Intermediate fasting and the obesity code

Jadu786

I have a friend who recently read the obesity code. They have started a new diet plan where they are fasting 50% of the time (approximately) and when they aren't fasting - they are mostly eating out - not the most healthy choices. They also have not worked out in the past two weeks. I'm not too sure if this is a good path for them to follow because my thoughts are that this is in fact going to cause weight gain. Has anyone ever tried this? Does it work? Do you recommend it? Does anyone have any professional advice in regards to this?

Thank You!

MichelleSilverleaf

Nothing wrong with eating out, so long as you stick to your calorie goals. Granted that can be very hard with restaurant foods because they can be so high in calories. Quite sure the obesity code is bunk though, James Fung isn't highly thought of.

janejellyroll

Fasting 50% of the time, getting most of your food prepared by other people, and not exercising will still result in weight loss if it creates a calorie deficit. Eating regular meals throughout the day, preparing all your own food, and exercising daily won't result in weight loss if it doesn't create a deficit.

It's irrelevant. I wouldn't adopt your friend's plan because I wouldn't enjoy it and I prefer more reliable ways to create a deficit. But that doesn't mean it won't work for your friend.

Most of the people here aren't professionals when it comes to weight loss, so I'm not sure if you'll get much professional advice.

MegaMooseEsq

I'm skeptical of any plan that has a name or comes out of a book, but as @janejellyroll said, anything that creates a deficit will lead to weight loss. Exercise isn't necessary for weight-loss either, and can be counterproductive if you're not conscientious about sticking to a deficit (although of course exercise is great for health more generally).

toxikon

There are all kinds of ways to balance your calorie goal throughout the week. You don't need to eat the same amount of calories every single day to get results.

Let's say you want to average 1500 calories a day. 1500 x 7 = 10500. You can distribute those calories over the week however you prefer. If you have a big dinner coming up and you want to eat 2500 calories on that day - you can - you may just want to balance out the other days to be a bit lighter to make up the difference.

Obviously, just do whatever works for you. If your friend likes to Alternate-Day-Fast, there's nothing inherently wrong with that unless she's averaging an unhealthy deficit.

BobPulaski

Most people don't care if something is healthy or not as long as they lose weight or are what they consider in shape. Kind of doesn't matter which "plan" a person chooses or which book they read. If they lose weight, they are satisfied.

Many people on this website actually care about health vs. simply how they look but in real life sooooo many people just want to look a certain way and don't care how they achieve it. People could eat McDonald's every day and still lose weight.

Bry_Fitness70

simi915 wrote: »

I have a friend who recently read the obesity code. They have started a new diet plan where they are fasting 50% of the time (approximately) and when they aren't fasting - they are mostly eating out - not the most healthy choices. They also have not worked out in the past two weeks. I'm not too sure if this is a good path for them to follow because my thoughts are that this is in fact going to cause weight gain. Has anyone ever tried this? Does it work? Do you recommend it? Does anyone have any professional advice in regards to this?

Thank You!

Like most popular diet fads, it is just an attempt to reshuffle your calorie intake or content in such a way that a deficit is achieved. Withholding food 50% of the time through fasting reduces your available eating time, so I'm sure that people who follow this consume less calories because there is less opportunity to eat, so, therefore, they crack the "obesity code". Is this sustainable, do you really see yourself fasting 50% of the time for months or years?

kommodevaran

The Obesity Code is bunk. What does fasting 50% of the time (approximately) mean? What does not the most healthy choices mean? What do you mean by professional advice? The principles of weight loss and gain are simple. Your friend, like anybody else, will lose weight if he/she eats fewer calories than he/she burns, over time, and for real. No need to exercise, no need for particular foods or eating in particular places.

Oh, and it's called intermittent fasting; the good part of that - the practical application of it - not eating all the time - can be a good strategy for many people, but the bad part is the ridiculous health claims and the just as ridiculous name.

cwolfman13

simi915 wrote: »

I have a friend who recently read the obesity code. They have started a new diet plan where they are fasting 50% of the time (approximately) and when they aren't fasting - they are mostly eating out - not the most healthy choices. They also have not worked out in the past two weeks. I'm not too sure if this is a good path for them to follow because my thoughts are that this is in fact going to cause weight gain. Has anyone ever tried this? Does it work? Do you recommend it? Does anyone have any professional advice in regards to this?

Thank You!

Eating out doesn't cause weight gain...not making the most nutritious choices doesn't cause weight gain...not exercising doesn't cause weight gain.

Consuming an excess of calories beyond what one's body requires causes weight gain. For many people IF works because you only have a certain window in which you can eat...in many cases, restricting to this particular window will result in a reduction of calories.

