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!.

Ok - it is easier to eat less during the restricted window. I have been doing 1200 cals a day for some weeks and struggling because I was spreading it out over breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper. The last two days I've had a light fruity breakfast and then a large lunch and a large dinner and I could very easily have gone under 1200 if I'd not been deliberately making sure not to.

This morning I found I needed to wee loads, and I hadn't drunk any more than normal. Is that a side effect?

Yes, weeing loads is common when losing weight, however you're doing it.

I can't remember exactly why off the top of my head but I think it's something to do with your body using glycogen stored in the liver as fuel. Glycogen is attached to water molecules so for whatever reason (I don't understand it in detail) you wee it all out.

It's a good thing as your body prefers to use this fuel first, before turning to fat stores.

Disclaimer: not a scientist or dietician, and now going to google it to refresh my own memory!

Oh no - does that mean I'm not burning fat

This explains it better than I can:

www.verywellfit.com/what-is-glycogen-2242008

I've decided to do this too. Three meals, no snacks, no sweets, and only eating in an 8 hour window. I'm on day three and feeling very comfortable.

I started 16:8 combined with a maximum of 1200 calories a day a month ago an I have lost 15 lbs so far (I am a fat bloater so am bound to lose a lot early on). Week 3 was a bummer as I "only" lost 1 lb but I carried on and have managed 3 lbs this week.

My eating hours are 10:30 to 6:30. I have 3 small meals in that time plus a couple of snacks just before my fast starts again so popcorn or one M&S millionaire bite. All within the calorie allowance. I haven't felt hungry or deprived so far as I feel like I am eating a lot in my 6 hours. Wish I had come across this system years ago.

I’m feeling a bit frustrated as I’m just stuck on the same wait of 186.8 even though I’ve stuck to my fasting times religiously! I mean, I’m glad I’ve not gained anything and I’m still 10lb down from when I started I guess.

Not been on as many long walks this week so I guess that makes a difference. Will get that going again and keep an eye on what I’m eating.

If I get stuck on the same weight I increase my daily steps and cut out snacks. It usually helps. Hope you start losing again soon @skeletonskins

I had been stuck on the same weight for about 2 weeks but today it finally went down. I’ve heard on this diet you can lose some weeks and then maintain for a week or two, then start losing again.

Currently exactly 13st, down from 13st 6lb 3 weeks ago. Really hoping to drop more and see 12 something on the scales soon!

Thank you @moon and @SallyWD, that’s reassuring. I’ll definitely look at my food intake and increase my activity a bit and hopefully it gets moving again!

Been going it just over a week now and lost 2lbsin 4 days but I've stopped losing since then. Just hovering at 12st4lbs 🤔
I'd like to get to 11st5lbs as that suits my lanky frame the best.

due to the heat I went for a run early lunchtime.
I'm regretting it now, haven't stopped sweating since. might get out the washing up bowl with cold water to cool down my feet.

I've just moved the scales from the bedroom (carpeted) to the bathroom and jumped up 4kg, so I assume they have been inaccurate from the beginning and now I have no idea where is started or what I've lost
My clothes are fitting better, so I've definitely lost something, but no metrics. Sigh.

Oh @BewareTheBeardedDragon that happened to me at the start and it was a bit soul destroying tbh. I’d add 4kg to your starting weight and treat that as your new start - that way you still get to recognise all your hard work so far.

Exciting news guys, the scales have finally shifted!!! 186.2 so half a pound since yesterday, I’ll take that! Fingers crossed it keeps moving in the same direction. Off for a walk on the beach.

I do 20:4. I lost 2 stone pretty quickly after starting, now maintaining.

Thanks @SkeletonSkins and high five for scales moving in the right direction! Lucky you with a beach to walk on

Hi, I am starting this, 16:8. On my third day today. I'm not massively overweight but since having my 3rd child and stopping smoking I'm finding a lot of my clothes don't fit aswell as they used to. I tried it once before some years ago as I tried every other diet and just found I was always hungry and started obsessing over what's in food and calories which isn't good for me. In the end, I thought, surely it's better to cut out a meal rather than food groups etc. And discovered this. It was the only thing that worked.

So far, I've done ok with food but I might've slipped up by having an alcoholic drink past the time, once drinking milk and another time drinking squash during the night (I struggle with water). But I'm still getting into it. I've been eating 12-8pm.

It's difficult not being able to drink interesting stuff. I have a jug in the fridge with slices of lemon and lemon balm leaves in it. It gives it enough flavour to lift it from just being plain water, without adding any calories, and it being fridge cold helps as well.

I am finding that I'm hungry in the evenings, and planning to eat massively when my window opens up, but when 10 rolls around next morning I'm able to make sensible choices without too much hassle.

Like others have said upthread - knowing that the kitchen is closed means I don't need to have a discussion with myself about whether I should eat ice cream late at night or not

This works so well for me too!

I haven't eaten breakfast in 3 years and don't start eating until 1pm.

I also run long distances fasting and it makes no difference at all.

I found that once I eat the first bite in the morning, it seemed to open the floodgates for my appetite levels and I was constantly hungry.

I lost 4 stone.

That's an amazing loss @EspressoX10
Do you mind me asking - do you do anything to maintain like counting calories, or is it just being aware of what you eat and making the right choices, or do you just eat whatever and find the window does the trick?

Hi I’ve been doing this for a month now, not counting calories. I don’t have much to lose as I’m already a healthy BMI, but I’d like to lose that last half stone for my clothes to fit better. After a month, I’ve now lost 1.5 kilos which I’m delighted with. Some weeks the scales didn’t seem to shift but the Happy Scale app helps me to see the gradual downward trend. Most importantly, I find it sustainable and I don’t feel
deprived as no food group is forbidden. I’m finding that my blood sugar seems to have stabilised and I don’t get food cravings - unless I have some chocolate which sets it all off again.

Hi ladies
So on the verge of giving up I added in 5:2 this week, still eating in a 12-8 window (usually more like 12-7), and I’ve lost 3lbs!!!

I am now within the healthy BMI and I am delighted! It’s so strange how this works but I think I’m going to stick with it. I’ve lost 10lbs since end-January and I know that’s quite slow but I’m delighted.

BewareTheBeardedDragon I've watched my macros (emphasis on lean protein).

I was always a healthy weight, but had so much to lose after two consecutive pregnancies in my (very) late 30's and.my thyroid packing in.

The real game changers for me losing over 4 stone were: the intermittent fasting, weight training (body pump and free weights) and couch to 5k which triggered an unexpected love of running.

Diet was focused on lean protein (eggs, chicken and turkey breasts, lots of fish and pulses). Greek yogurt (with flavour drops). Lots of veggies.

Thanks @EspressoX10