Every other day fasting?

Korriinn
Korriinn Posts: 26 Member
edited November 19 in Food and Nutrition
I have heard about this, where you eat every other day, is it a good way to loose weight? Anyone have success stories from it, and how did you go about it? Also, is it even healthy?? Lol. Thanks!!! <3

Replies

  • blue736
    blue736 Posts: 69 Member
    Depends on yr diet.food intake u don't want to lose muscle.also what's yr training like if any.will u be training while fasting.
  • strong_curves
    strong_curves Posts: 2,229 Member
    I don't think a "newbie" to weight loss should consider it. All you have to do to lose weight is eat less than you burn a day. Create a caloric deficit.
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    so you are asking if its ok to eat one day and not the next? if that is what you mean then no,its not ok.
  • Azexas
    Azexas Posts: 4,334 Member
    What's wrong with setting your calories to a reasonable deficit and eat every day? There is intermittent fasting 5:2 which on two (nonconsecutive days) you eat 500 calories and then 5 days eating at maintance calories. Is that maybe what you Are thinking of?
  • IsaackGMOON
    IsaackGMOON Posts: 3,358 Member
    strong_curves wrote: »
    I don't think a "newbie" to weight loss should consider it. All you have to do to lose weight is eat less than you burn a day. Create a caloric deficit.

    This right here.
  • Vonnie187
    Vonnie187 Posts: 11 Member
    I'm not an expert*
    But there has been a study by a British Dr where he studied the effects of fasting relating to Palio and our ancient ancestors, and his study revealed that there are Benifits to health like reducing blood pressure, cholesterol and can increase brain function. Google Dr Michael Mosley 5:2 fasting a BBC documentary and make your own decisions
  • paulachuff
    paulachuff Posts: 3 Member
    In my religion we are expected to fast on the first Sunday a month unless there is a medical reason not to or that it would in some way endanger your health. We are taught that through the ages, fasting has been a healthful way to not only sacrifice our own comfort for the sake of giving others what we would have eaten during the fast, but that the benefits to our own health are that the fast cleanses the body and mind. Just my two cents.
  • HotKanye
    HotKanye Posts: 103 Member
    There's nothing wrong with it if it works for you! However the "fast" days should actually be 500 calories and the other days make sure you're not eating at a deficit. Try to plan your workouts for your non-fasted days. There is definitely evidence to support this way of eating. If it appeals to you give it a try.
  • Sarasmaintaining
    Sarasmaintaining Posts: 1,027 Member
    Are you talking about alternate day intermittent fasting (also called ADF or JUDDD)? If so, yes that's the plan I followed during my weight loss phase, but I didn't do total fasts on my down days. I still ate between 300-500 calories on those days. Then on the alternate days I ate at around maintenance level calories.
  • musicandarts
    musicandarts Posts: 187 Member
    Why do you want to do this? Weight-loss achieved through fasting is hard to maintain. Also, you will be very tired on those days.
  • Korriinn
    Korriinn Posts: 26 Member
    Sarasmaintaining wrote: »
    Are you talking about alternate day intermittent fasting (also called ADF or JUDDD)? If so, yes that's the plan I followed during my weight loss phase, but I didn't do total fasts on my down days. I still ate between 300-500 calories on those days. Then on the alternate days I ate at around maintenance level calories.

    Yes, I believe so. Do you mind telling me what you did and how it worked? Thank you for the input.
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    There are some people on here (myself included) who are Intermittent Fasters, but I've not heard of a schedule that only includes every other day. While I suppose it's technically doable, I imagine adherence for any length of time would be really difficult and lead to binge cycles eventually, for most people.

    Look, weight loss is hard. Don't make it any harder than it needs to be. Do some research before you jump into this kind of thing. It's not an easy choice.
  • mwyvr
    mwyvr Posts: 1,883 Member
    Are you exercising at all?
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    The "every other day diet" book etc by Krista Varady is a useful resource. 500 cals one day and maintenance or a bit more the next. Preserves LBM and lab tested. Worth a read.
  • _emma_78
    _emma_78 Posts: 64 Member
    I wouldn't do anything that isn't sustainable! Then when you get to your goal weight you're going to have a hard time adjusting to maintenance
  • Annie_01
    Annie_01 Posts: 3,096 Member
    musicandarts wrote: »
    Why do you want to do this? Weight-loss achieved through fasting is hard to maintain. Also, you will be very tired on those days.

    Curious...

    What makes weight loss through fasting any harder to maintain than any other method of weight loss?

    If you just look at the people here on MFP...every day someone shows back up having not maintained their weight loss. If you took a pole I suspicion that most of them did not use the fasting method.

    I don't fast so I am not pushing that method. I just think that no matter how you lose the weight...it is hard to maintain the weight loss.

