16-8

[Beachcomber74]

Day 1 of this adventure. I’ve got a headache but will soon be going to bed.
My eating window today was 8am-4pm. I’ve got so much to shift & hope I can keep this up. Anyone else want to join?

So true on the mind over matter. Was thinking that earlier today. It’s almost having the confidence to know - this is fine to do and actually can have major health benefits. When everything you’ve been told before is about eating regularly.

Hi, hope everyone's had a good week. Got back from holiday on Monday afternoon, didn't want to come home. I pretty much stuck to my fasting window, but did drink quite a few cocktails. Weighed in at 9st1.25 yesterday morning, will not be weighing this morning cause I had pizza last night.

I’m on Day 9. I was at a BMI of 24.0 and today I’m at 23.6. I like to exercise first thing, so finding it a bit of a challenge. I haven’t RTFT, but have seen PP talk about following “the rules”—can someone please signpost me? Because I’m exercising, I’m specifically not doing extreme calorie cutting.

That's great you managed to stick to fasting while on holiday @Octopus45

@Chatonette I don't know 'the rules' but it depends on which intermittent fasting routine you are following. Are you going with 16:8? During your 16 hour fast you can drink black tea/coffee, water and unsweetened herbal tea/green tea. I'm not sure there are rules beyond that. You can move the eating window if you want/need but eating between 12pm and 8pm is popular.

I was back down to 63kg this morning so that's something at least. Have done a 17 hour fast today and had half a ham, cheese, avocado sandwich on wholemeal for lunch. Then an apple with peanut butter.

Feel a bit weird and nauseous and achy today. Hoping its not to do with the 24 hour fast. Also hoping its not a bug!

Oh that’s great @Queencam 😜, the loss not feeling below par.
@Octopus45 well done! Not sure if that’s a loss as don’t know your weight but sticking to your window on holiday. I think this is so flexible for holidays and celebrations so I can see me continuing to use fasts to counteract excesses going forward.
As for rules, we’ve talked about what constitutes a fast. I was initially having milk in my tea but decided to go to water and herbal tea/ black coffee to get the most out of that fast. If you listen to podcasts in the subject or read up on the benefits, scientists talk about the fast forcing your body to use the calories you have onboard. If you don’t give your body any in the form of milk or a small snack, it’s forced to burn the fat. If you keep topping up, it’s easier for your body to access that rather than fat. So I’m thinking that if I’m going to fast, I do t want to not get the most from it. Obviously, if you can’t make it through a fast initially, a small splash of milk isn’t going to be the end of your journey. It gets easier . I’m now 7/8 weeks in and have lost 7lbs ( on last weigh) taking into account a small gain on holiday. So as you can see it’s a hard won loss so I don’t want to limit my already slow loss. I’m not over weight so it might be different if there’s more to lose.

17.5 hr fast today.
limch: sourdough rye toast spread with a little avocado and topped with a dry dried egg. Apple
dinner: about to eat a chilli with brown rice and a bit of yoghurt.
For the last 5 weeks I have averaged over 10,000 steps a day.

Can I join please? I've a dreadful cold so not starting just yet though, hopefully it shifts in the next day or so.

I've done IF before (both 5:2 and 16:8) although I've never truly done a clean fast - I can't tolerate tea without milk, and don't particularly like black coffee, and can't really function in the morning without a hot drink! However, I've recently made attempts at clean fasts and discovered that properly brewed green tea doesn't turn my stomach, and I can probably get used to black coffee again (I used to drink it black in my skinny youthful years, maybe there's a connection, hmmmm 🤔)

Hi @OwlsDance it certainly helps to like various herbal teas. I like peppermint. Have a look at some and see what might help. Get well soon.

Welcome @OwlsDance !

I’ve slowly got more used to black coffee.. still prefer it with milk!

@owls dance, I've tried and tried black tea and coffee and try and stick to herbals - I like green, jasmine flowering, peppermint and chamomile. Very soothing and comforting.

@OwlsDance Tetley and Taylor both do some lovely flavoured tea bags. I drink black tea anyway (hate milk) which probably makes it a bit easier. Tetley do a Lemon Drizzle flavour tea and Taylors do Caramelised Biscuit tea.

