Fasting...Is there anything wrong with waiting till dinner?

thavoice

I've spoken to many Registered Dieticians and Nutritionists as well as taking many courses for both Nutrition and Health - EVERYONE says the same thing. Breakfast IS the most important meal of the day, as well as starting the day with 16-20 oz of water. It gets your metabolism started. Not eating breakfast will slow down your metabolism a lot and by lunch time you are working against yourself.

Good luck.

Guess what, I don't believe you talked to all those people and that ALL of them told you that. This is an idea that was debunked some time ago. Only professionals that don't rely on current information would spout that misinformation. Do you know why? Your metabolism never stops. It doesn't go to sleep when you do. The metabolism does not slow down just because food has not passed through the system in 12, 16, 18 or 24 hours.

Please never post this misinformation again.

Exactly.

The slow down in metabolism doesnt start until around the 70 hour mark of fasting.
The breakfast idea has long been debunked.

and all break fast is really is, as the name says, a break from your fast. Typicallly the longest people go from eating is from dinner to the morning meal.

My break in my fast is at 7pm on my fast days.

belgerian

I dont think so I am not even hungry till 1030 am sometimes I dont even eat till noon. Occassionaly if im really busy maybe not even till 2 or 3. Do what is right for you if you are happy with your progress then thats all you need to be concerened with. Of course providing you do not suffer from any eating disordors. (my disclaimer).

LowcarbNY

Skipping Breakfast and Lunch is what worked best for me.
Read more behind the science and logic of Intermittent Fasting
www.fast-5.org

wilsoje74

I do intermittent fasting everyday, eating from 11 am to 10 pm. If you begin this protocol, be sure to check and see how you're feeling after a few weeks. As a woman, too long an extended period of fasting for more than 14 hours/day, day after day, can start to mess with your hormones. I used to do a 16:8 window and had issues until I moved it to 13:11.

Here's a good read: www.leangains.com

i have a hard time calling this fasting. To me this looks like eating a late breakfast. No offense, but when I think of fasting this is not it.

thavoice

I do intermittent fasting everyday, eating from 11 am to 10 pm. If you begin this protocol, be sure to check and see how you're feeling after a few weeks. As a woman, too long an extended period of fasting for more than 14 hours/day, day after day, can start to mess with your hormones. I used to do a 16:8 window and had issues until I moved it to 13:11.

Here's a good read: www.leangains.com

i have a hard time calling this fasting. To me this looks like eating a late breakfast. No offense, but when I think of fasting this is not it.

Agreed 100%.
Someone in the fasting forum was talking about fasting for 14 hours, eating 10 and blasted how fasting doesnt work.

Um, that is just like a normal eating cycle such as eating dinner at 6pm and breakfast around 8am.

LoupGarouTFTs

Fasting for a meal or two once a month or two is good for you. It gives your digestive system a little break. OTOH doing it regularly (like skipping breakfast daily) makes you prone to ulcers. You produce enzymes to digest proteins no matter what, and if there are no proteins to digest it will eat away at your organs. Hence, ulcers.

that is not entirely the case. our digestive track has strong defensive system like mucosal barrier and auto regulation of digestive secretions to prevent it digesting our own body. if a persons mucosal barrier is damaged, or genetically ulcer prone, or takes some medications or food that weakens these defenses, they are prone to get ulcers. increase amount of stomach acid or pancreatic secretion when one is fasting can cause ulcers, but the person will feel hunger, stomach pain, discomfort etc well before it start damaging the digestive track like causing ulcers. people who fast daily for a month for religious reasons do not develop ulcers, unless they have ulcer causing predisposing factors.

I think the OP would be better served by not taking nutritional advice from someone who refers to the "digestive track," knowledge of the word "mucosal" notwithstanding. In my opinion, the OP would be better off consulting with a dietician for dietary advice. Eating only once a day might be fine for my dogs, but I don't think I'd advise a person to do it on a consistent basis. How is that practice a sustainable lifestyle? I know that faithful Muslims do do during Ramadan--but that practice occurs for only one month out of the year and is not intended to be a permanent lifestyle change.

bpotts44

I was so busy on Saturday that I skipped both breakfast and lunch. I have been skipping breakfast fairly regularly as I noticed it actually making me hungrier once I ate it. But skipping lunch was not typical. I was then able to eat some foods I would typically have refused and still stayed within my goals. I'm wondering if there is any true detriment to fasting/eating this way, particularly on occasion, so that I can indulge on the weekends. I can't imagine doing it during the week at work but the weekends...definitely!

