Anyone ready to do OMAD? Join forces?

[LeatherSkirt82]

I have a massive amount of weight to lose (70lbs). This is obviously a long term project so after much thinking (read: procrastination) - I want to start OMAD.

None of the other diets worked for me (I tried Atkins, Dukan, keto, Noom, etc). I also have a 3yo and a husband who can't cook so making separate meals for myself is not something I can do as I also work full time. When I was travelling for business last year, I stumbled upon OMAD by accident (I was so busy that I genuinely didn't have time to eat more than once a day) and for the first time in what feels like forever - I felt GREAT! I had more energy, I was losing weight, I was in a good mood and I wasn't feeling hungry or guilty if I ate red meat or a piece of bread.

So I did my research, spoke with my GP and given that I don't have any medical conditions (and I am not on any meds) that would be an obstacle - I got the green light to try this.

My plan is: 1 meal per day at 6 or 7pm (so that we have one family meal), try to consume less carbs but no pressure not to consume any and once I'm below 200lbs (and body got used to the diet) - start speed walking (1h per day in the mornings).

However, what I really need is a partner - someone I can talk to, someone to hold me accountable and someone to commiserate with on bad days.

hello. I've now lost 9kg overall, or about 42% of my goal weight! Today felt like the first day that really "felt" it if you know what I mean. An old tshirt I hadn't tried on in ages felt noticeably looser!

My eating days are still not perfect but I am ramping up on the number of fasting days per week and I managed some HIIT yesterday.

So that is inspiring! I'm doing a lot of online research every day to try to stay on top, checking out reddit fasting subreddit to stay motivated.

Also trying to learn more about obesity and effects on the body. I read an article saying that if you're carrying too much weight the fat cells grab onto useful vitamins making them less available for the rest of the body so you might end up deficient. And they also store hormones and toxins even producing excess hormones (e.g. oestrogen - leading to more oestrogen dominance which is common in overweight women). I have some oestrogen related female issues anyway so this is a good reason to lose more weight!! It really was quite horrible to read about what the fat cells do. And motivating.

Hi all, I've been watching with interest and decided to start OMAD today, I wondered if I could join you all? I'm currently 5ft 4 and 13st3 (as of this morning) and a clothes size 16/18. Ideally, my ultimate goal would be around 9st 7, however my first goal is 11st 3 which is 2 stone.

Could I please join you all? :) I've decided to weigh on Sunday's as I think that would stop me running wild and eating everything on a weekend.

@TallulahsThoughts welcome! your goals sound achievable and it's always easier to do it with others e.g. this thread! I have couple of stone to lose still and may increase it as I get a bit closer. :) Good luck!!

Welcome @TallulahsThoughts !
Wow @ethermint that is inspirational. It's Week 6 Day 2 and I'm struggling on, some days OMAD, other days not. I wanted to fast today and kept going until 4 pm, when I decided to sleep off a migraine, and then when it got to 8 pm I felt I might perk up a bit if I ate something.

I also haven't run in a while (mix of migraines, hospital appointments and preparing for Easter break with kids).

@SpaceOpera keep up the good work - sounds like your body needed a little break so don't fret it, that's normal!

I think I spoke too soon as I put on another KG in about 2 days!! Probably water retention or something annoying. So am back up again a bit!!

So am going to try to weigh less often, for a more average reading. Lol.

My new thing is on eating days I am allowing myself milk in coffee, so that could negate the need for smaller meals earlier in the day. So I am trying to do OMAD with milky coffee beforehand on my eating days to try to get calories down (rather than eating all day as previously!). I feel this may help to break my addiction to constant eating on my eating days which I think is my downfall.

I've also been learning more about carbs and how they make the body hold water weight on top of all the other bad stuff. So I'm def trying to minimise this more. Easier said than done (I am veggie) but knowledge is power I guess!

I do hope that as I lose weight my metabolism will be better and rather than yoyoing dramatically may allow me to eat more without such sudden weight gain. Not sure if this is a thing or not but I can hope!

Hey everyone, sorry I was quiet- really difficult days at work that leave me pretty wiped at the end of the day. My OMAD wasn’t perfect last two weeks but I did hold to it more than not. Weighing day today said 12kg down (26.5lbs) so still on track and pretty happy with results - especially given that I had no energy for exercise. Looks like you’re all making progress - even if we run into hiccups on occasion, I think that what matters is getting back on track as soon as possible and look into it on medium to long term rather than day to day. These few challenging weeks I kept telling myself that as long as I had more OMAD days in the week than those where I had additional meal - it was good. That helped.

