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    what are yourthought on Intermittent Fasting

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    • Posts: 6,800 Member
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      I found that it works great and is a sustainable way to manage a calorie budget. Humans are designed for this and have been doing it since the beginning of time, both as hunter gatherers and for spiritual reasons. Almost all religions have a form of fasting.

      When a pastor gave me a hard time about fasting for managing calories and weight loss I asked "Why is it okay to fast for spiritual reasons but not for weight loss?". They just stared at me like a deer in a headlight.

      An excellent source for the science behind it is Brad Pilon's Eat Stop Eat. Just look at his web site and see his articles and qualifications. Awesome stuff there.
      I don't have any scientific evidence other then the fact since I've been hiking I've noticed I really enjoy gigantic meals and it seems that when I have the gigantic meals closer to my exercise times I'm less likely to cramp up or injure my limbs. This is just my experience, I have no idea if it's all a big fluke but I make sure I eat like a monster whenever I go on a long haul now and it seems to have done nothing but good.
    • Posts: 515 Member
      I practice IF 1-3 times a week. I won't eat for 16-20 hours. It helped me break a plateau and helps me to stay on track when I am having normal eating days. For me, it's not about sustainability because when I'm done losing the weight I will go back to eating my 6 small meals a day and maintain. It's just a way to keep your body guessing and shocking it out of an eating routine.

      It's not for everyone, but it's worked very well for me.
    • Posts: 8,810 Member
      http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2010/02/08/intermittent-fasting/

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      that is one method of IF

      leangains has the 16-8 method which I like better but thats just me
    • Posts: 6,800 Member
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      check out leangains.com

      some believe that cardio in a fasted state helps burn fat better than in a fed state. I havent done it long enough to determine if thats true for me yet, but it seems to make sense (to me.)
      Cool, and it's alright if it doesn't 'cause I'm pretty sure I'm tapped out on weight loss abilities without becoming skeletal...even now a skeletal picture due to lighting or whatever shows up every now and then :P I'm more doing things for feeling good now. I'm feeling like an energy power house...and back in the day I thought I had energy...so I can't help but think maybe I'm missing out :wink:
    • Posts: 1,199 Member
      I like it. I'm essentially skipping breakfast which I was never good about anyway. I'm not terribly strict about the window other than going 14-16 hours from previous night to next day to eat.
    • Posts: 1,152
      Cool, and it's alright if it doesn't 'cause I'm pretty sure I'm tapped out on weight loss abilities without becoming skeletal...even now a skeletal picture due to lighting or whatever shows up every now and then :P I'm more doing things for feeling good now. I'm feeling like an energy power house...and back in the day I thought I had energy...so I can't help but think maybe I'm missing out :wink:

      You sure it's not just getting older?
    • Posts: 1,321 Member

      that is one method of IF

      leangains has the 16-8 method which I like better but thats just me

      Do you do that 1-2 days a week, or everyday?
    • Posts: 20 Member
      I currently IF and it has helped me break some serious food addictions. My guilty pleasure was potato chips and cookies! But after fasting, it makes you want to eat clean. The thought of eating a greasy burger and fries will make you want to vomit!! Or at least it does for me. Anyway, I've seen results and it is now a part of my lifestyle that is sustainable. Here are some resources for those who want to try the IF lifestyle.

      http://www.precisionnutrition.com/intermittent-fasting

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

      http://www.theiflife.com/

      http://bradpilon.com/category/weight-loss/fasting-for-weight-loss/
    • Posts: 1,226 Member
      doing IF keeps me under my calorie goal while still have a chance to eat the amount i want in a meal
    • Posts: 3,942 Member
      I have been IFing once a week for the last month, 16 hours on/8 hours off. I only did it to see if I could manage it. Oddly, prior to IFing, if I had to go into town and didn't eat, I'd get tired and ratty after a couple of hours without food. These days, I don't notice it, am generally in good spirits and can even work with food without getting cravings. I wonder if it was more psychological than anything. Just sip water and avoid feeling hungry.

