Alternative Day Fasting

http://www.longecity.org/forum/topic/47354-mess-up-your-heart-with-intermittent-fasting/page__p__473475#entry473475

I read this link and don't understand half of what he was saying. This in particular:

"However, whereas calorie restriction improved tissue redox state, food restriction and intermittent feedings did not. In fact, long-term intermittent feeding resulted in largely enhanced tissue release of oxidants."

I you could translate for me I'd be grateful!

ETA: I started IF (leangains) last week and am quickly realising that, though I love it, I know very little about it.

Umm, can't help you I'm afraid.

Personally, I'm going to try fasting once a week, where I'll eat dinner and then nothing until dinner the next day.

Let me know how it goes.

I thought I would round up my first three days of a semi-fast on alternate days. On Wednesday and today I only ate at lunch time. I picked lunchtime as I don't really get hungry in the morning, and my evenings are busy - but felt that I would not manage a whole day at work with no food.

So, on Wednesday morning, I weighed myself. I was surprised to find I had very little hunger that day, apart from a couple of brief pangs. It was very easy to manage, and in a way, not eating made me feel quite strong and in control. There was also a sense of freedom, as I didn't have to think about food - I have found that feeding myself well within a certain calorie count is pretty depressing in the evenings. There is more calorie room in the morning and at lunch.

So, on to Thursday - I weighed myself and there was a 2 1/2 pound weight loss. Lovely. But I knew that I would be eating that day, and would gain back a lot of that weight, maybe all of it.

I had breakfast, and found that afterwards, I still felt a bit empty, so had a lovely large glass of juice. I was due out with friends for an early lunch, and despite my normal mid-morning healthy snacks I was very hungry for lunch, though I did not have a huge meal, as I didn't want to overdo it. I wasn't hungry again until about 8, when I made a healthy meal, which was delicious. I did find that there I slighly overconsumed because I felt I was owed the right to as I had fasted the day before, and I would be fasting the next day. I didn't overeat - it was extra drinks. I had a little cider, and a can of coke. I justified them to myself, but they did mean that I ate more calories than I really wanted to. I am forgiving myself because that was early days in this routine. I didn't exercise on that day - I wanted to break myself gently into fasting.

The next morning I was quite surprised to find I had gained only 1/2 pound.

So, today - I have had more hunger pangs - but again, just the odd pang, not a steady feeling of hunger. When I consider how I feel, it is empty. If it was an eating day, I would welcome a meal, and have a good appetite for it - but I cannot describe myself as hungry. It's not been too hard not to eat.

After work I met up with friends for a drink, and I had a couple of glasses of sparkling water, then a diet coke. I didn't miss having a drink, I didn't mention to my friends that I was dieting, and they didn't seem to notice anything unusual. I enjoyed sitting in the sun, and although people were eating round us, and there were wafts of delicious garlicy prawns - none of us were eating, and it was fine.

Now I am home, and I can convince myself that I have already eaten. I think I will have no problems not eating for the rest of the evening, If I think of food, I think of what to have for breakfast. Realistically I am only dropping one meal at a time - I focus on lunch when I skip breakfast, and focus on the next days breakfast when I miss dinner.

I have to say, I am doing this to drop my risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc, But the fact that it means that I can go out and eat with friends is a big plus, as that is how I socialise. I am meeting a friend for a coffee tomorrow, and another for an indian tomorrow evening, and I would be really worried about sticking to my calorie allowance if I wasn't on this programme.

So, I'm looking forward to getting weighed in the morning. I had decided to only weigh myself weekly, but found that it is just too tempting to see what is going on. As long as any weight gains don't make me despair, I should be okay.

I was wondering if anyone was interested in starting a group on the 5:2 schedule. I know there is already an IF group, but it seems to be focused on Lean Gains and while I will admit I have not read about it extensively it does not seem like a match.

Any thoughts? I am still debating on whether to start this experiment next week or not (Tuesday/Thursday).

I would be keen, if you son;t mind that I might be doing more than the 2 days a week.