Intermittent Fasting

TeMpi
TeMpi Posts: 53 Member
edited September 30 in Fitness and Exercise
If you are familiar with this I am curious as to what your opinions are on it. Please post freely.

Replies

  • bethvandenberg
    bethvandenberg Posts: 1,496 Member
    Bump for info
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    I am in the process of Eat, Stop, Eat right now, and have been doing it about three weeks on purpose, and about a month and a half in total. I have tons of energy (working 10hr days in the summer heat, and I try to get my workout days on my Stop days...my workouts are stronger than ever)...and it's actually very liberating.

    Also, I lost over 4" on my waist, and dropped 12lbs in the first three weeks. This has leveled off some, but realize...that initial 12lbs was from 189-177...when my target weight is 170-175.

    The way I do it is at minimum, Monday and Friday...but I will sometimes skip Wednesday too. I simply eat normally Sunday, have a semi early dinner if possible...then don't eat until the same time on Monday. That gives me a full 24hr fast...but doesn't really impact my schedule...and I still eat every single day.

    I hesitate to recommend it to others, as it is somewhat controversial...but I do recommend looking into it.
  • jamk1446
    jamk1446 Posts: 5,577 Member
    Limited experience with this. I am recovering from cortisol issues so I can't really do it very often or really very long. The more and better quality sleep I have the longer I can go without eating so on Saturdays I end up fasting 14 to 16 hours. I'm already at my maintenance weight so I wasn't really doing it to lose weight, I just wanted to see how I would feel (and if I have recovered enough to even be able to do it at all). I think the versions of 16 hours fasted with an 8 hour eating window are pretty reasonable. If you are in metabolic condition enough for your body to handle it. I don't understand the appeal of doing fasts longer than 24 hours and it seems there are diminishing returns with extended fasting. Your mileage may vary.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,337 Member
    Check out here http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/226488-intermittent-fasting-support-group or go to leangains.com or google "Eat Stop Eat"
  • TeMpi
    TeMpi Posts: 53 Member
    I am in the process of Eat, Stop, Eat right now, and have been doing it about three weeks on purpose, and about a month and a half in total. I have tons of energy (working 10hr days in the summer heat, and I try to get my workout days on my Stop days...my workouts are stronger than ever)...and it's actually very liberating.

    Also, I lost over 4" on my waist, and dropped 12lbs in the first three weeks. This has leveled off some, but realize...that initial 12lbs was from 189-177...when my target weight is 170-175.

    The way I do it is at minimum, Monday and Friday...but I will sometimes skip Wednesday too. I simply eat normally Sunday, have a semi early dinner if possible...then don't eat until the same time on Monday. That gives me a full 24hr fast...but doesn't really impact my schedule...and I still eat every single day.

    I hesitate to recommend it to others, as it is somewhat controversial...but I do recommend looking into it.

    Nice work, brotha.
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    Limited experience with this. I am recovering from cortisol issues so I can't really do it very often or really very long. The more and better quality sleep I have the longer I can go without eating so on Saturdays I end up fasting 14 to 16 hours. I'm already at my maintenance weight so I wasn't really doing it to lose weight, I just wanted to see how I would feel (and if I have recovered enough to even be able to do it at all). I think the versions of 16 hours fasted with an 8 hour eating window are pretty reasonable. If you are in metabolic condition enough for your body to handle it. I don't understand the appeal of doing fasts longer than 24 hours and it seems there are diminishing returns with extended fasting. Your mileage may vary.

    Agreed, longer than 24hrs does provide diminishing returns. By the same turn, shorter than 24hrs dramatically diminishes the returns. If anything, it is better to go over, than under by any real margin.
  • jamk1446
    jamk1446 Posts: 5,577 Member
    Limited experience with this. I am recovering from cortisol issues so I can't really do it very often or really very long. The more and better quality sleep I have the longer I can go without eating so on Saturdays I end up fasting 14 to 16 hours. I'm already at my maintenance weight so I wasn't really doing it to lose weight, I just wanted to see how I would feel (and if I have recovered enough to even be able to do it at all). I think the versions of 16 hours fasted with an 8 hour eating window are pretty reasonable. If you are in metabolic condition enough for your body to handle it. I don't understand the appeal of doing fasts longer than 24 hours and it seems there are diminishing returns with extended fasting. Your mileage may vary.

    Agreed, longer than 24hrs does provide diminishing returns. By the same turn, shorter than 24hrs dramatically diminishes the returns. If anything, it is better to go over, than under by any real margin.

