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.

@dystylam It's so easy to let life get in the way and start eating crap all day isn't it? Which is exactly what I've been doing. So I'm really grateful for this thread

good morning everyone, good luck today! i keep having hunger pangs but reminding myself I can't eat. I'm sure it will get easier with time. I am just back from the physio who told me plainly that I need to lose weight, in a matter of fact kind of way, which is a good kick up the bum coming from the mouth of a professional healthcare person!

Keep up the good work everyone.

Good morning! I'm in a great mood this morning, I must admit - completely pumped to see this through. (Also helps its Friday!!!!).

Took photos in underwear and pair of jeans I can't fully pull over my hips - that was painful to see but I am excited to make same photos in a month and see the difference. Have a black-tie event end of February so that's serving as a boost too. No idea what I'll eat today, though. We traditionally don't cook Friday nights and usually do fish and chips but I really don't want greasy meal so it may be F&C for the family and I'll concoct something for myself in the kitchen. Ideas?

Same with us @LeatherSkirt82 on Fish and chips Friday. I might go for a chicken burger and then have some soup as well. Fruit/Greek yogurt for dessert.

Eggs are always my go to if just cooking for me.

@Aftertheharvest - I may do something with eggs for myself. Also thinking to try medjool dates for desert. I know they're high in sugar but also apparently have a whole host of good stuff in them which would probably make one date desert better than a piece of chocolate or a biscuit.

the joy of OMAD is if you do want a little bit of something less healthy it's not banned - so it's less restrictive in that sense and thus you're less likely to fail ultimately. So if you do have a few chips with your healthy dinner don't beat yourselves up!

Looking forward to dinner soon - today wasn't too difficult.

Completely agree @ethermint i don’t calorie count with IF and have what I fancy.

Good morning everyone! How are you all
doing? Feeling lighter on your feet already?

I had a headache last night which I think is a combination of sugar withdrawal and the fact that I didn’t drink enough water during the day. It wasn’t too bad though and I’m now making sure I have my bottle with me constantly.

not measuring myself until Thursday but tempted.

Good morning @LeatherSkirt82 sorry to hear about your headache!

I'm doing ok, coping ok with the fasting side of things although get very tempted to pig out during my one meal of the day! I had some crisps after dinner and some yoghurt as well. But given I'd not eaten for so long I think it's ok, provided I don't do it too often. Do you feel like that as well?

Looking at the positives I've managed to be ok during fasting window and am managing to swap black coffee for matcha tea. Today I added some lemon (a couple of calories) juice as that's meant to be good for fatburning as is matcha. I might keep doing that occasionally - even though it's strictly not fasting it's meant to be good for it. Matcha is also fat burning.

And I'm keeping up with my exercise - doing couchto5k on my cross trainer regularly which I think helps. Having a coach is helpful to keep it up! I have to keep it low impact or would do the real outside running but this is a good compromise that's low impact.

I still feel super heavy though! Hopefully next week will start to feel the benefits a bit.

Good luck everyone for today!

@ethermint i find that the later I start eating - the more craving I have but if I keep it to the minute then I’m ok. Still feeling heavy but I also have a lot of energy which is weird. Dates helped last night - I had two right after meal and didn’t crave chocolate nor crisps which is my usual downfall.

Starting my speed walking on Monday - I have a treadmill so that helps when weather is miserable. Will have to start getting up an hour earlier so we’ll see how that will go.

good morning all

well done on keeping up the good work!

@LeatherSkirt82 speed walking sounds a good idea esp with a treadmill.

I am wavering a bit this morning - got my DDs cereal ready for breakfast and really wanted a day off OMAD!

But a cup of matcha later and I'm feeling less like eating. Hope it will last!

Been pondering doing some longer rolling fasts - according to Dr Jason Fung the fasting expert guy, women often do best with a few 36 - 42hr fasts per week especially at the beginning. I realise this sounds quite extreme to some but I've done them before in the past so not completely new to me. I might try a week of that just to see how it goes and kickstart a bit then revert to OMAD again. But will have to see.

Last night was ok although I ate more than I would want to. I'm working on it though.

Good luck for today everyone!!!

It doesn’t sound extreme to me - I also read a bit about it but am not sure if it would set me back on OMAD just as I started well. I think I’ll introduce exercise as the next step and then see how I feel about potential 48h fast when I’m fully used to OMAD+exercise.

Struggling a bit today. We’re having guests later this afternoon so I was making food all morning which made it difficult. Interesntingly I wasn’t really tempted by the food I was making but DCs leftover orange slices took a lot of strength to walk away from.

