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!.

Oh this has given me the kick up the bum to get onto this again!

I have been totally off the wagon because I have been having a few wines in the evening but I felt amazing when I was on it so I'm going to start again!

If anyone wants background info on 16/8, I found Dr Jason Fung’s work really good:

www.dietdoctor.com/intermittent-fasting

www.health.harvard.edu/blog/intermittent-fasting-surprising-update-2018062914156

Especially if you have diabetes/pre-diabetes:

borrowworrow I'm fasting 8pm to midday. I find I start to think about eating around 10am, so start to feel hungry. But it has not got to that really sick kind of hunger, if that makes sense. Just a pleasant tummy growling meaning I really enjoy my lunch!

I usually eat between 10am and 6pm. Sometimes by 10am I'm starving but other times not at all and almost forget to eat! If I am hungry before 10am I have a black coffee and it reduces my appetite. I occasionally get peckish before bedtime but I have such a huge dinner that this is rare. Most of the time on this "diet" I feel really full. I'm a feaster, I always have been. I can eat any man under the table. I'm not someone who can eat small portions of low calorie food. This is why all other diets have failed for me. I never feel satisfied and feel almost malnourished! With 16/8 I just eat big portions of any food I like (I do prefer nourishing food), if I fancy a slice of cake or whatever I have it. I find 16/8 has changed my appetite. I'm less hungry than I was before.

I have just discovered the 16:8 diet and have also downloaded the Body Fast app.How do you work the Fasted Overall button? I've managed to fill in all the other info but can't fathom out how to do that one.

Thank you for the replies. I'm going to do 10 until 6. I don't eat much in the evening anyway, but always hungry when I wake up so hopefully this'll pass with hot drinks and practice!

Well I ended up getting locked out of the house and only just got back in. Haven't eaten since 2pm and the kitchen has closed!

@Rockbird oh no, what a nightmare! I would just eat and start 16/8 again tomorrow. You must be starving.

Borrowworrow I'm not starving hungry, no. I'm conscious I haven't eaten, but it's not an unpleasant sensation. Just takes a bit of getting used to when I would usually just hit the biscuits or toast (repeatedly!). Once I start eating (and this varies from 12-2, depending on when I am at home) then I really enjoy it - but feel fuller more quickly.

I do drink a few mugs of tea or herbal drink through the morning - as someone said, a hot drink takes the edge off any pangs. But nothing to eat with it - no matter how healthy - or my will-power just crumbles.

In the evening I will sometimes have a small glass of wine after the kitchen has closed, and that seems ok. Then a hot ginger tea last thing.

Here I am again! I did have something last night at about 10 but overall during the day I didn't do badly at all. So starting again today. Have had a couple of cups of tea and will eat after 11. Am starving!
Have a good day everyone.

I love 16:8 and have done it for some time. I eat low carb high fat anyway and it’s the only thing that works for me. My window is 1230-2030 normally. Recommend it if you need to gain control.

Right, you've all inspired me to start this tomorrow. My eating has been out of control since lockdown and I've managed to pile on a stone. Living in fear of having to go back to the office as none of my smart clothes fit!
A colleague lost a lot of weight doing 16:8 and has kept it off for a few years so I know it works.
Will probably have a 12-8 window but might need to shift it slightly at the weekend to incorporate a late takeaway after DD goes to sleep.

So happy to have found this thread! I got on the scales last Monday and found to my horror I had gained 11 pounds which when you are already a stone overweight is horrendous. I stuck to it and had a few cheat fri/sat mainly booze out of hours (fast has been 12-8) had a takeaway at weekend - started again properly Sunday, got on the scales this morning and I've lost 5Lbs! During my stricter fast days I'm counting calories and trying to stick to 1200 but being less strict at a weekend. As a breakfast devotee I'm amazed at how easily I've adapted and I'm drinking gallons of herbal tea and water which is helping to improve my skin. Just need to stick with it now!

I have stuck to this religiously for the last 3 weeks and am down 9lbs. DH too, he's down a lot more but has a lot more weight on him.

It really does work because obviously you're cutting out one meal so immediately you're down calories. BUT if you end up eating a 'brunch' to break your fast, then a later lunch and then a dinner etc of course you're then not actually restricting your calories at all. So I'd be wary of that.

