20:4fast

giveMEbeauty
giveMEbeauty Posts: 192
in Health and Weight Loss
Anyone doin the 20/4 fasts?
«1

Replies

  • giveMEbeauty
    giveMEbeauty Posts: 192
    It's my first day today . Advice welcome ????
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    Just set a calorie budget and stay within it. Your body doesn't care when you eat, it cares how much you eat. Unless fasting is something you really enjoy there is no reason at all to not eat for 20 hours then cram a days worth of food into a 4 hour window. The only reason it works as a diet is because most people also cut their calories way down with it.
  • tricksee
    tricksee Posts: 835 Member
    Unless fasting is something you really enjoy there is no reason at all to not eat

    Actually, there are studies that show fasting has many, many other benefits than just weight loss. Those benefits are reasons, I guess.
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
    Unless fasting is something you really enjoy there is no reason at all to not eat

    Actually, there are studies that show fasting has many, many other benefits than just weight loss. Those benefits are reasons, I guess.
    Which studies? and what benefits
  • scottaworley
    scottaworley Posts: 871 Member
    Unless fasting is something you really enjoy there is no reason at all to not eat

    Actually, there are studies that show fasting has many, many other benefits than just weight loss. Those benefits are reasons, I guess.
    Which studies? and what benefits

    Ones that he made up for the sake of the post, duh.
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    Unless fasting is something you really enjoy there is no reason at all to not eat

    Actually, there are studies that show fasting has many, many other benefits than just weight loss. Those benefits are reasons, I guess.

    That's what I said. If you think fasting does something for you then go for it. If you think it's a magic weight loss plan, probably not going to happen. I'm not convinced the health benefits are there either but to each his own.
  • 111orBust
    111orBust Posts: 41
    Best of luck! Before BBQ season kicked in I was on IF for 18/6. Lost a lot of fat around my belly which I never managed to do before despite eating exactly the same and being on the same exercise programme.

    Each to their own.
  • bobf279
    bobf279 Posts: 342 Member
    I thought it meant eat for 20 hours and fast for 4 :smile:
  • tricksee
    tricksee Posts: 835 Member
    [/quote]
    [/quote]Which studies? and what benefits
    [/quote]

    http://voices.yahoo.com/10-incredible-health-benefits-fasting-11621130.html

    There is a few but the list goes on...
  • girlunobserved
    girlunobserved Posts: 8
    I thought it meant eat for 20 hours and fast for 4 :smile:

    sounds like my kind of diet
  • sunlover89
    sunlover89 Posts: 436 Member
    Read the lean gains website. Fasting really helped me with fat around my middle specifically. I did 20/4 for 6 weeks but as a woman it REALLY screwed with my hormones, out bodies work very differently to men, which is why it's suggested women who are serious about every day fasting should adopt a no greater than a 16/8 protocol. I do this now on my non lifting days. I'd stay clear of 20/4 for now, maybe work your way up to it if you can do 18/6 successfully for 6 weeks.
  • scottaworley
    scottaworley Posts: 871 Member
    [/quote]Which studies? and what benefits
    [/quote]

    http://voices.yahoo.com/10-incredible-health-benefits-fasting-11621130.html

    There is a few but the list goes on...
    [/quote]

    There are two sources in that article....
  • tricksee
    tricksee Posts: 835 Member
    [/quote]

    There are two sources in that article....
    [/quote]

    You have google. Use it.
  • scottaworley
    scottaworley Posts: 871 Member

    There are two sources in that article....
    [/quote]

    You have google. Use it.
    [/quote]

    I'm not the one making health claims. Be prepared to support anything that you say.
  • tricksee
    tricksee Posts: 835 Member

    I'm not the one making health claims. Be prepared to support anything that you say.

    I did support it. What I won't be doing is searching the internet for a dozen or so of them when you have the ability to look yourself.
  • scottaworley
    scottaworley Posts: 871 Member

    I'm not the one making health claims. Be prepared to support anything that you say.

    I did support it. What I won't be doing is searching the internet for a dozen or so of them when you have the ability to look yourself.

    lol supporting with an article that doesn't support itself is not support. Anyone can post anything on the internet.
  • scottaworley
    scottaworley Posts: 871 Member
    Fasting is dangerous
    http://www.livestrong.com/article/442148-the-dangers-of-fasting/
  • sunlover89
    sunlover89 Posts: 436 Member
    Fasting is dangerous
    http://www.livestrong.com/article/442148-the-dangers-of-fasting/

    "In addition to the side effects that can commonly occur as the result of fasting, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, muscle aches and anxiety, there are more serious problems that can arise. If you fast too long, your body may go into starvation mode, which can lead to anemia, hypoglycemia -- low blood sugar, and electrolyte imbalances that can lead to cardiac arrest and coma, according to Michael Picco at Mayo Clinic.com. Kidney and liver failure can also occur. Some people have died from prolonged fasts, usually because they were in a weakened state before fasting."

    - Don't fast any longer than 20 hours
    - If you feel dizzy, eat something

    Starvation mode in a healthy person of a healthy weight sets in after 72 hours of not eating ANYTHING, longer for those who are overweight or obese. Intermittent fasting is used up to 20 hours. The article you posted raises some good points that IF'ers should be aware of, but has no gravitas here as IF'ers would not be fasting to the lengths that are suggested in the article.