Is there much truth behind the "breakfast is the most important meal" thing? Or "eat every few hours"? Or is that only if you need help regulating blood sugar levels and if cravings are an issue?

Fasting up to 24 hrs will have no detrimental effect on metabolism. You have to watch IF a little bit as a woman, but if you are not having any hormone issues you should be fine.

thavoice

Fasting for a meal or two once a month or two is good for you. It gives your digestive system a little break. OTOH doing it regularly (like skipping breakfast daily) makes you prone to ulcers. You produce enzymes to digest proteins no matter what, and if there are no proteins to digest it will eat away at your organs. Hence, ulcers.

that is not entirely the case. our digestive track has strong defensive system like mucosal barrier and auto regulation of digestive secretions to prevent it digesting our own body. if a persons mucosal barrier is damaged, or genetically ulcer prone, or takes some medications or food that weakens these defenses, they are prone to get ulcers. increase amount of stomach acid or pancreatic secretion when one is fasting can cause ulcers, but the person will feel hunger, stomach pain, discomfort etc well before it start damaging the digestive track like causing ulcers. people who fast daily for a month for religious reasons do not develop ulcers, unless they have ulcer causing predisposing factors.

I think the OP would be better served by not taking nutritional advice from someone who refers to the "digestive track," knowledge of the word "mucosal" notwithstanding. In my opinion, the OP would be better off consulting with a dietician for dietary advice. Eating only once a day might be fine for my dogs, but I don't think I'd advise a person to do it on a consistent basis. How is that practice a sustainable lifestyle? I know that faithful Muslims do do during Ramadan--but that practice occurs for only one month out of the year and is not intended to be a permanent lifestyle change.

That is why many brought up intermittant fasting. You dont do it every day....Some do it every other day, 3 times a week, 2 times a week, 1 day a week.

and as far as taking advice from people on here.......that is what is done every single day. Some good, some damaging, but I think for the most part people seek info on here for support, and there are many diff ways to lose weight and get healthy

LoupGarouTFTs

That is why many brought up intermittant fasting. You dont do it every day....Some do it every other day, 3 times a week, 2 times a week, 1 day a week.

and as far as taking advice from people on here.......that is what is done every single day. Some good, some damaging, but I think for the most part people seek info on here for support, and there are many diff ways to lose weight and get healthy

Agreed, people do take advice from others here all of the time, but I honestly feel that if you're going to ask for advice about fasting, you don't ask nameless/faceless people on a forum. We don't have all the facts about the OP's health and we shouldn't take the OP's word that everything posted is a fact. In my opinion, asking what protein powder to use is a heck of a lot different than asking for advice about fasting.

Once again, I ask--how is fasting, even intermittent fasting, sustainable? If you eat only once a day, it seems like unhealthy eating practices to me--almost like binge and purge without sticking your fingers down your throat.

FireOpalCO

Eating only once a day might be fine for my dogs, but I don't think I'd advise a person to do it on a consistent basis. .

It's honestly not that great for your dogs. Twice a day is the common recommendation, including from the ASPCA.

PLAID1977

Fasting for a meal or two once a month or two is good for you. It gives your digestive system a little break. OTOH doing it regularly (like skipping breakfast daily) makes you prone to ulcers. You produce enzymes to digest proteins no matter what, and if there are no proteins to digest it will eat away at your organs. Hence, ulcers.

that is not entirely the case. our digestive track has strong defensive system like mucosal barrier and auto regulation of digestive secretions to prevent it digesting our own body. if a persons mucosal barrier is damaged, or genetically ulcer prone, or takes some medications or food that weakens these defenses, they are prone to get ulcers. increase amount of stomach acid or pancreatic secretion when one is fasting can cause ulcers, but the person will feel hunger, stomach pain, discomfort etc well before it start damaging the digestive track like causing ulcers. people who fast daily for a month for religious reasons do not develop ulcers, unless they have ulcer causing predisposing factors.

I think the OP would be better served by not taking nutritional advice from someone who refers to the "digestive track," knowledge of the word "mucosal" notwithstanding. In my opinion, the OP would be better off consulting with a dietician for dietary advice. Eating only once a day might be fine for my dogs, but I don't think I'd advise a person to do it on a consistent basis. How is that practice a sustainable lifestyle? I know that faithful Muslims do do during Ramadan--but that practice occurs for only one month out of the year and is not intended to be a permanent lifestyle change.

