intermittent fasting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NP.

So in January you only ate 16/31 days, with water only for 15/31 days?

This is an eating disorder, not intermittent fasting. Seriously.

Not really, because I eat breakfast every day. Every other day I skip lunch and dinner. Truly it feels less pre-occupying than trying to restrict calories every day. It's just one decision, then waiting for breakfast.

Honestly some part of society is always mad at me for my body and diet so, whatever. Sorry you're mad.

I’m not mad. I’m trying to understand, as I also need to lose weight, but need to be wise about it. I’m happy to hear you at least have breakfast, and I hope it’s a filling one.

Do you have a spouse/significant other? Is he okay with your plan?

DP. I think that those of us who are trying IF probably have rejected the basic premise that is driving your worry - and I appreciate that you really do have concern for the PP's wellness. You express yourself kindly! We've been taught that our body is like a car with a very small gas tank, and you need to keep filling it or you run out of gas, and that is bad for you. The thinking behind IF is that we aren't even using our gas tanks (which are actually quite large, and can fuel us for a very long time) if we eat all the time, we are bypassing the fuel tank and just mainlining fuel to the engine. The fuel tank is your fat, and it is meant to be used as fuel, not sit there forever on your hips. There is a bunch of stuff on insulin, and how eating triggers insulin, and insulin supresses using fat for fuel. But you don't access that fuel tank until you don't have insulin running around your body, and if you have food in your belly digesting you are going to have insulin. Fasting (in whatever form) is a way to get to the point where your body will burn fat for fuel. For many of us who have spent half our lifetimes trying stuff and counting calories and obsessing about food, simply not thinking about food for hours and hours at a time is a deep relief. It feels like the opposite of a disorder - the disordered thinking was the constant thinking about food and eating little controlled amounts that just made you think more about food. I am not saying that calorie counting is disordered, at all, or that working to eat small healthy meals is unhealthy. Just that for some of us, this truly is a healthy relief. It isn't for everyone.

Thank you, I understand. I lost 35 pounds using Ideal Protein, and it was a good system. However, I did gain once i added in carbs and alcohol, because I didn't keep track of my consumption or stay in phase 4. That plan does use fat for food, and was easy to follow. I just don't think its a long term solution.

On the other hand, my natural routine is to only eat between 11-7pm, and that isn't working for me. So I'm trying to figure out how it is working for everyone here. Do I need to live a life without alcohol, and carbs? That seems to be all that works for me.

I found that just eating 11-7 doesn't work for me, either. Cutting calories and sugar/flour/potatoes out entirely does, but I feel sad and deprived and grouchy, and it means cooking multiple versions of dinner because my fast growing and picky tween needs the carbs I can't have. That is how I came to 5:2 IF - it does work for me, and I can eat a normal dinner with some potatoes or a piece of bread with my family. I think with finding a sustainable diet you find what is most important to you and build around that. For me, important things are: 1) eating family dinner and cooking foods everyone loves so dinner is relaxed 2) drinking lots of coffee with cream. But I really couldn't care less if I'm hungry sometimes. It just doesn't bother me to be hungry sometimes. I know it won't hurt me, and I know I'll eat well soon. My DH is totally different. Not being hungry, and having something to munch on, is most important to him, so he doesn't do IF. You don't need to live a life without alcohol and carbs if you value those things! But you'll have to figure out what your body needs you to do in order to be able to tolerate a reasonable amount of alcohol and carbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NP.

So in January you only ate 16/31 days, with water only for 15/31 days?

This is an eating disorder, not intermittent fasting. Seriously.

Not really, because I eat breakfast every day. Every other day I skip lunch and dinner. Truly it feels less pre-occupying than trying to restrict calories every day. It's just one decision, then waiting for breakfast.

Honestly some part of society is always mad at me for my body and diet so, whatever. Sorry you're mad.

I'm not PP and I understand your frustration. However, do you not see that this is not healthy mentally, and not sustainable? I know the pro-IF people jump all over that, but times and people change. Eat small, clean meals and you will lose weight naturally. This crap is insane, and I hope you don't have kids, especially daughters, you are modeling it for. I'm trying to eat lighter and my boys ask why I"m not getting food at Dunkin Donuts for example. They notice.