Also does anyone else drink Diet fizzy drinks during their fasting period. I've just realised that this is probably against the rules and some days I've been having a Diet Coke Zero Lemon, one of my latest fads.

@greengreyblue my recorded weight was a gain. I've taken about the same amount of time as you to lose half a stone. Want to lose another half before Christmas, but dont know how realistic it is.

Fully agree with everyone that this is easy to fit around celebrations etc.

@Octopus45 i don’t drink diet fizzy drinks at home but if I’m out with others and it’s a social thing I would have a Diet Coke. It’s zero calorie/ sugar so not going to trigger insulin I guess. There’s been all sorts of research about diet soda causing sugar craving but it doesn’t do that to me.
As for milk, I dislike it too so it’s not an issue. When I do have it it’s fully skimmed. My weigh-in tomorrow and then going to see my DD who lives away and out for lunch. The booking is at 1.30 so will be about a 20hr fast. Hope to report a loss in the morning.🤞🏻

Thanks for your responses and welcomes everyone!

Apparently anything that has a flavour other than bitter can trigger insulin response, even if there's no sugar in it - our brain tastes the flavour and thinks food is coming. I found this video very informative as to why:

I don't want to come on here though and be an IF zealot - if herbal teas work for people, then that's great, everyone is different!

I've had a bit of a lie in today, so i think 14:10 should be doable even with the cold. Had my green tea today, need to drink some more water, and will head out for a walk. I've overnight oats waiting for me when I get back.

SW is 72.5 kg. My heaviest this year (and all time) was 74+, and I did get down to low 71s by June. However, I lack consistency, and over the years weight just keeps creeping up, so I want to do something more decisive about it!

GW is 55-57 kg, but will reassess once I get there!

Hopefully I haven't scared everyone away!

I broke my fast at 11 with overnight oats, and had a cup of milky tea afterwards. So looks like I might be OK for 16:8 or 15:9 today.

I'm still full of cold, haven't really been ill like that for a couple years now, it really sucks!

I've failed a bit. Mindless ate some crackers at 11. So I've planned to finish my fast at 6pm and then I'll have to try my best tomorrow as im eating out late tomorrow evening.

Good luck everyone.

Sorry, welcome @OwlsDance ❤️

That’s interesting @OwlsDance though i have heard too doctors say herbal tea and black coffee is fine.🤷🏼‍♀️ Sone people swear by hot water but being able to have tea and coffee is more social and if that gets you through perhaps that’s the way to go.
@goingdownfighting no fails. Just crackers all day a few months ago would’ve been unthinkable.

Just watched that part of video. Herbal tea such as is fine and black coffee as not sweet. I do t class fruit tea as herbal . Phew

Today I had an 18 hr fast. Green tea, water and espresso all morning.
lunch- salad with smoked salmon and some seeds, a whole grain rice cake with sunflower seed butter, pear and a few almonds.
dinner: just cooking lean pork skewers with roasted veg and parmentier style spuds and homemade tzatziki. Kitchen will close by 6.
Really tired today so will get an early night.

Managed an 8hr eating window, early bed for me too!

All welcome @OwlsDance and interesting to read what you’ve posted

managed 17 hours today with commuting into the office and back to back meetings. Have had post work wines bit pissed and red thai curry with rice in the pub but still logged the next fast at 8pm so it’s all legit!!

Weigh day. Just a half pound loss this week. Bit disappointed but I know it will move down if I continue. I’m just so impatient!
On the other hand I feel so much better in the clothes. Some of my trousers feel a bit loose! Have to keep reminding myself I’ve lost half a stone since end of June.
SW: 10st 6 lb
CW: 9st 12.5lb
TW:9st 10 was initial target then eventually 9st 7.
Happy Friday all. Off to see my DD and have lunch so pray for me!😂

Enjoy your lunch @greengreyblue!

I seem to have dropped a whole kilo overnight... I know it's all just water, but I'm chuffed nonetheless! Being less bloated is a bonus too.

Nearly ate some cheese this morning when I was making packed lunches for DC, but caught myself in time!

Had water and green tea this morning, been for a walk, gonna have my shower now. Then will have my trusty oats, I should probably make them now.

You’re doing really well. Still going in the right direction. Hope you enjoyed your lunch!

Dealing with the kids meals when you’re fasting is so tough isn’t it!