few months in, and I have now have very few hunger pangs. I eat from 12:30 to 8:30.

From what i know about fasting it's a slow process to get the weight off. One month I dropped as much as 10 pounds, though.

It works!

@hungry123 this was in 2021 and I fell pregnant soon after so don't remember all details but I do remember slimming down fast once the effect of my fasting kicked in. I think I lost 1 dress size in one month. Once the effect kicked in I got this unbelievable energy and I felt very alert and alive in a way I hadn't before.

Ok so I need to be patient. Not my strongest point!

Will keep going. Need to stay busy til lunchtimes. Then it feels like a loooong way til dinner…..

Cabbage soup really helps, so does egg whites etc

Do you have a recipe for cabbage soup @Ddifficultday ? I am not a big egg fan, can cope with scrambled ok but not keen on frittata or omelettes..… what else do you do with egg whites?

For those of you who didn’t count calories, did you eat whatever you want during your eating window? Or did you still reduce sugar/carbs (except veg of course)?

Im guessing the magic combo is fasting + reduced calories + low sugar/carbs right?

Definitely no sweets and unhealthy stuff but basic everyday food. For me that meant veggies with meat or fish or chicken, noodles or rice. No bread. No sugary drinks.
My biggest issue is always the portion size so I had smaller portions.

I'm an absolute disaster. I fasted until 12 but then I have had 4 bowls of cereal over the course of the rest of the day, plus crisps. What is wrong me, seriously!

Really hungry and moody with it this morning. Ugh.

Struggling with the idea of waking up ravenous for weeks. Also didn’t sleep well due to cat on my head and snoring husband.

I did Fast800 a couple of years ago and have started it again this week. The first week (of the first time) was terrible - and I remember being close to tears at one point, after a couple of weird meals (cucumber and cottage cheese for lunch).

This time I am still hungry but at least know my way around better and am choosing the meals I actually to eat! My sleep has been atrocious all week (waking every couple of hours, can't get back to sleep again)... not sure if that's because of Fast800 or just 'one of those things'.

If you haven't already, it's worth signing up to the website; it's not free but you can meal plan for the coming week (there are loads of recipes) and it produces a shopping list, so you can organise yourself in advance, which I find it half the battle.

It also has knowledge articles and there is a fitness element as well - videos for exercises each day. There are also forums where members share their stories etc, which can be helpful.

I can’t do this sort of diets as they are too drastic for me to the extent that I get so shakey and weak I can’t even drive to work. Good old sensible calorie counting is the only sustainable way for me.