Intermittent Fasting

xiamjackie

I've been researching the benefits and downsides of IF and I've been thinking about trying it. I was just wondering if anyone has had success on this lifestyle? By success, I don't just mean weight loss or fat loss. I'm also wondering how it affected your mood, energy, exercise regiment, etc.

Also, if you are on this lifestyle and it works for you, what ratio do you use?

Any input is appreciated

CelebrateLife

Well it's quite effective at giving the body - your organs a rest our body is always working so internment fasting does the body good giving it a break
If you're not use to it start small -- a few hours perhaps / morning to noon/....
Otherwise you may experience headaches nasea mood swings irritability etc

If you're doing it for weight loss I wouldn't suggest it as it is not effective overall (atleast not long term) and it'll definitely have a negative effect on your health

Good Luck on your Journey!

Barbellerella

I do the Leangains method on most days. The recommendation for women is a 14 hour fast/10 hour feed window. Don't expect it to be a miracle magic trick, losing weight is still ALL about the deficit. Here is a helpful calculator for calories and macros. http://www.1percentedge.com/ifcalc/

xiamjackie

I already only eat during a 10 hour window, just by the way my schedule is. It doesn't feel like fasting to me.

xiamjackie

Well it's quite effective at giving the body - your organs a rest our body is always working so internment fasting does the body good giving it a break
If you're not use to it start small -- a few hours perhaps / morning to noon/....
Otherwise you may experience headaches nasea mood swings irritability etc

If you're doing it for weight loss I wouldn't suggest it as it is not effective overall (atleast not long term) and it'll definitely have a negative effect on your health

Good Luck on your Journey!

I don't understand. You say it's good for giving your body a break, but then you say it has a negative effect on your health. How?

LaComadreja14

Well it's quite effective at giving the body - your organs a rest our body is always working so internment fasting does the body good giving it a break
If you're not use to it start small -- a few hours perhaps / morning to noon/....
Otherwise you may experience headaches nasea mood swings irritability etc

If you're doing it for weight loss I wouldn't suggest it as it is not effective overall (atleast not long term) and it'll definitely have a negative effect on your health

Good Luck on your Journey!

I don't understand. You say it's good for giving your body a break, but then you say it has a negative effect on your health. How?

^I am also wondering how

healthyistheonlywaytolive

BUMP doing this too looking for input

BarbellApprentice

I have been using IF for the better part of this year. I will do a 16 hr fast/8 hr eating window. I do this 3-4 times a week. I finish eating by 8 pm and simply skip breakfast the following morning. I am free to eat at noon. I wouldn't advise this schedule if you do intense morning workouts.

I have no ill effects in terms of energy or mood. I still have my coffee in the AM

starvinkevin

Yeah its weird - I did crash intermittent fast with a 1200-1500 calorie diet for a week and a half. By the fifth day all my hunger went away and by the end of 1.5 weeks I had dropped 12 lbs.... though on the last 3 days I cut my calories down to around 1000... what we will do for the beach haha

Barbellerella

Here's another site that explains more about Leangains.. http://examine.com/leangains-faq/

Another form of IF would be Eat STop Eat, where you fast for 24 hours 1-2x a week to create your deficit. This one you need to be careful of if you have tendencies to binge eat.

starvinkevin

I found that IF actually helped suppress appetite a lot by the 5th day... didn't feel hungry at all even eating 1200-1500 calories in ONE meal and walking 3 miles almost every day.

CelebrateLife

--It has a negative affect on your health if you're doing it for weight loss purposes and not attempting it in the proper way...

Intermittent Fasting is good -- However not on a regular basis
Some people take it to the extreme where they fast for days (which puts your body into starvation mode and makes the body hold on to the fat even more) at a time which in turn leads to stress on the body and long term health issues such a Ulcers etc

If you're doing it intermittently -- *doing it at intervals not continuously* - Only then will you experience the health benefits in addition to having your nutritional requirements met daily especially at times of fasts

Not Losing Weight is one thing but your health is most important because it is at risk if fasting is approached in the wrong manner or for the wrong reasons

starvinkevin

--It has a negative affect on your health if you're doing it for weight loss purposes and not attempting it in the proper way...

Intermittent Fasting is good -- However not on a regular basis
Some people take it to the extreme where they fast for days (which puts your body into starvation mode and makes the body hold on to the fat even more) at a time which in turn leads to stress on the body and long term health issues such a Ulcers etc

If you're doing it intermittently -- *doing it at intervals not continuously* - Only then will you experience the health benefits in addition to having your nutritional requirements met daily especially at times of fasts

Not Losing Weight is one thing but your health is most important because it is at risk if fasting is approached in the wrong manner or for the wrong reasons

Yeah ur right - starvation mode makes u get fat fast once u fall off the wagon...

