Intermittent Fasting Thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good luck to you all! I started 16:8 last summer and it worked great for me. I lost about five lbs right away and my stomach area looked much better (after three kids, this was basically a miracle!) and everything tightened up. Then this year in Feb/Mar/Apr I gained it all back and then some, and it has been hell to get it off. I would blame pandemic stress but I think it started before that. I'm now doing 18:6 because with no commute (pandemic silver lining) it's easier to get dinner out faster and the weight is slowly coming off. I also had an IUD put in and I know it's not supposed to cause weight gain but honestly this has been so much more of a struggle that I can't help but think it did for me. Anyway, once you get into it, it works great!

I also run several times a week, 10-12 mi/week total, and try to lift weights (was doing crossfit a couple times a week before), and after the first few weeks I was okay with the fasting/exercising part of it.

I put on a CRAP TON of weight when I had an IUD. I had the copper one and my dr swore I wouldn't gain weight but I walked out of the bloated and stayed that way the entire time it was in. Also had horrible mood swings, sluggish, no motivation, Satanic bloodbath menstrual cycles, and the worst acne of my life. The side effects for sure led me to eat and drink more and it was a spiral of depression. I got it removed after about 8 months. Finally felt like I was back to normal 6 months later and finally lost the weight I gained (30 lbs) + another 10 lbs.

Sorry to derail, but wanted to share my horrible IUD experience. It was definitely a contributor to my waistline expansion.

I'm currently fasting 18:6 and using the Zero app for accountability. It works great when I can stick to it!

I also gained a TON of weight with the Mirena IUD. I tried everything to lose the weight and no exercise or diet helped... That's when I started IF. It took over 3 months for the scale to start moving down. I do clean fasting. 16:8 and occasional 24hr.

And you're still on the Mirena? I had mine taken out and I lost 10 lbs almost immediately. Before that I didn't even lose the weight when counting calories. I think a lot of it was water.

Ugh. This is the original PP here. Mine is a Mirena and I have been SO bloated since it went in. I'm already thinking about taking it out. I swear even my rings aren't fitting right anymore.

[Anonymous]

PP about counting calories. I've been doing 16:8 for about a month and lost only 3 pounds-- exercising 1hr daily (running HIIT, walks), and eating 1200-1400 calories (very carefully tracking). 3 pounds is something but seems slow. I am overweight and want to lose 10-15 pounds which should put me in a good healthy range. This week, I've cut out all added sugar and refined carbs. That said, IF is pretty easy to do, and I hope to use it as maintenance, especially when I have to go back into the office when I won't have the time to track calories. At first, I had trouble with energy and working out fasted, but now my body has adjusted and I can even do longer runs with no problem. Has anyone tried multiple versions of IF and found one worked better than others (24 hrs fast/5:2/ eat-stop-eat, etc.)?

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]It's Ramadan (month of fasting) for Muslims. Today is the 25th. Fast with us and join for Eid (celebration after the month of fasting) 🥳 ✨ [/quote]

Fun! I know the fasting is for religious reasons but do you normally lose weight anyway?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure- I will. I was IF 18 hours/day (looser restrictions on the weekends) very successfully for a couple of months before everything came to a screeching halt, and then it all went to hell. I’ve been anxiety eating for 2 months, but started back with the IF 18 hours this week. I avoided the scale since March, so I don’t know how much weight I put back on. I’ll probably weigh myself in a few days and use that as my starting point.

This is me- if we’re using names I’ll be Phoenix (hopefully rising from the ashes!)

Me again. I braved the scale this morning and found that I’m up 3 lbs from pre-isolation. I’m never happy about weight gain, but was expecting worse.

Phoenix here. A week later, down two pounds. We had a couple of things going on this week (birthday, Zoom dinner party) that derailed my schedule a couple of days, so I’m very happy with the 2 lbs.

Good luck this week to everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I'm "Carmen".

NP here and also would like to join in. I've IF with great results in the past, but I started eating 3 meals a day during covid. I returned to 16:8 fast on 5/11, so today is Day 7 for me. I was 149.2 on Day 1 and 145.8 this morning. I hit 151 for the first time the week prior. Agree that it's probably mostly water weight but I think that I've lost a little fat as well.

My goal weight is 135 to allow some cushion for weight gain.

Day 8 and I was 144.8 this morning!

Update. Day 13 and I'm at the same weight. However, I'm happy considering our activity level took a nosedive. Found out we were exposed to someone covid positive so we're stuck indoors and awaiting test results. Haven't been as vigilant about my diet, though its still pretty healthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP about counting calories. I've been doing 16:8 for about a month and lost only 3 pounds-- exercising 1hr daily (running HIIT, walks), and eating 1200-1400 calories (very carefully tracking). 3 pounds is something but seems slow. I am overweight and want to lose 10-15 pounds which should put me in a good healthy range. This week, I've cut out all added sugar and refined carbs. That said, IF is pretty easy to do, and I hope to use it as maintenance, especially when I have to go back into the office when I won't have the time to track calories. At first, I had trouble with energy and working out fasted, but now my body has adjusted and I can even do longer runs with no problem. Has anyone tried multiple versions of IF and found one worked better than others (24 hrs fast/5:2/ eat-stop-eat, etc.)?

