Just started intermittent fasting, quick question

SarahStarr86
SarahStarr86 Posts: 121 Member
edited December 3 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone! I read a thread the other day that excited me and prompted me to begin intermittent fasting with a 16:8 schedule. I completed my first day yesterday and it was excellent! However, after reading online last night, I found some websites that said IF wasn't good for women and could actually mess up our hormones and not aid in weightloss but actually hinder our weightloss due to the hormones acting crazy. I'm done having children so I don't care if it messes with me trying to conceive but I definitely don't wait it to be counterproductive to my weightloss efforts. Has anyone read or heard about this? Also, let's say that a month goes by and I decide to go back to a traditional eating schedule, will my body then not be as efficient in burning calories all day since it'll be used to my fasting schedule? Thank you for all who offer suggestions and advice!

Replies

  • formylover
    formylover Posts: 34 Member
    Well the body has a way to put back the weight lost in such cases. I don't know about IF as much as i know about fasting. During ramadan a lot of people try to eat healty to loose weight and to keep it off ( less that 800 calories in 1 big meal) . the truth is even if they do achieve loose weight (water and fat) the moment they go back to eating a certain way even if they try to keep it healty, the body slowly but surely put it back on ( could take 6 months to 1 year but the weight is back sometime with new extra kg).
    Some fast all year long on Mondays and Tuesdays, they feel lighter on those days .it can help loose some excess weight in overweight people as long as they keeps the lifestyle healty.

    And i never encountered anyone that complained about hormonal issues but then again it may not be obvious even to them.

    i don't think fasting is a weight loss tip. YES on the day you fast your stomac will be flatter, you will feel fitter and lighter once used to it (even euphoric some days) but the moment you start eating your body will be storing in prevision or at least keeping the weight stable just in case ... and you will feel bloated.

    Fast for the spirit, Fast to give some time-off to you digestive system especially after eating to much at parties or celebrations, but for weight loss i doubt it works or else i would have loss all my excess kg long ago.

    I suggest you find the right diet for you to follow for a weight loss strategy. if you turn to IF please share your experience ^^
    Good luck anyway !
  • ew_david
    ew_david Posts: 3,473 Member
    edited August 2016
    I lost 28 pounds with IF, so...

    I do IF because it is easier to adhere to my calorie goal; I don't really buy into its other claims. I also don't believe it messes up my hormones. Like I said in another thread (not sure if it was yours or someone else's), 1600 calories condensed into 8 hours v. 1600 calories spread over 16 hours is still 1600 calories. The bottom line for losing weight is eating in a calorie deficit, whatever that number is for you and being consistent with it.
  • SarahStarr86
    SarahStarr86 Posts: 121 Member
    Thank you both! Yes, my goal was moreso for IF to help with condensing my 1410 calories into a window so I stay more satisfied. I always felt slightly hungry while eating 5-6 meals a day and I ready that it really helped with that. Yesterday was awesome, I wasn't hungry at all. My stomach started growling about an hour before my feed time so I just drank about 32 oz of water and I was good! It just scared me a little when I read that other stuff online...
  • oolou
    oolou Posts: 765 Member
    I've not heard about it messing with hormones ... would you mind linking where you read this? I'm curious!
  • laur357
    laur357 Posts: 896 Member
    I do IF with a 16:8 naturally. It's just when I'm hungry - 2 larger meals, no snacks, black coffee in the morning. I stopped trying to force myself to eat breakfast and incorporate snacks. I also count calories and eat at a deficit in conjunction with a 16:8 eating window. Hunger and cravings are in check.

    Anecdotal evidence: Whether it's simply from weight loss or from IF, my hormone levels are improving and I have no issues with insulin resistance/blood sugar. (I keep a close eye on both because I have PCOS.) I've also lost 63 pounds via caloric deficit in conjunction with IF, so I don't think long-term IF has negatively influenced my metabolism in any noticeable way.