Your friends may or may not lose weight...it all comes down to the number of calories they're consuming vs what their body actually needs. If they are below maintenance calories, they will lose weight...if they're not, they won't.

lorrpb

It's not that hard to fast 50% of the time. I fast from about 9 pm to 7 or 8 am and a few other hours during the day.

janejellyroll

lorrpb wrote: »

It's not that hard to fast 50% of the time. I fast from about 9 pm to 7 or 8 am and a few other hours during the day.

I feel like it's one of those things that is easy and fine if you find it fits your lifestyle and preferences, but if you're doing it because you feel like it's *required* to lose weight and you don't really like it, that's a waste of effort.

DmaMfz

Hopefully you’re asking for yourself?

It can be pretty frustrating when someone attempts to offer dieting advice when they themselves actually believe in starvation mode and other woo. Learning more about cico- great! Regurgitating hear say diet tips (eating out is bad, one must work out, etc)- not helpful or accurate.

(Intermittent fasting, not being snarky)

Jadu786

Thanks for the correction guys! I'm not asking for myself - I was a bit concerned about my friends health so thought to ask if anyone had heard about this book/eating method and had any feedback or any advice. I haven't told her I'm wondering about it - I believe in being healthy. I try to watch what I eat, I go to the gym - that's good enough for me. Of course, any changes in the positive would be great, but I feel I'm doing a decent job at maintaining good health and good habits.

AnvilHead

simi915 wrote: »

Thanks for the correction guys! I'm not asking for myself - I was a bit concerned about my friends health so thought to ask if anyone had heard about this book/eating method and had any feedback or any advice. I haven't told her I'm wondering about it - I believe in being healthy. I try to watch what I eat, I go to the gym - that's good enough for me. Of course, any changes in the positive would be great, but I feel I'm doing a decent job at maintaining good health and good habits.

Yes. Fung is a crackpot, the book is a bunch of made-up garbage and there's nothing magical about low-carb or intermittent fasting. They can be helpful if they enhance adherence and/or satiety, but in the end it comes down to energy balance (how many calories you eat vs. how many you expend), regardless of your macro composition or when you eat.

Lisa8823168

Yes...calories matter and if fasting helps a person to manage that balance...seems OK to me. We all have different triggers and methods that mentally help us. No one else will do it my way nor will I subscribe to someone else's way. I am a unique person with my own needs physically and mentally.

I do think Marcos matter if they contain a trigger for you. For example...my appetite becomes ten fold when I eat carbs...the more I eat, the harder it is for me to stop and manage calories. I limit my carbs enough to manage that defect in my personality and the stimulation I get from them.

I have a travel job...I EAT OUT, THREE MEALS A DAY, OVER HALF OF EVERY MONTH. You can manage calories and Marcos doing it, if you want to. Did you know the all burger place now offer the options to "low carb" every burger? For example, low carb a big mac. Even if you don't do "low carb" on purpose, that alone cuts so many calories, you can eat at McD and manage a calorie deficit every day. Ditto for BK and Taco Bell and Arby's. I carry a BOOK with all sorts of those kinds of options in it. Makes it really easy to adapt, no matter what state or city I may be in.

Diet plans in books or online are not a lump of bad things...it is important for all of us to educate our self and that includes knowledge on all sides of the dice (or coin). How can you have conversations or draw a conclusion that something is not for you or someone is a crack pot if you don't take the time to read and attempt to understand their point of view...even if you don't agree with it. How can you converse and offer support to friends (on the great struggle of weight loss) if you don't fully understand the plan they have decided is best for them?

In the end...as long as your friend's plan is not causing an actual eating disorder...it cant hurt her. It may or may not work for her but it is the rout she chooses to explore. Anyone wanting to manage their weight/health should be encourage to find the magic formula for them, their life style and personality. Encouragement is the role of a good friend, not judgment on the method of choice (assuming, again, they are not headed into a disorder or you see physical signs of something dangerous)

Though it may not be what I would do or what you want to do...encouraging her to find her niche in her struggle to control/manage is important.

Jadu786

lisawolfinger wrote: »

Yes...calories matter and if fasting helps a person to manage that balance...seems OK to me. We all have different triggers and methods that mentally help us. No one else will do it my way nor will I subscribe to someone else's way. I am a unique person with my own needs physically and mentally.

I do think Marcos matter if they contain a trigger for you. For example...my appetite becomes ten fold when I eat carbs...the more I eat, the harder it is for me to stop and manage calories. I limit my carbs enough to manage that defect in my personality and the stimulation I get from them.

