Eat Stop Eat 20-24 Hour Fast

dewoods

If you guys haven't yet, check out http://www.leangains.com/p/bio.html for some good info on intermittent fasting.

I've been doing this since the end of October 2-3 times per week with some great results.

Apparently the research says that between 18-30 hours of fasting your body is a "fat burning machine" lol. Your metabolism wont slow down until you haven't eaten for 72 hours. In fact, it may even speed up (especially if you do resistance training towards the end of the fast)

The longest I've done it is 32 hours which was pretty difficult - more so than 24. I usually do it after breakfast. I have a hard time without breakfast. but you can make it fit your schedule.

The first couple times you may feel cranky and irratable but after you're used to it you probably won't feel that way. Personally I feel energized, content and alert. It helps teach you what real hunger is and how to listen to your body. It's also improved my skin a lot and helped with cravings. I am sooo glad I discovered ESE, it has been what's made me stick to eating healthy and exercising finally!!! I highly recommend it.

Hi Elle, thanks for the inspiration and the link. Are you joining us today or is your FAST day a different day this week?

SillySarah

Please excuse my ignorance...this is a genuine question...but why do this? Is there some benefit from fasting for 24 hours??

I've read that it's beneficial to let both the digestive track and organs (ie pancreas, liver, kidneys) rest periodically.

Granted the body is designed to deal with digesting food, but I guess the logic is that the organs that help the body break down food may become more efficient at doing so when one abstains from eating for short periods.

Most of my understanding of intermittent fasting is associated with respect to detox regimens that call for periods where one eats very little food and drinks lots of water and herbal teas.

Fit2_T

Bump. I'm curious to see how this goes.

msamcoates

I'm curious about headaches. Did any of you all get hunger headaches?? I tend to get them bad if I don't eat for more than 6 hours.

SillySarah

I'd like to try this too. I think posting our plans and updating our progress is a great idea.

I've always intuitively eaten in a way similar to how the Eat Stop Eat routine works. I tend to do best weight wise and energy level wise by having a few days where I eat all the healthy foods I want followed by 1-2 days of eating very little. I actually have a really hard time sticking with the day in day out 3 square meals and 2 snacks type eating pattern.

ctraill

Well, I stopped eating early yesterday night at 4:30 so I have now reached hour 18 now and I feel great. I normally do eat a large breakfast every day so I'm a little surprised that I'm not hungry. I guess mentally since I know I'm not going to eat breakfast/lunch, my body has just accepted that it's not going to eat and has moved on. I've also got a Christmas dinner to go to tonight so I'm actually very happy that I'm saving up my calories for it!

I'm thinking about going for a light jog this afternoon, maybe right before my time is up that way if I am really hungry afterwards, I can eat!

dewoods

Well, I stopped eating early yesterday night at 4:30 so I have now reached hour 18 now and I feel great. I normally do eat a large breakfast every day so I'm a little surprised that I'm not hungry. I guess mentally since I know I'm not going to eat breakfast/lunch, my body has just accepted that it's not going to eat and has moved on. I've also got a Christmas dinner to go to tonight so I'm actually very happy that I'm saving up my calories for it!

I'm thinking about going for a light jog this afternoon, maybe right before my time is up that way if I am really hungry afterwards, I can eat!

It's great that you're not feeling bad at 18 hours in. I am the same way, still going strong. I will get in my normal workout later and then back to normal eating. I found that I got full much quicker after the FAST as well.

dewoods

I'm curious about headaches. Did any of you all get hunger headaches?? I tend to get them bad if I don't eat for more than 6 hours.

I didn't experience any headaches. I think for me it is just I am mentally prepared that I am not eating until this evening.

dewoods

I'd like to try this too. I think posting our plans and updating our progress is a great idea.

I've always intuitively eaten in a way similar to how the Eat Stop Eat routine works. I tend to do best weight wise and energy level wise by having a few days where I eat all the healthy foods I want followed by 1-2 days of eating very little. I actually have a really hard time sticking with the day in day out 3 square meals and 2 snacks type eating pattern.

Welcome aboard! Depending how today goes I may do this on Thurs also.

jonjoyner83

There are a ton of benefits from a one-day fast. Your body uses the energy it would spend on digestion for repair and cleansing. All the crap we consume with our food due to processing, et al are expelled.

I woke up this morning having not read your post OP, and I am fasting with you...funny that it started that way!

dewoods

There are a ton of benefits from a one-day fast. Your body uses the energy it would spend on digestion for repair and cleansing. All the crap we consume with our food due to processing, et al are expelled.

I woke up this morning having not read your post OP, and I am fasting with you...funny that it started that way!

Welcome Jon. Thanks for joining us.

roadrunnerthe1

I decided to give it a shot. I had a yogurt this morning at 7:00am and will not eat again until after 7:00 tommorow. Does it matter which 24 hour period you use? Is one better than the other? I have been on a platue for a month now and everytime I think I broke it I bounce right back so hopefully this will get me past this hurdle.

dewoods

I decided to give it a shot. I had a yogurt this morning at 7:00am and will not eat again until after 7:00 tommorow. Does it matter which 24 hour period you use? Is one better than the other? I have been on a platue for a month now and everytime I think I broke it I bounce right back so hopefully this will get me past this hurdle.

For me it is easier to start say between 6-9PM and not eat until 6PM the next day. This way you sleep for a large portion of the 20-24 hour period.