    16:8 isn't a huge departure from 'normal' eating, so I doubt trying it out for a month will negatively impact your body's ability to burn calories throughout the day.
  • Maxematics
    Maxematics Posts: 2,287 Member
    Yes, I have heard this about hormones multiple times; this is why a 14/10 split is recommended for women rather than the standard 16/8 for men. Some women are fine on 16/8 while others do better on 15/9 or 14/10. I eat within an 8 to 10 hour eating window naturally, but I don't do huge meals; I eat every 2 to 3 hours instead. I don't know if it has messed with my hormones, though. I've been eating this way for almost a year and for a while I was only eating two to three times per day. I was fine until I hit around 115 pounds. I do have wonky periods now, but I'd assume that has more to do with weighing 108 pounds and having a lower BF% than having to do with IF.
  • formylover
    formylover Posts: 34 Member
    _dracarys_ wrote: »
    The bottom line for losing weight is eating in a calorie deficit, whatever that number is for you and being consistent with it.

    hi! i'm interested in your experience and your conclusion! so IF what made you loose weight is the long term calorie restriction Was IF was just a way to plan your meal(s)?

    if you had not gone for IF but just for the calorie restriction do you believe you would have achieved your goal or did IF really help you? if yes in what way?

    (Sorry i'm juste super interested in your personnal experience ^^)


  • annaskiski
    annaskiski Posts: 1,212 Member
    There's a group here:
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/49-intermittent-fasting

    I think the bottom line is: IF is still a new area of research, so most of what you hear is anecdotal.
    Having said that, IF is very popular in the body-building community, so lots of people have done it with no issues.
    Try it and see how it affects you. For me personally, it has hugely helped with my hunger cravings.
  • Noelani1503
    Noelani1503 Posts: 378 Member
    I've heard about women doing better with 14:10 too. Here's an article that mentions some research on the endocrine response in rats:

    http://www.marksdailyapple.com/women-and-intermittent-fasting/#axzz4GSumeq9n

    I've done a mix of 14:10, 16:8, and a 20:4 warrior diet (where you can eat during the 20hr fast, just limit to 300 cals of raw fruits and veggies and easily digested proteins), all for short durations. When I get closer to menstruation, I tend to feel better (fewer cravings, better sleep, etc) if I have a longer eating window. Same goes for a couple of days around ovulation. My best results (short term) have been with the warrior diet. I eat maybe a boiled egg, a scoop of protein powder, and some raw fruits and veggies (usually pineapple or apples and bell peppers). I can't speak to how I'd feel if I would have continued for longer periods on those fasts, but there's an intermittent fasting group on here that's helpful.
  • ew_david
    ew_david Posts: 3,473 Member
    formylover wrote: »
    _dracarys_ wrote: »
    The bottom line for losing weight is eating in a calorie deficit, whatever that number is for you and being consistent with it.

    hi! i'm interested in your experience and your conclusion! so IF what made you loose weight is the long term calorie restriction Was IF was just a way to plan your meal(s)?

    if you had not gone for IF but just for the calorie restriction do you believe you would have achieved your goal or did IF really help you? if yes in what way?

    (Sorry i'm juste super interested in your personnal experience ^^)


    For me (and I stress, FOR ME) IF is just a way to manipulate my calories and stick to my deficit. And because I was able to consistently stick to my deficit over a period of time, I lost weight. Meal planning and bulk food prep also helped. There is rarely a day that I don't know what I'm eating.

    I'm not hungry in the morning, so it's easy for me to wait until 11am to eat. When I did eat first thing in the morning, I found myself just as hungry at 11am than if I hadn't eaten, except now I'm down 300 or so calories for the day. I'm a volume eater; I like to eat a lot at once. I would rather have 2 large meals vs. 6 small ones.

    So, is it magical? No. Do I think people can lose weight not doing IF? Yes. Does it help me stick to a calorie deficit? Yes, and that's what matters for weight loss.
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