ALSO - people are asking about having a "small bit" of milk in your tea during fasting time. This really isn't helpful. There is science behind fasting. When your body has had zero calorie intake for a certain amount of time it then begins to burn fat quicker etc. If you interrupt this process at all it will interfere with it. And everyone would have different ideas of what a 'small bit' of milk would be. And then someone might have 3 or 4 cups of tea/coffee with just a little milk in it and then you've totally ruined the fast!

What I'm trying to say is that for the fasting period I think you really do need to fast. So, water, hot water with a wedge of lemon, green tea or black tea and coffee are all fine. Your body will get used to the shift in eating times, you just need to distract yourself until it's 'officially' time to eat. Same in the evenings when the fasting has started. Don't forget that most drinks have calories especially alcohol!

During the week we have been really good about what we eat when it's time to eat. We've cut out all the crap we were snacking on (there was a lot!!) so no biscuits, chocolate, donuts, crisps (DH has the odd bag of popcorn) The same at weekends, but we have a couple of drinks on a Friday or Saturday evening by extending our fast that day and not starting to eat until later.

I've another 10lbs to go, DH has another few stone to go, but I'll continue with him for as long as I can. We have gotten used to it, and find it really easy now. Also, results give you the motivation to carry on. Good luck everyone!

Does anyone want to use this group as a weekly weigh in/support group? I know I would.

I started doing 16:8 a few weeks ago. I'd started WW in January, lost about a stone but seemed to have hit a plateau.
I watched a video on you tube and thought I'd give it a go.
I tend to eat between 10.30am-6.30pm which suits me as we eat dinner fairly early.
I don't have anything other than water during the fast period.
The good news, it's really kick started my weight loss again, I logged my meals on Ww app and stay within my points most days.
I've always been addicted to tea and couldn't function in morning without 3 cups before I left house. First couple of days, I had a cracking headache but that passed.
Not sure if lockdown has made it easier, I walk my dog shortly after getting up for an hour or so, come home, sort kid's breakfast, do a couple of chores and before I know it, 10am has rolled round again.
Some evenings I'll feel peckish with rumbly tummy but it's manageable.
Would definitely recommend.

16:8 is what finally worked for me BUT combined with watching my calories. It just makes it easier to stay within limits.

I totally agree @Spodge you can't just eat whatever you fancy during non-fast time. It does really help to focus the mind though.

I have lots of weight to lose so I don’t need to calorie count right now but I know I will in future. Right now I need a lot of calories just to stay this fat so cutting out a meal makes a big difference. I try not to snack but don’t worry if I do so long as I keep it to around 100 calories. The snacks will have to be dropped as my basal metabolic rate comes down.

I have 2 meals a day.
lunch around 12 and dinner with the family around 7.
no snacks.

Hello I am here as I before the world ended I did the 16:8 and it honestly worked a treat for me. Between that and weights twice a week and a run twice a week I shifted a hard to shift 2kg.

I’m on here because I love hearing about how other people find it, what they eat etc.

Oh and I’m depressed as fuck having sailed back up by 3kg after almost 60 days of lockdown shit and having three kids under 5 and a FT job to manage

[opens Haribo]

Can you do that change your time slots for the weekend? Like LifeInAHamsterWheel. I could do 11-7 Sun-Thur and 1-9 or 2-10 on Fri and Sat. Although no food till 2 would be hard.

I started this a month ago and love it, can't imagine ever going back to eating all day. Unfortunately I don't have scales, I always used the ones at the gym which is obviously now closed, but I feel better, stomach is flatter, digestion is way better. Love it.

Im doing this and finally losing the stubborn menopausal weight. Only very slowly but thats fine. I eat between 12 noon and 8pm. Its very easy and takes away all the internal arguments about what you can and cannot eat. Just look at the clock. Not 12 o clock yet? Can't eat.

I'm still feeling evangelical about this, on the 6th may I was 216 pounds and today I am 209!!!

I am being mindful of what I eat and trying to go for a decent walk but have had some unhealthy foods in that time and wine. Finally feel like this is a diet I can stick too!