16:8 does not feel like another shitty diet!. I managed to lose fat, have more energy and feel positive about life.

[sbh1991]

Hey,
I want to share my experience, I tried several diets in the past with little luck, I found them boring and I usually ended up caving in, binging on food and ending up back at square one.

However, I finally found the 16:8 fast really worked for me in losing weight.
I enjoy my food and more importantly I enjoy life without having to restrict myself anymore. Life is too short as they say!.

Weight loss can fill like a constant uphill battle, I know that feeling first hand. So, I would like to help where I can, let me know your struggles with the diet or what problems you have?. Happy to give tips or inspiration to others from my experience.

It is the little steps every day that add up to big results over time 😀. Let's all help and support one another!.

@FruitPastillesaregood - just eat it later if you feel you will miss out otherwise.

@MsTSwift that is so inspiring. This diet is so attainable I’m losing and it feels like with minimal effort. No more Victoria Secret inspired misery for me!!

Ive just done my measurements.. absolutely horrified.

@MsTSwift

I do an hour on the turbo bike first thing then don’t eat until lunchtime. It’s fine. Then eat what I like at weekends healthier in the week. Started in 16/8 in Oct by jan I was 2 stone lighter and maintaining ever since. Bmi 21 at aged 46 and size 10 (was 14). So yes am thrilled !

Oh this is so so inspiring!

This thread is so inspiring. I did 5:2 for 3 years and it worked a treat but then just drifted. Keen to shift the perimenopause weight gain and lockdown gain.
Can anyone tell me if I did 16:8 mon- fri then ate outside the window in sat- sun that would blow the whole thing? Does this need to be a 7 days a week thing?
I like to have wine at weekend till about 11pm when socialising and don't really want to feel bad about that. I always eat healthily/sensibly but the evening glass or 2 is lovely at weekends. Thanks

No it wouldn’t blow it, lots of people do that but I’d just be aware of the amount of calories in your weekend wine and perhaps be more restricted during the week calorie wise to account for that at the weekends :)

@MsTSwift That's a brilliant achievement.

I slept very poorly last night and saw the sunrise. Ginger Cat #1 came and sang the song of his people to me at 3am, and then deigned to snuggle with me at 5am which I think helped me drift off.

DH is lovely and got up with the DC. I eventually managed a few hours and got up late, so it feels like I've cheated for this first fast as it's not long until 1pm.

I have read the whole thread and I have a question please. It's been mentioned a few times that you should eat sweet stuff immediately after a meal as it can cause an insulin spike if it's eaten as a snack. Why is this? Grateful for a technical explanation or a point in the right direction to links, videos, etc.

Oh, and I forgot to ask - has anyone noticed a change in their sleep quality after fasting for a while? I don't usually have any difficulty falling asleep but I do wake up frequently throughout the night. Ivm interested in seeing if my sleep quality improves.

This worked for me too. Just drop breakfast and eat what I want for the other two meals. The only time I can't stick to it is if I drink in the evening. I obviously don't stop eating/drinking then at 8pm.

I'd love to join you all! I've piled on the weight and I can't seem to shift it. Had a week of healthy eating, spurred on by a school mums group, but lost nothing and then binged

I've done SW before and lost three stone, but it all went back on and I don't want to demonise food. I think it has really skewed how I saw food.

I think I can do this at home, trying to think about how I would make it work when back at work - any other teachers doing this? Obviously we are very timetabled with breaks and lunch! I do have a mindset if I must eat breakfast, lunch and dinner and feel like I miss out if I don't eat one, but the idea of "kitchen closed" sounds good.

I am going to start tomorrow!

[quote BeeFarseer]@MsTSwift That's a brilliant achievement.

I slept very poorly last night and saw the sunrise. Ginger Cat #1 came and sang the song of his people to me at 3am, and then deigned to snuggle with me at 5am which I think helped me drift off.

DH is lovely and got up with the DC. I eventually managed a few hours and got up late, so it feels like I've cheated for this first fast as it's not long until 1pm.

I have read the whole thread and I have a question please. It's been mentioned a few times that you should eat sweet stuff immediately after a meal as it can cause an insulin spike if it's eaten as a snack. Why is this? Grateful for a technical explanation or a point in the right direction to links, videos, etc.[/quote]
I think (someone correct me if I’m wrong!) that as the fats and proteins in your meal are slowly digested, the sugar in a sweet or dessert don’t hut your bloodstream as quickly and so don’t cause as much of an insulin spike as eating something sugary on its own would. Think of having 2 glasses or wine with a big meal as opposed to on an empty stomach, even though it’s the same amount they would have completely different effects!

