Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You must have loose skin on your stomach, there's no way that's fat.
I don't think IF will help you from storing fat in any particular area.
I have been doing 18 hour fasts since Thanksgiving and lost 9 lbs (started at normal BMI) but have not lost even half an inch where I wanted to. My face looks more angular and my chest looks a little bony but my thighs are the exact same size.

Thank you for the feedback. It's helpful to hear what IF actually does. The more I read about lower belly fat it seems to be related to cortisol. The recommendations I'm seeing are to get more sleep and lower stress, but how does someone do that with young kids?

The question is actually how do YOU do it with young kids. What do YOU need to get more sleep? What do YOU need to destress? When I had young kids I didn't have stress - that's just me - but I had definite sleep interruptions with breastfeeding and getting kids up to use the bathroom, etc.

Do you need a nap in the afternoon, or time to go exercise? Do you need help cooking dinner? Figure out what will destress you - and then figure out how you can make that happen. Does your DH need to do more? Do you need to hire help? Getting more sleep is also a huge deal, but again, you have to figure this out - can you go to bed earlier? can you get up later? Can your DH and you split the evening/morning routines better so one of you can go to bed early and get up early, and vice versa.

Anonymous wrote:You must have loose skin on your stomach, there's no way that's fat.
I don't think IF will help you from storing fat in any particular area.
I have been doing 18 hour fasts since Thanksgiving and lost 9 lbs (started at normal BMI) but have not lost even half an inch where I wanted to. My face looks more angular and my chest looks a little bony but my thighs are the exact same size.

Thank you for the feedback. It's helpful to hear what IF actually does. The more I read about lower belly fat it seems to be related to cortisol. The recommendations I'm seeing are to get more sleep and lower stress, but how does someone do that with young kids?

You must have loose skin on your stomach, there's no way that's fat.
I don't think IF will help you from storing fat in any particular area.
I have been doing 18 hour fasts since Thanksgiving and lost 9 lbs (started at normal BMI) but have not lost even half an inch where I wanted to. My face looks more angular and my chest looks a little bony but my thighs are the exact same size.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone here tried intermittent fasting to ditch stubborn lower belly fat? I don't have issues with blood sugar and I'm overall pretty fit and eat well, but my lower stomach has always been the trouble spot. I do have a lot of stress in my life and I'm trying to work on that.

Are you post-menopausal?

No, in my 30s. I workout regularly and am finally starting to see some definition in my midsection, but the area below the belly button is so stubborn. I know the muscles are strong there because I feel them activated while exercising, but there's fat covering it. I'm so thin already and shouldn't lose weight (5'5, 115 lbs). I just need to stop storing fat in that one area if possible. I'm hoping IF and cutting out sugar will help. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Honey, if you are 5'5" and weigh 115 lbs, you do not need to diet or fast. Seriously, if you're that thin, how can you have much fat below your belly button? Please cut yourself some slack (literally!)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve never found 16 too difficult, but I think a big part of that is drinking coffee (black). It really does suppress my appetite.

Coffee is a great appetite suppressant for me. I add heavy cream, no sugar.

Agreed!!! Me, too!

I have overall cholesterol of 222. I can't put heavy cream in there. And that will break your fast, no?

Heavy cream in your coffee doesn't break your fast because it's primarily fat. Also I would think (I said "think" not "know") that if you eat low to no cholesterol foods throughout the day, then a splash of heavy cream isn't going to move the dial in a negative way for you.

Of course heavy cream breaks a fast. You're misinformed and not doing intermittent fasting if you are anything besides black coffee, black tea or water during fasting hours.

OP. Thank you for saying this. I had NEVER heard anyone say that you can add heavy cream to your coffee and still be in a fasting state.
However, you can add a little bit of almond milk and stevia (unsweetened almond milk) and remain in a fasting state. Oat milk will also break a fast.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone here tried intermittent fasting to ditch stubborn lower belly fat? I don't have issues with blood sugar and I'm overall pretty fit and eat well, but my lower stomach has always been the trouble spot. I do have a lot of stress in my life and I'm trying to work on that.

Are you post-menopausal?

No, in my 30s. I workout regularly and am finally starting to see some definition in my midsection, but the area below the belly button is so stubborn. I know the muscles are strong there because I feel them activated while exercising, but there's fat covering it. I'm so thin already and shouldn't lose weight (5'5, 115 lbs). I just need to stop storing fat in that one area if possible. I'm hoping IF and cutting out sugar will help. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve never found 16 too difficult, but I think a big part of that is drinking coffee (black). It really does suppress my appetite.

Coffee is a great appetite suppressant for me. I add heavy cream, no sugar.

Agreed!!! Me, too!

I have overall cholesterol of 222. I can't put heavy cream in there. And that will break your fast, no?

Heavy cream in your coffee doesn't break your fast because it's primarily fat. Also I would think (I said "think" not "know") that if you eat low to no cholesterol foods throughout the day, then a splash of heavy cream isn't going to move the dial in a negative way for you.

Of course heavy cream breaks a fast. You're misinformed and not doing intermittent fasting if you are anything besides black coffee, black tea or water during fasting hours.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many threads on this - that said I do 14 hours and that is more than plenty especially if you're a woman. 16 hours is HARD.

As for hunger, I am never hungry because I eat a lot of fat and protein during my eating window.

Thanks, I will check. I'm a woman in my 30s. It's validating to read that 16 hours is hard because I thought there was something wrong with me. I get really hungry toward 14 hours and feel like a failure if I can't make it to 16.

16 hrs is not HARD. You have dinner by 8pm and eat lunch/break-fast around 12pm the next day!

Anonymous wrote:If it keeps you from eating extra calories, then go for it. But in spite of the IF proselytizers here, fasting has no real benefits, so if it isn't working for you, don't force it.

One article explaining it: https://www.seattletimes.com/life/wellness/whats-new-in-intermittent-fasting-research-more-not-so-good-news/

And here is one study. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230118092030.htm

That's right w/r/t weight loss, but there are studies that show real benefits for insulin resistance. E.g. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413118302535

That said, I generally agree that if it doesn't work for you, there's no need to force it - it's not some magic bullet. I personally find it more sustainable than calorie restriction, but I was never a big breakfast eater anyway, so it's pretty easy for me.