How strict is intermittent fasting?

MadraDunn · 2024-03-13T21:25:12+00:00

I started intermittent fasting on Monday so very new to it. started my fast at 6.30pm today but have just absentmindedly eaten a grape whilst making the kids school lunches. Im curious as to whether or not even a tiny morsel of food resets the clock?

JordanPeterson · 14/03/2024 02:37

Grapes are high in sugar

The body will now switch to burning off the sugar in the grape & any carbs in the grape before resuming fat burning

As it's a single grape it shouldn't take long

You may find as your stomach was empty & you ingested sugar that you may feel a drop & a gnawing hunger later on today

This doesn't mean you should start back at 0 hours for your fast

Best to continue with your meal as planned today & just don't snack tomorrow

Gowlett · 14/03/2024 02:43

I think if you’re eating less in general (in a calorie deficit / diet) then a grape won’t make any difference. In my mind (I don’t know the science) IF is just eating less than before.

Vegetus · 14/03/2024 06:16

There is nothing magic about intermittent fasting and in every study when calories are equated between IF and calorie restricting weight loss is statistically identical. So no, one grape will make no difference.

siblingrevelryagain · 14/03/2024 06:20

IF is not just about calorie deficit-there needs to be a total absence of anything so the body can work on repair. This occasion won’t matter in the scheme of things and you can choose not to do it every day (I often choose to have milk in my coffee mid-morning at the weekends, which breaks the fast), but if embarking on it it should be researched and understood that it’s not just another weight loss scheme; I use it for the mental clarity and energy, and other health benefits I can’t see going on inside. Any weight loss is a nice side effect but isn’t all it is for

PrinceLouisWeirdFinger · 14/03/2024 06:23

Intermittent fasting just means not eating your breakfast really. There’s all sorts of nonsense talked about it, but really that’s all it is - you’re eating 400 calories less a day. It’s not rocket science. It just means you eat less and it’ll put you into a calorie deficit - so then you lose weight. A grape is neither here nor there.

waistchallenge · 14/03/2024 07:42

It goes beyond just not eating breakfast, I do 20/4 fasting mixed with 18/6 and 19/5, for example.

Lifestooshort71 · 14/03/2024 07:56

I've done 16/8 on and off for years, about 2 months at a time. I can't stomach breakfast (after medication) and quite easily carry that through to 11 or 12. Our main meal is about 6pm and we're done by 7pm. It's incredibly important (to my metabolism, anyway) that I'm also careful what I eat in that window, so coffee and cake at 11am is a no no. I don't calorie count but I try and eat healthily - no cake, buns, chocolate or biscuits really. I wouldn't worry about an illegal grape in the scheme of things. Good luck.

Menora · 14/03/2024 08:38

Please don’t listen to the magical ‘info’ about IF it’s a regime/method of many. It can help you eat less food and is a way of mentally tracking food intake without tracking calories

put it this way. If IF was the only or best way to burn fat then I am a medical marvel as I’ve never done it and lost lots of fat. Stay in a calorie deficit and you will be fine. You aren’t a robot and it will not send your internal systems haywire

WildBear · 14/03/2024 08:41

Lifestooshort71 · 14/03/2024 07:56

I've done 16/8 on and off for years, about 2 months at a time. I can't stomach breakfast (after medication) and quite easily carry that through to 11 or 12. Our main meal is about 6pm and we're done by 7pm. It's incredibly important (to my metabolism, anyway) that I'm also careful what I eat in that window, so coffee and cake at 11am is a no no. I don't calorie count but I try and eat healthily - no cake, buns, chocolate or biscuits really. I wouldn't worry about an illegal grape in the scheme of things. Good luck.

I was thinking of starting 16/8 ... Have you got results with it over the years? I assume so if you have done it more than once 😊 thanks

concernedchild · 14/03/2024 08:42

The only way to lose weight is to be in a calorie deficit. That's it. It's calories in, calories out. All these other diets are just to reduce your calories by putting a new spin on it.

Oakbeam · 14/03/2024 08:48

Menora · 14/03/2024 08:38

Please don’t listen to the magical ‘info’ about IF it’s a regime/method of many. It can help you eat less food and is a way of mentally tracking food intake without tracking calories

put it this way. If IF was the only or best way to burn fat then I am a medical marvel as I’ve never done it and lost lots of fat. Stay in a calorie deficit and you will be fine. You aren’t a robot and it will not send your internal systems haywire

Edited

I’m another medical marvel. For several years I only ate once a day and didn’t snack. Probably equivalent to 23/1 intermittent fasting. I still managed to put on weight.

It’s the overall calorie intake that matters, not when they are consumed. IF just makes it easier to manage.

Unabletomitigate · 14/03/2024 08:52

If you want to learn more about how/why IF works, take a look at Jason Fung on youtube, he puts it pretty simply.

Calorie deficit is one thing, and you do need it, but you also need a period of low insulin in order to access the energy you have stored on your body as fat. The problem most people have is that they get the calorie deficit part by doing some kind of diet but never get into a state ketosis, where the body can access the fat stored in fat cells.

If you want a deeper dive into the science try this: https://www.ihmc.us/stemtalk/episode-149/

Episode 149

Jeff Volek discusses ketogenic diet to improve metabolic health and treat disease

https://www.ihmc.us/stemtalk/episode-149

concernedchild · 14/03/2024 08:54

Unabletomitigate · 14/03/2024 08:52

If you want to learn more about how/why IF works, take a look at Jason Fung on youtube, he puts it pretty simply.

