fasting??

2456

Replies

  • tmauck4472
    tmauck4472 Posts: 1,785 Member
    Fasting is stupid and you'll just ruin your metabolism. You will lose weight even faster if you have a healthy calorie goal and excercise a lot

    Seriously? Good lord read up on it before you spout lies and misconceptions about fasting. First of all there is no way it ruins your metabolism and it's not about losing faster it's about losing fat. Good grief why say such silly things. At least KNOW what your talking about before posting it.

    Read Eat Stop Eat if you want to know about fasting. At least learn something about it before you post such crap as above.
  • bradwwood
    bradwwood Posts: 371 Member
    I fail to understand the point of fasting when you can lose all the weight you want by eating properly at a caloric deficit and exercising frequently. Why starve yourself unnecessarily?

    Would be cool if you read the thread you're replying on and the reasons that myself and others have already given which answer this question sufficiently.

    even after reading all the replies, it is still a valid question.
  • MinnesotaManimal
    MinnesotaManimal Posts: 642 Member
    I fail to understand the point of fasting when you can lose all the weight you want by eating properly at a caloric deficit and exercising frequently. Why starve yourself unnecessarily?


    Because being able to be at a healthy body weight, AND regulary eat 1500+ calories in single meals makes this whole life style much easier and more sustainable for me. Also, I never feel starved ?
  • LoseYouself
    LoseYouself Posts: 249 Member
    I fail to understand the point of fasting when you can lose all the weight you want by eating properly at a caloric deficit and exercising frequently. Why starve yourself unnecessarily?

    I understand it is not for everyone, however, it is in no way "starving yourself." The concept of intermittent fasting is more of a guideline of when to eat more than anything. For example, I follow the leangains approach. Fast for 16 hours, eat for 8 hours. If you look at that carefully, that looks something like this: Eat between 10am-6pm, don't eat between 6pm-10am. Those are pretty standard eating times, but still allows your body 16 hours in a fasted state during the evening/night. You also eat the SAME amount of calories as you would in 6 small meals throughout the day, just in a condensed time frame. So I'm just wondering, how is that "starving"? Yes, there are other fasting approaches that are more extreme and questionable but the topic at hand seems to be mainly intermittent fasting, which is not starvation, and is scientifically proven effective for improving insulin sensitivity, longevity, and overall health, as well as fat loss while maintaining lean mass.

    Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about sporadic binging and fasting episodes.. or just simply not eating for long periods of time with ongoing long-term calorie restriction. That isn't healthy, but intermittent fasting when approached properly with some background knowledge is a great thing. It has helped me to break a year and a half long plateau! I'm losing fat and maintaining my lean mass, making strength gains while still eating 1800-2000 calories per day. I just eat those within an 8 hour window daily. I hardly think about it anymore. I love it.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    I fail to understand the point of fasting when you can lose all the weight you want by eating properly at a caloric deficit and exercising frequently. Why starve yourself unnecessarily?

    Not trying to be rude but I suggest you do a little research then you will realise that it's not just about weight loss/weight control let alone "starving yourself". Here's some protocols you might find interesting: Eat-stop-eat, Leangains, 5:2.

    I've been following the 5:2 routine since August and continue to do so even though I've been at goal weight and maintaining since January.

    It's very noticable that the people who are negative about intermittent fasting are the ones that haven't tried it!!
    It's certainly not something that suits everyone but it seems to work for me.
  • Mzfoster0517
    Mzfoster0517 Posts: 83 Member
    I was taught to fast at church. I've gone on fast for one meal to 40 days (all liquid). Not everyone can do it and some people do it for the wrong reasons like starving themselves, which in the end will only hurt you. I like the effects of it cleaning out my system, and it's so very important that you stay hydrated but like I said earlier I fast but mine are based on spiritual aspects.

    I'm sure someone will say something negative but in the end you have to do what works for you :)
  • frazzlecg
    frazzlecg Posts: 50 Member
    I fail to understand the point of fasting when you can lose all the weight you want by eating properly at a caloric deficit and exercising frequently. Why starve yourself unnecessarily?