CelebrateLife

Have a look at your replies and see how some are doing it --Great
-Intermittently -

Good Luck

Karabobarra

bump

AliciaHollywood

I am doing it now for weight loss but I couldn't see doing it forever because the result for me is a loss of appetite in general, I actually forget to eat during the window, and I'm consuming an average of 600 calories a day which I'm loving for weight loss but obviously won't be able to do forever. I'm normally a 24 hour throughout the day/night grazer rather than someone who eats full regular meals on a regular schedule so maybe that's why it's working for me like this. At the beginning I think I over-fasted which I think shrunk my stomach so I'm not really hungry at all and get full after a few bites. I've never gone this long with so few calories and without even an interest in food, so it's done something different to me, but it could be because I overdid it in the beginning. (I started with a water fast.)

I think it's different for everybody, I think this works best for bodybuilders who eat huge protein filled meals during their window. If you don't normally eat big meals and are a naturally light healthy eater, it's hard to take in enough calories. (BTW, my 20 lb weight gain was from social DRINKING, not over-eating)

I think people just have to try it to see how it feels, I'm thinking it really depends on how you eat now. I've heard it works really well for mindless eaters, because it makes them focus more. If you're already a healthy eater and have no interest in losing weight, I probably wouldn't bother though... I think it could potentially lead to eating disorders. It becomes too easy to eat very little and fast longer even if you weren't planning on it.

LaComadreja14

--It has a negative affect on your health if you're doing it for weight loss purposes and not attempting it in the proper way...

Intermittent Fasting is good -- However not on a regular basis
Some people take it to the extreme where they fast for days (which puts your body into starvation mode and makes the body hold on to the fat even more) at a time which in turn leads to stress on the body and long term health issues such a Ulcers etc

If you're doing it intermittently -- *doing it at intervals not continuously* - Only then will you experience the health benefits in addition to having your nutritional requirements met daily especially at times of fasts

Not Losing Weight is one thing but your health is most important because it is at risk if fasting is approached in the wrong manner or for the wrong reasons

Sorry if this seems counter productive to anyone else on the thread (and don't let me talk you out of trying the IF idea because an aquaintance of mine mentioned she was doing IF and that it took her a while to START loosing weight but once the ball got rolling she's been steadily loosing) HOWEVER: the reason I find this subject interesting is because I am having issues eating enough calories (due to the medication that I take that kills my appitite) and when I first started my meds 4 years ago I lost a lot of weight very quickly but I guess at some point (can't really pinpoint when) my body got used to not eating because I started putting on weight. Basically the way my body has been running for the last four years is : 1st meal at about 1pm (unless I get busy with things on my lunch break and don't actually stop and think, "Hey self it's LUNCH time - you need to eat" 2nd meal between 6-7 pm and last meal (the only one I am ever actually hungry for) at 9 or 10 pm. So I guess I have kind have been inadvertantly fasting (?), however I still managed to gain weight and I didn't understand why until I read about the whole "starvation mode" thing which makes sense because even when I do eat I don't think I was hitting 1200 c a day before (though I wasn't counting calories before MFP either) and despite trying, I still find it difficult. I have other issues that, I speculate, may have stemmed from the under eating, too, and I was hoping that when some one went into the damages done to the body they might be able to give specifics. I have heard a lot about hormones but no one ever says which ones? Thanks to anyone who reads this and has an answer

AliciaHollywood

Sorry if this seems counter productive to anyone else on the thread (and don't let me talk you out of trying the IF idea because an aquaintance of mine mentioned she was doing IF and that it took her a while to START loosing weight but once the ball got rolling she's been steadily loosing) HOWEVER: the reason I find this subject interesting is because I am having issues eating enough calories (due to the medication that I take that kills my appitite) and when I first started my meds 4 years ago I lost a lot of weight very quickly but I guess at some point (can't really pinpoint when) my body got used to not eating because I started putting on weight. Basically the way my body has been running for the last four years is : 1st meal at about 1pm (unless I get busy with things on my lunch break and don't actually stop and think, "Hey self it's LUNCH time - you need to eat" 2nd meal between 6-7 pm and last meal (the only one I am ever actually hungry for) at 9 or 10 pm. So I guess I have kind have been inadvertantly fasting (?), however I still managed to gain weight and I didn't understand why until I read about the whole "starvation mode" thing which makes sense because even when I do eat I don't think I was hitting 1200 c a day before (though I wasn't counting calories before MFP either) and despite trying, I still find it difficult. I have other issues that, I speculate, may have stemmed from the under eating, too, and I was hoping that when some one went into the damages done to the body they might be able to give specifics. I have heard a lot about hormones but no one ever says which ones? Thanks to anyone who reads this and has an answer