    So, your saying fasting for less than 24 hours is somewhat pointless then?
  • poisongirl6485
    poisongirl6485 Posts: 1,487 Member
    My dad is on the Fast 5 lifestyle and has lost 50-60 lbs with JUST going by the 5-hour window, no exercise. Basically, you only eat in a 5 hour window during the day. You can eat whatever you want, but it's suggested to eat a well-rounded meal. Once that 5 hour window is up, no more eating til the next day.

    I'm doing a modified version of that where I don't eat til late in the day, but I'm also staying within my calorie allottment as suggested by MFP.
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    Limited experience with this. I am recovering from cortisol issues so I can't really do it very often or really very long. The more and better quality sleep I have the longer I can go without eating so on Saturdays I end up fasting 14 to 16 hours. I'm already at my maintenance weight so I wasn't really doing it to lose weight, I just wanted to see how I would feel (and if I have recovered enough to even be able to do it at all). I think the versions of 16 hours fasted with an 8 hour eating window are pretty reasonable. If you are in metabolic condition enough for your body to handle it. I don't understand the appeal of doing fasts longer than 24 hours and it seems there are diminishing returns with extended fasting. Your mileage may vary.

    Agreed, longer than 24hrs does provide diminishing returns. By the same turn, shorter than 24hrs dramatically diminishes the returns. If anything, it is better to go over, than under by any real margin.

    So, your saying fasting for less than 24 hours is somewhat pointless then?

    From my semi limited reading...yes. I am going strictly off of what I read in 'Eat Stop Eat'. He suggests that all of the good stuff happens very close to the 24hr mark...and even more good stuff within a couple hours past. I never go less than 20hrs...and even then, it's only if something comes up.
  • jamk1446
    jamk1446 Posts: 5,577 Member
    So, you're saying fasting for less than 24 hours is somewhat pointless then?

    From my semi limited reading...yes. I am going strictly off of what I read in 'Eat Stop Eat'. He suggests that all of the good stuff happens very close to the 24hr mark...and even more good stuff within a couple hours past. I never go less than 20hrs...and even then, it's only if something comes up.

    Interesting. Most of my reading (blogs) has been in favor of the 16-20 hour fast. I'm nowhere near ready to attempt a full 24 hours. Glad it's working for you!
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    So, you're saying fasting for less than 24 hours is somewhat pointless then?

    From my semi limited reading...yes. I am going strictly off of what I read in 'Eat Stop Eat'. He suggests that all of the good stuff happens very close to the 24hr mark...and even more good stuff within a couple hours past. I never go less than 20hrs...and even then, it's only if something comes up.

    Interesting. Most of my reading (blogs) has been in favor of the 16-20 hour fast. I'm nowhere near ready to attempt a full 24 hours. Glad it's working for you!

    If you PM me your email...I'll give you the documentation I have =D.
  • imprimez
    imprimez Posts: 36
    For those of you who've lost weight using intermittent fasting and MyFitnessPal, are you still maintaining a calorie deficit or have you set FitnessPal to 'maintain current weight'?
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    For those of you who've lost weight using intermittent fasting and MyFitnessPal, are you still maintaining a calorie deficit or have you set FitnessPal to 'maintain current weight'?

    I set mine to maintenance...mostly because I hate seeing it say I wasn't under lol. Right now I rarely hit maintenance though, even on eat days, unless I make a concerted effort. On workout days, I burn about 400cal, on top of the 2200ish for maintenance. I also try to schedule my Stop days to land on workout days...simply because my workouts are so much stronger...so on those days I usually end up with a huge deficit. On stop days I only intake about 1400cal if I recall correctly.
  • mormas
    mormas Posts: 188 Member
    bump
  • BR1986FB
    BR1986FB Posts: 1,515 Member
    [By the same turn, shorter than 24hrs dramatically diminishes the returns.

    Incorrect. The LeanGains protocol prescribes a 16 hour fast with an 8 hour feeding window and is highly effective. I've been doing it over 3 months,have had amazing results and am not the only one. I fast daily.
  • 11aking
    11aking Posts: 30
    Bump :) I just started fasting.
  • szczepj
    szczepj Posts: 422
    [

    Incorrect. The LeanGains protocol prescribes a 16 hour fast with an 8 hour feeding window and is highly effective. I've been doing it over 3 months,have had amazing results and am not the only one. I fast daily.