    Because being able to be at a healthy body weight, AND regulary eat 1500+ calories in single meals makes this whole life style much easier and more sustainable for me. Also, I never feel starved ?


    :noway: So you fast so you can enjoy a 1500 calorie meal? Lmao. I don't understand fasting when is not a religious reason, even after the explanations. Despite you saying you're not starving, if you don't eat the whole day that's called starving. What do you do when someone is eating a favorite craving of yours? I get it, you've got willpower.

    I like calorie counting. It encourages mindful eating and i've learned more about food. I've been preparing my own meals more than ever upon realizing how much fat and calories are snuck into your food. Cheese cake factory is a grand example. A bunch of masochists we have here...
  • FeebRyan
    FeebRyan Posts: 738 Member
    I fail to understand the point of fasting when you can lose all the weight you want by eating properly at a caloric deficit and exercising frequently. Why starve yourself unnecessarily?

    Would be cool if you read the thread you're replying on and the reasons that myself and others have already given which answer this question sufficiently.

    even after reading all the replies, it is still a valid question.

    I disagree, it is a closed question. Plenty of people have given their experiences of fasting and why it works better for them, if you disagree with an aspect of that, then highlight it and lead on to discussion. When people have been open and had an open conversation, a closed question is pointless, it does not highlight any topic that the poser wishes to be discussed.
  • FeebRyan
    FeebRyan Posts: 738 Member
    I fail to understand the point of fasting when you can lose all the weight you want by eating properly at a caloric deficit and exercising frequently. Why starve yourself unnecessarily?


    Because being able to be at a healthy body weight, AND regulary eat 1500+ calories in single meals makes this whole life style much easier and more sustainable for me. Also, I never feel starved ?


    :noway: So you fast so you can enjoy a 1500 calorie meal? Lmao. I don't understand fasting when is not a religious reason, even after the explanations. Despite you saying you're not starving, if you don't eat the whole day that's called starving. What do you do when someone is eating a favorite craving of yours? I get it, you've got willpower.

    I like calorie counting. It encourages mindful eating and i've learned more about food. I've been preparing my own meals more than ever upon realizing how much fat and calories are snuck into your food. Cheese cake factory is a grand example. A bunch of masochists we have here...

    Thats great, its great that you have found something that works for you, humans are different people, they have different things that work for them, I would never say that the thing that works for you is 'wrong' because it isn't, it works for you.

    It doesnt work for me though, i often put 7 different vegetables into a meal along with a homemade reduced sauce, beans, pulses, seeds and nuts. To input it all into a caculator is a ball ache, for me. I enjoy fasting, i enjoy being able to refrain from eating food when there is a huge part of my emotional self that only wants to eat food. Its healthy for me and its incredibly therapeutic. I dont fast to punish myself, quite the opposite, i eat to punish myself, to keep myself in a permanent state of un-comfort. I have done it since i was a child.

    Fasting is, for me a very clear way to take absolute responsibility for the person that i am and the food that i eat and the control it has over me. I am not scared of being hungry anymore, because of fasting. I am losing weight but i was anyway, it is the emotional benefits that help me.
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    I fail to understand the point of fasting when you can lose all the weight you want by eating properly at a caloric deficit and exercising frequently. Why starve yourself unnecessarily?


    Because being able to be at a healthy body weight, AND regulary eat 1500+ calories in single meals makes this whole life style much easier and more sustainable for me. Also, I never feel starved ?


    :noway: So you fast so you can enjoy a 1500 calorie meal? Lmao. I don't understand fasting when is not a religious reason, even after the explanations. Despite you saying you're not starving, if you don't eat the whole day that's called starving. What do you do when someone is eating a favorite craving of yours? I get it, you've got willpower.

    I like calorie counting. It encourages mindful eating and i've learned more about food. I've been preparing my own meals more than ever upon realizing how much fat and calories are snuck into your food. Cheese cake factory is a grand example. A bunch of masochists we have here...
    That's not the definition of starving.

