16:8 /18:6 / somewhere in between - join me?

[Newbie1011]

Anyone fancy joining me? I've done 16:8 once before and found it amazing - I got really into the fasting and lost a stone in about two months, which I was so happy with!
I then got pregnant and had my son who is now about to turn one next week!
Now that I’ve basically stopped breastfeeding, I’m so ready to get back into fasting again!
I gained quite a bit while pregnant, feel rubbish and all my jeans are too tight :(
I started last week at 11st 2lbs and have lost a pound so far - would like to lose 17lbs in total!
I would soooo love to be 9st 13lbs by my summer holiday (there is something about being under ten stone that really does it for me psychologically!!)
I found the company on here so helpful last time, and motivating!
Anyone fancy joining me in a new fasting kick?!
Fine just chatting to myself on here if not!
My eating window is 11am- 7pm so I've just done my 16 hours for today - However I'm heading out tonight, so am pushing through a bit longer today so that I don't go completely off-track!
First week getting back into it was rough but already feeling a lot better this week and I can definitely feel the increase in general wellness/ energy starting to come!

Hello and welcome!!!

Congrats on the birth of your son, and him turning 1! :)

There is nothing worse than feeling rubbish and clothes being too tight. Know that this is temporary, though, and I'm sure the weight will drop off you and you will feel more like yourself / better again!!

I have been drinking lots of sugar free squash (I know this prob isn't great with fasting but hey.. it helps and I need the help). Also, eating greek yog (0% fat) after my dinner makes it feel like a dessert too and keeps me full.

I couldn't sleep last night and had to eat some greek yog at 3am (ugh). So my original plans for a 24 hour fast are no longer. Hoping to get to 7pm this evening. It's going to be tough!

My stats:

SW - 65kg
CW - 63.5kg
GW - 58kg

You've got this. Distract yourself and drink lots. With a little on, no doubt you are super busy. Wen it gets hard remind yourself that food IS coming, and it will pass.

Hello :) I started IF a couple of weeks ago and OMG. I thought I would hate it but I actually really love it. I find it so freeing to just have times I don't eat and times I do eat. It seems so silly cause it's so simple. A couple of times I felt SO HUNGRY but I have tinkered about with my protein levels and times of eating and seem to have settled in to a nice pattern where it doesn't feel like a struggle at all. I am doing 18:6 five days a week and 16:8 at the weekends just cause I like to be more sociable with meals and so I can have a glass of wine early evening.

I have lost 4lbs. My goal is 9st 13 for summer as well so I have half a stone to go.

Ah thanks for replying @doctorlife ! Well done on your losses so far!

Yes I'm so excited to not have clothes that feel to tight, it's awful!

I find it soooo hard to do the longer fasts - you're so brave to even attempt! I find 16 hours really challenging and I don't think I've ever made it past 18, maybe once I did 20 hours. Although weirdly, once you get to 17 hours it does suddenly feel easier I think. Something to do with your body going into a different mode?

I find hours 12-16 the absolute pits!!!!

That's so funny, I'm also a massive Greek Yoghurt eater (!) and am a big fan of having it after a meal so I feel like I've had 'pudding'! I also really like to have a bitter cacao 'hot chocolate' after dinner (no sugar in it but the chocolatey taste feels like a treat nonetheless) before I close my window. Tragically, these are the things that keep me going!!

I hear you on needing something to get you through it - what's the consensus these days on things you can drink while fasting? Marmite in hot water (not to everyone's taste I know!) really helps me through the morning but I have a feeling it's probably not allowed. I always thought anything with a fruity taste was off-limits as it can raise insulin even if sugar free (so have been sticking to chamomile) but I'd be delighted to be wrong about this, ha!

I also like a black filter coffee - so much more drinkable than a black americano I've found!

So my stats are

SW - 70.8kg
CW - 70.3kg
GW - 63kg

Thanks for joining me and let me know how you go today!

Hi @redannie18 thanks for your post, so inspiring!

I so agree with you on the simplicity. It works so well for me too. I hate dieting (and really don't believe in it). I don't want to meal plan or think about calories or get into 'diet head'. I LOVE the simplicity of having one rule to follow and that's it. Having said that, I love how it also nudges you really naturally away from carbs and sugar and towards better meal and food choices.

18:6 is really impressive! I did notice last time that if I could push it to 18hours a few times a week, the weight definitely came off faster. Good luck! Hopefully we can both reach 9st 13 lbs by summer!! Have you got a nice holiday booked??

Thanks so much. I am really pleased :)

Today also marks 3 whole week without chocolate, sweets, cakes, cereal, etc. This is huge for me as my diet was so bad and full of these things. I feel so much better and it gets easier everyday. I have gradually started the fasting and I find it so much easier with absence of sugar.

Yes deffo - your body can adapt and mine has quite quickly which I'm surprised at. I had a crap nights sleep though, and today my self control may be worse due to do it, so today will be the biggest struggle I imagine.