@LeatherSkirt82 that's really amazing weight loss! congratulations. You must be getting closer to your goals!! you're right about getting back on track ASAP rather than getting hung up on bad days. I hope your work is getting a bit easier.

I also think we will all find it a bit easier once spring arrives - much warmer (less food craving for food energy warmth!), easier to get out and about in the open air / exercise, happier = less comfort eating. Roll on warmer weather... :)

@ethermint still long way to go - I started in obese category, but I'm now borderline overweight/obese so definitely happy with results so far. I do need to kick it into the next gear - I would love to welcome summer in comfortable size 12 (I'm bigger 14 now). Feeling good today and tomorrow should be an easy day at work so I am considering trying 48h fast. Not sure if it is smart or not - but I won't force my body if towards my normal eating hour I feel too exhausted.

@LeatherSkirt82 oh yes, I too would love to start summer at a size 12. I am probably a 14 at the mo just not measured!! yes definitely play the longer fasts by ear, that's what I tend to do. I do find them easier now though, almost second nature now I have a bit of training.

I have been listening to some youtube sleep hypnosis for weight loss before bed. And I found one about speeding up metabolism. I have no idea if they are working yet but can't help! They are meant to work on your subconscious mind to assist with the process. At the very least they are helping me get to sleep quickly!

@ethermint oh, do share please - I've been struggling with sleep horribly these days (stress and all)!

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this one is amazing because he has the calmest voice ever!

Thanks - I'll listen to it tonight!

This one is for metabolism and she doesn't have the same perfect relaxing voice as the guy above but I think it is helping.

There are loads of others on youtube!

You're meant to listen as you are dropping off to sleep as that is when the subconscious mind is most receptive.

@LeatherSkirt82 there's also this one which is a "sleep" hypnosis for weight loss by same as the top guy. It's a lot longer so plays as you are asleep!
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Hi all,

I realise I'm a little late to the party but wondering if I can join?

I previously did IF and lost weight but have been off the bandwagon and the weight is creeping on. I have a little over a stone to lose to get back to my previous weight where I felt most comfortable (managed this through IF). I found it's really the best diet for me and easy to do once I get into the swing of things (struggle with hunger pangs and nausea for the first week or so).

I started yesterday by fasting just over 20 hours, aiming for similar today. Just looking for a thread to keep me accountable!

congratulations on your 20hrs @CaoraDhubh and welcome!

you're right it gets so much easier once you're in the swing of it.

I've had a couple of "bad" days here but I think my body needed a bit of a change and to eat. Back on the wagon today!

I think by following my body intuitively and allowing when I feel the need it's helping me to get more in the swing of eating intuitively in general, even if it's not perfect when I do. I think that's more important than being too rigid which I think is setting myself up for failure.

I'm going on holiday tomorrow so may try to do OMAD while away or something. Not sure entirely how to play it yet, but will try to be mostly good!

I also think that being too rigid sets me up in the "deprivation" mindset as well so more likely to binge when I do eat. So that flexibility is also help with resetting my neural pathways away from the binge / deprive cycle. My periods of deprivation are less deprivation and more habit with some allowances for eating when I want to including bad stuff. So my body feels more satisfied and less likely to pig out. It's changing... albeit slowly but it is working!

Hi @ethermint thanks for your reply.

Congratulations to you on losing so much already! I started reading the thread earlier today and by the time I got to the end felt really inspired by your loss in just 3 months.

You're absolutely right, sometimes your body is telling you to eat more and it helps to listen. When I was doing omad previously I actually found having a heavier eating day when I felt I needed it allowed me to feel like I could manage the stricter days more easily. The restriction/deprivation mindset is definitely the enemy. I need to feel like I've had a super filling and satisfying meal or I just cannot stick to it.

I'm naturally a person who skips breakfast so it's no bother to me to push my eating window a bit later, but around 2 or 3pm is when I really start to get hungry (so around now!) and pushing through until 5pm feels like torture! I remember it feeling like a breeze once I was in the swing though, so looking forward to that 😂

@CaoraDhubh aww thank you, I'm glad you find the thread inspiring! Hopefully it will help you stay on track, I have found it really helpful to keep me focussed on the plan rather than forget or give up completely.

