Has anyone out there tried Intermittent Fasting "IF"
brooks124u
Posts: 34 Member
I heard some people at the Gym talking about this and would like to see some people's opinion about it.
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As I mentioned in another post, I have a couple of days a week when I eat mostly fruits and veggies, and it's maybe 1000 calories total. What scares me about genuine fasting is that eventually your body goes into "starvation mode" and starts burning calories more slowly. That's not what you want! I also do pretty vigorous workouts and want the energy to continue them.
I did find that the low-calorie days have gotten me off the instant response to hunger: "I need munchies, I need protein, etc." and I'm more likely to live with a feeling of mild hunger than immediately going off in search of food. That's been a very good change. I've decided against any true fasting, though.0 -
I tried it for a month. I believe it's a solid program, however I began to resent the fact that I wasn't "allowed" to eat breakfast, and eventually went back to the "5-6 small meals a day" way of eating. IF works for MANY people though. If it's a comfortable way for you to live and eat, go for it!! :flowerforyou:0
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Good point,I guess your body needs to have fuel to burn.I am on 1800 cal a day diet and hit it 5 days a week at the gym.I have lost 70 lbs. so I think I will continue with what I'm doing.No 'IF' FOR ME.0
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I've been doing 20/4 since last summer and I love it. I fast all day, work out, eat a huge dinner (practically whatever I want), then go to sleep on a very full stomach.0
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As I mentioned in another post, I have a couple of days a week when I eat mostly fruits and veggies, and it's maybe 1000 calories total. What scares me about genuine fasting is that eventually your body goes into "starvation mode" and starts burning calories more slowly. That's not what you want! I also do pretty vigorous workouts and want the energy to continue them.
I did find that the low-calorie days have gotten me off the instant response to hunger: "I need munchies, I need protein, etc." and I'm more likely to live with a feeling of mild hunger than immediately going off in search of food. That's been a very good change. I've decided against any true fasting, though.
IF is not really "fasting" though...you simply eat all your alloted calories during a 6-8 hour window each day, but you're still eating the SAME amount of food. It works well for people who like to eat larger meals, and who like to eat a big dinner, but aren't really fans of breakfast. Most people have a "feeding window" from like noon-8 p.m., or 1-9 p.m....whatever they decide. But they are NOT starving themselves...TRUST ME, I never would've tried it otherwise. People who do IF generally LOVE to eat...and eat large meals...that's (one of the reasons) why they do it.0 -
ME!! I am a huge huge fan of intermittent fasting!! I have researched it extensively too. There are so many benefits. I don't know if I am suppose to post links here, but if you go to my blog sayonara body fat (all one word) dot blogspot dot com I have posted a lot of information and links regarding intermittent fasting... even posted a couple articles just today.0
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Actually there are many different ways of intermittent fasting that are all referred to by that term. My favorite is Brad Pilon's "Eat Stop Eat" program which you can google if interested. He recommends fasting for a 24 hour period once or twice a week. So you still eat every day. I do it from dinner one day until dinner the next during fasting days. I try to do at least once a week, but shoot for twice.0
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Actually there are many different ways of intermittent fasting that are all referred to by that term. My favorite is Brad Pilon's "Eat Stop Eat" program which you can google if interested. He recommends fasting for a 24 hour period once or twice a week. So you still eat every day. I do it from dinner one day until dinner the next during fasting days. I try to do at least once a week, but shoot for twice.
That's true. I was referencing Berkhan's Leangains program...I should have specified that.0 -
Bump0
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I do a "form" of it. No breakfast and eat my calorie allowance from 12pm to 11pm. Usually in about 3 meals.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Yes, and it's very good when on a caloric deficit for restricting hunger.
Depends how much you like breakfast though..
I find myself far more productive in a fasted state throughout the day too, and so I've stuck with it since my last diet.That's true. I was referencing Berkhan's Leangains program...I should have specified that.
i.e. the best, and the guy who popularised IF.0 -
Kinda want to try it..... Maybe once i hit a platoue or whatever first... I don't want to chance anything now that i've finally started losing weight again!0
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Great advice guys ,thanks so much!!!0
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I fast for 16 hours and I have a feeding window of 8 hours. I eat my last meal at 8PM every night and then I break the fast at 12 noon. It's been working for me. I just started this last week and I've already lost 4.6 pounds. You can set yours up anyway you would like to fit around your schedule, but I really love it.0
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I don't think the benefits are that great. I had a very hard time getting all my calories in in such a short period.0
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I though the point of IF was to restrict our calories not eat them in a smaller window of time. The benefits like most things are NOT short term NOR about dieting, but putting your body in repair mode. It is supposed to get your body repairing cell damage thus slowing down the ageing process and reducing cancer the chances of various cancers. Weight loss is a side effect.0
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I though the point of IF was to restrict our calories not eat them in a smaller window of time. The benefits like most things are NOT short term NOR about dieting, but putting your body in repair mode. It is supposed to get your body repairing cell damage thus slowing down the ageing process and reducing cancer the chances of various cancers. Weight loss is a side effect.