NP. I did this for YEARS, and never lost any significant weight. I have PCOS, which is often associated with insulin resistance and pre-diabetes. Ever since I started IF (I eat from 12-8pm), it's like my life has changed. I am not in a constant state of hunger anymore. I don't force myself to eat breakfast when I don't even want it. I have lost weight. I'm not constantly searching for new recipes on how to make grilled chicken breast tasty but still low calorie. I eat normal meals, and don't snack because I don't care to. Stop trying to make one size fit all - it doesn't work that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NP.

So in January you only ate 16/31 days, with water only for 15/31 days?

This is an eating disorder, not intermittent fasting. Seriously.

Not really, because I eat breakfast every day. Every other day I skip lunch and dinner. Truly it feels less pre-occupying than trying to restrict calories every day. It's just one decision, then waiting for breakfast.

Honestly some part of society is always mad at me for my body and diet so, whatever. Sorry you're mad.

I’m not mad. I’m trying to understand, as I also need to lose weight, but need to be wise about it. I’m happy to hear you at least have breakfast, and I hope it’s a filling one.

Do you have a spouse/significant other? Is he okay with your plan?

DP. I think that those of us who are trying IF probably have rejected the basic premise that is driving your worry - and I appreciate that you really do have concern for the PP's wellness. You express yourself kindly! We've been taught that our body is like a car with a very small gas tank, and you need to keep filling it or you run out of gas, and that is bad for you. The thinking behind IF is that we aren't even using our gas tanks (which are actually quite large, and can fuel us for a very long time) if we eat all the time, we are bypassing the fuel tank and just mainlining fuel to the engine. The fuel tank is your fat, and it is meant to be used as fuel, not sit there forever on your hips. There is a bunch of stuff on insulin, and how eating triggers insulin, and insulin supresses using fat for fuel. But you don't access that fuel tank until you don't have insulin running around your body, and if you have food in your belly digesting you are going to have insulin. Fasting (in whatever form) is a way to get to the point where your body will burn fat for fuel. For many of us who have spent half our lifetimes trying stuff and counting calories and obsessing about food, simply not thinking about food for hours and hours at a time is a deep relief. It feels like the opposite of a disorder - the disordered thinking was the constant thinking about food and eating little controlled amounts that just made you think more about food. I am not saying that calorie counting is disordered, at all, or that working to eat small healthy meals is unhealthy. Just that for some of us, this truly is a healthy relief. It isn't for everyone.

Thank you, I understand. I lost 35 pounds using Ideal Protein, and it was a good system. However, I did gain once i added in carbs and alcohol, because I didn't keep track of my consumption or stay in phase 4. That plan does use fat for food, and was easy to follow. I just don't think its a long term solution.

On the other hand, my natural routine is to only eat between 11-7pm, and that isn't working for me. So I'm trying to figure out how it is working for everyone here. Do I need to live a life without alcohol, and carbs? That seems to be all that works for me.

You might want to try narrowing your eating window. I eat between 10 am and 2pm. That's what works for me. I try to eat low carb, but I often give in and eat beard or pasta. The weight came off nonetheless.

At Christmas, I went crazy. Tons of sweets, no fasting for 2 weeks (I previously fasted 20 hours per day for about 6 months). I gained 2 pounds over Christmas. Those pounds came right off once I started IF again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NP.

So in January you only ate 16/31 days, with water only for 15/31 days?

This is an eating disorder, not intermittent fasting. Seriously.

Not really, because I eat breakfast every day. Every other day I skip lunch and dinner. Truly it feels less pre-occupying than trying to restrict calories every day. It's just one decision, then waiting for breakfast.

Honestly some part of society is always mad at me for my body and diet so, whatever. Sorry you're mad.

I'm not PP and I understand your frustration. However, do you not see that this is not healthy mentally, and not sustainable? I know the pro-IF people jump all over that, but times and people change. Eat small, clean meals and you will lose weight naturally. This crap is insane, and I hope you don't have kids, especially daughters, you are modeling it for. I'm trying to eat lighter and my boys ask why I"m not getting food at Dunkin Donuts for example. They notice.

