Intermittent Fasting. Yes or No?

I tried it a couple different ways as research for a book, but really, my body does best with small meals evenly spaced during my waking hours. I need to keep my blood sugar balanced or I turn into that grumpy lady down the block who always yells at the kids to stay off her lawn.

I do intermittent fasting. My eating window is 12-8. Like you, i love it too. I'm doing 1200 cals. I'll have a low cal lunch and a satisfying dinner. I try to have my last bite b4 7 tho just becuz I workout around 8 or 9. So far so good. 15 lbs down in 6 weeks.

I love it too!!! I'm going to join that discussion group ASAP!

I am like you, in that I am not strict about it, but most days I start to eat around 12:30pm and then finish around 8pm, except for my one morning coffee that includes a tbsp or two of half and half.

I did alternate day IF for my weight loss phase, 5:2IF as I transitioned into maintenance and now 16:8IF as part of my maintenance plan. I'm neutral on 16:8IF-by itself it's not a weight loss/maintenance program (unlike JUDDD/5:2, which have calorie deficits built into them). I've actually gained a few pounds over the winter, while still doing 16:8IF, because I wasn't paying attention to portion sizes and calorie intake.

I'm debating right now about ditching IF all together. Kind of over it and while JUDDD/5:2IF were great for weight loss, 16:8IF isn't rocking my world (I've been doing it since 2014). There's interesting research out/coming out about IF and long term health/longevity of life but the longer I do IF, the less excited I am about it.

I had my best weight loss success ever eating whatever I wanted on alternate days, and then nothing in between. That was during a time in my life when I was working at a restaurant though, so it was made easier by just not keeping food in the house. I find I lack the willpower now.

I still only eat one big meal a day though. I never want to eat when I wake up, so I really only have a few hour window during which I am hungry before I eat dinner.

sonnyshoker wrote: »

Nice, good progress. I like to eat before I go bed. I workout fasted in the morning. I sometimes have a protein shake before and after training which adds to 300cals, if I feel strong I'll just have BCAA's. Even though I've been intermittent fasting I've ate abit much lately so no loss, but I'm building good muscle. In taking it serious for the next 6-8weeks, looking to get to drop another 10lbs of fat. If I lost 15lbs in 6 weeks is be buzzing!!

um that is not fasted if you are drinking shakes... IF means nothing but water or black coffee or tea for at least 12 hours.

aqsylvester wrote: »

I think IF is great, but it's not something I initially set out to do intentionally. However, I found that eating a ketogenic diet, I'm often not hungry for breakfast or lunch and often not until closer to 3pm. I just forget to eat.

I would imagine IF would be much harder if you are not in ketosis and fat-adapted. Before I started the ketogenic diet, I used to be starving every 3 or 4 hours. I used to have to pack snacks. If I worked a 12 hr shift (as registered nurse), I had to eat something at least 3 times during that time period or I would be cranky.

Of course, when you are in a fasting state, you do shift into ketosis anyway. However, there is a transitional phase where you feel icky. At least staying in nutritional ketosis means there is no transition

For myself personally, I've never focused on macros/a specific way of eating-just IF/calories, and after I got used to my IF rotations (back with I was doing alternate day IF for my weight loss phase), I never really experienced issues with hunger.

My eating window technically closed 35 minutes ago and I've eaten a grand total of 774 calories today, and I have absolutely no hunger right now. I am planning on having a beer later tonight, so that will put me 969 calories for the day, which means I have to force myself to eat 330 of calories yet, just so I hit my calorie goal.

I've also had no issues with feeling icky going in and out of my IF window, and I've been doing IF in one form or another since 2012.

If anything IF has taught me what real hunger is, vs eating for other reasons (time on the clock, habit, social settings, boredom etc).

Ya man, been doing 19:5 for almost two weeks now, probably the easiest thing ever!i usually eat from 1-6, as i have no apetite in the morning anyways...

Yes I have been for two weeks now on a keto diet, my window is 20/4 first meal straight after gym at 4pm then another by 7pm. Have not had much of an appetite and seem to train well fasted also enjoy the large meals :-)

While i don't have anything to contribute yet...this is something I've been hoping to explore. So happy to see this topic on here! Happy Friday everyone!!

Cant see the appeal of starving myself....

I use IF.

Do you think me eating almost 1700 cals a day is starving myself?

Not really fasting then is it?

lol.

Maybe you are confused? You've been on here since 2013 have made 2,518 posts but don't know what IF is?

Here's a beginner's guide to IF from nerd fitness, JIC you are interested:

https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2013/08/06/a-beginners-guide-to-intermittent-fasting/

I can't do it. I've tried but had to hard of a time getting enough calories in without gorging.