      As for benefits, I am not sure it's helping or not.
    • Posts: 8,810 Member
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      Do you do that 1-2 days a week, or everyday?

      as a rule I do it 7 days a week. If a social occasion (usually morning events) happens where I cant resist what they are offering, I go ahead and eat but account for it in my overall calorie total
    • Posts: 536 Member
      So I have to ask about your energy level while doing this? The 16/8 plan sounds like it would work for me, fasting from 8pm to Noon, but my work out would be right in the middle of the fasting at 6 am. Do those that do this still have energy to do that?

      And my other question is about calories? Do you still try to reach your calorie goal on that day? That sounds more difficult.
    • Posts: 8,810 Member
      So I have to ask about your energy level while doing this? The 16/8 plan sounds like it would work for me, fasting from 8pm to Noon, but my work out would be right in the middle of the fasting at 6 am. Do those that do this still have energy to do that?

      And my other question is about calories? Do you still try to reach your calorie goal on that day? That sounds more difficult.

      I would start with the leangains website for a lot of great info on this.

      For me, my energy levels are great. My workout is during the fasted state (almost always) and I cannot imagine why I would ever stop doing this
    • Posts: 324 Member
      So I have to ask about your energy level while doing this? The 16/8 plan sounds like it would work for me, fasting from 8pm to Noon, but my work out would be right in the middle of the fasting at 6 am. Do those that do this still have energy to do that?

      And my other question is about calories? Do you still try to reach your calorie goal on that day? That sounds more difficult.

      Personally, I feel more energetic. Fasting has actually eliminated the horrible blood sugar dips I would have (queasiness, headache, etc. when not eating first thing in the morning.) Whenever I worked out before breaking the fast, I would have half a protein shake beforehand, the other half afterwards during the feeding window. I read somewhere that if you're having under 50g of carbs you aren't breaking the fast (I wish I could remember where I read it for the source, sorry.). No idea if that's true, but I'm sure someone knows. There are many well-informed people in the IF group :smile:
    • Posts: 8,810 Member
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      Personally, I feel more energetic. Fasting has actually eliminated the horrible blood sugar dips I would have (queasiness, headache, etc. when not eating first thing in the morning.) Whenever I worked out before breaking the fast, I would have half a protein shake beforehand, the other half afterwards during the feeding window. I read somewhere that if you're having under 50g of carbs you aren't breaking the fast (I wish I could remember where I read it for the source, sorry.). No idea if that's true, but I'm sure someone knows. There are many well-informed people in the IF group :smile:

      as far as breaking the fast, leangains allows coffee and 10g of BCAA supplement. I would think any substantial intake of calories including half a protein shake would break the fast. Im not positive but pretty sure it would.
    • Posts: 585 Member
      Bumping for later.

      I've been seriously thinking about giving this a shot.
    • Posts: 467 Member
      I do it and even bumped it up a notch last week and lost 10.1 lbs THIS WEEK. No joke. I have been plateaued for almost 5 months. Going up and down the same few lbs since June/July. I eat in a 16/8 pattern already, almost every day. I decided last week I was also going to make 2 of those days "Eat Stop Eat" style dinner--to-dinner fasts (20-24 hours.)
      Monday morning I weighed 205. Fasted that day, ate dinner and ended up eating 1241 kCal.
      Tuesday I was 203.5. ate regular - in an 8 hr window (1900 cal).
      Wednesday, weighed 200.6, fasted that day till dinner (1183 cal).
      Thursday weighed 198, ate normally in 8 hr window (1538 cal).
      Friday weighed 196.3 (broke through my plateau!) Friday is usually a high calorie day for me and was 3018 cal.
      Saturday I weighed 194.9

      I can only say in my experience, it has helped BIG so far. I didn't find it difficult to do, insane hunger wasn't a problem, but I was ready for dinner at 5:00 when I walked through the door and I do feel that I ate more calories at dinner than I normally do, but I didn't go all out. I was just trying to make sure I got at least 1000 calories in me (since I'd exercised off at least 400 each of those days as well.). Luckily for me, my husband is our dinner maker, so I was able to eat right away.