The point of any weight loss diet is obviously to lose weight.. Achieved by remaining in a caloric deficit.
The beauty of IF is that by fasting you increase your Grehlin sensitivity, which regulates appetite and metabolism. Also more alertness through the day due to not digesting.
As long as you're in a caloric deficit it makes little difference whether you eat it in one meal or 20, really.
As for preventing cancers and slowing the ageing process.. I have no idea, the science on that is forever changing.
And repair mode? Please explain? If you're referring to protein synthesis then it's unaffected by IF.0 -
Hi
I have reading about this and started 2 weeks ago. I was never a breakfast person so its easy for not to eat until 12noon. My aim is to get rid of fat around my abdomen and get fit. I understand fasting forces the body to break down fat and reduce glycogen, especially if you exercise while fasted.0 -
I don't think the benefits are that great. I had a very hard time getting all my calories in in such a short period.
I think that's the idea! You eat less because you spend less time eating.
And I agree with the people who say they're more focused/energetic on the fast days. I've found that with my own system, too.0 -
i do it because i hate cooking 6 meals a day,,,,its a joke 3 meals well i hate breakfast so yea no more 3 meals a day either i feel more focused the fat is literally melting off0
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The benefits of Calorie Restriction was discovered in experiments on lab rats in the 1930s; essentially they lived around 20-30% longer, do not develop cancers, diabetes or heart disease. Experiments on primates showed similar results but the effect on their mental health was marked (showing low mood, depression and in some cases violence). CRONYs (Calorie Restricted Optimal Nutrition Society) are a group of people who CR. Their physiology on a cellular level belies their numeric age, showing little of the damage or wear & tear that would be expected.
Scientists played around with CR and came up with IF as bringing the same benefits in longevity. It is also more manageable & seems to address the mood issue. Indeed, it is being looked at in relation to neuro degenerative disorders such as Alzheimers.
I read loads on this a few years ago when I first heard of but there is tons more stuff articles and research around. This is just one paper:
The effect on health of alternate day calorie restriction: Eating less and more than needed on alternate days prolongs life by
J B Johnson Department of Surgery, Louisiana State University Medical Center,
Donald R Laub Department of Surgery, Stanford Medical School, Stanford
Sujit John Department of Mathematics, University of New Orleans,
http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/articles/2004/07/09/calorierestriction.php - this is a link to a 2004 article called Eat Less live longer which is easier to read.
I made the mistake of IF for 2 days then 5 days normal - but the body goes into 'starvation mode' at around 36hrs so the 24hr fasting at a time is probably better.
Oh and see http://www.paleoforwomen.com/shattering-the-myth-of-fasting-for-women it seems women may not react to IF in quite the same universally positive way as do men.0 -
I've been doing it for about 3 months now and I love it. I fast for 18 hours (6pm to 12 noon) and eat for 6 hours (12 pm to 6pm). It was not as hard as I expected and I have burned alot of fat around my midsection, arms, and chest. I can now see my abs very clearly. My energy and strength has also increased. I did the 6 meals a day thing and it just didn't work for me. I will probably make this a way of life. Gives your body a huge break from trying to digest food all day, and it also gives your body a longer period to burn fat for energy.0
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I've tried IF before, and had a lot of success with it, because it helps me to not go over my calorie goals. Lean Gains (http://www.leangains.com/) has some good information, and he usually cites his references! I have a 9 hour window to eat in (women have larger windows than men, though), and I have a "normal" calorie goal - nothing too low. If I could eat all day and not go over my calories, I'd do it, but when I eat breakfast I'm usually hungry. It took me a couple weeks to get used to it again (I got hungry in the mornings at first, because I always used to eat breakfast), but it was worth it!0
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I've been experimenting with IF for a while now and have had some great results. You have to figure out which regimen of IF fits you best as there are many variations out there. I am a member of a group on Facebook where we discuss our progress, tips, and experiments with IF. Here's the link if anyone is interested. https://www.facebook.com/groups/134048033402244/0
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