I have a travel job...I EAT OUT, THREE MEALS A DAY, OVER HALF OF EVERY MONTH. You can manage calories and Marcos doing it, if you want to. Did you know the all burger place now offer the options to "low carb" every burger? For example, low carb a big mac. Even if you don't do "low carb" on purpose, that alone cuts so many calories, you can eat at McD and manage a calorie deficit every day. Ditto for BK and Taco Bell and Arby's. I carry a BOOK with all sorts of those kinds of options in it. Makes it really easy to adapt, no matter what state or city I may be in.

Diet plans in books or online are not a lump of bad things...it is important for all of us to educate our self and that includes knowledge on all sides of the dice (or coin). How can you have conversations or draw a conclusion that something is not for you or someone is a crack pot if you don't take the time to read and attempt to understand their point of view...even if you don't agree with it. How can you converse and offer support to friends (on the great struggle of weight loss) if you don't fully understand the plan they have decided is best for them?

In the end...as long as your friend's plan is not causing an actual eating disorder...it cant hurt her. It may or may not work for her but it is the rout she chooses to explore. Anyone wanting to manage their weight/health should be encourage to find the magic formula for them, their life style and personality. Encouragement is the role of a good friend, not judgment on the method of choice (assuming, again, they are not headed into a disorder or you see physical signs of something dangerous)

Though it may not be what I would do or what you want to do...encouraging her to find her niche in her struggle to control/manage is important.

Yea I definitely would not want to seem judgmental! I feel we all have our own battles when it comes to weight loss etc.. I just wanted to make sure they would be ok

MegaMooseEsq

lisawolfinger wrote: »

Yes...calories matter and if fasting helps a person to manage that balance...seems OK to me. We all have different triggers and methods that mentally help us. No one else will do it my way nor will I subscribe to someone else's way. I am a unique person with my own needs physically and mentally.

I do think Marcos matter if they contain a trigger for you. For example...my appetite becomes ten fold when I eat carbs...the more I eat, the harder it is for me to stop and manage calories. I limit my carbs enough to manage that defect in my personality and the stimulation I get from them.

I have a travel job...I EAT OUT, THREE MEALS A DAY, OVER HALF OF EVERY MONTH. You can manage calories and Marcos doing it, if you want to. Did you know the all burger place now offer the options to "low carb" every burger? For example, low carb a big mac. Even if you don't do "low carb" on purpose, that alone cuts so many calories, you can eat at McD and manage a calorie deficit every day. Ditto for BK and Taco Bell and Arby's. I carry a BOOK with all sorts of those kinds of options in it. Makes it really easy to adapt, no matter what state or city I may be in.

Diet plans in books or online are not a lump of bad things...it is important for all of us to educate our self and that includes knowledge on all sides of the dice (or coin). How can you have conversations or draw a conclusion that something is not for you or someone is a crack pot if you don't take the time to read and attempt to understand their point of view...even if you don't agree with it. How can you converse and offer support to friends (on the great struggle of weight loss) if you don't fully understand the plan they have decided is best for them?

In the end...as long as your friend's plan is not causing an actual eating disorder...it cant hurt her. It may or may not work for her but it is the rout she chooses to explore. Anyone wanting to manage their weight/health should be encourage to find the magic formula for them, their life style and personality. Encouragement is the role of a good friend, not judgment on the method of choice (assuming, again, they are not headed into a disorder or you see physical signs of something dangerous)

Though it may not be what I would do or what you want to do...encouraging her to find her niche in her struggle to control/manage is important.

Just to clarify my comment above about books, I definitely did not mean that one should not read books - I've read and gotten a great deal of information from books! My skepticism is for books that push a one-size-fits-all diet. Many of those diets are nutritionally balanced and result in a deficit for most people, but by their nature they don't address the individual's needs, and all of the major ones that have been studied have fairly dismal rates of compliance and successful maintenance. I think the better option is for people to take information from a lot of different places and apply it to their own eating habits as needed.

ETA: My two favorite books about weight loss are "Smart People Don't Diet" and "Thin for Life".

blambo61

simi915 wrote: »

Thanks for the correction guys! I'm not asking for myself - I was a bit concerned about my friends health so thought to ask if anyone had heard about this book/eating method and had any feedback or any advice. I haven't told her I'm wondering about it - I believe in being healthy. I try to watch what I eat, I go to the gym - that's good enough for me. Of course, any changes in the positive would be great, but I feel I'm doing a decent job at maintaining good health and good habits.

Weight loss is about having a calorie deficit but fasting can help in obtaining a deficit for some people. It is much easier for me to get a deficit fasting that eating a lot of small meals in the day. That probably isn't the case for a some people but it is for a lot of people. Fasting does have other health benefits besides losing weight. Read up on it some more.

jennifer_417

nvm