Has anyone tried Intermittent Fasting??

carrollel

I just read an article on getthisripped.com on the subject and was curious if anyone has tried it? It sounds legit but I was curious if anyone can vouch for it other than the author of the article.

Acg67

I don't think it's a magic bullet, but it can potentially make your life easier, but not worrying as much about eating x amounts of times per day

inb4ohnoesstarvationmode

Quickster34

Yup ive tried it, especially when i was travelling often, theres several variations but i did a full day fast one every other week for a while, it was nice to have a "cheat day " before the fast. for me though i like 6-7 small meals a day just becasue i enjoy eating, results have been very similar between the 2 methods, good luck!

MinnesotaManimal

saves time, don't have to stop to eat for breakfast, can work through your lunch break, and then eat a massive supper and stay within your goals. not uncommon for me to eat 2,000 between 4 pm and 9 pm.

Taylerr88

i use it when i am cutting... just because its easier to keep my macros in check when i cook up everything and eat it in one or two meals..

but as for the impact of it.. i wouldn't suspect that much difference between eating normally. it keeps me full at night.. i never have thoughts of binging.. seems to be helping me keep and even increase my strength in the gym.. but not really sure if thats the diet or what..

all in all.. its a really fun way to eat.

recommended to anyone

strawberrie_milk

I've been doing it for several months now. It just makes life easier

rileysowner

Seeing as there is a whole group called "Intermittent Fasting" I would say, "Yes, people have tried it."

Helloitsdan

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I fast from 10pm to 2pm daily.

ssharomi

So when do you have your last meal Heloitsdan? Does it matter what/when you eat between 2pm and 10 pm? Can you tell us some more about your routine? How long have you been doing this? What changes/results have you seen? Why did you decide to do this?

mfpcopine

I've read several websites that discussed it and an e book called Fast-5. It was on one of those sites that I read that it actually is quite difficult to put yourself into starvation mode and consume muscle. It's always seemed like a very simple and elegant method to me. I've never worked up to it -- there are various ways to do it --but I do often skip breakfast.

Here are some sites:

http://www.theiflife.com/intermittent-fasting-101-how-to-start-part-i/

http://www.fast-5.com/

http://www.eatstopeat.com/

mfpcopine

Does myfitnesspall have an IF group?

snuggllepuff

I've been doing it for a year now. it totally transformed me. I'm a lot more defined and actually gained muscle size. I even find that I have more energy when working out fasted.

I started off with one 36 hours fast but switched to two 24 hour fasts per week. I love it. I just have to make sure I eat enough on my non fasted days. I usually go like 300-500 cals over what MFP says to make up for the fast days.

I also have one cheat day per week. I think more people should seriously give it a try. It also really helps you realize the difference between actual hunger and bored snacking.

mfpcopine

So when do you have your last meal Heloitsdan? Does it matter what/when you eat between 2pm and 10 pm? Can you tell us some more about your routine? How long have you been doing this? What changes/results have you seen? Why did you decide to do this?

It'll be interesting to hear from Heloitsdan, but if you're doing IF by restricting your eating to one window a day, you usually eat healthy food, whatever you want. You might eat more than you would at a single ordinary meal, but you're supposed to eat to the point of satiety, not stuff yourself.

crisanderson27

Yes there's an IF group on MFP...great people there.

I'm also shocked and impressed with the great responses here. They're well informed and honest. Usually by now there's been 72,000 'nooo you'll go into starvation mode and kill your metabolism' replies lol.

As for me...I began IF as a way to break a plateau, and do so while working 10hrs a day with no lunch break. I love it and would recommend it to anyone.

mfpcopine

I've been doing it for a year now. it totally transformed me. I'm a lot more defined and actually gained muscle size. I even find that I have more energy when working out fasted.

I started off with one 36 hours fast but switched to two 24 hour fasts per week. I love it. I just have to make sure I eat enough on my non fasted days. I usually go like 300-500 cals over what MFP says to make up for the fast days.