    Hey, if it doesn't work for you, then fine, but it does work for some people. A lot of people (myself included) find that they can go for a certain period of time withut eating, and it doesn't feel like torture. There is no masochism involved. Hunger comes, and then goes. It doesn't actually take that much willpower to postpone eating by a few hours. Strangely enough, I tend to think more about food and have more cravings on a day when I get up and eat a "normal" breakfast. I like calorie counting too, and eating mindfully, and cooking my own food. I also like intermittent fasting. You don't like it, then don't do it. :drinker:
  • jaycee76
    jaycee76 Posts: 325 Member
    I have read that people who went through the Great Depression (when meals were not 3 a day) on average lived 6 years longer . We too are animals and were not "built" to eat like this everyday!
  • prattiger65
    prattiger65 Posts: 1,657 Member
    You want to fast? Go ahead. Want to drink meal replacement shakes? Have at it. Want to juice? Juice it. Want to take pills? Take them. Want to do some fad diet or do the raspberry ketone thing, or whatever it is? Just do it. But if weight loss is what you are after, it's as simple as eating at a deficit. Really. If it takes one of these things to get you to a deficit, great! I just try to eat a little smarter than yesterday and move a little more, but I'm new, what do I know.
  • tmauck4472
    tmauck4472 Posts: 1,785 Member
    I fail to understand the point of fasting when you can lose all the weight you want by eating properly at a caloric deficit and exercising frequently. Why starve yourself unnecessarily?


    Because being able to be at a healthy body weight, AND regulary eat 1500+ calories in single meals makes this whole life style much easier and more sustainable for me. Also, I never feel starved ?


    :noway: So you fast so you can enjoy a 1500 calorie meal? Lmao. I don't understand fasting when is not a religious reason, even after the explanations. Despite you saying you're not starving, if you don't eat the whole day that's called starving. What do you do when someone is eating a favorite craving of yours? I get it, you've got willpower.

    I like calorie counting. It encourages mindful eating and i've learned more about food. I've been preparing my own meals more than ever upon realizing how much fat and calories are snuck into your food. Cheese cake factory is a grand example. A bunch of masochists we have here...

    The beautiful part of fasting is if your hungry eat, no big deal. You can start again tomorrow. And really I drink water all day and find I don't get hungry until my time is almost up. For some reason I have a hard time fasting when I work (not because it's work but because I sit there all day with nothing to do and it makes me hungry). Fasting is awesome and so easy. I think if you ever seriously tried it you'd love it.
  • MinnesotaManimal
    MinnesotaManimal Posts: 642 Member
    I fail to understand the point of fasting when you can lose all the weight you want by eating properly at a caloric deficit and exercising frequently. Why starve yourself unnecessarily?


    Because being able to be at a healthy body weight, AND regulary eat 1500+ calories in single meals makes this whole life style much easier and more sustainable for me. Also, I never feel starved ?


    :noway: So you fast so you can enjoy a 1500 calorie meal? Lmao. I don't understand fasting when is not a religious reason, even after the explanations. Despite you saying you're not starving, if you don't eat the whole day that's called starving. What do you do when someone is eating a favorite craving of yours? I get it, you've got willpower.

    I like calorie counting. It encourages mindful eating and i've learned more about food. I've been preparing my own meals more than ever upon realizing how much fat and calories are snuck into your food. Cheese cake factory is a grand example. A bunch of masochists we have here...

    I respect your opinion. I’m glad you found something that works for you. I do not know what kind of fasting that you think of when you hear that term, but I do eat every single day. I just do it within a tighter time frame than perhaps you do.Also, it is incorrect to say that it is the same as starving. I watch my nutrients close and aside from the occasional day when life and work leaves me with no choice but eating outside the home; I cook almost all my meals from scratch.