Calorie deficit is one thing, and you do need it, but you also need a period of low insulin in order to access the energy you have stored on your body as fat. The problem most people have is that they get the calorie deficit part by doing some kind of diet but never get into a state ketosis, where the body can access the fat stored in fat cells.

If you want a deeper dive into the science try this: https://www.ihmc.us/stemtalk/episode-149/

Funny, because I've lost 4.5 stone through pure CICO. I never fast for longer than I'm asleep.

Teddleshon · 14/03/2024 08:55

16/8 works brilliantly for me. I lost 20lb on it within 6 months and am now a comfortable size 10. I am terrible with self control and love food so the rules really help me limit my intake. I love the fact that I can eat lunch and dinner with others without being a diet bore and while I’m hungry by lunchtime I was always starving by then anyway, even after a big breakfast.

The other thing that has massively helped me is 15 minutes weights every morning and 15 minutes on my exercise bike. That combined with missing breakfast means I feel I’ve done my hard work in the morning and don’t want to negate it all by over eating later.

Menora · 14/03/2024 08:59

Unabletomitigate · 14/03/2024 08:52

If you want to learn more about how/why IF works, take a look at Jason Fung on youtube, he puts it pretty simply.

Calorie deficit is one thing, and you do need it, but you also need a period of low insulin in order to access the energy you have stored on your body as fat. The problem most people have is that they get the calorie deficit part by doing some kind of diet but never get into a state ketosis, where the body can access the fat stored in fat cells.

If you want a deeper dive into the science try this: https://www.ihmc.us/stemtalk/episode-149/

I have lost nearly 4 stone doing none of this at all. It’s not the only way. People should find their own way not be scared by fluffy science language and having terrible breath and indigestion from keto and fasting.

You can lose weight just by eating less food and not needing any special regime

concernedchild · 14/03/2024 09:01

Also 16/8 is just sleeping 8 hours a night. Please don't think IF is the only way

Vegetus · 14/03/2024 09:02

Unabletomitigate · 14/03/2024 08:52

If you want to learn more about how/why IF works, take a look at Jason Fung on youtube, he puts it pretty simply.

Calorie deficit is one thing, and you do need it, but you also need a period of low insulin in order to access the energy you have stored on your body as fat. The problem most people have is that they get the calorie deficit part by doing some kind of diet but never get into a state ketosis, where the body can access the fat stored in fat cells.

If you want a deeper dive into the science try this: https://www.ihmc.us/stemtalk/episode-149/

I'm sick of saying this but the insulin model of obesity has been proved false countless times. It's nonsense.

Teddleshon · 14/03/2024 09:04

@concernedchild erm it’s the 8 hour window you eat in, not the 16!

concernedchild · 14/03/2024 09:08

Teddleshon · 14/03/2024 09:04

@concernedchild erm it’s the 8 hour window you eat in, not the 16!

Sooo you just eat in a normal window?

It's all a load of crap made to sell products. CICO is the only way you lose weight. Sorry to burst your bubble

Menora · 14/03/2024 09:08

Teddleshon · 14/03/2024 09:04

@concernedchild erm it’s the 8 hour window you eat in, not the 16!

You are asleep for half of it though, it’s just skipping breakfast and eating an early dinner! All things people in calorie deficits usually end up doing anyway.

so let me get this right.. according to Jason Fung (who sells plans and is monetised on all platforms) the way I have lost 25% of my body weight is wrong and my insulin is probably still terrible, and I am not going to be accessing my fat burning stores? But yet… I am? How does this work?

Tessisme · 14/03/2024 09:11

Teddleshon · 14/03/2024 09:04

@concernedchild erm it’s the 8 hour window you eat in, not the 16!

It'd be great if it worked the other way round😅

Teddleshon · 14/03/2024 09:11

Well yes, not eating for 16 hours (actually I usually do 18) is indeed known as intermittent fasting.

concernedchild · 14/03/2024 09:12

@Tessisme it does. I was 24s13lbs. I'm now 19s13lbs - a 5 stone loss (near enough, it fluctuates). I didn't do IF. I still get takeaways. I eat hot cross buns, I eat butter and meat. My general diet could be better (which is what I'm working on now) but you don't lose what is, essentially, 20% of your body weight if you're doing it wrong.

Lifestooshort71 · 14/03/2024 09:15

WildBear · 14/03/2024 08:41

I was thinking of starting 16/8 ... Have you got results with it over the years? I assume so if you have done it more than once 😊 thanks

Show quote history

Yes, I have. It takes a week or so and then I lose 3/4lbs a week. My metabolism is shite (in my 70s and just finished cancer treatment) and my drugs cause weight gain and a lovely buddha belly so I have to be on the case. It takes about 4 weeks to lose about 12lbs and by then I'm done! Cup of weak black tea in the morning helps if you're struggling. Good luck x

Tessisme · 14/03/2024 09:37

concernedchild · 14/03/2024 09:12

@Tessisme it does. I was 24s13lbs. I'm now 19s13lbs - a 5 stone loss (near enough, it fluctuates). I didn't do IF. I still get takeaways. I eat hot cross buns, I eat butter and meat. My general diet could be better (which is what I'm working on now) but you don't lose what is, essentially, 20% of your body weight if you're doing it wrong.

Well done on your weight loss! Sorry, I was just having a little joke about the fact it would be great if the eating window was 16 hours and the fasting 8 hours. I have had a bit of success with intermittent fasting myself. It's certainly the only thing I've stuck with for any length of time. I'm not very strict and it still works quite well for me.