Eat Stop Eat?

Sporty98

A friend from MFP suggested this program to me to give my weight loss a "jump-start" for these last few stubborn pounds.....I'm wondering if there's anyone else out there who has tried the Eat Stop Eat program? If so, please share your success and/or struggles......Thanks!

cmriverside

Did you see this thread? http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/109304-eat-stop-eat-how-it-s-worked-for-me

Sporty98

I went through that thread today.....I started my research there.....

SkierElle

Good luck with your first fast! Another thing that helps me is to drink sparkling water (0 cal) and add some lemon juice to it. You can get some flavoured types and it's actually pretty good. The bubbles fill you up!! makes it less difficult Also make sure you drink plenty of plain water though!

SkierElle

Oh btw, the other thread is already soo long, it would be fine to have another with some people who are just starting!

Sporty98

Okay.....So, let's go with a new thread.....

What are some helpful hints that people can share about the fasting days? What do you drink during those days?

Also, when do you do your weight training days? I've read that I should do them at the end of the fasting days....I'm thinking about the mornings after I fast (I try to always work-out in the mornings)......

SkierElle

My top hints/advice would be:
1. WATER WATER WATER haha
2. TEA is your friend too
3. Sparkling water +lemon fills you up
4. If you feel like you can't do it, don't give in. wait an hour and see if you feel the same way. more times than not, that feeling WILL pass!
5. Working out is really tough at the beginning (fasted) but it gets easier! So keep going!
6. Keep yourself busy and your fasting day can be really productive.
7. Don't have diet pop or anything with artificial sugar (my personal opinion it makes it harder)
8. If you're just starting, you can go just 18 hours and lengthen it by an hour each time.
9. Make sure you have at least 2 full days between fasts.
10. Remember that this is just another way of creating a deficit and you still shouldn't try to lose more than 2 lbs per week. I have, once I lost 3 in a week. but that normally doesn't happen.
11. Warning: after doing this a few times you will think that it is silly that anyone would want to eat every 3 hours. Crazy! so much more satisfying to wait a little longer than that. I don't even want snacks anymore!!!

SkierElle

Oh I forgot. Tip #12. Plan your meals after the fast, at least for the first couple weeks, so you won't be tempted to eat too much. Now I am very satisfied with a pretty small breakfast after the fast is over and it makes me full, but it takes a few times to get used to that. I tend to go breakfast-breakfast since I normally eat less at breakfast than I do at dinnertime. And do the workout right when you get up before you have breakfast. Tomorrow morning i have Cardio abs and Cardio power and resistance. I was supposed to do Abs today, but since it will be better timing tomorrow morning I moved it (plus I just did a ton of sit ups yesterday!)

Sporty98

Thanks Elle!

I am 14 hours into the fast, and going to start my work-out.....I don't feel hungry (yet), but then again, I never am in the morning.

I'm really wondering if it is something metabolic that will cause this to help me lose weight, or if it is the simple deficit because of two days of not eating? Hmmmmm? Or maybe both?

Grokette

The Eat Stop Eat program is similar to the Intermittent Fasting that I do with the Primal Blue Print plan.

SkierElle

Sporty98, I think it's some of both. I know the resistance training at the end of it is supposed to help you lose fat while keeping muscle. I'd read up on it a bit more (I need to as well) because I can't say exactly how it works!

Grokette, I'd like to check that out as I'm trying to do a combination. I won't give up milk but trying to slowly give up grains...

Off to do my resistance training now... whoohoo! Feeling awesome this morning - so much energy after my fast!!

Grokette

Sporty98, I think it's some of both. I know the resistance training at the end of it is supposed to help you lose fat while keeping muscle. I'd read up on it a bit more (I need to as well) because I can't say exactly how it works!

Grokette, I'd like to check that out as I'm trying to do a combination. I won't give up milk but trying to slowly give up grains...

Off to do my resistance training now... whoohoo! Feeling awesome this morning - so much energy after my fast!!

I have given up store bought milk. I get raw milk straight from a local dairy farm and it is soo much better than the Homogenized and Pasteurized crap they sell us in the store.