    As far as being tired...I think that many people that are eating at significant daily deficit can also experience tiredness.

  • Sarasmaintaining
    Sarasmaintaining Posts: 1,027 Member
    edited June 2015
    yarwell wrote: »
    The "every other day diet" book etc by Krista Varady is a useful resource. 500 cals one day and maintenance or a bit more the next. Preserves LBM and lab tested. Worth a read.

    Meh, I thought Varady's book was pretty weak :/


    OP-feel free to send me a pm and I can give you more info. I've helped a few other people with resources through pms, so I can just copy/paste you what I've sent them. It's Sunday and I'm feeling lazy :p
  • Sarasmaintaining
    Sarasmaintaining Posts: 1,027 Member
    musicandarts wrote: »
    Why do you want to do this? Weight-loss achieved through fasting is hard to maintain. Also, you will be very tired on those days.

    What are you basing this assumption on? I lost almost 60lbs and I've been easily maintaining the loss for two years now, all while using IF protocols.
  • Sarasmaintaining
    Sarasmaintaining Posts: 1,027 Member
    _emma_78 wrote: »
    I wouldn't do anything that isn't sustainable! Then when you get to your goal weight you're going to have a hard time adjusting to maintenance

    I didn't have any issues transitioning into maintenance. For my weight loss phase I did alternate day IF. Then I used 5:2IF during the transition period between active weight loss and maintenance. Then I switched to 16:8IF for maintenance and I've been doing that ever since. The whole thing was pretty easy actually :)
  • Unknown
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  • Korriinn
    Korriinn Posts: 26 Member
    mwyvr wrote: »
    Are you exercising at all?

    Yes! Every day for at least 30 minutes.
  • dollydiva2
    dollydiva2 Posts: 71 Member
    I'm doing 5:2 at the moment (500 cals a day) and eating 500 cals less then my TDEE on the non fast days and the weight is falling off (dieting for an upcoming holiday at the moment). I actually enjoy the fast days and don't feel tired. Once I reach my desired weight I'm going 6:1 for maintenance. The trick I think is not to think the non fast days are feasting days and eating over.
    I've heard ADF can help if you reach a plateau but I wouldn't want to do that long term.
  • Korriinn
    Korriinn Posts: 26 Member
    dollydiva2 wrote: »
    I'm doing 5:2 at the moment (500 cals a day) and eating 500 cals less then my TDEE on the non fast days and the weight is falling off (dieting for an upcoming holiday at the moment). I actually enjoy the fast days and don't feel tired. Once I reach my desired weight I'm going 6:1 for maintenance. The trick I think is not to think the non fast days are feasting days and eating over.
    I've heard ADF can help if you reach a plateau but I wouldn't want to do that long term.

    okay cool thanks for the input
  • MakePeasNotWar
    MakePeasNotWar Posts: 1,329 Member
    musicandarts wrote: »
    Why do you want to do this? Weight-loss achieved through fasting is hard to maintain. Also, you will be very tired on those days.

    I don't think she is referring to total fasting; just a dramatic calorie-cycling method. You still eat a bit on "fast" days, and overall weekly calorie intake is generally not more than 20% below maintenance level.
  • jamesha100
    jamesha100 Posts: 214 Member
    I have been doing alternate day fasting (1400'ish calories on a non fast day and 600 on a fast day) for about five weeks and have lost 30 pounds. I am 5'11" and started at 254 pounds. I have also got a fitness tracker and do at least 10,000 steps a day and cycle around 100km a week.
    The weight loss is quicker than I expected and I have adapted to the fasting without any major issues. I am rarely hungry which I put down partly to drinking a lot of water, tea etc.

    This really seems to be working for me and feels sustainable in the long term. I have a two week holiday coming up in about a month and the challenge for me will be getting back on my program afterwards.

    Fasting is nothing to be scared of and is claimed to have lots of health benefits besides weight loss (read the Michael Moseley book or see his documentary). If you want to try it then do so. Do not be put off by people who have never tried it claiming it is bad/unhealthy/unsustainable.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    edited July 2015
    Korriinn wrote: »
    I have heard about this, where you eat every other day, is it a good way to loose weight? Anyone have success stories from it, and how did you go about it? Also, is it even healthy?? Lol. Thanks!!! <3

    There are groups here that do the 5:2 ----> one of several forms of Intermittent Fasting.
    --> Five days during the week at maintenance and two days a week at 500 calories.
    (For men, it is 600 calories on the fast days.)

  • CatMarlett
    CatMarlett Posts: 27 Member
    Read Prevention Magazine's article: "This Diet Can Lead to Weight Loss, Sharpen Your Brain, and Extend Your Live. But, Do You Actually Want To Do It." It gives a comprehensive, non-medical explanation of how eating low calories every other day works and references studies done in major universities. Do some reading....
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