As you've only got a stone to lose I'm sure you'll manage it quite easily once you're in the swing of things!! And yes you'll definitely get back in the habit again quickly.

I was wavering over a pack of macadamia nuts earlier (heavenly!) but put them back, and satisfied myself with a milky coffee. Not ideal with the milk but i find black a bit harsh and it was that or the macadamias!! So I think I made the right choice!! 😂

I'm trying to push through today without food until tomorrow afternoon, so we'll see how we go! More used to it now, so should be able to cope I should think.

I did get a bit emotional the last few days. I was reading that estrogen is stored in your fat cells, and so released back into your blood stream when you lose weight meaning you can be more emotional. Also I feel like I'm processing all the emotions that I stuffed down with food and releasing them!! It's all good. Sometimes hard but good. I feel like the losing weight is helping me be a more authentic person, a bit more in touch with feelings again.

Wishing you a great day ahead everyone! Keep at it even if you have a slip up :)

Hello all! Weighed in at 13st 1 this morning so lost 2 pound this week and hoping for more next week, going to keep on trudging through it.

That's really interesting @ethermint I had no idea that could happen. Look after yourself when things are feeling extra emotional, a good bit of self care never did anyone wrong.

I don't think I could manage a whole day! I've managed 24 hours fasted, but always need to eat at some point in the day or I feel so deprived. When I see people fasting several days at a time I can't fathom it, I'm such a foodie I'd be so sad without the joy of food every day! I know what you mean about being more in touch with feelings though, I realise more when I'm bored and just looking for something to do (where normally I'd eat to relieve the boredom).

Well done @TallulahsThoughts that's a great achievement. They do say 2 pounds a week is a good loss as it's sustainable. I'd be very chuffed with that.

I managed another 20 hour fast and enjoyed a little dinner party with friends this evening. One thing I love about omad is its not anti-social like other diets where you have such restrictions on what you can eat. Nice to have someone else cook for me and be able to enjoy it all (including some wine and dessert) and know I'm right back to fasting afterwards so no harm done. Have to say I didn't go overboard on wine and dessert as I know I'm just hampering any loss if I do, but did not feel restricted at all.

@CaoraDhubh 20 hours is amazing, well done. you're right you can be very social on OMAD and it's less like depriving.

I failed today to do as intended but I kept my eating window fairly short and ate protein rather than an abundance of carbs. So that's pretty good.

I'm going on hol for a few days tomorrow so going to do some OMAD I think. Exciting times!! I am just so glad it's easter hols here. I struggle during term time due to parenting responsibilities and work, so it will be easier to make healthy food, and more calm etc so I will be less stressed with any luck. My difficult eating times tend to come when I am overwhelmed.

@ethermint i noticed the emotional wave too. Though I did go through a ringer at work last month so i attributed it initially to that - but then I wondered because this was definitely not my first rodeo and I felt way more strongly about it. I think that oestrogen does play a part. And please do be good to yourself, as @CaoraDhubh said!

@TallulahsThoughts - great results! It helps so much to see the results on the scale, doesn’t it!?

I’m back to my normal routine - an hour on treadmill or bike and OMAD at 7-ish pm. Still not restricting myself in what I eat as long as I keep to OMAD.

Im off this week so reorganising the closet - decided that I need my summer stuff out just to give me a boost (and hope that there’s still sunshine and warmth out there after weeks of rain). It was exactly what I needed as I now can fit stuff I couldn’t last year and my donation pile is growing!

Good afternoon all, I’ve been lurking on this thread for a while but today is the first day that I’ve felt like I can join.

I did OMAD a while ago and felt great. I can’t remember why I stopped.

I haven’t eaten yet today so I want this to be my first day of an ongoing OMAD habit. I weigh too much and have quite an unhealthy relationship with food.

I’m just planning how to break my fast. Maybe a salad to start followed by salmon, sweet potato and broccoli. I’d welcome any tips for today and how to stick with it.

Welcome!!!

Id suggest that you just focus on OMAD for start, rather than food itself if it is your first time doing it. It may feel very restrictive if you immediately try to combine it with any kind of diet plan and that may make it more difficult to sustain.

my OMAD is going really well - it is definitely a lifestyle I was meant to adopt as I am losing weight while feeling more energetic than on any diet before. Upping it now a notch by starting 30 days shred tomorrow. Anyone cares to join the challenge?

I also got a really cool app which helps me take before/after photos and compare and it really helps me stay focused.