There is hardly anything that I even purchase in the store any longer except for things like toilet paper, paper towels and a few other items.

Check out this link, maybe you can find local raw dairy..............Just click on your state.

http://www.realmilk.com/where2.html

LoozingIt

I'm curious how this works at dinner time when the rest of the family is eating (the dinner that I would make them). Do you sit at the table with a cup of tea? If my husband wasn't home, it wouldn't be a big deal to not eat while the kids are eating but when he is, it seems like it would be a little odd.

Grokette

I'm curious how this works at dinner time when the rest of the family is eating (the dinner that I would make them). Do you sit at the table with a cup of tea? If my husband wasn't home, it wouldn't be a big deal to not eat while the kids are eating but when he is, it seems like it would be a little odd.

This is how I usually partake in Intermittent Fasting...............

I usually only eat Supper and it is always Meat and veggies. I will have some fruit for dessert if I feel like snacking on something a little later in the evening. I usually eat around 7:00 pm at night and then if I have a snack before bedtime, it is usually around 10 or 10:30 am.

The longest I have went with the fasting is 36 hours. I would like to work my way up to 72 hours of fasting.

So I am usually 21 - 24 hours of fasting in between my meals.

I like the freedom and it has helped me start to break my need to have food and mindless eating.

Sporty98

I'm curious how this works at dinner time when the rest of the family is eating (the dinner that I would make them). Do you sit at the table with a cup of tea? If my husband wasn't home, it wouldn't be a big deal to not eat while the kids are eating but when he is, it seems like it would be a little odd.

My husband travels for work....so I have "scheduled" my fasts for days that he is out of town. Also, two of our children are away at college, so I have only my youngest at home with me during the week. The meal time won't be an issue for me. BUT, in the past, when I've done fasting or super-low-calorie-dieting, I have fixed a meal, and had everyone else sit down to eat. Then, I would read a book aloud to the family. I know it sounds like an "old fashioned" sort of thing to do, but everyone loved it! My kids loved that I would do different voices for the characters....and my husband loved the calming effect it had on our whole family.

Grokette

I'm curious how this works at dinner time when the rest of the family is eating (the dinner that I would make them). Do you sit at the table with a cup of tea? If my husband wasn't home, it wouldn't be a big deal to not eat while the kids are eating but when he is, it seems like it would be a little odd.

My husband travels for work....so I have "scheduled" my fasts for days that he is out of town. Also, two of our children are away at college, so I have only my youngest at home with me during the week. The meal time won't be an issue for me. BUT, in the past, when I've done fasting or super-low-calorie-dieting, I have fixed a meal, and had everyone else sit down to eat. Then, I would read a book aloud to the family. I know it sounds like an "old fashioned" sort of thing to do, but everyone loved it! My kids loved that I would do different voices for the characters....and my husband loved the calming effect it had on our whole family.

Oh wow, that is awesome!!! I just make my fasting for the hours when I am away from my house and then eat supper with my husband.

SkierElle

Haha that is awesome about reading a book to the family! You could also fast from dinner to dinner, if you're worried about having a meal with your family.

Grokette, I've looked up raw milk by me and they were selling shares that turned out to be $12 per gallon. Since I can't afford that right now I get stuff from the milkman, I've been to the dairy it's from and know a few people that work there. However, I've just completed a dairy class and after doing some research I don't really want to eat raw milk unless I am the one raising and milking the cows it comes from. Also after working at a dairy - I would NEVER drink raw milk from that place.

I dont know if I could go for 72 hours - but after almost 24 hours now I'm really not that hungry, so possibly. Maybe sometime I'll try for 36 - the longest I've gone is about 30.

Sporty98

I have done longer juice fasts, with freshly squeezed/juiced veggie juices. I once did a 72 hour juice fast with a friend.....On our third day we took our dogs for an 8 mile walk.....NOT our best idea! We both were a bit low on power!