I'm under eating too but there is a theory that calorie restriction can help prevent aging, at least studies on mice have proved this and many people are trying it too. Without trying to lose weight, my normal calories are probably around 1000 but then I'd go to parties and receptions and have wine, vodka & cranberry juice, etc... And that resulted in weight gain. Now I'm really under eating because I'm just not hungry from the effects of IF and also trying to lose all the alcohol weight. So far I feel fine, even on days I've had less than 300 calories. But I'm packing those calories with tons of vitamins and nutrients, protein powder, green & red powder, fiber, and a LOT of supplements. For 300 calories, I'm probably getting more nutrition than most McDonalds eaters get in a week. So the issue is, is it calorie consumption or nutrients we should be concerned about?

starvinkevin

less calories u consume less likely to maintain/build muscle = lower quality of life IMO.

Sorry if this seems counter productive to anyone else on the thread (and don't let me talk you out of trying the IF idea because an aquaintance of mine mentioned she was doing IF and that it took her a while to START loosing weight but once the ball got rolling she's been steadily loosing) HOWEVER: the reason I find this subject interesting is because I am having issues eating enough calories (due to the medication that I take that kills my appitite) and when I first started my meds 4 years ago I lost a lot of weight very quickly but I guess at some point (can't really pinpoint when) my body got used to not eating because I started putting on weight. Basically the way my body has been running for the last four years is : 1st meal at about 1pm (unless I get busy with things on my lunch break and don't actually stop and think, "Hey self it's LUNCH time - you need to eat" 2nd meal between 6-7 pm and last meal (the only one I am ever actually hungry for) at 9 or 10 pm. So I guess I have kind have been inadvertantly fasting (?), however I still managed to gain weight and I didn't understand why until I read about the whole "starvation mode" thing which makes sense because even when I do eat I don't think I was hitting 1200 c a day before (though I wasn't counting calories before MFP either) and despite trying, I still find it difficult. I have other issues that, I speculate, may have stemmed from the under eating, too, and I was hoping that when some one went into the damages done to the body they might be able to give specifics. I have heard a lot about hormones but no one ever says which ones? Thanks to anyone who reads this and has an answer

I'm under eating too but there is a theory that calorie restriction can help prevent aging, at least studies on mice have proved this and many people are trying it too. Without trying to lose weight, my normal calories are probably around 1000 but then I'd go to parties and receptions and have wine, vodka & cranberry juice, etc... And that resulted in weight gain. Now I'm really under eating because I'm just not hungry from the effects of IF and also trying to lose all the alcohol weight. So far I feel fine, even on days I've had less than 300 calories. But I'm packing those calories with tons of vitamins and nutrients, protein powder, green & red powder, fiber, and a LOT of supplements. For 300 calories, I'm probably getting more nutrition than most McDonalds eaters get in a week. So the issue is, is it calorie consumption or nutrients we should be concerned about?

starvinkevin

And in my experinece = low calories turns men into women and makes them prone to depression - I am never going back to extremely low calories.

Sorry if this seems counter productive to anyone else on the thread (and don't let me talk you out of trying the IF idea because an aquaintance of mine mentioned she was doing IF and that it took her a while to START loosing weight but once the ball got rolling she's been steadily loosing) HOWEVER: the reason I find this subject interesting is because I am having issues eating enough calories (due to the medication that I take that kills my appitite) and when I first started my meds 4 years ago I lost a lot of weight very quickly but I guess at some point (can't really pinpoint when) my body got used to not eating because I started putting on weight. Basically the way my body has been running for the last four years is : 1st meal at about 1pm (unless I get busy with things on my lunch break and don't actually stop and think, "Hey self it's LUNCH time - you need to eat" 2nd meal between 6-7 pm and last meal (the only one I am ever actually hungry for) at 9 or 10 pm. So I guess I have kind have been inadvertantly fasting (?), however I still managed to gain weight and I didn't understand why until I read about the whole "starvation mode" thing which makes sense because even when I do eat I don't think I was hitting 1200 c a day before (though I wasn't counting calories before MFP either) and despite trying, I still find it difficult. I have other issues that, I speculate, may have stemmed from the under eating, too, and I was hoping that when some one went into the damages done to the body they might be able to give specifics. I have heard a lot about hormones but no one ever says which ones? Thanks to anyone who reads this and has an answer

I'm under eating too but there is a theory that calorie restriction can help prevent aging, at least studies on mice have proved this and many people are trying it too. Without trying to lose weight, my normal calories are probably around 1000 but then I'd go to parties and receptions and have wine, vodka & cranberry juice, etc... And that resulted in weight gain. Now I'm really under eating because I'm just not hungry from the effects of IF and also trying to lose all the alcohol weight. So far I feel fine, even on days I've had less than 300 calories. But I'm packing those calories with tons of vitamins and nutrients, protein powder, green & red powder, fiber, and a LOT of supplements. For 300 calories, I'm probably getting more nutrition than most McDonalds eaters get in a week. So the issue is, is it calorie consumption or nutrients we should be concerned about?