That is why many brought up intermittant fasting. You dont do it every day....Some do it every other day, 3 times a week, 2 times a week, 1 day a week.

and as far as taking advice from people on here.......that is what is done every single day. Some good, some damaging, but I think for the most part people seek info on here for support, and there are many diff ways to lose weight and get healthy

All information that I gather from MFP, the internet, books, friends...even dieticians, nutritionists, trainers and physicians, I take with a grain of salt. They are suggestions and advice. I don't believe that anyone has "THE answer". If they did, none of us would be here searching for the best way to lose weight, maintain weight...get healthy.

I have lost a significant amount of weight. I can tell people what has worked for me thus far. But I'm not an expert on anyone other than myself, and we are all different. Any advice I give would be based purely on what has or hasn't worked for me and the reasons that I believe they have or have not worked...for me.

I am overall very healthy. Much healthier than I have ever been in my life actually. So as far as health concerns with fasting occasionally, I have none. I'm simply looking at this as another tool in my box to deal with the inevitable weekend craziness and temptations. Would I consider it for a lifestyle, I'm not sure. But if I did, I'd certainly monitor my reactions to it--physically, emotionally etc.

Thank you so much for all of your responses. They have all been very helpful!

LoupGarouTFTs

Eating only once a day might be fine for my dogs, but I don't think I'd advise a person to do it on a consistent basis. .

It's honestly not that great for your dogs. Twice a day is the common recommendation, including from the ASPCA.

The ASPCA is a radical animal liberation organization that would prefer to see domestic animal extinction. They are also con artists, who advertise nationally to support a single shelter that serves one borough of NYC. I'd be better off taking nutrition information for my dogs from Dr. Oz.

FireOpalCO

The ASPCA is a radical animal liberation organization that would prefer to see domestic animal extinction. They are also con artists, who advertise nationally to support a single shelter that serves one borough of NYC. I'd be better off taking nutrition information for my dogs from Dr. Oz.

Not to derail, but are you confusing ASPCA with HSUS and PETA? They have never to my knowledge ever made a statement about wanting to see animals no longer as pets. In fact they have backed away from making statements on hunted animals and food animals because they wanted to focus on pet welfare.

Things they do include providing a pet poison control number that veterinarians use (I know because I work in a veterinary hospital), mobile spay/neuter clinics, developed their own pet medical insurance product, helped create emergency plans for natural disasters, give grants to other shelters across the country, etc. They are pretty respected in the veterinary community.

But fine if you don't want to take their advice, that's your choice. I'm not basing this solely on the ASPCA. As I mentioned above, I work at a veterinary hospital with over 20 veterinarians board certified in various specialties, including three internists. Like I said, twice a day is the usual recommendation.

PS. This is not to say that I think dogs fed once a day are starving or mistreated. There are just valid benefits to feeding twice a day vs. all at once.

LoupGarouTFTs

Nope, I'm not confusing them with HSUS and PeTA. They are the third part of the triumvirate. ASPCA recently had to pay Feld Entertainment, Inc (Ringling Bros.) $9.3 million as a settlement in a frivolous lawsuit against them claiming elephant abuse. The HSUS is still under the gun on that same suit. The ASPCA, under their former president, Ed Sayres, donated tens of millions of dollars to Steve Nislick who used it to found the organization NYCLASS, who is now under investigation for financial shenanigans during the last NYC mayoral race due to their efforts to destroy Christine Quinn and get Bill de Blasio elected. Bill de Blasio made a campaign promise to get rid of the NYC carriage horses his "first week in office," which is a promise he's finding it difficult to fulfill. On the other hand, NYCLASS is not working with PeTA, not just to ban the horses, but also to prevent circuses from bringing elephants into the city and to end the NYS horse racing industry.

The ASPCA was formerly charged with inspecting the NYC carriage horses and tried for years to get the trade shut down, but never found a case of abuse--so they used Dr. Pam Corey to convince one of the drivers to sign over the remains of his horse who died on the job (from natural causes) to "clear him," basically making this offer under color of law. They attempted to accuse the driver of abuse, but this was contrary to Corey's findings. She and ASPCA parted ways over this incident and now she is using her position at the Department of Health to harass this same driver, accusing him of "switching horses" and calling a horse with a mild case of the heaves an "asthma-ridden" animal.

So yeah, the ASPCA is full of shenanigans and is not to be trusted. Add to that all the animals they "relocated" during a couple of disasters, taking a page out of HSUS' book, just as they have with their pathetic commercials that accuse average pet owners of abuse.