To be honest, I think the squash is a no go.. but I'm allowing it, and telling myself as long as I don't eat food, that's good enough for me, for now. I couldn't get through it without my squash and pepsi max (again, a firm hard no I imagine).

Remember that good enough is... good enough :) and that will look diferent for everyone, so give yourself grace if you need to eat more or less or something during our eating window to get you through to the next one, too!

I have been drinking black coffee - actually enjoying it?! An americano is my new go to when I'm out too (previously a latte).

I cant tell you how much better I feel already. My face is so much less puffy, my period was so much lighter with no pain, I feel a sense of achievement and pride.

And I have successfully resisted temptation of refined sugar for 3 weeks!! :)

I'll let you know how the rest of the day goes. I'm about to put my trainers on and head out for a 45 min walk during my lunch!

Keep us updated.

xx

Are you using an app? I love a gimmick and find that helps me.

Yes I have a beach holiday booked which is definitely a motivating factor!

I eat 10am-4pm, I drink black coffee from when I get up to 10am then devour my breakfast.

I never used to snack in the evenings but it has crept in over the last year and it all adds up so I am glad it's just off the table now. I drink fizzy water all evening.

Doctorlife you sound like you are feeling great, well done. It's such a shift isn't it. I can't see squash doing too much harm.

Ah so wonderful to have this company!

I use an app for the timing and yes I find it really motivating!

Fizzy water is a great shout! I’m at a work event tonight and truthfully I would rather just stick with the fasting but it’s an important celebration for my friend and I’m not sure whether I’ll be able to avoid drinking completely. I’m feeling super impatient to see some progress and want to stick to my plan!

You are so right that avoiding sugar and carbs is absolutely the key. I’ve been making myself feel better by treating myself to things I really enjoy eating which are higher in protein like fancy Greek yoghurt and berries and really nice chicken schnitzels that our local butcher does which I have with a big salad covered in feta cheese and avocado, where I’d usually have had a toastie or something! (Argh I’m making myself hungry ! )

Im also trying really hard to quit the breastfeeding completely, as its entirely unnecessary now and very unhelpful for fasting, but unhelpfully my boy has just started teething again which means he refuses the bottle and only wants my boobs, nooo! He doesn’t need it for nutrition now it’s literally just comfort - but it gets him back to sleep in minutes as opposed to half an hour of shushing, so at 3am when I’m tired, I find myself giving in and letting him. It’s just frustrating as it makes fasting so much harder and I’m sure hormonally the prolactin makes me cling to weight. Hopefully I’ll get there soon!

How was yesterday @doctorlife and @redannie18 ? I lasted until 1pm which was 19 hours, inspired by you both!
as I’d anticipated though it was tricky not to drink at my event last night and also there was no food!!!! So I had to eat really late when I got home which was a bit of a disaster followed by waking up hangover and needing a cooked breakfast 😂so I only fasted for ten hours overnight, not so brilliant! I’ll just take a day off today and try to have an early dinner and get back on it this evening!

It is so frustrating when things don't go to plan isn't it! Hope you had a fun night out anyway though and enjoyed your breakfast!

I am going to have a look at what I'm doing over the weekend and try and fit eating windows around that. I am using the Fastic app and I'm really pleased how my protein intake has gone up so much in the last couple of weeks.

Hello! Happy Friday! :)

Yesterday I caved at 3pm - protein porridge pot from Aldi (my fave!). I felt pretty we and wanted to train at the gym, so I ate that, and trained (good sessions!) then came back and had my low cal pizza wrap at around 7.30pm. I also had some greek yog. I've not eaten since, though, and am going to see how long I can last today.

Scales were down to 62.8kg this morning!!! Really pleased with that.

Also.. most importantly (than the scales), I put a pair of jeans on this morning that I haven't worn i around 4 weeks... wow.. the difference is immense! They fit so well and are comfortable (I'd even say 'roomy'!! The last time I wore them they were tight and chafing me.

It's my birthday in 3 weeks - it's motivating me as I want to buy a nice dress and feel good :)

Well done - it sounds like you did really well/ Your body will adjust with time and you will need less food, less often. It will become enjoyable from there! No food at the event last night?! Nightmare!!!! Hope you still enjoyed.

Give yourself grace.

Currently sat in the office armed with a hug bottle of squash and 2 cans of Pepsi max.. lol.

Hey. I'm 6 weeks into this i think.

Start weight 11st 6
Current weight 10st 7.8
Goal is probably 9st

Been hovering around the 10st 7lb-8lbs for over a week now which is infuriating! Was anniversary on Tuesday and my birthday yesterday so I've not done too badly tbh (I've had a takeaway and a McDonald's!) I think because I've started excersize (walking 5 miles a day for 4 weeks) that maybe inflammation is keeping the lbs up for now.

I've lost cm for sure.