    But basically yes. one of the main reasons I chose this way of eating is so I can enjoy large satisfying meals regularly. and if I see somebody eating something that I want, I either fit it into my daily requirements, or show some self-control and just don't partake.
  • MinnesotaManimal
    MinnesotaManimal Posts: 642 Member
    You want to fast? Go ahead. Want to drink meal replacement shakes? Have at it. Want to juice? Juice it. Want to take pills? Take them. Want to do some fad diet or do the raspberry ketone thing, or whatever it is? Just do it. But if weight loss is what you are after, it's as simple as eating at a deficit. Really. If it takes one of these things to get you to a deficit, great! I just try to eat a little smarter than yesterday and move a little more, but I'm new, what do I know.

    you can't possibly be new if you already know to truth :-)

    eat less than you burn = weight loss. Doesn't really matter how you get it done.
  • FeebRyan
    FeebRyan Posts: 738 Member
    You want to fast? Go ahead. Want to drink meal replacement shakes? Have at it. Want to juice? Juice it. Want to take pills? Take them. Want to do some fad diet or do the raspberry ketone thing, or whatever it is? Just do it. But if weight loss is what you are after, it's as simple as eating at a deficit. Really. If it takes one of these things to get you to a deficit, great! I just try to eat a little smarter than yesterday and move a little more, but I'm new, what do I know.

    you can't possibly be new if you already know to truth :-)

    eat less than you burn = weight loss. Doesn't really matter how you get it done.

    Not one person on this thread has said anything different to that though.
  • MinnesotaManimal
    MinnesotaManimal Posts: 642 Member
    You want to fast? Go ahead. Want to drink meal replacement shakes? Have at it. Want to juice? Juice it. Want to take pills? Take them. Want to do some fad diet or do the raspberry ketone thing, or whatever it is? Just do it. But if weight loss is what you are after, it's as simple as eating at a deficit. Really. If it takes one of these things to get you to a deficit, great! I just try to eat a little smarter than yesterday and move a little more, but I'm new, what do I know.

    you can't possibly be new if you already know to truth :-)

    eat less than you burn = weight loss. Doesn't really matter how you get it done.



    Not one person on this thread has said anything different to that though.

    Perhaps I should have just said I concur. I was simply agreeing in what I intended to be a friendly manner.
  • skiersteve12345
    skiersteve12345 Posts: 89 Member
    Fasting is stupid and you'll just ruin your metabolism. You will lose weight even faster if you have a healthy calorie goal and excercise a lot

    Bro science at its finest
  • StaticEntropy
    StaticEntropy Posts: 224 Member
    You want to fast? Go ahead. Want to drink meal replacement shakes? Have at it. Want to juice? Juice it. Want to take pills? Take them. Want to do some fad diet or do the raspberry ketone thing, or whatever it is? Just do it. But if weight loss is what you are after, it's as simple as eating at a deficit. Really. If it takes one of these things to get you to a deficit, great! I just try to eat a little smarter than yesterday and move a little more, but I'm new, what do I know.

    Except that weight loss is not the ultimate benefit of intermittent fasting. All things being equal (caloric intake, macros, etc.), IF provides the following benefits:
    - autophagy
    - lower blood pressure
    - better blood lipids
    - hGH boost
    - lowered weight and body composition
    - may help in preventing Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington's by enhancing synaptic plasticity
  • FeebRyan
    FeebRyan Posts: 738 Member
    You want to fast? Go ahead. Want to drink meal replacement shakes? Have at it. Want to juice? Juice it. Want to take pills? Take them. Want to do some fad diet or do the raspberry ketone thing, or whatever it is? Just do it. But if weight loss is what you are after, it's as simple as eating at a deficit. Really. If it takes one of these things to get you to a deficit, great! I just try to eat a little smarter than yesterday and move a little more, but I'm new, what do I know.

    you can't possibly be new if you already know to truth :-)

    eat less than you burn = weight loss. Doesn't really matter how you get it done.



    Not one person on this thread has said anything different to that though.

    Perhaps I should have just said I concur. I was simply agreeing in what I intended to be a friendly manner.

    Yes but you're concurring with a post that puts regular fasting in a group with popping pills and drinking diet shakes.