I love the concept of fasting. The mind-over-matter, and consciousness of it all. I'm going to spend some time today researching the mechanics of fasting online.....I'll post anything interesting that I find. Thanks for all of your help ladies!

Grokette

Haha that is awesome about reading a book to the family! You could also fast from dinner to dinner, if you're worried about having a meal with your family.

Grokette, I've looked up raw milk by me and they were selling shares that turned out to be $12 per gallon. Since I can't afford that right now I get stuff from the milkman, I've been to the dairy it's from and know a few people that work there. However, I've just completed a dairy class and after doing some research I don't really want to eat raw milk unless I am the one raising and milking the cows it comes from. Also after working at a dairy - I would NEVER drink raw milk from that place.

I dont know if I could go for 72 hours - but after almost 24 hours now I'm really not that hungry, so possibly. Maybe sometime I'll try for 36 - the longest I've gone is about 30.

Well the milk that I buy never makes it to the dairy, it is straight from the farm.

The stuff that they do to the milk once it leaves the farm is a shame. I am not a big dairy person, just consume some things sometimes. I am able to get a gallon of milk for about $8.00 and a half gallon for $5.00.

Grokette

I have done longer juice fasts, with freshly squeezed/juiced veggie juices. I once did a 72 hour juice fast with a friend.....On our third day we took our dogs for an 8 mile walk.....NOT our best idea! We both were a bit low on power!

I love the concept of fasting. The mind-over-matter, and consciousness of it all. I'm going to spend some time today researching the mechanics of fasting online.....I'll post anything interesting that I find. Thanks for all of your help ladies!

The longer fasts are much easier since I have started eating more like the Inuit Tribal people which is a very high fat, high protein diet. This is also the Paleo approach. I feel satisfied and never hungry eating this way. I drink adequate water and have high energy.

SkierElle

Yeah, 24 hours is nothing. Maybe next week I'll try a 36 hour fast.Think of how long our ancestors way back went without food. I think the notion that we are supposed to eat every 3-4 hours is absolutely insane!

The milk that I get is bottled right on the dairy farm, and they are working on getting their organic certification. One of my dreams is to have raw milk from my own cow. I am a HUGE dairy person. Milk just makes me feel so good - along with meat. And I agree about being satisfied on tons of protein. When I eat grains I always feel hungry - minus oatmeal, which is the only one that actually keeps me full.

Sporty98

Okay.....Here's the "play-by-play" for the day:

It's 1 o'clock pm. I've been fasting since 5 pm yesterday (20 hours). The only real issue that I'm having is that I'm cold. My body is shivery.....Not cold like I should put on a sweatshirt (which I've already done)....But cold like I can't get warmed up. We burn wood, and the house is 76 degrees...and I'm cold.

The only thing I can figure is that this is my metabolism giving me a boost.....

I did find one article that explains how fasting increases the use of fat as a fuel source. BUT, the article was in relation to "infused adrenaline".....I think it does relate here, just without the added adrenaline part! (So, here's the link: http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=/BJN/BJN74_04/S000711459500153Xa.pdf&code=94c5f7cdf89e65d5e6bbfbf916a408e1)

Sporty98

Here's a link on Intermittent Fasting......I've been researching this afternoon/evening, and I'm loving the sounds of it! My husband now wants to do a fast with me this weekend!

http://www.fitnessspotlight.com/2008/02/27/intermittent-fasting-101-how-to-start-part-i/

SkierElle

Hmm I couldnt get the link about adrenaline to work!! Whenever I'm cold I usually drink some hot tea or hot water and it helps a little! But I haven't noticed getting cold during fasting. Interesting.

I'm glad your husband is doing it with you!! that's so cool! then you two can especially enjoy the meal afterwards together.

I think I'm going to fast Wednesday, Saturday, and go for a 30 hour one on Monday-Tues. Then I'm going to go to California for Christmas (for a little over a week) and take a little break from it, but I'll still be logging on MFP of course!

Sporty98

Well.....I am the same weight as yesterday. I was so hoping that the scale would have moved a bit for this morning.....UGH!
So, I know that I have very little patience.....BUT, how soon am I supposed to see the scale start moving?