AliciaHollywood

I have heard that extreme low calories can affect a man's libido but nothing about it affecting women's. It hasn't affected mine in a negative way at all. Kind of the opposite. It can make you more in tune with all your senses. Especially while fasting. And I think women feel more depressed if they feel fat rather than eat too little. At least that's true for me...

And in my experinece = low calories turns men into women and makes them prone to depression - I am never going back to extremely low calories.

Sorry if this seems counter productive to anyone else on the thread (and don't let me talk you out of trying the IF idea because an aquaintance of mine mentioned she was doing IF and that it took her a while to START loosing weight but once the ball got rolling she's been steadily loosing) HOWEVER: the reason I find this subject interesting is because I am having issues eating enough calories (due to the medication that I take that kills my appitite) and when I first started my meds 4 years ago I lost a lot of weight very quickly but I guess at some point (can't really pinpoint when) my body got used to not eating because I started putting on weight. Basically the way my body has been running for the last four years is : 1st meal at about 1pm (unless I get busy with things on my lunch break and don't actually stop and think, "Hey self it's LUNCH time - you need to eat" 2nd meal between 6-7 pm and last meal (the only one I am ever actually hungry for) at 9 or 10 pm. So I guess I have kind have been inadvertantly fasting (?), however I still managed to gain weight and I didn't understand why until I read about the whole "starvation mode" thing which makes sense because even when I do eat I don't think I was hitting 1200 c a day before (though I wasn't counting calories before MFP either) and despite trying, I still find it difficult. I have other issues that, I speculate, may have stemmed from the under eating, too, and I was hoping that when some one went into the damages done to the body they might be able to give specifics. I have heard a lot about hormones but no one ever says which ones? Thanks to anyone who reads this and has an answer

I'm under eating too but there is a theory that calorie restriction can help prevent aging, at least studies on mice have proved this and many people are trying it too. Without trying to lose weight, my normal calories are probably around 1000 but then I'd go to parties and receptions and have wine, vodka & cranberry juice, etc... And that resulted in weight gain. Now I'm really under eating because I'm just not hungry from the effects of IF and also trying to lose all the alcohol weight. So far I feel fine, even on days I've had less than 300 calories. But I'm packing those calories with tons of vitamins and nutrients, protein powder, green & red powder, fiber, and a LOT of supplements. For 300 calories, I'm probably getting more nutrition than most McDonalds eaters get in a week. So the issue is, is it calorie consumption or nutrients we should be concerned about?

ndj1979

I have been doing leangains 18/6 for about twelve weeks now. It really has not affected my energy levels or anything. I typically stop eating about 8:30ish night before and then have first meal about 12:30 which is 20% of my cals for the day ..then work out about 5ish come home eat have another filler meal about 8 or 830...

The only thing I have noticed is that some evenings I feel like ALL I am doing is getting dinner ready and then my second meal and then trying to find something to fill in macros etc...other than that I like it.

It has taught me a lot about hunger and managing hunger...

I will probably keep doing it on off ...

I have noticed some nice strength gains and lost about 1% body fat ....

wackyfunster

I have been fasting 16+ hours a day for a year now. I love it, and don't see ever stopping. My health has improved immensely since starting IF, and it was pretty good to begin with.

chatnel

I do ESE once a week and the other days 16/8 and the weekends off.

I am a PM eater so work perfectly for me to have a big lunch and dinner rather than 5 small meals per day. You would be surprised as well how much energy you do have in faster state. However, I think it's important not to go over 24 hours at a time when fasting or you will likely binge. 24 seems to be the magical number.

firstsip

And in my experinece = low calories turns men into women and makes them prone to depression - I am never going back to extremely low calories.

... Excuse you?

Deekay8008

Met with a personal trainer yesterday who suggested a good start would be to start 14 hour fasts. It’s my first one today and to be honest I don’t think it’t that bad. I stop eating at 8pm. (on weeknights I am in bed by 10 so it’s not too difficult) and then I can have my breakfast at work at 10am, which is just a bowl of cereal and a cup of tea, both with skimmed milk. I don’t know if I am going to achieve results with this, but add the fasting to the low calorie diet, the calorie counting / fat counting e.t.c. on this site and three workouts at the gym each week and I am expecting to see big differences, I need to lose at least 4 stone. Fingers crossed that this helps!