    I think its pretty obvious from the science behind it and the knowledge of the people doing it that it is NOT a faddy diet or akin to popping diet pills.
  • CristinaL1983
    CristinaL1983 Posts: 1,119 Member
    You want to fast? Go ahead. Want to drink meal replacement shakes? Have at it. Want to juice? Juice it. Want to take pills? Take them. Want to do some fad diet or do the raspberry ketone thing, or whatever it is? Just do it. But if weight loss is what you are after, it's as simple as eating at a deficit. Really. If it takes one of these things to get you to a deficit, great! I just try to eat a little smarter than yesterday and move a little more, but I'm new, what do I know.

    Except that weight loss is not the ultimate benefit of intermittent fasting. All things being equal (caloric intake, macros, etc.), IF provides the following benefits:
    - autophagy
    - lower blood pressure
    - better blood lipids
    - hGH boost
    - lowered weight and body composition
    - may help in preventing Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington's by enhancing synaptic plasticity

    Studies have shown all of these benefits in small scale studies done so far.

    I practice intermittent fasting for the health benefits and because it fits easily into my lifestyle. I usually do between 16/8 and 20/4 and add in at least one 24 hour fast (dinner to dinner). It is definitely something that I can stick to for the rest of my life. For me it reduces mindless eating (because I'm fasting for a good portion of the day), makes it really easy to stick with my calories and reduces stress about packing lunches, etc... I also don't get hungry during that time so I don't feel like I'm starving.
  • Defren
    Defren Posts: 216 Member
    That isn't strictly true, I tried IF last year, I am T2 diabetic and initially did the Newcastle diet which is 4 weeks of just shakes then four weeks of shakes and 200 calories of green veg. You can look up the diet, it was devised by a university professor for T2 diabetics, with the aim to help us lose weight and defat our liver as well as given better control. Many people came off all medication after the diet. Now as you can imagine it's pretty tough just shakes for four weeks, but I then tried IF I did 5:2 and I found that harder than the Newcastle diet. I also didn't see or feel any real results. I think it is something that can work for a great many people, just not all of us. I usually eat during a window of 6-7 hours per day, which seems to suit my system a lot better. Try IF if you think it may work, but don't feel defeated if it's not for you.

    Oops sorry, my post was in reply to sijomial on page two.
  • CristinaL1983
    CristinaL1983 Posts: 1,119 Member
    That isn't strictly true, I tried IF last year, I am T2 diabetic and initially did the Newcastle diet which is 4 weeks of just shakes then four weeks of shakes and 200 calories of green veg. You can look up the diet, it was devised by a university professor for T2 diabetics, with the aim to help us lose weight and defat our liver as well as given better control. Many people came off all medication after the diet. Now as you can imagine it's pretty tough just shakes for four weeks, but I then tried IF I did 5:2 and I found that harder than the Newcastle diet. I also didn't see or feel any real results. I think it is something that can work for a great many people, just not all of us. I usually eat during a window of 6-7 hours per day, which seems to suit my system a lot better. Try IF if you think it may work, but don't feel defeated if it's not for you.

    This is a form of intermittent fasting... Usually referred to as the "leangains protocol" but it's been around for a while. That would be an 18/6 or 17/7 daily fast...

    Edited to fix typo
  • dakotababy
    dakotababy Posts: 2,407 Member
    I was plateaued for 4 months...I tried increasing calories, then increasing protein, lowering calories, exercising more, lifting more - NOTHING was breaking this plateau.

    Until I tried 5:2 Intermittent Fasting. Lost 3 lbs in 1 week, 2 lbs the next...and another 3 the next. :D Plateau was busted.
  • Defren
    Defren Posts: 216 Member
    That isn't strictly true, I tried IF last year, I am T2 diabetic and initially did the Newcastle diet which is 4 weeks of just shakes then four weeks of shakes and 200 calories of green veg. You can look up the diet, it was devised by a university professor for T2 diabetics, with the aim to help us lose weight and defat our liver as well as given better control. Many people came off all medication after the diet. Now as you can imagine it's pretty tough just shakes for four weeks, but I then tried IF I did 5:2 and I found that harder than the Newcastle diet. I also didn't see or feel any real results. I think it is something that can work for a great many people, just not all of us. I usually eat during a window of 6-7 hours per day, which seems to suit my system a lot better. Try IF if you think it may work, but don't feel defeated if it's not for you.

