Intermittent Fasting
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Anonymous
ha! |
Anonymous
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I did this, more or less, about 20 years ago on the Rotation Diet, which was a fad then.
It was three days of 500 cal, two days of 1000 cal and 2 days of 1500 cal. It worked really well, and I lost 60 lbs and kept it off for a long time. |
Anonymous
+1 I do intermittent fasting and nonetheless you made me grin. I've been doing IF for a year and have lost 35 lbs. I track my bp, blood sugar and cholesterol and all the numbers have improved. There are a number of ways to approach it. Some people do 16:8 a daily approach where you eat in an 8 hour window and fast for 16. Then there is 5:2, 4:3, some do 6:1 for maintenance. I do ADF, alternate days. I don't always manage 500 calories but focus more on length of fast. I don't eat breakfast anymore. Never liked it and am comfortable waiting until midday. On fast days lunch is the only meal, on non fast days I eat lunch, dinner, and any dessert or snack if I want. Fasting gets easier the more you do it. One doesn't really overindulge. Sometimes life gets in the way, but it is easy to get back on track. And yes I do think dropping 2 sizes does peel some years off. |
Anonymous
Talk to me about 6:1. I have (only) ten pounds that I'd like to take off and keep off; my problem is more low energy (I have a raging caffeine addiction and would love to quit it but have not been able to). |
Anonymous
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6:1 is just finding one fast day in a week, where you aim for 500 calories over a 24 hour period. People split it out in the way it works best for them so there is a lot of variety. You should check out UK forums where IF has been popular for a year or so.
Anyway people split out the calories in a variety of ways, some can skip breakfast some cannot etc. But overall the consensus is to avoid carbs because they stimulate appetite. Focus on proteins and good fats. I have not moved to 6:1 myself so am not sure if that would work for losing a small amount. 5:2 seems to work for losing at a sensible rate. The reason I went to ADF was a PCOS diagnosis showing me my body reacts to carbs in a hinky way that has a long term risk of coronary artery disease and makes it unusually hard to lose the weight gained in pregnancy (insulin issues). So the more stringent approach works well for me on several levels. |
Anonymous
| Just EAT sensibly. These fads are stupid b/c they are next to impossible to maintain. Just eat, live your life, stay active, and screw it if you gain 5 or 10 pounds over time. |
Anonymous
Different things work for different people. |
Anonymous
I think people shouldn't judge until they look into it. There are overall health reasons to practice fasting, quite aside from weight loss. |
Anonymous
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I haven't read all the responses, but wanted to chime in.
This is something that is reasonably common in some Eastern cultures. My MIL is Asian and has always done this. Obviously just anecdotal, but IMO, she's doing fabulously for an 'older' lady. I also have some good friends who are Asian and who fast one or two days per week (eat limited calories). I believe some religions even encourage it? Anyway, I'm planning to read more about it, but it people in other countries have been doing this for years, I bet there is something to it! |
Anonymous
I watched the Michael Mosley documentary and checked out his book from the library last week. I tried the 5:2 fasting this week. I actually liked it and plan to continue it. And I just listened to the Diane Rehm show this evening. Yea, I have to agree with PP: she was kind of annoying. The part that got me was that she's not doing the fast correctly--you're supposed to chunk the 500 calories into either 2 meals or 1. She spread it out across the 3 meals and then said she drinks champagne?!? And then I thought it was stupid the way she went on asking the guests about diet drinks. It'll probably be another 5 years before I listen to her again. |
Anonymous
| I just started tracking my calories and I get SO hungry on 1400-1500 cals a day, I can't imagine going down, and I do focus on fiber/protein/healthy fats. For lunch I just had 2 hard boiled eggs mashed with 1 tbsp organic mayo on one slice sprouted grain bread, a whole pear and a dark chocolate mint thing. I swear my stomach is still growling and I am not a huge person. I'm envious of those who can do it without gnawing their arm off! |
Anonymous
I understand what you're saying PP. However it is doable, and you really do work through the hunger. There is something interesting about working through the hunger and knowing that I'm done eating for the day. The hunger comes in waves, and it's not like it builds and builds. I have some tea or water and it passes. Yesterday I did the 500 calories at lunch. I started to get hungry again around 6pm and worked through it. I found that exercising actually helps suppress the hunger, so I went running last night (about 3 miles) and felt great. Drank water, went to be and woke up fine. I wasn't ravenous and just ate normal breakfast of greek yogurt, some nuts and fruit. And knowing that the next day I could eat when I wanted also helped. |
Anonymous
Drop the bread and fruit, replace it with a protein or good fat like avocado and see if you have the same experience. I don't think you will. |
Anonymous
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Anyone have luck on eating within the 8 hour window, and then fasting for the rest of the time? This one seems manageable, as it basically means skipping breakfast. Having lunch, dinner and snacks in between.
Another question -- Does eating the same amount of food, but during that 8 hour window really make a big difference for metabolism? |
Anonymous
I've actually done the Whole 30 in the past and I still had a lot of hunger despite following the diet to a T (no cheating, read the book, etc). I've actually found that if I eat 3 eggs by itself I can get hungry quicker than when I've had 2 eggs and a piece of fruit or 2 eggs and a slice of high fiber toast. But to what a PP Said--you're right that I need to work through the hunger more. I do drink tea and water when I'm hungry and it's not a good time to eat. Im sure it's psychological to some extent. |