Intermittent Fasting and Such

bethanytowell
bethanytowell Posts: 256 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Tomorrow begins my journey of intermittent fasting, I am not yet interested in a full 24 hour fast. I want my eating window to be from 12pm to 8pm, as these are the hours of the day when I am naturally hungry anyways. My questions lie alot in my work out routines. I do a 30 minute work out video (Cardio & Strength Training) every morning, I walk 2 miles at lunch every day, and lift heavy 3 nights a week. That being said, I am not STARVING after my morning work out buy after my lunch walk I am ravenous! After a lifting session I seriously feel like I can and must eat everything in sight. I just need some advice as to how to split up my calories or if it matters? Is coffee with a tsp of cream okay in the mornings while doing intermittent fasting?

All kind words please, from people who have or still use this program. I will delete any comments from trolls or people who just want to argue.

Also, If you have done it and want to attache a picture that would be great!! I am hoping that this will help me drop the last 20 lbs or so that I have been working so very hard to lose. I have been hitting the gym lifting heavy and working my butt off without much substantial weight loss although I do have much more strength and muscle tone these days.

Thanks everyone!

Replies

  • hiphopjunkie02
    hiphopjunkie02 Posts: 9 Member
    How has IF been for you so far? I am at 8 days and have lost about 5lbs already! I love IF. Im using it now to lose my last 20lbs then plan to use it to maintain.
  • FullOfWin
    FullOfWin Posts: 1,414 Member
    You might do better checking leangains.com
  • n0ob
    n0ob Posts: 2,390 Member
    IF is a staff disapproved method of weightloss...
  • Chief_Rocka
    Chief_Rocka Posts: 4,710 Member
    Doesn't matter how you split up calories. A little cream in coffee is fine.
  • Barbellerella
    Barbellerella Posts: 1,838 Member
    Leangains recommends a 10 hour window for women. I recommend that. I've actually seen lots of women lose their periods and such with 8 hours and less. Don't be fooled into thinking that IF makes you lose weight, it doesn't. Your calories deficit does that part. Good luck!
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    You cannot delete comments btw. It is an open forum.

    IF is only advantageous to weight loss if it helps you adhere to your calorie target - split your calories how you like.

    Check out www.leangains.com as it sounds as if this is the protocol you are veering towards.

    You can have some cream in coffee.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    I'm probably in the minority, but I really don't consider a 16/8 split to be intermittent fasting. You need to fast for a minimum of 18 hours to really get any kind of hormonal reset benefits from it, and even then, it's not major.

    Like others said, it's a method for controlling calories, that's all.
  • FierceV_Phat
    FierceV_Phat Posts: 55 Member
    Bump.....I would like to follow this post....I'm doing a 8 hour window after I plateaued....I'm losing again!
  • Shock_Wave
    Shock_Wave Posts: 1,573 Member
    All kind words please, from people who have or still use this program. I will delete any comments from trolls or people who just want to argue.

    This is a test.. Please show us your awesome deleting powers and delete this post please... :wink:
  • Shock_Wave
    Shock_Wave Posts: 1,573 Member
    I'm probably in the minority, but I really don't consider a 16/8 split to be intermittent fasting. You need to fast for a minimum of 18 hours to really get any kind of hormonal reset benefits from it, and even then, it's not major.

    Like others said, it's a method for controlling calories, that's all.

    X2^ Tiger rocks @ IF info!

    /thread
  • Mischievous_Rascal
    Mischievous_Rascal Posts: 1,791 Member
    http://www.paleoforwomen.com/shattering-the-myth-of-fasting-for-women-a-review-of-female-specific-responses-to-fasting-in-the-literature/#comment-1362

    This is a review of the very limited amount of studies done on women and fasting.

    Cheers,
    C.
  • perfect10isha
    perfect10isha Posts: 200 Member
    I also IF. It doesn't matter how you split up the calories, but I believe that leangains recommends eating a big chunk of your calories after your workout. So on the days you are lifting heavy I would follow with your largest meal of the day. Its not a hard rule, you should do what works with your lifestyle. I also do the 12-8 eating window and have been successful with it because I enjoy eating larger meals as opposed to snacking all day (and overeating). I typically drink tea with no calorie sugar all morning until lunch time and it totally works for me. Since I'm lifting and only eating a small deficit I haven't lost pounds, but I have lost inches with IF. The most important thing is your calories though, so if you want to lose weight you need to eat at a deficit whether you're doing IF or not.

    *edit: Also, there is an IF group if you're looking for more support.
  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
    Just go to the website, he's got schedules laid-out for you. Dr. Berardi has a document on IF as well.
  • frenchfacey
    frenchfacey Posts: 237 Member
    bump.
  • frenchfacey
    frenchfacey Posts: 237 Member
    Just go to the website, he's got schedules laid-out for you. Dr. Berardi has a document on IF as well.

    im reading the e-book right now in my spare time...really interesting.
  • Poorgirls_Diet
    Poorgirls_Diet Posts: 528 Member
    It didn't work for me but that said it might work for you. I already fasted one day a week for religious reasons but the time the next day came around I was so hungry that I was eating for two. I ended up gaining, in the end I went back to just ordinary calorie counting. Whatever floats your boat though and good luck with it
  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
    It didn't work for me but that said it might work for you. I already fasted one day a week for religious reasons but the time the next day came around I was so hungry that I was eating for two. I ended up gaining, in the end I went back to just ordinary calorie counting. Whatever floats your boat though and good luck with it

    So you didn't track your calories while on IF? If that's true then that was the problem, you still have to eat within your range.
  • Wwonderful
    Wwonderful Posts: 145
    I love intermittent fasting!!!
  • FierceV_Phat
    FierceV_Phat Posts: 55 Member
    Bump.....I would like to follow this post....I'm doing a 8 hour window after I plateaued....I'm losing again!
    I was wrong I'm actually doing an 6 hour window and fasting for 18!
  • bdamaster60
    bdamaster60 Posts: 595 Member
    IF is a staff disapproved method of weightloss...

    because they can't sell it :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
  • MissPeppers
    MissPeppers Posts: 302 Member
    I'm probably in the minority, but I really don't consider a 16/8 split to be intermittent fasting. You need to fast for a minimum of 18 hours to really get any kind of hormonal reset benefits from it, and even then, it's not major.

    Like others said, it's a method for controlling calories, that's all.
    I second this - I usually go for 20-4 or maybe just the one meal and it's perfect for me. I also work out fasted a couple of hours before I have my first meal and it's no problem - I just treat the post workout hunger like I would earlier in the day; drink water and wait for it to pass. But that's me, you have to find out your own way to do it. I see it as an eating pattern, nothing more - and I adjust it as I go along. It's a great way to keep track of the kcals - but of course it has to be a part of a calorie restriction diet to function for weight loss. I have milk in my coffee and I drink several cups every day and I won't stop that, what I've heard about small amounts of kcals on a fast period is that it must not be enough to spike the blood sugar level.

    I've tested, and I got a small amount of ketones before my afternoon workouts which means that I burn fat hopefully a bit faster than if I didn't fast, and that's a benefit I'm very happy with. The other benefit is that my IBS problem has nearly vanished. I've got about 10 more lbs to lose and I reckon it'll take quite a while - but eating this way is something I can do for a long time.

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