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?

Well I’m 53 and post meno so no. It’s such a minor change though so I don’t think not eating for 16 hours, the majority of which you are asleep for , would impact your cycle. It’s only been a few days, that would not worry me in the slightest. Sometimes it’s just late.

I agree, I wouldn’t worry yet.
I think that you would have to be incredibly restrictive for it to effect your cycle and it would take time.

I dreamt that I woke up super skinny. Sadly I didn’t!

@ComealongMartha thats so funny! But you might be manifesting your future. Wooooh! is not my thing but it’s something my DD20 talks about so maybe 🤔.

@greengreyblue I think that I would get along well with your dd! I want to believe in manifesting. I will wake up skinny soon!

@ComealongMartha

'I think, therefore I am'

Keep the faith!

There is cycle related stuff with fasting but I haven’t read Fast Like A Girl yet and don’t fully understand the relationship. Mindy Peltz advises against fasting around your period but not sure as to which cycle days that applies to. Need to read it but it was quite pricey on Amazon.

Fell off the wagon at the in-laws and gained a few lbs. Back on it today with a 20 hour fast. Next couple of days are gonna be tricky as DS is 5 tomorrow and there’s gonna be cake, treats, booze, BBQ etc etc. Really want to get back to the weight loss so going to try and abstain as much as poss.

Hello all👋, I’d like to join you if I may. Have spent the past few weeks reading the thread and am all caught up.

So I think I’m going to give 16:8 a try with 12-8 being my eating window. Sometimes it’s actually closer to 1pm before I have my first meal. I’m not a breakfast eater anyway so don’t find it too much of a chore not to eat until lunchtime.

I have a few questions though. Is it enough for me to be fasting outside my 8 hour window or should I also be watching/restricting what I eat within my eating window? I guess given that I don’t eat breakfast generally anyway my concern is that doing 16:8 won’t be any different to my usual WOE and therefore I won’t see any weight loss?

Also ref the fasting, currently atm I’m having a coffee when I wake which I am still adding milk to. I also drink water with lime in. That’s all I have until I eat my lunch sometime between 12.30 to 1pm. Are both of those things enough to bring me out of my fast? Should I be being more strict?

I am 50 and probably peri-menopausal (I have the Mirena coil so it’s difficult to know for sure). I exercise 5 times a week; a combination of swimming and HIIT workouts. I am 5ft 3 and probably weigh around 10 stone 3. I don’t know for sure as the battery has gone in my scales but that’s what I was the last time I weighed. I am looking to lose a stone.

I did start doing it around 3 weeks ago but have just got back from a 2 week holiday on Tuesday where it completely went out the window. I was eating breakfast, lunch and dinner, which is more than I eat even without doing 16:8. But I was also swimming 50 lengths every day, which is more than I exercise at home so I guess it balanced itself out. Funnily enough I actually feel like I’ve lost a little bit of weight. It’s difficult to know for sure as my scales currently aren’t working but just going by sight I think I look slightly trimmer around the middle.

I do need to get a battery for my scales but kind of don’t want to get too hung up on the numbers and might just be guided by how my clothes feel/how I look. I do need to be a bit mindful as my 18yo DD is in recovery from an ED and I don’t want to trigger her by making it obvious I am actively dieting/trying to lose weight. That’s another reason why 16:8 appeals as it’s not too in your face.

Hi welcome @Rollergirl11 I think many people find they lose weight just by following 16:8 and not changing anything else, but then it probably depends on your metabolism, level of exercise, age, starting weight etc etc. And I guess prob also comes down to how quickly you want to lose weight.

Personally I’m not dieting in my eating window - I’m terrible at diets which is why fasting appeals. I do try to eat healthily generally though - we quite often have a big salad with lentils and chicken / salmon for dinner for eg. But we also have crisps at the weekend and wine… So the weight loss will be slower. Which I’m fine with as long as it’s actually going in the right direction. Even seeing a bit of a drop is so motivating.

I’m happy with slow and steady. I have already found that I have cut out any evening snacking/dessert just by sticking to the window. And within my eating window I have replaced snacking on chocolate with fruit instead. Hoping that will make a difference. Although crisps are my downfall. I don’t drink alcohol so weekends won’t be any different.

I’m back from my break. I managed to fast until at least 1 pm every day so that’s a real achievement for me. I haven’t had breakfast since about 20/6 soo I’m not even feeling hungry now I’m the mornings and am enjoying waiting and just drinking black coffee and water all morning. I was worried my bowels would slow but haven’t at all so that’s good. I have eaten slightly differently while away but still pretty healthy apart from yesterday but we did walk 22k steps up and down a coast path. Had a small roll at lunch with berries and the fish and chips quite late(8pm) and lots of wine. Apart from that my choices have been fish and chicken of the not deep fried variety! Had no desserts( not my thing) or crisps (my weakness) so all in all not bad. Will hop on scales in morning…. will be over the moon to have maintained as had alcohol every night.🥴 But did thoroughly enjoy it!
Today:
Lunch at 1pm- veggie falafel wrap, small banana.
Not hungry still so will probably not eat.