I’m 17 hours into my fast and not hungry at all! It’s so strange. I’m making lunch for myself and DS at the moment but I might just cover mine up and eat it later.

@LyraSilvertongueBelacqua

I'd love to join you all! I've piled on the weight and I can't seem to shift it. Had a week of healthy eating, spurred on by a school mums group, but lost nothing and then binged

I've done SW before and lost three stone, but it all went back on and I don't want to demonise food. I think it has really skewed how I saw food.

I think I can do this at home, trying to think about how I would make it work when back at work - any other teachers doing this? Obviously we are very timetabled with breaks and lunch! I do have a mindset if I must eat breakfast, lunch and dinner and feel like I miss out if I don't eat one, but the idea of "kitchen closed" sounds good.

I am going to start tomorrow!

I’m not a teacher now, but I was. I think I’d work out what time morning break was and break my fast then and just have an earlier tea if necessary. Eg if it’s at 11, kitchen would be closed by 7pm. Alternatively you could just hold off eating until lunch time which once you’re used to it, will be fine. Just drink lots of water!

Thanks @SallyWD I’ve just broken my fast with a huge bowl of leeks and eggs. I guess it’s just being mindful about what I eat. Interesting about the fruit too.

@MoonBabysMagicalKalimba That's what I was thinking, it makes sense. I would like to understand it better though. Might have to go digging an internet hole.

Thanks @skeletonskins!

I think the whole idea of set meals has been drilled into us from an early age. But when you really think about it why do we need to eat at meals? Why not just eat when you're really properly hungry? Honestly if you go without breakfast you won't faint or be ill! It's the thought of it, the habit. You just need to get into a new routine. Many of us have noticed that breakfast actual ignites your appetite and you end up wanting to eat more. Have fluids and distract yourself as long as you can, it really does work.

WRT sleeping issues - I've been insomniac for many years (no bother falling asleep but wake constantly throughout the night) and fasting hasn't changed that in any way, unfortunately!

I'm over a stone down in about 10 weeks and that's allowing for lots of weekend drinks and a few binges too. At 46 I'm also peri-menopausal so I'm delighted with the results so far and don't see me eating any other way from now on

I've noticed that I'm less tired actually, I have two young DCs and would be like a zombie if they had a bad night - my youngest has slept awfully the last 3/4 nights in a row but yet I have boundless energy! I'm about 10 days in.

You are right about the meal times being drummed into us, I really didn't feel hungry this evening so just skipped dinner, whereas before I would have eaten it just for the sake of it!

Have really enjoyed reading this thread and have picked up lots of tips - thanks everyone 🙂

I am wondering if most people who have had success with this are missing breakfast? I found to my surprise that after initial hunger pangs at 9 am by 11 am I wasn’t bothered. I ate my breakfast then anyway and kind of wishes I hadn’t. It’s been drummed into us for so long that eating breakfast is so important that I do feel I will faint without it!
If you eat three meals in 8 hours is it just as effective as eating two meals in 8 hours is what I’m asking I think..

Personally I skip breakfast as I want to be able to eat more at lunch and dinner and it’s easy calories for me to lose.

Absolutely fruit. Agree with pp that breakfast “ignites” appetite. I am absolutely fine fasting in the morning the shaky hungry feeling I used to get late morning was actually a carb crash after my toast breakfast!

I drink at weekends and eat what I like then though my appetite has shrunk anyway. I eat most meals on a breakfast plate which shrunk my portion size. So I eat lovely food only less of it. I won’t eat lots of crap chocolate bars in the week any more as I was doing but will have home made treacle tart at the weekend. Quality over quantity

I have a big brunch, then afternoon snacks and an early dinner

Please excuse my bashed and scratched scales but I’ve achieved it! So happy to be back in the 180s again! 167lbs puts me back in the healthy range for my heigh (5ft 10) so that’s my first goal.

I’ve been doing this for 26 days and I’ve lost half a stone which is amazing for me has I have PCOS and hate exercise (except swimming which is obviously off right now). I’ve been walking for around an hour a day and not counting calories, just eating two decent meals. If I lose another lb this week that will mean I’ve averaged 2lb a week this month so I’d be really happy with that. Would be fab if I can get to the 170s in the next month!

@SkeletonSkins

Well done! It's so good to see a landmark appear isn't it? I'm desperate to get under 12st - hoping maybe to achieve it by the end of June. IF is the best!

Fantastic SkeletonSkins that’s great progress! I haven’t weighed since last week (when I’d stayed the same) and whilst I’ve stuck to my fasting hours I haven’t had a good weekend. I’m stuck on 147, and 146 sees my in the healthy weight BMI! Hoping for a good week.