    I think you also missed this in the end paragraph... "For most people, fasting for 24 to 48 hours is not harmful"
  • tricksee
    tricksee Posts: 835 Member

    lol supporting with an article that doesn't support itself is not support.

    lol - Back at ya.
  • pcastagner
    pcastagner Posts: 1,606 Member
    Fasting is dangerous
    http://www.livestrong.com/article/442148-the-dangers-of-fasting/

    So let me get this straight. If someone disagrees with you, the burden is on them to provide a good source. But you can post sources that don't even support your position?

    From your source: "For most people, fasting for 24 to 48 hours is not harmful although there are exceptions. It's best to consult a doctor before beginning any fast".


    Since we are taing about a 16-20 hour fast, your source isn't even addressing the same topic.
  • scottaworley
    scottaworley Posts: 871 Member
    Fasting is dangerous
    http://www.livestrong.com/article/442148-the-dangers-of-fasting/

    "In addition to the side effects that can commonly occur as the result of fasting, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, muscle aches and anxiety, there are more serious problems that can arise. If you fast too long, your body may go into starvation mode, which can lead to anemia, hypoglycemia -- low blood sugar, and electrolyte imbalances that can lead to cardiac arrest and coma, according to Michael Picco at Mayo Clinic.com. Kidney and liver failure can also occur. Some people have died from prolonged fasts, usually because they were in a weakened state before fasting."

    - Don't fast any longer than 20 hours
    - If you feel dizzy, eat something

    Starvation mode in a healthy person of a healthy weight sets in after 72 hours of not eating ANYTHING, longer for those who are overweight or obese. Intermittent fasting is used up to 20 hours. The article you posted raises some good points that IF'ers should be aware of, but has no gravitas here as IF'ers would not be fasting to the lengths that are suggested in the article.

    I think you also missed this in the end paragraph... "For most people, fasting for 24 to 48 hours is not harmful"

    This is a troll about unsupported references:)
    While fasting is not good for me as I have blood sugar spikes, I have no opinion on it for healthy individuals.
  • redda777
    redda777 Posts: 21 Member
    Bump for later! I would really like to try this out.
  • professorhuggins
    professorhuggins Posts: 72 Member
    why would intermittent fasting target body fat differently than a normal caloric deficit?
  • scottaworley
    scottaworley Posts: 871 Member
    why would intermittent fasting target body fat differently than a normal caloric deficit?

    The best argument I have found for IF is that it helps control your calories. Some people might lose track and overeat by several hundred calories throughout the day. If you fast then the eating is concentrated and easier to track.
  • brosehemian
    brosehemian Posts: 34 Member
    I've read quite a few intelligent articles about fasting, both scientific and ones that come out of personal experiences.
    A couple here:
    http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-intermittent-fasting-might-help-you-live-longer-healthier-life&page=3
    http://www.mensjournal.com/magazine/the-benefits-of-occasional-fasting-20121116

    I'll be honest, most of the things I've read about fasting applies to men and it seems suggested that fasting, intermittent or otherwise, seems less helpful for women. In my own experience, occasional fasting helps me connect more with my body and does seem to give my digestive system a break, so when I break my fast things move better... if you know what I mean. But to the woman who started this post asking for help: ignore the negativity of those unhelpful and unconstructive comments. (Something I hate about this site is everyone thinks that their way is the only way.) I'd say do your research about it and try it out for yourself, see what works and what doesn't. Weight loss results and health benefits of different methods can show up differently in different people so listen to your body and do what feels right. Just be prepared for some detox symptoms - irritability, change in skin (oily/dry), etc.

    Best of luck to you girl.
  • pcastagner
    pcastagner Posts: 1,606 Member
    why would intermittent fasting target body fat differently than a normal caloric deficit?

    It doesn't need to in order to be useful.

    I feel leangains gave me control over my food. I can "feel" a deficit, and eating big for 6-8 hours a day recharges my emotional batteries. My love of gut busting meals got me fat, now I'm using it to be lean. But if you do better eating small meals 12 hours a day, do that!
  • nomoredoughnuts
    nomoredoughnuts Posts: 130 Member
    After trying the 18/6 IF I can tell you for a fact that it worked for the days I tried it because it was more convenient. I didn't have to worry too much about my meals because I had all of my daily calories in 2 meals an it was more enjoyable. I also find that I get more hungry during the day if I have breakfast early on.

    I've also read that because your body is hungry but don't hit starvation point you burn more fat. I don't know if it is true but I know that whenever I've tried it my stomach always looks better and I'm able to eat smaller meals.
  • jayrudq
    jayrudq Posts: 475 Member
    If you look up the 5:2 IF Diet you will get a lot of information regarding the benefits of IF, aside from weight loss. In fact, many people use IF for the health benefits SOLELY. I also think, personally, that it is helpful in controlling my appetite and it fits my eating patterns well. 5-6 meals a day and I am starving. Skip breakfast, eat a very late lunch, works for me well.

    We are all experts about our own experiences here and little else. This "prove it" mentality is really obnoxious and unhelpful.
  • tricksee
    tricksee Posts: 835 Member
    This "prove it" mentality is really obnoxious and unhelpful.

    Link please?



    joking... :-)
  • scottaworley
    scottaworley Posts: 871 Member


    We are all experts about our own experiences here and little else. This "prove it" mentality is really obnoxious and unhelpful.

    I totally agree, and most advice I see on here comes from that place. It is, of course, best to take any advice from personal experience with a grain of salt as not all people are alike. That being said, when someone says that studies show something I want to see something that supports that claim well. This is a claim that is greater than "in my experience", and it implies medical truth. As such it should be treated as a medical claim and supported by research and peer reviewed articles.

    EDIT
    If I went to a dietician, he told me something that I wanted more information on, and he told me to google it I would be seriously offended. Anyone making a medical claim should support their claims.

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