I usually do 16:8 and 1200 calories.
I rely on pepsi max to get me through 🤷

Well done folks, i feel like the whole point is sustainability so fluctuations have to be ok. I am saying this cause i’m sitting outdoors with beer and crisps 🤣 i’ve had a good week though, i just love that most days i find it easy to do less mindless eating.

Hey @RareMaker welcome! Sounds like you’re doing great to me though totally understand the frustration when the cleaves don’t move! I’ve been 11st 2lbs or thereabouts for so long it’s just infuriating , I’m desperate to see ‘10st anything’ at this point!!

been good again today after my wine induced midnight wobble earlier this week! Managed a 16 hour fast then just a 6 hour window, aiming for a decent fasting stint tomorrow!

what do others think the best time is to exercise when fasting? I find it tricky to know!

Hi! I’ve found this thread as I need to get back into fasting - I did Zoe last year and did really well until we went to Japan and totally fell off the wagon. I don’t have loads to lose 5’7” and just over 11 stone, but that makes me v slack and lazy about sticking to anything so hoping this keeps me accountable!

i try to run in tge morning when I’m fasting and do a bit of yoga in the evening. Passes a bit if time and don’t really think it affects my appetite by making me hungrier or anything. If anything I find it harder when I’m in a car or office and just watching the clock. I think Zoe said exercising during fasting optomises the benefits too if you can do it. But I might be misremembering that…

Welcome @PanickingNowHelpPlease ! I’m a big fan of Zoe too so trying to combine fasting with no UPFs, etc.
am going for a lot of avocado and a lot of Greek yoghurt!
also got weirdly into sauerkraut!!
Am about the same height and weight as you also.
I’ve been really good this week but the scales haven’t really moved for me so far 😭 I think it’s because I’m still breastfeeding so I’m going to come up with a proper plan for stopping now. Baby is huge, it’s ridiculous 🤣
Have closed my window at 7pm today and aiming for 16-18 hours into tomorrow. Really hope I can see some progress soon!
How is everyone else doing ?

I've recently discovered 16:8 having been shocked when weighing myself for the first time in 5 years, two children later. I assumed I was at the top of the healthy weight range, but discovered I was actually in the overweight category, weighing 11st 7.5lbs. Previously I've lost weight limiting carbs but that seems quite difficult whilst also making family meals that my children will actually eat. I'm also really conscious that I don't want to introduce my children to the concept of dieting. 16:8 feels really easy... just don't eat breakfast or snack after dinner. I started about 6 weeks ago but we had a 2 week stay in that time with grandparents where I had no control over food so had to let it go or seem rude. I'm down to 11st 0.75lbs so 0.25lbs above the healthy weight range. I'm on the cusp of my first target. Since we had very little food in the house tonight we ended up eating roast potatoes, fish fingers and salad, I doubt tomorrow morning will be the moment. Plan is to carry on til I have a bmi of 23 to give me a buffer within the healthy BMI range.

Well... the scales said 10st 11.25lbs this morning. I weighed myself 4 times and it was consistent. I find it very hard to believe I have lost 3.5lbs in one day, so I suspect tomorrow they'll say I'm heavier. But, for today at least, I am in the healthy BMI range!

Hi everyone! Found you when searching for an old thread I was on last year. I started 18:6 last June and am still doing it. I’m doing it for all the reasons. I started on 66kg and got down to 60kg but then settled around 61.5. The thread was popular but tailed off as everyone met targets. I didn’t weigh for a long time but have done this week and am at 63kg. Not happy because I eat at 6pm , nothing after and don’t break my fast until 12pm. It’s a way of life now. I find it easy. I eat lots if veg and protein, fruit, coffee, green tea. Alcohol at weekends but not a lot. Would just like to be 60kg again!! I’m 54 and from experience doing this weight does fluctuate when you’ve eaten carbs the night before or a salty meal as more water is retained to digest them. Fingers crossed it’s temporary!

Is anybody still doing the 16:8? I’d like to start it, so just looking for buddies.

Seems to be a dead thread. I do 18:6 ish every day.

I am interested in this fasting way of losing weightbut was wondering if you can eat & drink whatever you like? (Such as beer & crisps)?

You can eat whatever you like, but you do have to be in a calorie deficit, so they are not the best choices! I aim for 1500 cals a day which means I can use those calories as I wish. Generally lots of protein and vegetables but I do eat fun stuff too.

When you eat do you restrict calories? Or eat as you normally would
I am struggling to lose weight. I have been dieting for about 4 months by being very careful about what I eat but I and only lost 8 pounds and have another 2 stone to lose but it's going to take me forever!
. I have tried 16/ 8 before and I found that sometimes I felt nauseous if I didn't eat anything in the morning. And then I ate too much on the eating window anyway so didn't lose anything. But wondering if I should try again

You need to work out your TDEE and see how many calories it says then take away about 500. Fasting isn't magic, it just limits the amount of time you are eating. I find that helpful, I eat my calories in the window then I know I can't eat outwith that so I don't even think about it.