Fasting?

Options
patsypooter
patsypooter Posts: 175 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I was thinking of trying to do a fast day once a week. Does anyone do this? Does it work?

I don't think I could do it more than once a week, realistically.
«1

Replies

  • rlynnehawk
    rlynnehawk Posts: 71 Member
    Options
    Many years ago I did a three day fast. It wasn't to loose weight, but a friend convinced me that it was a good thing to do once in awhile to cleanse the body...etc...etc...I didn't feel hungry after the first day, and I lost a lot of inches, especially in my middle. I don't know that it helped me, but it didn't seem to hurt me.
  • doubleohstatus
    doubleohstatus Posts: 37
    Options
    I do intermittent fasting, where i fast for 16 hours and have a 8 hour eating window.

    Eating window is 12pm-8pm
    Fasting window is 8pm-12pm

    My last meal is after my workout and fasting 7-8 of the 16 hours is easily done while sleeping.
  • 1princesswarrior
    1princesswarrior Posts: 1,242 Member
    Options
    I think it would depend on why you want to do it. There is an eating plan called intermittent fasting but I don't know enough about to say anything. My riding instructor does it but I don't think she does it right when I here it described on here. I could never fast unless for a medical procedure and even then I'm miserable.
  • Rocbola
    Rocbola Posts: 1,998 Member
    Options
    A one day fast doesn't really have many benefits.
  • Iwishyouwell
    Iwishyouwell Posts: 1,888 Member
    Options
    Yes. I've lost the last 90 or so lbs doing intermittent fasting. My maintenance plan is 5:2, for the rest of my life. I fast regularly, believe it's great for health (and spirit), and it's given me the freedom to lose at the pace I want, while still enjoying the foods I desire.

    There is no downside for me. It's not a good idea however if you're a person who feels they need to eat all day, every day, or a person who feels the need to binge after periods of fasting.
  • Beeps2011
    Beeps2011 Posts: 12,008 Member
    Options
    I am a daily faster - or likely more properly I describe myself as an "intermittent feeder"....I don't eat from 8 pm until the following day around 1 pm.

    Some days, I will push a fast from 8 pm to 5 pm the following day, but those are more rare the leaner I get...
  • Othelie24601
    Othelie24601 Posts: 21
    Options
    If you want to try it, then do it! For some people this is easier then to eat at a deficit all week. Just remember to not workout on your fasting days and to drink water.

    But remember that it's just another way to create a calorie deficit and no magic weight loss diet.
  • AsaThorsWoman
    AsaThorsWoman Posts: 2,303 Member
    Options
    I also enjoy the benefits of the fast.

    My favorite part is when your tummy shrinks and you can eat half a plate then feel full.

    Because my tummy can otherwise take in a lot, lot, lot of food before feeling full.

    Increases satisfaction with my normal diet.
  • tennisdude2004
    tennisdude2004 Posts: 5,609 Member
    Options
    A one day fast doesn't really have many benefits.

    It depends which day of the week it is!
  • elghee123
    elghee123 Posts: 489 Member
    Options
    I am following the 5:2 Fast Diet too where you can only eat 500 calories. I distribute it during the day so that I don't get cranky at dead hours. It has helped in my on-going weight loss plus it helped me discipline myself.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Options
    I also enjoy the benefits of the fast.

    My favorite part is when your tummy shrinks and you can eat half a plate then feel full.

    Because my tummy can otherwise take in a lot, lot, lot of food before feeling full.

    Increases satisfaction with my normal diet.
    The human stomach does not shrink.
  • cowgirlqueen
    cowgirlqueen Posts: 466 Member
    Options
    from personal experience I've always ate this way .....that is I have always even growing up ate once a day an occasionally skip a day of eating my dad is the same way he always says if your not hungry then don't eat and I was always very healthy played all sports even football (I have 4 brothers so football was a daily activity growing up) it wasn't until I started travling (due to work) an clearly staying at motels left me with poor eating habits fast food, restaurants, and buffets.... you can see how I gained weight.... but even with the weight gain (im 5'7 1/2 185) the fat is evenly distributed most people think im only 150 lbs I think my height and body frame probably help me I don't have a tiny frame example: when I weighed 120 lbs I wore a size 8 wedding ring.... so with that said I personally don't think fasting is damaging to the body an because I've always ate this way my whole life (minus the past year) I know its easy to do .....it is a lifestyle but not everyone is the same my brothers an sisters ate like crazy because they ate when "they" was hungry if they had to eat like me they would defiantly protest and complain the whole time where as me and my father pretty much eat the same and over all were all built the same minus height (my brothers are 6'4) I think it really just depends on the person ....I've noticed from spending the last year eating out a lot it's made me crave foods I never liked before like burgers and candy an fries, and fried foods in general where as a year an a half ago if those foods were put in front of me I would of politely refused simply because I was used to eating veggies, fish, and chicken home made food I had never acquired a taste for fast food & restaurants and that's because I grew up 40 miles from any city so restaurants an fast food was no quickly accessible

    so anyways in my personal experience fasting is easy as long as I stay away from going out to eat for at least two weeks it took me that long to stop craving crazy amounts of food after stopping going out to eat and I dropped 23 inches from all over my body in a month its weird now I don't even think about going out to eat
  • tennisdude2004
    tennisdude2004 Posts: 5,609 Member
    Options
    I also enjoy the benefits of the fast.