      I plan on using it as a tool, like anything else.

      ETA: I don't feel a lag in energy and even do my workout in the middle (I work out at noon, even on the 2 days I didn't eat until 5:00) I don't break my 16/8 fasts until after I work out either, so all my workouts are fasted. I feel much better this way. Food in my stomach makes it harder for me to workout...
    • Posts: 467 Member
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      I like the way you think . " I stay away from things that aren't sustainable"

      It is sustainable and you probably already do it. I assume you stop eating at a certain time at night, sleep for a number of hours then break your fast sometime later in the morning, correct? You probably go at least 12 hours already and you haven't dropped dead yet. Sustainable.
    • Posts: 254 Member
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      What are peoples thoughts on this?

      I kinda want to try it just to see if it makes me feel any different...I can see the benefit if I want to get into lifting because there's moments you're a giant energy store if that makes any sense...

      I also want to try it so I feel I have some fire to throw at the *'s who say its not sustainable. It seems those who do it on my friends list are sensible intelligent people.

      Well, it definitely won't work for weight loss if you do it and you don't eat at a deficit. Still gotta count your calories. There's nothing magical about IF, it's really just more of a helpful mechanism for eating at a deficit for some people. Also there are non-weight-loss related benefits. But yeah of course, EVERY diet or way of eating works if you eat less than you burn
    • Posts: 45 Member
      bump. will try 16/8 this week.
    • Posts: 5
      sorry typo ment to say 16hr fasting 8 hr feed.
    • Posts: 89 Member
      I started Brad Pilon's Eat, Fast, Eat method and been great first week. Lost 6.4lbs in the first week...and feel great ...so will keep going.
    • Posts: 324 Member
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      as far as breaking the fast, leangains allows coffee and 10g of BCAA supplement. I would think any substantial intake of calories including half a protein shake would break the fast. Im not positive but pretty sure it would.

      Probably. I can't remember where I read that for the life of me. I don't do that anymore, but for someone with really low energy while working out, it might be an option.
    • Posts: 133 Member
      I saw a You Tube clip of Dr. Mercola discussing IF...he feels that staying under 50 calories (accounting for coffee, sugar-free gum, etc) will keep the fast.
    • Posts: 186 Member
      Really interesting thread, I had considered fasting from around 7pm until night (I go to sleep around 1am). Sometimes, I have my coffee in the morning and do some cardio (although I have my protein shake afterwards). But I never considered doing a proper fasting. It would be really interesting to go through all those articles posting (now I have the curiosity)
    • Posts: 6,800 Member
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      You sure it's not just getting older?
      What's because I'm getting older?
    • Posts: 944 Member
      I have used it with great success, and have about a dozen friends/family who have had great results as well, across the age/gender/health spectrum.
    • Posts: 3
      its simple... u wanna lose weight?! ,,, STOP EATING :)
    • Posts: 52
      It works for me. I do 16/8 or 14/10 every day. Sometimes it 19/5 depending on my shift pattern. I've found it really easy and the weight and fat is literally melting off me. I run 3 days a week, usually fasted and it doesn't affect my performance. I also do Bodyweight training 3 days a week too. I stay under my calorie goal and I'm not hungry either. The worst you can do is actually try it.
    • Posts: 424 Member
      I have done 16:8 for a few months and now also do 5:2. I think it helped me get to my ultimate weight which I am now at and my bf% has dropped as well to around 16%. I run and can fun fasted no problem, I have heaps of energy. Once you get used to it i don't find it hard provided i use caffeine. Even though I am no longer eating at a deficit, I think it will be helpful in maintaining and I am using 5:2 so I can eat more on the weekend.
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