I’m on Day 6 of 16:8, writing this to share my experience to date and hopefully hear from others who have done this method and want to share experiences or top tips.
I am using an app called Zero, I’ve tried a few before and they were complicated. I really like this app. It’s £50 for the year with a free 7 day trial. It shows you when you are entering fat burning zones once you are over 14 hours of fasting (or sooner if you are active doing running, walking etc). It links to my Garmin.
I’ve chosen to start my fasting period straight after evening meal. I go and brush my teeth after dinner and start the fasting tracker on the app. This way, most of my fasting hours are spent sleeping. Avoiding after dinner snacking has been a real boost to staying in a calorie deficit. I could quite easily have my dinner and then eat a bowl of cereal, toast etc in the evening.
Black coffee, palatable. Black tea - I just can’t stand it, so have switched to green tea in the morning.
And then at about 12:30, i break the fast and have lunch. I’ve never enjoyed my lunch so much as I have this week! Every mouthful is pure bliss!
I am choosing not to have 3 meals in the 8 hour eating window, so skipping breakfast as a meal entirely. I’m aiming to lose half a stone (it’s not a lot I know, but I’m quite slim and losing half a stone is really hard for me. I’m also perimenopausal).
I walk around 15,000 steps a day normally and am continuing to do this while fasting. Energy levels are quite good which has surprised me. I feel slightly sharper mentally.
Other than this, I’m eating normally but have stopped eating 2 food groups that are my kryptonite (crisps and peanut butter).
Ive dropped 2.5 pounds this week and can see a slight change to the muffin top.