I will be interested to hear how you do with not eating until 7AM tomorrow.

roadrunnerthe1

I will keep you posted. I just joined this sight last week and I am now addicted to it. It keeps my head screwed on straight. I started dieting in July and have lost 45 pounds but have been stuck for weeks now. Heard about this sight and thought I would give it a shot.

dewoods

I will keep you posted. I just joined this sight last week and I am now addicted to it. It keeps my head screwed on straight. I started dieting in July and have lost 45 pounds but have been stuck for weeks now. Heard about this sight and thought I would give it a shot.

Awesome, welcome aboard. I found doing this pushed me over a plateau as well so I thought I would try it another day since the holiday parties have started.

Good Luck!

dewoods

How is everyone doing? I just completed my workout over lunch instead of eating. I feel refreshed and ready to go.

evelazquez78

Hi All,
Just came across your thread. I had my first fasting week last week. I did Tuesday and Thursday. I did mine from 1pm-1pm, that way I could have breakfast and lunch and then begin. I'm not a big breakfast person, so this seemed to work best for me. I was a little worried about working out during fasting days, so I just exercised on my eating days. All-in-all, it wasn't that hard, I just had to keep my mind on anything BUT eating. I drank lots of green tea and seltzer water during my fasting days. My weight on 12/9 was 132. After the fasts my weight on 12/18 was 129.5 -- so 2.5 pounds gone in just over a week. This really seemed to help me jump start my weight loss back up. I don't have much to lose, but haven't lost at this rate since I first started. I have started my fast today and will go until 1pm tomorrow. Good luck to all of you! I am anxious to hear how it goes for you...I'll keep you updated on my progress, as well!

chatal36

Yay!! Ive been researching this all day long.

I researched and found that there are many benefits to intermittent fasting.
The Slowing of metablism does not occur untill Three of four days of fasting so that is not a worry of mine any more.
I used to eat this way but i though i was wrong because. I tried eating more often and I gained more than ever.

Im going to try 4pm to 4pm.
Wish me luck !

dewoods

Yay!! Ive been researching this all day long.

I researched and found that there are many benefits to intermittent fasting.
The Slowing of metablism does not occur untill Three of four days of fasting so that is not a worry of mine any more.
I used to eat this way but i though i was wrong because. I tried eating more often and I gained more than ever.

Im going to try 4pm to 4pm.
Wish me luck !

Welcome. I would suggest that you eat a meal before you start to help carry you through the day tomorrow. Post your progress so we know how you're doing. Good luck.

SillySarah

I was wondering something:

How often do you guys who follow the ESE plan fast? Is it every day or every few days?

dewoods

I was wondering something:

How often do you guys who follow the ESE plan fast? Is it every day or every few days?

I've read that you shouldn't do it more than a couple of days a week and not consecutive days either.

SillySarah

I was wondering something:

How often do you guys who follow the ESE plan fast? Is it every day or every few days?

I've read that you shouldn't do it more than a couple of days a week and not consecutive days either.

Thanks. I think I am going to do a fast between today at 5PM through tomorrow at 5PM. I have to go workout here in a few and so I'll be able to get in a PWO meal in after it before I start the actual fast.

I fasted from 8PM last Friday through 2PM on Saturday. I wasn't hungry at all and when I started to get a bit light headed, I ate and felt fine.

Helenuh

I started my fast at 8pm yesterday, so I'm 17 hours in. Only 7 hours left.

dewoods

I was wondering something:

How often do you guys who follow the ESE plan fast? Is it every day or every few days?

I've read that you shouldn't do it more than a couple of days a week and not consecutive days either.

Thanks. I think I am going to do a fast between today at 5PM through tomorrow at 5PM. I have to go workout here in a few and so I'll be able to get in a PWO meal in after it before I start the actual fast.

I fasted from 8PM last Friday through 2PM on Saturday. I wasn't hungry at all and when I started to get a bit light headed, I ate and felt fine.

Excellent. An 8PM to 2PM isn't all bad either. Good luck and post your progress.

dewoods

I started my fast at 8pm yesterday, so I'm 17 hours in. Only 7 hours left.

Great job. How you doing so far?

ctraill

All right my 24 hour fast is finished! The last 3-4 hours were a bit tougher once I started to go about my day, climbing stairs, walking, etc. I started to get hungry and just really think about food a lot but then I really didn't drink much water (maybe 10oz all day) so I probably would have felt poorly either way since I was dehydrated, I think.

Even though I could eat, I'm still going to try to hold off and not eat for a couple more hours until I get to the Christmas party I'm attending tonight. (But it's nice to know that I can eat now!)

I feel good that I've accomplished this but I definitely don't think I'd do it more than once a week.

dewoods

All right my 24 hour fast is finished! The last 3-4 hours were a bit tougher once I started to go about my day, climbing stairs, walking, etc. I started to get hungry and just really think about food a lot but then I really didn't drink much water (maybe 10oz all day) so I probably would have felt poorly either way since I was dehydrated, I think.

Even though I could eat, I'm still going to try to hold off and not eat for a couple more hours until I get to the Christmas party I'm attending tonight. (But it's nice to know that I can eat now!)

I feel good that I've accomplished this but I definitely don't think I'd do it more than once a week.

Great Job! Way to stick with it, and keeping hydrated is definitely a plus for me. I've kept some type of drink with me all day. From what I've read you should only do this 1-2 times a week at max and not consecutive days. Way to stick it out. Only a couple more hours for me.

roadrunnerthe1

Do you end up eating the calories you miss from breakfast and lunch when you do eat or do you forfit those calories?

dewoods

Do you end up eating the calories you miss from breakfast and lunch when you do eat or do you forfit those calories?

I did not the last time I did this.

dewoods

How did everyone do? Most should have finished by now. I feel great, had a nice dinner and ready to go.