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!.

Same wizz. It’s a different way of eating but you can still have lovely food. I think the NHS should adopt it as their guidance

I agree @MsTSwift it's so easy to do and easy to adapt to suit different schedules etc.

Well done on the loss *wizzbangfizz

Day 4 and wishing I had picked it back up straight away after being ill a few months ago I forgot how much I love it! 4lbs down so far but I know that's just as it's my first week back on it, I've not be eating particularly well in my window though

I find before my eating window that these help.
Tea is from amazon

Thanks everyone for this. I've never eaten like this before but am giving it a try.
3 questions: I am sometimes really dizzy and desperately hungry before my eating window begins. Does this get better as you get used to it? I've only been doing it for 5 days.
Second, I have coffee with milk (not a splash) just one, in the morning. I know pp have mentioned that the fast needs to be without anything like this, do you think it'll make a massive difference?
Lastly, I'm not counting calories. Trying to be healthy but allowing some treats. I have a long history of yo yo dieting and don't want to get too extreme. Do you think I need to be calorie counting or dieting to see a difference?
Thanks all

yes, I got used to it.
fasting tought me that being hungry is ok, I will not dissolve if I don't get food right now. if it's really affecting you though, you can try having a cup of hot water with a little stock powder.

I have my first cuppa with a splash of milk or I get nauseous. I have tried having just water or a different kind of tea, but had the same issue.
maybe reduce the amount of milk? see how little you can get away with?

I occassionally look at calories and portion sizes, but I stick to proper meals instead of having snacks in between. if I start snacking I can't stop and those calories add up if you look closely at them. just having 2 large (or 3 smaller) meals a day restricts calories by volume iyswim

@lovelymonkeyninetynine Yes I think you will get used to it. Out of interest what time do you break your fast? I'm just wondering if you start eating late in the day? I hear of people who don't eat until 2pm. I'd be really dizzy if I waited that long! I start eating at 10am so have minimal dizziness/hunger. Maybe you need to tweak your hours a bit. I trained myself to like black coffee (hated it at first) so now don't have milk when fasting. A tiny amount is fine though! As for calorie counting etc I don't do any of that! The only way I've been able to stick at 16/8 is by eating what I want, not counting calories reducing fat or any of diet type behaviour. I was a yo yo dieter for nearly 30 years and was completely obsessed with what I ate, what I weighed, how many calories food had etc. I couldn't take any more! It wasn't sustainable for me and made me miserable. I don't think obsessing about each calorie is a natural way for humans to eat. By doing 16/8 I'm much more in tune with my natural appetite and eat what I want and what I feel my body needs. I generally do like healthy foods (I eat loads of vegetables) but I'm no saint. I've just had a biscuit, some squares of chocolate and a bag of crisps - because that's what I felt like. But in general my diet is nutritious. I feel sad when people say they're 16/8 but limiting to 1000 calories a day or eating low carb. I'm sure they do get great results but the whole reason I love 16/8 is because there's no need to diet, you don't have to count calories or cut out entire food groups. Just eat well, have some treats and fast 16 hours a day and you'll get good results.

Thanks so much. I don't mind black coffee, I'll get used to that in the mornings now.
Appreciate all the info.

I eat an early lunch 12 ish dinner 7 ish both on small plate minimal snacks nothing else hours cardio in the morning on empty stomach. Relax at weekends. Eat normal healthy food. In morning have tea and coffee with milk. Lost 2 stone (11st 9 to 9st 9 height 5 ft 6) and maintaining bmi 21. It’s finding what works for you

Me and DH started this yesterday.
I'm thinking I might have done it wrong though because I managed to fit breakfast, lunch and dinner in the 8hr window 😳

How much weight does everyone have to lose? I have 2 stone

happyhop
the question is: were your 3 meals less than you would normally eat?

maybe try to find out you baseline calorie need with a tdee calculator and write a food diary (include any calories from drinks as well).

This really really works in that I was no longer wanting food when I woke up anyway. I did 1130-730. Had a snacks at 1130 to ease me in, lunch at 1 then dinner between 7-730. The only way I could lose my baby weight.

@bluefoxmug the same 😂 I will skip breakfast today.
Thank you for that, I'll go have a look now.

Weirdly I feel good not eating anything in the morning if I don’t eat at all. At the weekends I have pancake or toast and marmalade and feel shaky hungry just before lunch.

I feel a little sad that I weighed myself and doesn’t look like I’ve lost more than maybe a pound in a week. First week so I’d expect more and tbh I feel I’ve lost more as I feel less bloated etc. So I’m staying off the sad step for a good few weeks now and just going for it. Sticking to my 11-7 window and focusing on nice quality food that I enjoy and is tasty and healthy or even not so healthy but enjoyed. Not mindlessly shovelling crap into my mouth any more.

I started fasting (16:8) in January and had no issues in doing this whilst working. Since lockdown I just can't do it. I wake up and just want breakfast. I've stuck with counting my calories but I really want to get back into fasting as I felt better for it. I might stick around this thread for a bit of encouragement if that's ok?

@MsTSwift I find the same, once I eat it really kick starts my hunger for the day, I'm hungrier after my first meal than before!
Week 1 done for me and 5lbs down, that was with a couple of gins on Saturday night and not eating the best during my 8 hour window. I know I will need to cut down on my snacking a bit to keep up the weight loss.

I love 16:8! It's such an easy way to lose and maintain weight for me. I also find I don't feel the need to "ban" any foods, which never works as I always crave whatever I've banned 🤦‍♀️

Can I ask a question about exercise? I have a PT session booked at 7, I usually wouldn't eat until 12 but should I eat before or after? But confused?

To the poster worried about fitting 3 meals in the window I wouldn't worry at the minute and wait until you are more into it just try and eat mindfully

Am not PM

I do an hours turbo most mornings (watch my box set while I do it so don’t mind) for an hour at least end up sweaty etc still fast and don’t eat until 11.30 ish. Am fine. Have earl grey tea with milk though.

If you’re fed up with weighing, try waist measurements
I’m the same re breakfast-it’s a gateway to food as far as I’m concerned. This morning I am tired so I COULD eat but I will just push through as you do feel better for it

@wizzbangfizz I run 3 times a week and go first thing about 6:30am. I go straight out of bed and don't eat until 12 which is my usual pattern. I don't actually even feel hungry after running!

def do your waist measurement.
ime that's where a loss shows before it shows on scales.

Can I join? I’m finding it so hard to lose since menopause hit 😕