Intermittent Fasting for men is a little bit different than IF for women.
http://www.paleoforwomen.com/shattering-the-myth-of-fasting-for-women-a-review-of-female-specific-responses-to-fasting-in-the-literature/

This isn't to say that IF doesn't work for women, there are certainly women out there who use it all the time with no ill effect. But I've also known several who experienced symptoms as described in the above article (myself included). My suggestion is to do as much research (the links already provided are great resources) as you can, give it a try if you decide it's something you want to try, but keep a good close eye on how your body reacts while you're trying it!

I am doing IF now. I enjoy the less bloating aspect, and it is amazing how the hunger hits and then all of a sudden it's gone. I usually eat dinner around 6 and go as long as I can until the next dinner. Sometimes that is 3 PM sometimes it's 6. It just makes things easier and I suffer no ill effects. It is supposed to boost HGH and fat burning and goes right along with the primal paleo lifestyle.

I've been IFing fr about a month now. Love it.

Why IF? Well, I'm never hungry in the morning, generally not hungry come midday and... food makes me sleepy. Eating earlier in the day means less activity for me =/= I'd lay on the coach rather than hit the gym if I ate breakfast.

I'm also a volume eater (or, well, a gluttonous pig) a love MASSIVE meals. It's not unusual for me to eat a kilo of potatoes a night covered in meat, cheese, guac and salsa - freakin' nachos, baby. Followed by homemade ice cream? Perfect.
Yeah, after eating massive meals nightly, I don't think I could go back. "Regular" serving sizes amuse me at how puny they seem.

Most of what I have read suggests that women do far better with a 12-14 hour fasting window due to hormones. Since moving to a paleo/primal type of eating, I don't feel the need to eat multiple times a day. I used to be that "have to eat every 3-4 hours, or was a cranky b*tch". The relief of being off that roller coaster is immense. As to taking it to the IF level, after being paleo for a few months, I normally just ate an early lunch and then dinner as my only two meals of the day.

Then, last summer, I had the opportunity to travel across the country and compete in a reality show for Food Network. During days that we filmed, IF was a lifesaver. Not needing to eat in the morning & early afternoon, also meant not needing the restroom and the ability to just keep going throughout the day. I literally didn't eat until some time between 6pm & 8pm and occassionally later three to four days a week. I never felt tired or deprived. I was just too busy to bother with eating. On non-camera days, I ate more normally - aka three meals a day. Being on the road and eating out for most meals, most everyone gained weight. Because of IF, I didn't eat much during filming and was one of the few that lost.

So on one hand, I've had a great experience with IF. On the other hand, I've had some other changes which may or may not be related. Within a couple months of being home, my ovaries quit working. I've had significant female issues over the years with fibroid tumors and endometrioses (sp?). Bad enough that I had a full hysterectomy except ovaries two years ago. Was my ovaries shutting down is related to IF... who knows???? I have read about several instances where women have tried IF and had hormonal issues soon after. And with the lack of actual research regarding IF for women specifically, anecdotal experience is about all we have to look at. I do know that I have to take hormones now, and that if I was of reproductive age or desired to have children, I would be very cautious about IF.

IF for years here. Never really was on board with the whole breakfast thing. I eat USUALLY at 2pm-8pm. I will have breakfast sometimes but it's rare. I am lucky that I have never experienced those things from the article.

@idauria, IF is not about shaving off calories; it is simply a set feeding window, during which you are supposed to eat your recommended daily calories. In no way, shape, or form is it similar to anorexia.

I like IF because it takes off the pressure to "fuel the fire" every 3-4 hours. Ain't nobody got time for all that meal prep, tbh. AGAIN, you are supposed to eat ALL your daily calories within that window. It works for those, like a poster above, who like to eat big satisfying meals, as opposed to snacking on baby carrots all day.

So if you 're still eating your allotted calories, then what's the point of the fast? Shouldn't people naturally just eat when hungry?

Thanks for clearing things up for me. There's just so much information out there and it can get confusing.

I'm sorry for what I said when i was Hun/An-gry =(
lol

I had a horrible experience with IF (both 16:8 and 14:10). Cravings were massive, felt gross after every meal, depression, insomnia, stress was out of control, negative relationship with food....

There are women that swear by it, but it just wasn't for me.

I do so much better eating Whole 30 style.