I don’t think 16:8 is going to move the needle on weight loss much. I think if you pushed it a bit more, like to 20:4 on some days, you’d probably see better results. I try to do 24 hours once per week. I’d also worry less about calories, with that level of exercise you need to eat a bit more to build muscle, so eating so little might be counterproductive at this point.

[Anonymous]

For those that do 5/2. How do you time meal?

Monday finish eating meal by 6:30. And then not eat until Tuesday 6:30pm?

On the eating days, do you just eat regular 3 meals or on like an 18/6 schedule?

Also, can drink black coffee and teas?

What about red and white wine on your regular days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those that do 5/2. How do you time meal?

Monday finish eating meal by 6:30. And then not eat until Tuesday 6:30pm?

On the eating days, do you just eat regular 3 meals or on like an 18/6 schedule?

Also, can drink black coffee and teas?

What about red and white wine on your regular days?

I’m doing 18/6 now, but have done a version of 5/2. On 2 days I limited myself to 500 calories. I preferred to have most or all of the calories in one meal around 5 pm. The other 5 days were 3 regular meals, including wine as I wanted. Regarding coffee and teas, IF “experts” generally agree that 10 (maybe it’s a bit more than that) or fewer calories don’t break the fast. I have coffee with a tablespoon of 2% milk and stevia every morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was an IF doubter due to how active I am but I have been giving it a try the last few days out of curiosity. Doing more like a 17/7 but I’m liking it. I don’t really need to lose but I used to never eat breakfast for most of my life and only started a snack in the mornings when I started getting more intense with my workouts. Figured I would try to get back in my old routine of just coffee until lunch. I noticed back when I did that that IF I ate breakfast I ate more throughout the day so cutting it out would theoretically cut back on stray snacking. Managed 25k steps the last couple days, a run and weights on alternating days only eating from 12-7.

Me again. I’ve settled at around 18/6. Stop eating around 6:30 and go to noon the next day. Man, I was so skeptical, I’m converted. No more mindless snacking because it’s like my appetite doesn’t get revved up so early and just stay high. I eat lunch, a snack after a run or 5-6 mile walk, dinner. No more wandering to the kitchen for a snack at 9 pm.

[Anonymous]

Siiiicj

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an IF doubter due to how active I am but I have been giving it a try the last few days out of curiosity. Doing more like a 17/7 but I’m liking it. I don’t really need to lose but I used to never eat breakfast for most of my life and only started a snack in the mornings when I started getting more intense with my workouts. Figured I would try to get back in my old routine of just coffee until lunch. I noticed back when I did that that IF I ate breakfast I ate more throughout the day so cutting it out would theoretically cut back on stray snacking. Managed 25k steps the last couple days, a run and weights on alternating days only eating from 12-7.

Me again. I’ve settled at around 18/6. Stop eating around 6:30 and go to noon the next day. Man, I was so skeptical, I’m converted. No more mindless snacking because it’s like my appetite doesn’t get revved up so early and just stay high. I eat lunch, a snack after a run or 5-6 mile walk, dinner. No more wandering to the kitchen for a snack at 9 pm.

It has always been the nighttime snacking that is my worst enemy, diet and health wise. It’s still a challenge to avoid evening snacks sometimes, but mostly I don’t miss it. Surprisingly.

[Anonymous]

I started 16:8 in April and haven't watched my calories. I lost the first 6 pounds (which I had gained during isolation) and have maintained at my usual weight. But my usual weight looks so different on me. My waist is much smaller. It's weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP about counting calories. I've been doing 16:8 for about a month and lost only 3 pounds-- exercising 1hr daily (running HIIT, walks), and eating 1200-1400 calories (very carefully tracking). 3 pounds is something but seems slow. I am overweight and want to lose 10-15 pounds which should put me in a good healthy range. This week, I've cut out all added sugar and refined carbs. That said, IF is pretty easy to do, and I hope to use it as maintenance, especially when I have to go back into the office when I won't have the time to track calories. At first, I had trouble with energy and working out fasted, but now my body has adjusted and I can even do longer runs with no problem. Has anyone tried multiple versions of IF and found one worked better than others (24 hrs fast/5:2/ eat-stop-eat, etc.)?

I don’t think 16:8 is going to move the needle on weight loss much. I think if you pushed it a bit more, like to 20:4 on some days, you’d probably see better results. I try to do 24 hours once per week. I’d also worry less about calories, with that level of exercise you need to eat a bit more to build muscle, so eating so little might be counterproductive at this point.

Thanks. I’ll go by Mya.
I’ve started to stretch the fast a couple of times and have gotten up to 18. I’ll try 20. Down one more pound.
I’m thinking after 5 more I’ll up calories to 1500. What happens if I don’t eat enough to build the muscle? I’ve turned the exercise down one notch. Shorter hit workouts and a little leas milage for runs because I’m running out of energy.

[Anonymous]

Rhonda here. On day 11 I think. Have done 22:2 every day except last night when I had berries with whip cream for dessert so that day was more like 18:6. Went back to my normal time today. Still have only lost 3.5 lbs.

[Anonymous]

Hey all, I'm new to the thread, but not this forum. I've eaten a ketogenic diet for a year, but gained weight during quarantine from too much snacking. I tried IF months ago, but didn't stick with it.

I decided to download Zero again last night and start again. In 40 minutes, I'll have completed a 16:8. I can't wait to eat something. The last hour or two is always the worst for me.