NP. I did this for YEARS, and never lost any significant weight. I have PCOS, which is often associated with insulin resistance and pre-diabetes. Ever since I started IF (I eat from 12-8pm), it's like my life has changed. I am not in a constant state of hunger anymore. I don't force myself to eat breakfast when I don't even want it. I have lost weight. I'm not constantly searching for new recipes on how to make grilled chicken breast tasty but still low calorie. I eat normal meals, and don't snack because I don't care to. Stop trying to make one size fit all - it doesn't work that way.

Why would you force yourself to eat if you weren't hungry? Why were you in a constant state of hunger?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NP.

So in January you only ate 16/31 days, with water only for 15/31 days?

This is an eating disorder, not intermittent fasting. Seriously.

Not really, because I eat breakfast every day. Every other day I skip lunch and dinner. Truly it feels less pre-occupying than trying to restrict calories every day. It's just one decision, then waiting for breakfast.

Honestly some part of society is always mad at me for my body and diet so, whatever. Sorry you're mad.

I'm not PP and I understand your frustration. However, do you not see that this is not healthy mentally, and not sustainable? I know the pro-IF people jump all over that, but times and people change. Eat small, clean meals and you will lose weight naturally. This crap is insane, and I hope you don't have kids, especially daughters, you are modeling it for. I'm trying to eat lighter and my boys ask why I"m not getting food at Dunkin Donuts for example. They notice.

Eating small meals did not work for me. It only made me hungry. I felt more deprived counting calories than with IF. With IF if I want something, I tell myself "later" not "no". Somehow this works better for me mentally.
I get it - I was skeptical too. But you haven't tried it.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the discussion. I will try narrowing my window first to see if I see an improvement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. For those who have been doing IF, a couple questions...

1. Did you just jump right into it and fast for 2 days? How rough a start is it? I work and have young kids and worry about being angry and/or unfocussed.
2. If you fast for entire days or multiple days, do you also exercise? Only exercise on days you eat? Or don't exercise at all?

Thanks.

1. I started with 12, then 14, then 16, then 18, then 24 hour fasts. Took a couple of months to get to 24. Just doing 14 was a big accomplishment for me at first!

2. I do two 36-42 hour fasts most weeks. Amazingly, exercising while fasted is great!!! I have more energy and growth hormone spikes when you feast after fasting, so it's great for muscle growth too.

Despite what Dr. Fung says, fasting is not a long-term, sustainable diet.

That would have been news to both of my Indian grandmothers and women of their generation. They kept weekly religious no-food fasts for almost their entire adult lives and lived into their nineties.

Weekly religious fasts are typically a day, right? Or Ramadan, which is a limited fast over a month? Not eating only 2 or 3 days out of the week, as PP is doing. Sorry, that's abusing your body and it will catch up to you.

Not the pp, but another Hindu Indian poster and my mom and grandparents also fasted 2 days a week for pretty much their entire adult lives. Not just one day a year, not just a set few weeks a year but all the time. My cousin also fasts, though he only does a once a week fast.

It's very common for Hindus to fast at least one day a week, every week. Some do more like 2 or 3 days, it's up to them.

I doubt these people do intense exercise and/or work office jobs.

You clearly do not know many Indians.

Actually, I do. PP, were the mom and grandparents you mention physically active people?

How about dropping your assumptions about an whether Hindus are physically active or not?

Since you must know- my mom was an immigrant to this country that came here with less than $10. Worked multiple jobs for long hours as a nurse which is quite physically demanding.

My father died when I was a kid and she became a single mom to me and my siblings working even more hours than before to provide for us.

My grandfather worked a physically demanding job and the household chores my grandmother did- well let’s just say no washing machine to launder the clothes, no dishwasher, hand grinding whole spices, etc. Not exactly just sitting around.

Like I said, fasting is very common in Hinduism and has been for centuries. It’s written about in the Vedas which is over 5,000 years old.

Suggesting that people are actually MORE active today, with all of our modern conveniences, than in the past is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NP.

So in January you only ate 16/31 days, with water only for 15/31 days?

This is an eating disorder, not intermittent fasting. Seriously.

Not really, because I eat breakfast every day. Every other day I skip lunch and dinner. Truly it feels less pre-occupying than trying to restrict calories every day. It's just one decision, then waiting for breakfast.