By the way, my dogs only get one meal a day because they also get treats, including training treats. They don't need more food.

thavoice

Fasting for a meal or two once a month or two is good for you. It gives your digestive system a little break. OTOH doing it regularly (like skipping breakfast daily) makes you prone to ulcers. You produce enzymes to digest proteins no matter what, and if there are no proteins to digest it will eat away at your organs. Hence, ulcers.

that is not entirely the case. our digestive track has strong defensive system like mucosal barrier and auto regulation of digestive secretions to prevent it digesting our own body. if a persons mucosal barrier is damaged, or genetically ulcer prone, or takes some medications or food that weakens these defenses, they are prone to get ulcers. increase amount of stomach acid or pancreatic secretion when one is fasting can cause ulcers, but the person will feel hunger, stomach pain, discomfort etc well before it start damaging the digestive track like causing ulcers. people who fast daily for a month for religious reasons do not develop ulcers, unless they have ulcer causing predisposing factors.

I think the OP would be better served by not taking nutritional advice from someone who refers to the "digestive track," knowledge of the word "mucosal" notwithstanding. In my opinion, the OP would be better off consulting with a dietician for dietary advice. Eating only once a day might be fine for my dogs, but I don't think I'd advise a person to do it on a consistent basis. How is that practice a sustainable lifestyle? I know that faithful Muslims do do during Ramadan--but that practice occurs for only one month out of the year and is not intended to be a permanent lifestyle change.

That is why many brought up intermittant fasting. You dont do it every day....Some do it every other day, 3 times a week, 2 times a week, 1 day a week.

and as far as taking advice from people on here.......that is what is done every single day. Some good, some damaging, but I think for the most part people seek info on here for support, and there are many diff ways to lose weight and get healthy

All information that I gather from MFP, the internet, books, friends...even dieticians, nutritionists, trainers and physicians, I take with a grain of salt. They are suggestions and advice. I don't believe that anyone has "THE answer". If they did, none of us would be here searching for the best way to lose weight, maintain weight...get healthy.

I have lost a significant amount of weight. I can tell people what has worked for me thus far. But I'm not an expert on anyone other than myself, and we are all different. Any advice I give would be based purely on what has or hasn't worked for me and the reasons that I believe they have or have not worked...for me.

I am overall very healthy. Much healthier than I have ever been in my life actually. So as far as health concerns with fasting occasionally, I have none. I'm simply looking at this as another tool in my box to deal with the inevitable weekend craziness and temptations. Would I consider it for a lifestyle, I'm not sure. But if I did, I'd certainly monitor my reactions to it--physically, emotionally etc.

Thank you so much for all of your responses. They have all been very helpful!

I agree with you.

I have been fasting for 6 weeks and very much enjoy it, and can see it sticking with me for a long time as I get to pretty much eat what I like and dont have to be so restrictive each day.

_FATNSASSY

No metabolism!

thavoice

No metabolism!

Are you saying that the person has no metabolism or that fasting until dinner will lead to no metabolism?
If its the latter...you are incorrect.

Fasting for short periods of time does not lead to no metabolism. Takes up to around 70 hours+ of fasting before you go into that dreaded "starvation" mode.

LoupGarouTFTs

]Are you saying that the person has no metabolism or that fasting until dinner will lead to no metabolism?
If its the latter...you are incorrect.

Fasting for short periods of time does not lead to no metabolism. Takes up to around 70 hours+ of fasting before you go into that dreaded "starvation" mode.

Getting back on track--I agree. I'm not so much worried that fasting itself is bad for her, although she does need to check to make certain that she'll be fine if she intends to sustain it. I'm just worried about the sustainability Since the OP seems only concerned about fasting occasionally, I personally think she'll be fine.

gail_carrington

I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WEIGHT LOSS!! NO EASY TASK.

ninerbuff

I've spoken to many Registered Dieticians and Nutritionists as well as taking many courses for both Nutrition and Health - EVERYONE says the same thing. Breakfast IS the most important meal of the day, as well as starting the day with 16-20 oz of water. It gets your metabolism started. Not eating breakfast will slow down your metabolism a lot and by lunch time you are working against yourself.

Good luck.

I'll counter with show me links of PEER REVIEWED clinical studies from Journals of medicine, Nutrition, Endocrinology and Metabolism supporting your statements.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

LKArgh

I doubt that you will get ill from eating once a day, but I would question whether, despite your weight loss, you have learned to have a healthy relationship with food. I sometimes read here about some unusual eating patterns, especially from people who have lost a lot of weight or are in the process of losing a lot, and these are patterns you would not normally see for most persons who have been more or less to a healthy weight (meaning neither very obese, neither severely underweight). My personal (non expert and perhaps totally wrong) opinion is that while the initial steps of losing (or gaining) a lot of weight might require "extreme" steps, approaching the goal weight, one would expect that eating habits should become more "normal" and also lifestyle should become more "normal".