I also have one cheat day per week. I think more people should seriously give it a try. It also really helps you realize the difference between actual hunger and bored snacking.

On what days do you usually do your fasts? Do work out on those days? Do a lighter workout?

penrbrown

Honestly I fast twice a year... I had NEVER heard of IF before though...

But I guess I kind of do this some days... if I'm understanding it correctly? Because some days I've had all my calories by 4PM which means no food for me from 4PM to 8AM the next morning... that's kind of a fast isn't it?

acrego

I'm confused. Every trainer I've ever used, every article, every book I have ever read, has pounded it into my head that eating breakfast when you wake up is CRITICAL, that is what jump starts your metabolism. I am in the practice of eating a substantial proportion of my daily calories (maybe 1/4) for my first meal. Then, logic follows that you should taper off as the day progresses, eating your smallest meal at least 2 hours before bedtime.

But here I am hearing people say that this really works for them, and everyone saying this, from what I can see in those itty bitty profile pics, looks ripped! Or thin!

And, I am not having much success as of yet. It's still early tho. Where can I go to research this more?

snuggllepuff

I'm confused. Every trainer I've ever used, every article, every book I have ever read, has pounded it into my head that eating breakfast when you wake up is CRITICAL, that is what jump starts your metabolism. I am in the practice of eating a substantial proportion of my daily calories (maybe 1/4) for my first meal. Then, logic follows that you should taper off as the day progresses, eating your smallest meal at least 2 hours before bedtime.

But here I am hearing people say that this really works for them, and everyone saying this, from what I can see in those itty bitty profile pics, looks ripped! Or thin!

And, I am not having much success as of yet. It's still early tho. Where can I go to research this more?

Same as the whole myth about "6 small meals a day or your metabolism will slow down and you'll starve"

The pressure to eat a meal every few hours is what's making a lot of people fat in the first place. Sure it may work for some people, but a lot of people overeat that way.

It really doesn't matter how many meals or how big those meals are. It's your weekly caloric total that really matters in the grand scheme of things.

Part of the reason why people like to eat a big breakfast is because it fuels your entire day. But as long as you are getting the right amount of calories and macros in the grand scheme, times and frequency or meals aren't as important as every thinks.

Yanicka1

I do it since january. Love it and make life easy for me.

mfpcopine

Yes there's an IF group on MFP...great people there.

I'm also shocked and impressed with the great responses here. They're well informed and honest. Usually by now there's been 72,000 'nooo you'll go into starvation mode and kill your metabolism' replies lol.

As for me...I began IF as a way to break a plateau, and do so while working 10hrs a day with no lunch break. I love it and would recommend it to anyone.

Do you have a link? I don't know how to find groups on MFP.

___
FOUND IT.

mfpcopine

But I guess I kind of do this some days... if I'm understanding it correctly? Because some days I've had all my calories by 4PM which means no food for me from 4PM to 8AM the next morning... that's kind of a fast isn't it?

That's exactly how some people do it. They decide on a window. Yours closes at 4 p.m.

crisanderson27

I'm confused. Every trainer I've ever used, every article, every book I have ever read, has pounded it into my head that eating breakfast when you wake up is CRITICAL, that is what jump starts your metabolism. I am in the practice of eating a substantial proportion of my daily calories (maybe 1/4) for my first meal. Then, logic follows that you should taper off as the day progresses, eating your smallest meal at least 2 hours before bedtime.

But here I am hearing people say that this really works for them, and everyone saying this, from what I can see in those itty bitty profile pics, looks ripped! Or thin!

And, I am not having much success as of yet. It's still early tho. Where can I go to research this more?

Same as the whole myth about "6 small meals a day or your metabolism will slow down and you'll starve"

The pressure to eat a meal every few hours is what's making a lot of people fat in the first place. Sure it may work for some people, but a lot of people overeat that way.

It really doesn't matter how many meals or how big those meals are. It's your weekly caloric total that really matters in the grand scheme of things.