Honestly some part of society is always mad at me for my body and diet so, whatever. Sorry you're mad.

I'm not PP and I understand your frustration. However, do you not see that this is not healthy mentally, and not sustainable? I know the pro-IF people jump all over that, but times and people change. Eat small, clean meals and you will lose weight naturally. This crap is insane, and I hope you don't have kids, especially daughters, you are modeling it for. I'm trying to eat lighter and my boys ask why I"m not getting food at Dunkin Donuts for example. They notice.

What makes you think it's not healthy or sustainable? Honestly, I don't understand why some people are so strident about other people's eating. Do you not know anyone who fasts regularly for religious reasons? I have Catholic, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu friends who all regularly fast. I know a couple of body builder types at work who are deeply into intermittent fasting and they love it.

Yes, kids might notice what you're eating or not, but you don't have to give them a complex. "I'm trying to eat less sugar these days, so I'm skipping the donuts today. Do you want your regular Boston cream, or something different?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NP.

So in January you only ate 16/31 days, with water only for 15/31 days?

This is an eating disorder, not intermittent fasting. Seriously.

Not really, because I eat breakfast every day. Every other day I skip lunch and dinner. Truly it feels less pre-occupying than trying to restrict calories every day. It's just one decision, then waiting for breakfast.

Honestly some part of society is always mad at me for my body and diet so, whatever. Sorry you're mad.

I'm not PP and I understand your frustration. However, do you not see that this is not healthy mentally, and not sustainable? I know the pro-IF people jump all over that, but times and people change. Eat small, clean meals and you will lose weight naturally. This crap is insane, and I hope you don't have kids, especially daughters, you are modeling it for. I'm trying to eat lighter and my boys ask why I"m not getting food at Dunkin Donuts for example. They notice.

NP. I did this for YEARS, and never lost any significant weight. I have PCOS, which is often associated with insulin resistance and pre-diabetes. Ever since I started IF (I eat from 12-8pm), it's like my life has changed. I am not in a constant state of hunger anymore. I don't force myself to eat breakfast when I don't even want it. I have lost weight. I'm not constantly searching for new recipes on how to make grilled chicken breast tasty but still low calorie. I eat normal meals, and don't snack because I don't care to. Stop trying to make one size fit all - it doesn't work that way.

Why would you force yourself to eat if you weren't hungry? Why were you in a constant state of hunger?

Because I was following what is so highly recommended - frequent, small meals. I was told so many times to eat within one hour of waking to "jumpstart my metabolism." I was in a constant state of hunger because all I was doing was causing insulin spikes over and over. I was eating these tiny meals because when you're eating 6 times a day, you can't eat that much at each sitting. It's clear that you are asking these snarky questions because you have not experienced this yourself (which many, many people have) or researched intermittent fasting but I decided to answer you anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NP.

So in January you only ate 16/31 days, with water only for 15/31 days?

This is an eating disorder, not intermittent fasting. Seriously.

Not really, because I eat breakfast every day. Every other day I skip lunch and dinner. Truly it feels less pre-occupying than trying to restrict calories every day. It's just one decision, then waiting for breakfast.

Honestly some part of society is always mad at me for my body and diet so, whatever. Sorry you're mad.

I'm not PP and I understand your frustration. However, do you not see that this is not healthy mentally, and not sustainable? I know the pro-IF people jump all over that, but times and people change. Eat small, clean meals and you will lose weight naturally. This crap is insane, and I hope you don't have kids, especially daughters, you are modeling it for. I'm trying to eat lighter and my boys ask why I"m not getting food at Dunkin Donuts for example. They notice.

NP. I did this for YEARS, and never lost any significant weight. I have PCOS, which is often associated with insulin resistance and pre-diabetes. Ever since I started IF (I eat from 12-8pm), it's like my life has changed. I am not in a constant state of hunger anymore. I don't force myself to eat breakfast when I don't even want it. I have lost weight. I'm not constantly searching for new recipes on how to make grilled chicken breast tasty but still low calorie. I eat normal meals, and don't snack because I don't care to. Stop trying to make one size fit all - it doesn't work that way.