SkierElle

I would wait a week until you weigh yourself. When I first started ESE I wasn't being diligent about tracking my food on the eating days, but once I started getting diligent after a week or so I lost 2 lbs then 3 the next week. I don't really know how long it takes for a calorie deficit to have an affect, but I'm guessing it is several days!

TateFTW

I LOVE intermittent fasting. I'm a week into a daily fasting regumine and there are very few downsides. Last night I did a 1 hr fasted cardio session of 30 minutes of sprint training and 20 minuts of full speed racquetball after 18 hrs of fasting. I felt amazing and as fast as ever.

The only downside is that, since when I do eat I eat as much healthy food as I want, when I did non-fasting days this weekend I had trouble controlling myself. I've also found that toward the end of a fast I start craving foods I haven't wanted in a while, like big macs and arby's. I just start craving the fattiest, worst foods I can think of. The cravings are subtle, but I haven't craved this stuff in years.

I've also found that I have trouble eating a lot of food after the fast. I'm just not that hungry, but mentally I'm REALLY hungry. I want to eat a horse, but I can barely finish a normal meal. Is this how "normal" people feel when they are full? Must be nice.

SkierElle

I haven't noticed any strange cravings other than the normal ones, which have substantially decreased since I started fasting. I have more trouble on the eating days with cravings. But on the eating days I do get full a lot quicker and sometimes will leave some food on my plate... which hasn't happened since I was like 15!!

Well I wasn't planning on it, but I'm fasting today at least till 7pm. My stomach feels a little funky. I was planning on doing the fast tomorrow but since I don't feel like eating today, and haven't had anything since yesterday at 7 - it's the perfect opportunity for a fast! Then I can focus all my energy on studying - sounds like a blast, right?!

TateFTW

I haven't noticed any strange cravings other than the normal ones, which have substantially decreased since I started fasting. I have more trouble on the eating days with cravings. But on the eating days I do get full a lot quicker and sometimes will leave some food on my plate... which hasn't happened since I was like 15!!

That's what I mean! I've also never left a plate with food on it, and that includes the plates of those around me. Last night after my break-fast I needed a little more food (needed. . .wasn't really hungry, but I still want to get my nutrition) so I ate a protein bar and an apple. Half way through the apple I had to put it down for a few minutes before finishing. I've NEVER met a piece of food I couldn't eat right then.

I've decided that Monday and Tuesday will be my hardcore fasting days, fasting until 4-5, then only eating a couple normal meals. Yesterday I only ate 1,175 calories and burned 586, and today I plan to stay under 1200 again. Remember, I'm a 210 lb man, so that's less than half of my daily goal. These will be the only 2 days during the week I consume less than 2,000 calories, but I will be fasting until 4 on all weekdays, consuming all of my calories on Wednesday and Thursday just before and after my weightlifting session at 4:30.

I'm excited to see how this will work. These abs are bursting to get out and be seen!

SkierElle

Oh I know!! I get so full with just an apple. Especially after a fast! It's great!

That is a great idea with Monday -Tues being hardcore fasting days. I bet with your plan that your abs come out soon!

I'm 27 hours into my first 36 hour fast. feeling very content and energized. I took my second final a couple hours ago and was really focused and alert. I think I did really well. But i have to go to bed now - will be able to eat and study more in the morning. I will probably save my workout for afternoon, after my finals. But I did get a run in this evening. It wasn't resistance training.. oh well. At least it was something.

Off to burn some fat in my comfy bed. lol.

glennora

Hi, everyone, I have a question about ESE, hope someone can answer it. I just started back on a weight loss program which I abandond a few months ago because it was progressing so slowly that I felt discouraged. I need to lose about 50 lbs. I restrict and track my calories and walk/run on the treadmill. Is it absolutely necessary for me to lift weights when I do ESE? SInce I have so much weight to lose, I think it would be a good way to jump start and maybe I don't need the weights. I do have free weights and a bench, so if you think it's required, how much is enough? Thanks.