    My favorite part is when your tummy shrinks and you can eat half a plate then feel full.

    Because my tummy can otherwise take in a lot, lot, lot of food before feeling full.

    Increases satisfaction with my normal diet.
    The human stomach does not shrink.

    Yes we know!!!!

    It's just a saying.
  • patsypooter
    patsypooter Posts: 175 Member
    Options
    Awesome, thanks for the advice guys!

    I will seriously consider the 5:2 diet.

    I'd like to kick up my weight loss a notch. I was reading about JUDD and on down days you eat under 500 calories. I think that would be manageable for me. I will give it a shot, doesn't hurt to try.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Options
    A lot of people follow different fasting protocols.
    I did 5:2 to lose weight and am doing 6:1 to maintain.

    http://thefastdiet.co.uk/

    Have a read if interested but remember that the low days are not in addition to a daily calorie deficit - they are instead of a daily deficit.

    To answer your questions:
    "Does anyone do this?" Yes - and there are groups on here for some of the fasting protocols.
    "Does it work?" No idea what you mean by does it work! It worked for me to lose weight and is currently working for me to maintain my goal weight and I found it really easy to stick to.
  • _benjammin
    _benjammin Posts: 1,224 Member
    Options
    I was thinking of trying to do a fast day once a week. Does anyone do this? Does it work?

    I don't think I could do it more than once a week, realistically.

    If fasting one day week nets you a calorie deficit for the week, yes it will work.

    I do intermittent fasting. ~17 hour fast and ~7 hour feeding "window" with a net slight deficit. I'm never really hungry except just before eating and then get "full", eat a snack or two and then dinner and am "full" again. Never really got full trying to eat 5-6 meals a day.
  • SKME2013
    SKME2013 Posts: 704 Member
    Options
    There are quite a few threads now on this forum re intermittent fasting, apologies for double posting but it might be helpful:
    First you calculate your BMR and TDEE:
    http://thefastdiet.co.uk/how-many-calories-on-a-non-fast-day/

    Here is the link to the 5:2 fast forum which is great in supplying you with answers.

    http://thefastdiet.co.uk


    In effect you are eating five days a week somewhere between your BMR and your TDEE and on two non consecutive days, I.e. Monday and Wednesday, you are only consuming 500 cal (women) and 600 cal (men). This will create a deficit of 3500 cal per week which is the equivalent of losing 1 pound in weight.

    Now there is also 4:3 (same as above but three days fasting) and ADF (alternate day fasting), with the latter allowing you to not only consume what you want but also as much as you like. (ADF only)

    All of the above can be combined with 16:8 (you eat ALL of your food within a time frame of 8 hours and you give your body a rest for 16); 20:4 or 22:2, the last ones allow you to eat within either four or two hours.

    Now, I have done a combination of all the above and I have lost 8 kg in 12 weeks, which is in my particular case outstanding as I did not have to lose much. The more you have to lose the faster it goes.

    I am now close to maintenance and so far am very happy with this way of losing weight.

    And yes, you can work out on those days but you are NOT allowed to eat the calories back. You need to stick to your 500/600 cal and stay under your TDEE on non fast days.

    Best of luck
    Stef.
  • Iwishyouwell
    Iwishyouwell Posts: 1,888 Member
    Options
    If you want to try it, then do it! For some people this is easier then to eat at a deficit all week. Just remember to not workout on your fasting days and to drink water.

    I've exercised fasted plenty of times. Actually some of the best exercises sessions, the most energetic, have been while fasted.
  • Clash1001
    Clash1001 Posts: 85 Member
    Options
    If you want to try it, then do it! For some people this is easier then to eat at a deficit all week. Just remember to not workout on your fasting days and to drink water.

    I've exercised fasted plenty of times. Actually some of the best exercises sessions, the most energetic, have been while fasted.

    I agree. I do 5:2 and exercise the morning after a fast day before I break my fast. I normally do a twenty minute circuit training workout - I do find I have more energy, although I wouldn't like to try a long endurance session afterwards.

    For me, fasting has been a fascinating process - it has helped me recognise real 'hunger' rather than 'I want to eat a cheeseburger therefore I must be hungry' type hunger. On a fast day, I stay below or round about 500 cals. It has helped me think of food as fuel, rather than a whim.
  • rememberthebasics
    rememberthebasics Posts: 2 Member
    Options
    So 5:2 doesn't make your body go into "starvation mode"? That is one of my concerns...I'm not even sure if your body does that unless it undergoes major food restriction...

Categories