@LeatherSkirt82 sounds like we're both wavering today! I've decided to have a day off, had a midday snack in the end. Will allow self one meal later earlyish then try to do a long one. Sounds as though wavering at this stage pretty common so am not beating myself up. I think the key is to sometimes let yourself if you feel the need to take a little break, because depriving yourself too much would lead to eventual defeat. At least in my case.

Good luck for the day ahead!

hello all, checking in. Yesterday was a day off for me but I'm going to try a longer fast today with black coffee at the ready! I'm trying to go through to tomorrow late morning for a 36hr fast to try to get some longer ones in.

Wishing you all good willpower and luck for the day ahead. :)

Hey @ethermint - I managed to push through with a minor transgression - a single strawberry about 15 mins after my 'eating window' but have miserably failed today to exercise - I got this horrific cold and whilst its great in suppressing appetite - I don't really have the strength (nor the ability to breathe properly) to exercise. It frustrates me as I was set on starting today but I guess I'll have to just focus on OMAD until my air-flows are clear again.

@LeatherSkirt82 oh no hope you feel better soon! Don't beat yourself up about the lack of exercise, you can start when you feel better. I didn't manage anything yesterday, yesterday was a fail day as far as everything went! But I think my body needed it.

you sound like you are doing really well on the OMAD so keep up the good work!!! We will get there!!

Thanks for the support - I really needed some today!

Working since 7am and just thinking how weak and clogged I feel. It is very difficult to stay upbeat when you feel this overrun so your support is very much appreciated!

no problem and hope you are taking it easy @LeatherSkirt82 ! If you're sick it might be worth taking a day off the diet to recover if you feel it would be helpful to do so. I think to follow our bodies is super useful on a process like this.

Today fasting has been really easy vs yesterday when I ate what I wanted. I think it's because I allowed myself when I wanted it, it gave me the impetus to do today. My body seemed to need food yesterday. I'm trying to do a 36hr one, so far so good. Will eat tomorrow.

Hope you're feeling a bit better soon!

How’s everyone doing? Enjoyed my OMAD today…

Colombian eggs and toast, an orange and then cherry crumble and ice cream.

Good morning @Aftertheharvest well done on keeping up! I had a day off yesterday after a 36hr longer fast so am getting back on the wagon today.

Keep up the good work!

I had a slip yesterday - having really tough days at work (office politics, which I hate) and that unfortunately translated into a late night snack. On the scale today, however, there was no change (I didn't lose any yesterday but also didn't gain either) so back on track today. So far 4lbs down.

@LeatherSkirt82 you're doing really great overall so don't let a snack put you off. The main thing is to head in the right direction. Tough going when there's external stress and office politics.

Last couple of days haven't been great for me either but am getting back on the wagon again. On the positive side of things I've been keeping up the exercise.

@ethermint you should be very proud of yourself for keeping up with exercise - I haven't even started yet!!! I do feel that I'd probably achieve better results if I was a bit more selective in terms of food and tried to keep carbs on the lower side (not quit carbs completely) but I am overall pleased with how its going.

Yeah, external pressures are not ideal when you're trying to make a big change in your personal life but I know I have to push through. External pressure and stress have always been my excuses for not starting or breaking a diet and if I learned anything that's that I'll never have an 'ideal' period to do this - so I may as well do it now. Hopefully, once I really start noticing change I'll get a boost and that will help with my ability to manage external stress as well.

Do you have a 'goal item of clothing'? Over the years I learned that scales work as less of a boost that having a goal pair of trousers or a skirt/dress. I have the ultimate goal one and I now have a 'February goal' one. It is not too ambitious (just to be able to zip a pair of jeans that I can already squeeze into).

@LeatherSkirt82 thank you! My jogging bottoms felt a tiny bit less tight when I put them on so I am hopeful it's all starting to make a little difference.

But I have a long way to go! Managed today without eating until dinner just now so that's something.

I love the idea of a goal item of clothing! All my clothes are awful these days so the goal is to buy a whole new wardrobe lol. But I would especially like a sparkly dress or something, I do wonder if it's wishful thinking but I am going to keep it in mind. Your jeans one sounds like a good idea for Feb. I like the idea of smaller goals so maybe mine will be to keep feeling like my leggings are less tight (I've needed new ones for a while but maybe I won't have to buy any lol).

Good luck for tomorrow everyone! Keep at it!

@ethermint have you taken measurements? I find IF shows quickly in my waist. I don’t do OMAD every day (or calorie count/restrict foods) and have lost 1.5 inches from my waist in January (5lbs on the scales).