Why would you force yourself to eat if you weren't hungry? Why were you in a constant state of hunger?

Different poster. Some people aren't hungry for breakfast, but the breakfast people will insist that it's unhealthy to skip meals. And eating small, regular meals revs some people's hunger instead of making them feel satisfied. Personally I don't care for breakfast, love a huge lunch and only pick at dinner. I was thrilled when my endocrinologist said that was a perfectly healthy way to eat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NP.

So in January you only ate 16/31 days, with water only for 15/31 days?

This is an eating disorder, not intermittent fasting. Seriously.

Not really, because I eat breakfast every day. Every other day I skip lunch and dinner. Truly it feels less pre-occupying than trying to restrict calories every day. It's just one decision, then waiting for breakfast.

Honestly some part of society is always mad at me for my body and diet so, whatever. Sorry you're mad.

I'm not PP and I understand your frustration. However, do you not see that this is not healthy mentally, and not sustainable? I know the pro-IF people jump all over that, but times and people change. Eat small, clean meals and you will lose weight naturally. This crap is insane, and I hope you don't have kids, especially daughters, you are modeling it for. I'm trying to eat lighter and my boys ask why I"m not getting food at Dunkin Donuts for example. They notice.

What makes you think it's not healthy or sustainable? Honestly, I don't understand why some people are so strident about other people's eating. Do you not know anyone who fasts regularly for religious reasons? I have Catholic, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu friends who all regularly fast. I know a couple of body builder types at work who are deeply into intermittent fasting and they love it.

Yes, kids might notice what you're eating or not, but you don't have to give them a complex. "I'm trying to eat less sugar these days, so I'm skipping the donuts today. Do you want your regular Boston cream, or something different?"

Two different posters have said they eat 3 days a week or less. That's not sustainable, it's not the same as a weekly religious fast, it's not okay. For weight loss, go for it. For a lifestyle change, you'll have to change again, sooner or later. Posters either aren't being clear in their posts that this is short term, or they aren't being clear with themselves.

[Anonymous]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/dont-believe-the-hype--intermittent-fasting-isnt-a-magic-weight-loss-cure/2017/06/12/33dfc432-4b9e-11e7-9669-250d0b15f83b_story.html?utm_term=.f18b976572f1

I stopped doing intermittent fasting when I went back to grad school to study nutrition because I had a hard time focusing on fasting days. My brain needed regular fuel! Today, I know that restrictive diets don’t work, regardless of the form. Despite the hype, intermittent fasting isn’t a magic bullet — it’s plain old calorie restriction in a new outfit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. For those who have been doing IF, a couple questions...

1. Did you just jump right into it and fast for 2 days? How rough a start is it? I work and have young kids and worry about being angry and/or unfocussed.
2. If you fast for entire days or multiple days, do you also exercise? Only exercise on days you eat? Or don't exercise at all?

Thanks.

1. I started with 12, then 14, then 16, then 18, then 24 hour fasts. Took a couple of months to get to 24. Just doing 14 was a big accomplishment for me at first!

2. I do two 36-42 hour fasts most weeks. Amazingly, exercising while fasted is great!!! I have more energy and growth hormone spikes when you feast after fasting, so it's great for muscle growth too.

Despite what Dr. Fung says, fasting is not a long-term, sustainable diet.

That would have been news to both of my Indian grandmothers and women of their generation. They kept weekly religious no-food fasts for almost their entire adult lives and lived into their nineties.

Weekly religious fasts are typically a day, right? Or Ramadan, which is a limited fast over a month? Not eating only 2 or 3 days out of the week, as PP is doing. Sorry, that's abusing your body and it will catch up to you.

Not the pp, but another Hindu Indian poster and my mom and grandparents also fasted 2 days a week for pretty much their entire adult lives. Not just one day a year, not just a set few weeks a year but all the time. My cousin also fasts, though he only does a once a week fast.

It's very common for Hindus to fast at least one day a week, every week. Some do more like 2 or 3 days, it's up to them.

I doubt these people do intense exercise and/or work office jobs.

You clearly do not know many Indians.

Actually, I do. PP, were the mom and grandparents you mention physically active people?

How about dropping your assumptions about an whether Hindus are physically active or not?