Ok so did have a couple of rice cakes last night with low fat soft cheese and a few black olives.
Just weighed and I’m up just under 1lb after my holidays so I’m happy with that. It would have been several pounds without the fasting and steps I’m sure. Balancing out now with no alcohol this weekend.

That’s not bad at all! Well done managing that with holiday.

I’ve had a family BBQ for DS bday today and eaten so much. Endo bloat is insane 🫠😫 am on the peppermint tea. May pull another 20 hour fast.

@greengreyblue well done!

Hello all, can I join you?

I've been fasting for just over a month and feeling really good. My general schedule is to average a 16 hour fast but often I do 18 hours and eat between 12 and 6pm. I'm reasonably flexible so on the odd occasion if out I've had breakfast but then an early dinner and done a longer fast the following day.

I don't have any milk in drinks or herbal tea, just black coffee, black tea or water while I'm fasting (following Gin Stephen's Fast, Feast, Repeat advice.) This is mainly because I'm primarily fasting for other health benefits to hopefully improve my cholesterol and insulin control... I'm retesting my cholesterol in September so will see if it has made a difference or not.

Hi @GameOfJones of course.Sounds like you’re on the right track already.

Welcome @Rollergirl11 and @GameOfJones. Well done @greengreyblue on having such a minimal gain on your holiday.

I'm 9 pounds down now, 8 days to go until my holiday, my goal was to lose 10 pounds so nearly there.

@Octopus45 wow that’s fabulous! Do you have a plan for holiday or are you having a complete break from fasting?

@GameOfJones welcome!

@Octopus45 that's amazing!!!
I'm going on my hols too but this week.

I'm 17pounds down now. I didn't have a target for my trip. Just to get as much off as possible. I'm going to try and fast in the morning for as long as possible but not set a finish time. Life's too short. I'll deal with the damage when I get back.

How long did that 17lb take @goingdownfighting ? What I’m enjoying about starting to eat at lunchtime is actually feeling and recognising actual hunger pangs. So much about meals eaten on cue is just habit. Not saying that’s wrong and it’s good to set healthy mealtimes when raising a family. It’s now 12pm and I’ve had my first gurgles. The fact that fasting is actually improving my health in addition to my waistline is the key for me. I’m also not a morning person and I have more time now to get organised and out of the house so I can see this being long term.

@greengreyblue

I've lost it over 14 weeks.

I too enjoy the reduction in mental load. Although I am hungry sometimes. It has naturally steered me to good habits eg having a high protein intake to curb hunger and drinking herbal teas and lots of water.

What has contributed the most I think is that I am strict about sleep. Magnesium spray on my feet has changed my life. Literally. I'm less irritable, sugar cravings have reduced, dark circles reduced, face looks well rested.

I concentrated on sleep and fasting for the first month

I'm the second month I introduced reformer Pilates 2 x week

I then upped my steps and do a little strength work- nothing fancy just you tube videos once a week

Once I get to the size I want I'm going to measure myself then start strength training and doing pilates at home. I've got about 6-7 pounds to lose before I get there.

That’s amazing!

welcome new fasters.

am finding the solidarity here motivating.

fasted 17 hours today - so didn’t manage 20
but happy with 17

So much good advice here! What’s the magnesium spray please?

@Queencam it's the better health one from Amazon. . It does really dry out the skin so use lots of moisturiser

Well done on the 17hour. Keep hydrated.

Hi all, looking for some advice/guidance please…

Back in November 2021, I successfully lost 10kg (or so) on doing the Fast 800. Since then, I’ve managed to put that weight back on again! January this year, tried again but for whatever reason my sleep got really interrupted and had insomnia/poor sleep quality. So I don’t want that to happen again!

But I still need to lose weight for health reasons... so.

I still have a Fast800 subscription as I use the recipes and other guidance most weeks. If I change my meal plan to “Way of Life” (cals & carbs would be based on my weight & height?) but don’t eat breakfast each day - and have lunch & dinner between midday-8pm, is that the correct way of doing 16:8? Is there anything else I need to factor in?

Thank you to anyone who has some knowledge on this! 😀

@chatw0o0p the thing I like about 16-8 or that style of fasting is that it's one rule to follow. What you eat in your eating window is up to you and Fast800 has some good recipes I agree. I'd just focus on a variety of nutritious food and make sure you're eating enough calories without going overboard.

Everyone is different as some people have herbal tea/splash of milk in drinks but personally I only eat or drink anything with calories between 12pm and 8pm and then in my fasting time of 8pm to 12pm the following day I only have black coffee, black tea, green tea or water.