I had about 20 lbs to lose at the start of last year, and read the book (which I thought was better written than most, and pretty interesting). I think I only pulled off 2 fast days successfully, mostly because I do all the cooking for my family and found it too hard to do a different dinner for myself or limit my dinner portion to something miniscule. BUT, I really was struck by how easy I found it to fast until lunch time on work days (when I am not surrounded by food), and by how much more aware of my hunger cues I was as a result of my attempts to follow the plan. So I combined this knowledge with what I picked up from Mark Bittman's Vegan Before 6, and completely revamped my weekday eating. During the work week I now eat nothing before a late lunch (I have black coffee, tea, and water throughout the morning), and then eat an almost entirely vegetarian meal at 1 or so. I usually either have a huge salad with greens and vegetables plus some protein source (beans, nuts, or a greek yogurt on the side) or I'll do some whole-grain/rice/veggie combo, usually adding a piece of fruit as well. Then normal dinner, which is usally something a lot more caloric (my husband and teens will tolerate a vegetarian meal once or twice a week, but they always look kind of sad). Weekends I don't think so much about what I eat, but I try not to eat until I'm actually hungry.

I've lost around 15 lbs doing this for nine months or so, though I started lifting weights using the New Rules of Lifting for Women at around the same time, so it's hard to say what would have happened had I only made the diet changes. Regardless, I feel much better and more energetic than I did this time last year.

I do a variation of this and love it, called Fast 5. You can google it. It just really suits me, I feel light and alert during the day, then enjoy a big meal and dessert plus large snack in the evening. Feels indulgent, requires very little will power and keeps me slender.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm doing it--first time this week. I'll let you know how it works. Today is one of my 500 calorie days.

But why? And I don't mean that to be snarky. If the goal is to lose weight, and you can get through 2 days of only eating 500 calories...how can you not simply eat less for 7 days? I guess everyone is different, but I don't think I could function on 500 calories. And unless it did something like - made me look 10 years younger and that youthful look was enough to convince my husband he should clean the house for his young wife - I can't see it worth being miserable for 2 days every week.

Or is it just one of those short term - need a jump start on weight loss things?

Aside from the other health benefits pp mentioned, I find it easy to fast for a day at a time - you are doing something temporary, and you know you can have a reward the next day. Whereas eating well 24-7 is incessant and offers no break, nothing to look forward to beyond a lifetime of self-denial.

I agree with this. And I don't go overboard on my non-fast days, but I don't feel constantly stressed about keeping under a number of points or calories or whatever. It just sort of happens.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm doing it--first time this week. I'll let you know how it works. Today is one of my 500 calorie days.

But why? And I don't mean that to be snarky. If the goal is to lose weight, and you can get through 2 days of only eating 500 calories...how can you not simply eat less for 7 days? I guess everyone is different, but I don't think I could function on 500 calories. And unless it did something like - made me look 10 years younger and that youthful look was enough to convince my husband he should clean the house for his young wife - I can't see it worth being miserable for 2 days every week.

Or is it just one of those short term - need a jump start on weight loss things?

Aside from the other health benefits pp mentioned, I find it easy to fast for a day at a time - you are doing something temporary, and you know you can have a reward the next day. Whereas eating well 24-7 is incessant and offers no break, nothing to look forward to beyond a lifetime of self-denial.

There are other benefits to intermittent fasting such as longevity and less inflammation in the body.

I started doing it by accident when I was at a job where I would work part time but 10-12 hour days on the days I was working. I was just too busy to stop and have a meal so I usually had a container of greek yogurt and an apple or something. The days I wasn't working I was able to eat more normally, but I did find my appetite drastically reduced.

I ended up losing 6-8 pounds a month, so a very healthy rate, and my MS has also been much better. It works well for me, and I do focus on making sure the food I eat is nutrient rich.

Anonymous wrote:I'm doing it--first time this week. I'll let you know how it works. Today is one of my 500 calorie days.

But why? And I don't mean that to be snarky. If the goal is to lose weight, and you can get through 2 days of only eating 500 calories...how can you not simply eat less for 7 days? I guess everyone is different, but I don't think I could function on 500 calories. And unless it did something like - made me look 10 years younger and that youthful look was enough to convince my husband he should clean the house for his young wife - I can't see it worth being miserable for 2 days every week.

Or is it just one of those short term - need a jump start on weight loss things?

Ah yes, intermittent farting.

One of the side effects of the high-fiber diet...

Some people like it. Different strokes, I guess.

I am definitely on the Intermittent Farting plan.

This topic was more interesting to me when I incorrectly read the topic as "intermittent FARTING"

Yes, Diane Rhem embraced the latest diet fad. Proving yet again that she's not a journalist but a self-absorbed ninny.

Her description of having coffee and cheese cubes for breakfast made me want to barf.

I'm doing it--first time this week. I'll let you know how it works. Today is one of my 500 calorie days.

And a vocal few do paleo and are happy with the results. And same with low carb, atkins, etc. The people who aren't happy aren't highlighted as much I think.

I have only been doing it for a week so can't speak to its success for me yet, but lots of people I know have done it and been very happy with the results.

Why on earth would you want to do that?

I find it way easier to just eat healthy.

I am NOT one for fad diets, but Diane Rehm sure makes it sound legit... Eat normal 5 days a week, and then 2 non-consecutive days a week, no more than 500 calories (600 for men) (=4 apples or 6.5 hardboiled eggs, by way of example).

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-01-09/latest-research-intermittent-fasting-0?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WAMU885DianeRehm+(The+Diane+Rehm+Show+from+WAMU+and+NPR)