Part of the reason why people like to eat a big breakfast is because it fuels your entire day. But as long as you are getting the right amount of calories and macros in the grand scheme, times and frequency or meals aren't as important as every thinks.

I agree and disagree...I got fat eating exactly the same way (and things!!) I did when I got thinner lol, which was eating one or two huge meals a day. The big difference, and the most critical part...is strength training. Not for the caloric deficit...but for the effects on hormone production etc.

That being said, IF definitely works...when taken as a whole program...rather than just an eating style.

I do have a link to the IF group...but I'm not home. I'll post it when I get back.

tgzerozone

http://leangains.com (Good info here.)

PercivalHackworth

I'm on my 6th week on Leangains -
I fast from 8:30 pm to 12:30 am (I can only train after 6pm, and need to eat)

What IF brought me :
Good :
- More discipline
- No more craving for foods
- I don't need to binge anymore, I still have sometimes a need when it comes to emotional eating, but while I used to binge at least one time per week, it's over now :-)

Bad :
- Made me a fasted window addicted, can fast less than 16 hours :laugh:

mfpcopine

I'm confused. Every trainer I've ever used, every article, every book I have ever read, has pounded it into my head that eating breakfast when you wake up is CRITICAL, that is what jump starts your metabolism. I am in the practice of eating a substantial proportion of my daily calories (maybe 1/4) for my first meal. Then, logic follows that you should taper off as the day progresses, eating your smallest meal at least 2 hours before bedtime.

But here I am hearing people say that this really works for them, and everyone saying this, from what I can see in those itty bitty profile pics, looks ripped! Or thin!

And, I am not having much success as of yet. It's still early tho. Where can I go to research this more?

Same as the whole myth about "6 small meals a day or your metabolism will slow down and you'll starve"

The pressure to eat a meal every few hours is what's making a lot of people fat in the first place. Sure it may work for some people, but a lot of people overeat that way.

It really doesn't matter how many meals or how big those meals are. It's your weekly caloric total that really matters in the grand scheme of things.

Part of the reason why people like to eat a big breakfast is because it fuels your entire day. But as long as you are getting the right amount of calories and macros in the grand scheme, times and frequency or meals aren't as important as every thinks.

I agree and disagree...I got fat eating exactly the same way (and things!!) I did when I got thinner lol, which was eating one or two huge meals a day. The big difference, and the most critical part...is strength training. Not for the caloric deficit...but for the effects on hormone production etc.

That being said, IF definitely works...when taken as a whole program...rather than just an eating style.

I do have a link to the IF group...but I'm not home. I'll post it when I get back.

If there's just one group, I found it and joined. Thanks!

mamitosami

I do IF. I LOVE it! It makes me appreciate food sooo much, and it has simplified my life... I've maintained my weight (I'm at my original goal, but would like to strip some body fat at some point). There is nothing I don't like about it. If you'd asked me 3 months ago if I'd do this, I would have laughed at you!!! I am an IF devotee now... who knew...?!

Oh, and I do Fast 5. And it took about 7 weeks to get used to IF. I eat about 1800-2400 calories in my 4-5 hour eating window.

chatnel

I love it, it's stopped my food obsession cause I am not constantly thinking about my next meal and can eat more of the food I enjoy instead of the low cal variety.

Here is the link to the group: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/49-intermittent-fasting

lilojoke

I love IFing as well. Recently doing a five hour window and now going back onto to Eat Stop Eat!

I also love the eight hour eating window as well although sometimes because of time laziness LOL its more of a 10 hour window!

It does take pressure off of food choices to some degree and also makes me more at ease that I can quite easily manage body fat much easier this way.

The fasted lifting still gets me stumped sometimes so depending on how I feel I will have a scoop of whey before I lift.

whatevany

I recently broke a month long plateau by doing a 24-hour fast (breakfast to breakfast).

lovelee79

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/health-benefits-of-intermittent-fasting/#axzz1r7NYlMvN

Mark's Daily Apple has lots of articles/ info about IF. Such a great website.

lilojoke

Also www.leangains.com