    Thanks! i'm going to start doing this! Feel like this may be good for me!
  • lodro
    lodro Posts: 982 Member
    Limited experience with this. I am recovering from cortisol issues so I can't really do it very often or really very long. The more and better quality sleep I have the longer I can go without eating so on Saturdays I end up fasting 14 to 16 hours. I'm already at my maintenance weight so I wasn't really doing it to lose weight, I just wanted to see how I would feel (and if I have recovered enough to even be able to do it at all). I think the versions of 16 hours fasted with an 8 hour eating window are pretty reasonable. If you are in metabolic condition enough for your body to handle it. I don't understand the appeal of doing fasts longer than 24 hours and it seems there are diminishing returns with extended fasting. Your mileage may vary.

    Agreed, longer than 24hrs does provide diminishing returns. By the same turn, shorter than 24hrs dramatically diminishes the returns. If anything, it is better to go over, than under by any real margin.

    Depends on what you're trying to accomplish. If it's weight loss, yes, not much impact. But if you're fasting for other, spiritual, reasons, extended fasting of up to 4 days will have its rewards.
  • jamk1446
    jamk1446 Posts: 5,577 Member
    Depends on what you're trying to accomplish. If it's weight loss, yes, not much impact. But if you're fasting for other, spiritual, reasons, extended fasting of up to 4 days will have its rewards.

    An excellent point. :smile:
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    [By the same turn, shorter than 24hrs dramatically diminishes the returns.

    Incorrect. The LeanGains protocol prescribes a 16 hour fast with an 8 hour feeding window and is highly effective. I've been doing it over 3 months,have had amazing results and am not the only one. I fast daily.

    Incorrect?

    I specifically said my only experience was with ESE, and based off that, I was correct. I'm more than willing to concede to other viewpoints however :).
  • bzmom
    bzmom Posts: 1,332 Member
    bump
  • Timdog57
    Timdog57 Posts: 102 Member
    I've been doing the 16/8 approach for about a month now, and I've had good results. Also, it seems pretty easy to accomplish. Even though I've always been a breakfast person, I don't miss eating all that much and I'm not particularly hungry either. I also can eat very well during that 8-hour window, and not feel like I'm on a "diet".

    Additionally, I mix in the very occasional 24-hour fast, usually after I've had a cheat. For instance, weekend before last I was on mini-vacation (long weekend) and indulged in a fair bit of unhealthy eating and wine drinking. When I came back from vacation, I got myself back onto the horse with a 24-hour feast then I returned to my 16/8 approach for the rest of the week.

    Anyway, this has shown me good results on the scale, and as I said it hasn't felt difficult. I've also found that fasting changes my feelings towards food. This is especially true with the 24-hour fasts. I am starting to iradicate the feelings of deprivation that can come from dieting, and I'm seeing food more objectively. That change in perception just may have a very important long-term impact on my life.
  • BR1986FB
    BR1986FB Posts: 1,515 Member
    [By the same turn, shorter than 24hrs dramatically diminishes the returns.

    Incorrect. The LeanGains protocol prescribes a 16 hour fast with an 8 hour feeding window and is highly effective. I've been doing it over 3 months,have had amazing results and am not the only one. I fast daily.

    Incorrect?

    I specifically said my only experience was with ESE, and based off that, I was correct. I'm more than willing to concede to other viewpoints however :).

    Perhaps I read it wrong but "By the same turn, shorter than 24hrs dramatically diminishes the returns" comes across as if "anything less is ineffective." The results many have received with 16/8 are just as effective, if not more than 24 hour fasts if done right. But...to each their own. Kudos on your results !
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,337 Member
    [By the same turn, shorter than 24hrs dramatically diminishes the returns.

    Incorrect. The LeanGains protocol prescribes a 16 hour fast with an 8 hour feeding window and is highly effective. I've been doing it over 3 months,have had amazing results and am not the only one. I fast daily.

    Incorrect?

    I specifically said my only experience was with ESE, and based off that, I was correct. I'm more than willing to concede to other viewpoints however :).

    Perhaps I read it wrong but "By the same turn, shorter than 24hrs dramatically diminishes the returns" comes across as if "anything less is ineffective." The results many have received with 16/8 are just as effective, if not more than 24 hour fasts if done right. But...to each their own. Kudos on your results !

    I have seen a bunch of people who have used a combination of the two. That seems to work very well. The 24 hour fasts give a big fat burn while the 16/8 continue it through the week. I have not combined the two, but have seriously considered it. At this point I am quite happy with the ESE approach of one of two 24 hour fasts a week, and it seems to work well for me. 16/8 works well for others.
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