    This is a form of intermittent fasting... Usually referred to as the "leangains protocol" but it's been around for a while. That would be an 18/6 or 17/7 daily fast...

    Edited to fix typo

    Yes, sorry I didn't express what I meant properly. A 5:2 fast didn't work as I obsessed over food, where doing it as I am now means I don't obsess. While they are I guess a form of fasting, they work very differently for me and how I feel.
  • MinnesotaManimal
    MinnesotaManimal Posts: 642 Member
    You want to fast? Go ahead. Want to drink meal replacement shakes? Have at it. Want to juice? Juice it. Want to take pills? Take them. Want to do some fad diet or do the raspberry ketone thing, or whatever it is? Just do it. But if weight loss is what you are after, it's as simple as eating at a deficit. Really. If it takes one of these things to get you to a deficit, great! I just try to eat a little smarter than yesterday and move a little more, but I'm new, what do I know.

    you can't possibly be new if you already know to truth :-)

    eat less than you burn = weight loss. Doesn't really matter how you get it done.



    Not one person on this thread has said anything different to that though.

    Perhaps I should have just said I concur. I was simply agreeing in what I intended to be a friendly manner.

    Yes but you're concurring with a post that puts regular fasting in a group with popping pills and drinking diet shakes.

    I think its pretty obvious from the science behind it and the knowledge of the people doing it that it is NOT a faddy diet or akin to popping diet pills.

    Sure. I understand that, Ive been eating lean gains style for a good 18 months now. But I don't think that simply fasting is the reason for my weightloss. I think even you would agree that weightloss just requires a change in energy balance and it doesn't really make a difference in how you do that.
    Also, why so defensive? Im not bashing fasting at all, but I also am choosing not to be judgmental about a person that feels the need to take other supplements in order to help them achieve their goal. If It works for a person, great, if it doesn't then find something that does.
  • maniesduchocolat
    maniesduchocolat Posts: 39 Member
    My sugar levels go down drastically should I skip a meal. Is not for everyone
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    I don't get the point. Why bother?

    It's a simple and easy way to keep from overeating and researchers report benefits.
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    My sugar levels go down drastically should I skip a meal. Is not for everyone

    No, nothing is for everyone, and fasting is not recommended for people with blood sugar regulation problems. I just did a 19-hour fasting program for 30 days and have concluded that I need to try a shorter fast because I didn't have enough energy.
  • CristinaL1983
    CristinaL1983 Posts: 1,119 Member
    That isn't strictly true, I tried IF last year, I am T2 diabetic and initially did the Newcastle diet which is 4 weeks of just shakes then four weeks of shakes and 200 calories of green veg. You can look up the diet, it was devised by a university professor for T2 diabetics, with the aim to help us lose weight and defat our liver as well as given better control. Many people came off all medication after the diet. Now as you can imagine it's pretty tough just shakes for four weeks, but I then tried IF I did 5:2 and I found that harder than the Newcastle diet. I also didn't see or feel any real results. I think it is something that can work for a great many people, just not all of us. I usually eat during a window of 6-7 hours per day, which seems to suit my system a lot better. Try IF if you think it may work, but don't feel defeated if it's not for you.

    This is a form of intermittent fasting... Usually referred to as the "leangains protocol" but it's been around for a while. That would be an 18/6 or 17/7 daily fast...

    Edited to fix typo

    Yes, sorry I didn't express what I meant properly. A 5:2 fast didn't work as I obsessed over food, where doing it as I am now means I don't obsess. While they are I guess a form of fasting, they work very differently for me and how I feel.

    Definitely agree with you that they can feel very different! Most days I stick with 16/8-20/4 but I throw in a 24 hour fast about once a week and I personally couldn't do the alternate day fasting that some people have had great success with. A single 24 hour fast feels great to me but trying to do it every other day makes me feel pretty terrible. I think that is why there are so many different protocols, because different strokes for different folks.