Jump Start Your Weight Loss Journey With Fasting

Krizanti
Krizanti Posts: 7
in Health and Weight Loss
Just before 2013 ended, I made a firm decision to take control of my life and lose weight no matter what. I know how difficult it is to embark on a weight loss journey because I have been trying to lose weight in the last 5 years. I have tried different tricks and diet plans. I would lose weight, but then I'd gain more in the process.

Since I love eating and I hate exercising, I was looking for a simple but sustainable weight loss trick, just to help me start with it. What i found is truly simple - F-A-S-T-I-N-G.

By fasting, it doesn't mean I have to starve myself and skip meals. Actually, the time between dinner and breakfast the following day is the time to fast. Therefore, no more food after dinner. I can chose to go on a 12-hour fasting, or an 18-hour one. This allows the digestive system to process the food we eat and the liver to detoxify.

I have tried this for a week now (I used to eat midnight snack, now I sleep early so I won't get hungry :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: )

For a scientific explanation about Fasting, here's a blog to read: http://www.onlinehealthmag.com/nutrition/nutrition-program/

Replies

  • edwardkim85
    edwardkim85 Posts: 438 Member
    For every scientific explanation that supports the benefit of fasting, there's one that says otherwise.

    Same with juice detoxes, etc.

    Fasting, if done too often or not done properly, can ruin your metabolism permanently.

    On another note, people in Africa without food starve for food, while we 'fast' to lose excess fat. What kind of backward world is this?

    Be thankful for given the food choices we have and enjoy everything within reason.


    All in all, calorie out > calorie in is the only way to lose weight.
  • 89nunu
    89nunu Posts: 1,082 Member
    hat you are referring to is intermittent fasting (IF) and not actual fasting. Actual fasting means not eating for days... lots of people do IF and I'm sure there is a group on here with likeminded folks.

    Good luck :flowerforyou:
  • Annetinkerbell
    Annetinkerbell Posts: 36 Member
    I have just started to do that as well. I have read about health benefits from short term fasting giving your body time to heal rather than digesting food. I read about a study reported on th BBC news. It was referring to the 5:2 diet but I couldn't do that. However I have found not snacking after dinner and skipping breakfast is easy, much more my natural style and means that I find it easier to stick to my calorie goal. In terms if weigh loss is really is about total calories consumed as opposed to what time of day you costume them. However, I found I was snacking on biscuits in the evening but now I am on a 'fast' I have the willpower not to snack. I am also less stressed trying to fit in breakfast before leaving in the morning! Good luck to you.
  • NewTnme
    NewTnme Posts: 258 Member
    I've done the fast at night that you are talking about and it works for me all the time. I loose at least 5 lbs the first week. My problem is continuing mondeteratly. I hear the 1st 10 lbs is water weight. Anyway im going to keep doing the fast after dinner or after my total calories consumed if not daily, most of the time, because if I start back eating that little bowl of cereal at 10 and 11 oclock at night. Ill be in trouble again. "Lifstyle change"
  • NewTnme
    NewTnme Posts: 258 Member
    By the way... Good luck on your new journey.
  • twixlepennie
    twixlepennie Posts: 1,074 Member
    Intermittent fasting is a great option for some people, I had great success with it :smile:
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Intermittent fasting is fine, but it doesn't "jump start" anything.
  • IreneEllsworth1969
    IreneEllsworth1969 Posts: 2
    How do you do the fasting??
  • Mr_Bad_Example
    Mr_Bad_Example Posts: 2,403 Member
    IN... for jump starting.

    IMG954560_20121015110951_640_480.JPG
  • Mcgrawhaha
    Mcgrawhaha Posts: 1,596 Member
    i dont know what you mean about jump starting... but i eat this way, just because, thats how i eat. saves i eat between noon and 6pm. my calories for the bulk part of the day... but never jump started my engine or anything
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    How do you do the fasting??

    Fasting is pretty straightforward. You just don't eat.

    There's a difference between intermittent fast and actual fasting. IF involves setting aside period of time (2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours) where you eat all your food. You don't eat anything any other time. So if you have a 4-hour eating window, that would be a 20/4 fast. Fast 20 hours, eat 4 hours.

    Some people enjoy it that way because they can basically gorge themselves for one enormous meal every day. I can't do it, because it's incompatible with my activity level. I can't show up at a 9 AM tennis match and play 2 or 3 sets of singles without anything in my stomach. I can't ski all day with no food. I get lightheaded, super hungry, and cranky. Some people do great with it. There are no real specific benefits, but if it helps you adhere to your nutrition goals or you just like it then by all means do it.

    Real fasting is simply going without food for an extended period of time, like a few days. Some people do a "juice fast" where they drink nothing but juice for days or weeks. This is stupid. Maybe an occasional 24 hour fast isn't a big deal, but if all you're consuming is water or juice for days you are doing it wrong. There are only downsides to this and it does not "jump start" anything.
  • Annetinkerbell
    Annetinkerbell Posts: 36 Member
    I have just started to do that as well. I have read about health benefits from short term fasting giving your body time to heal rather than digesting food. I read about a study reported on th BBC news. It was referring to the 5:2 diet but I couldn't do that. However I have found not snacking after dinner and skipping breakfast is easy, much more my natural style and means that I find it easier to stick to my calorie goal. In terms if weigh loss is really is about total calories consumed as opposed to what time of day you costume them. However, I found I was snacking on biscuits in the evening but now I am on a 'fast' I have the willpower not to snack. I am also less stressed trying to fit in breakfast before leaving in the morning! Good luck to you.
  • jayrudq
    jayrudq Posts: 475 Member
    Lots of people consider IF or fasting a good way to "jump start" your diet. By this I mean, not scientifically jump start, but to aid in the ease of changing one's dietary habits. I think psychologically, and on some level, physically (hunger patterns), it helped me when I started several months ago. I no longer intentionally "fast," but 16/8 or 18/6 is my natural way of eating. I am not hungry in the morning and I tend to eat most of my calories later in the day. Eating earlier in the day, leads to increased hunger for me, so the longer I wait, the less I eat. That being said, if I am hungry I do eat, no matter what time of day. And many many IF'ers report having increased energy, clarity, and better overall health (by self report, so no comments on how this is or is not a "proven fact.")
    If you are interested google IF and learn more about it.
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    Just before 2013 ended, I made a firm decision to take control of my life and lose weight no matter what. I know how difficult it is to embark on a weight loss journey because I have been trying to lose weight in the last 5 years. I have tried different tricks and diet plans. I would lose weight, but then I'd gain more in the process.

    Since I love eating and I hate exercising, I was looking for a simple but sustainable weight loss trick, just to help me start with it. What i found is truly simple - F-A-S-T-I-N-G.

    By fasting, it doesn't mean I have to starve myself and skip meals. Actually, the time between dinner and breakfast the following day is the time to fast. Therefore, no more food after dinner. I can chose to go on a 12-hour fasting, or an 18-hour one. This allows the digestive system to process the food we eat and the liver to detoxify.

    I have tried this for a week now (I used to eat midnight snack, now I sleep early so I won't get hungry :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: )

    For a scientific explanation about Fasting, here's a blog to read: http://www.onlinehealthmag.com/nutrition/nutrition-program/

    No. IF is effective. But not for that reason.

Categories