Since you must know- my mom was an immigrant to this country that came here with less than $10. Worked multiple jobs for long hours as a nurse which is quite physically demanding.

My father died when I was a kid and she became a single mom to me and my siblings working even more hours than before to provide for us.

My grandfather worked a physically demanding job and the household chores my grandmother did- well let’s just say no washing machine to launder the clothes, no dishwasher, hand grinding whole spices, etc. Not exactly just sitting around.

Like I said, fasting is very common in Hinduism and has been for centuries. It’s written about in the Vedas which is over 5,000 years old.

Suggesting that people are actually MORE active today, with all of our modern conveniences, than in the past is ridiculous.

Fasting was common throughout human history. People living 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 years ago did not stop every two hours for a snack and there lives were 100 times more arduous than the lives we live today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NP.

So in January you only ate 16/31 days, with water only for 15/31 days?

This is an eating disorder, not intermittent fasting. Seriously.

Not really, because I eat breakfast every day. Every other day I skip lunch and dinner. Truly it feels less pre-occupying than trying to restrict calories every day. It's just one decision, then waiting for breakfast.

Honestly some part of society is always mad at me for my body and diet so, whatever. Sorry you're mad.

I'm not PP and I understand your frustration. However, do you not see that this is not healthy mentally, and not sustainable? I know the pro-IF people jump all over that, but times and people change. Eat small, clean meals and you will lose weight naturally. This crap is insane, and I hope you don't have kids, especially daughters, you are modeling it for. I'm trying to eat lighter and my boys ask why I"m not getting food at Dunkin Donuts for example. They notice.

What makes you think it's not healthy or sustainable? Honestly, I don't understand why some people are so strident about other people's eating. Do you not know anyone who fasts regularly for religious reasons? I have Catholic, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu friends who all regularly fast. I know a couple of body builder types at work who are deeply into intermittent fasting and they love it.

Yes, kids might notice what you're eating or not, but you don't have to give them a complex. "I'm trying to eat less sugar these days, so I'm skipping the donuts today. Do you want your regular Boston cream, or something different?"

No, I don't know anyone who fasts 2 to 4 days EVERY WEEK, other than on high holidays, and I don't think that's a common practice in most religions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NP.

So in January you only ate 16/31 days, with water only for 15/31 days?

This is an eating disorder, not intermittent fasting. Seriously.

Not really, because I eat breakfast every day. Every other day I skip lunch and dinner. Truly it feels less pre-occupying than trying to restrict calories every day. It's just one decision, then waiting for breakfast.

Honestly some part of society is always mad at me for my body and diet so, whatever. Sorry you're mad.

I'm not PP and I understand your frustration. However, do you not see that this is not healthy mentally, and not sustainable? I know the pro-IF people jump all over that, but times and people change. Eat small, clean meals and you will lose weight naturally. This crap is insane, and I hope you don't have kids, especially daughters, you are modeling it for. I'm trying to eat lighter and my boys ask why I"m not getting food at Dunkin Donuts for example. They notice.

What makes you think it's not healthy or sustainable? Honestly, I don't understand why some people are so strident about other people's eating. Do you not know anyone who fasts regularly for religious reasons? I have Catholic, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu friends who all regularly fast. I know a couple of body builder types at work who are deeply into intermittent fasting and they love it.

Yes, kids might notice what you're eating or not, but you don't have to give them a complex. "I'm trying to eat less sugar these days, so I'm skipping the donuts today. Do you want your regular Boston cream, or something different?"

No, I don't know anyone who fasts 2 to 4 days EVERY WEEK, other than on high holidays, and I don't think that's a common practice in most religions.

A weekly fast is very common (my Catholic grannies used to fast on Fridays) and Ramadan lasts for a whole month (May-June this year, so easily a 16-8 fast). The dudes in my office do a 5-2 schedule with no heavy lifting on fasting days. They talk about it all the time.

To be clear, I'm not an intermittent faster, but I lost about 30 pounds when I gave up snacking based on the insulin principles. I think our modern obsession with continual snacking (carrots! hummus! grapes and cheese are so healthy!) is actually not good for many people, myself included. Feeling hunger is not the end of the world.