Intermittent Fasting

Has anyone done intermittent fasting? If so, how did you find it in terms of fat loss? Do you recommend it? And while doing your fast, how did you do it? Was it all day fast or just certain hours during the day?
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Replies

  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    edited April 2018
    There's many different versions of IF.
    I've tried two versions (5:2 & 16:8).

    Be clear what you are expecting to gain from it - making adherence easier to a suitable calorie goal is the thing that will make a (potential) difference to your weight loss.

    Remember you can lose, maintain or gain weight while doing IF and it's your long term calorie balance that determines that.


    ETA - 5:2 is specifically a weight loss IF protocol, 16:8 is just an eating schedule which can be used for your chosen calorie level.
  • LW3380
    LW3380 Posts: 118 Member
    edited April 2018
    Search on here for IF and you'll see plenty of threads on it...loads of helpful (and some not so much) information.
  • Andia15
    Andia15 Posts: 104 Member
    I was considering doing the 5:2 fast with 1 day of high calories in my 5 days of eating and then the other 4 either maintenance calories or a little bit under.

    I will search through, thank you.
  • catherineroberts87
    catherineroberts87 Posts: 27 Member
    Been doing IF past week 16:8, 9am-5pm, I’ve also cut down my calories to 1200-1300. I’ve lost 3 pounds since Tuesday, mostly water weight I’m sure. It helps me keep within my calorie limit so I’d say it’s worth a shot
  • Andia15
    Andia15 Posts: 104 Member
    Oh well done, I'm seriously considering giving it a go.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,426 MFP Moderator
    I found that IF was a terrible fit for me; I was doing 16:8 with an eating window from 11-7. But I always woke up starving and could never workout fasted. I didn't lose any additional weight above what I did previously, so I decided to go back to eating 3 or 4 meals.
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    IF did nothing for my fat loss when I ate in a calorie surplus... And at maintenance.

    I like saving my calories for later in the day, which can help when you're in a deficit. Other than that, IF isn't magical. If it suits you, go for it :)
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Andia15 wrote: »
    Has anyone done intermittent fasting? If so, how did you find it in terms of fat loss? Do you recommend it? And while doing your fast, how did you do it? Was it all day fast or just certain hours during the day?

    Intermittent fasting doesn't target fat loss any better than other calorie deficit plans do. It's just a way to schedule your meals/snacks.

    If intermittent fasting helps you maintain a consistent deficit you will lose weight. Here are links to a couple groups.........
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/49-intermittent-fasting

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/8628-5-2-diet
  • Andia15
    Andia15 Posts: 104 Member
    Thank you all for your inputs. Much appreciated. Still on the fence about whether or not to do it. I might give it a try for a few weeks and see how I get on and how I feel energy wise.
  • catherineroberts87
    catherineroberts87 Posts: 27 Member
    Andia15 wrote: »
    Thank you all for your inputs. Much appreciated. Still on the fence about whether or not to do it. I might give it a try for a few weeks and see how I get on and how I feel energy wise.

    Give it a go and see how you go:) if it helps you stick to your calorie limit and you choose a time frame that works for you and you see results then it works. I can’t stand the thought of skipping breakfast so 9-5 works great for me but you can choose whatever fits your routine. Good luck!
  • DanaDark
    DanaDark Posts: 2,187 Member
    I naturally fit the 16:8 set up given when I feel hungry and when I actually get time for my meals. So it works well for me to keep my weight decent provided I don’t break it with late night snacks.

    5:2 gave me wonderful weight loss results a couple years ago. Managed to get me down below my lowest barrier.
  • cebreisch
    cebreisch Posts: 1,340 Member
    I’ve heard of people who swear by it. I’ve never liked fasting. Probably because I’m a total food addict.

    However, I will say that the bariatric doctors I’ve asked about whether things like intermittent fasting or things like cleanses where worth considering all said the same thing. If they were worth considering, the doctors would have suggested them at some point. To date, none of them have.
  • Andia15
    Andia15 Posts: 104 Member
    Thank you all. @Diego_uy I don't have too intense a workout routine. I'm doing the 30 day fitness challenge at the minute which doesn't seem to extreme. I'll give it a go for a few weeks and see how it goes.
  • kds10
    kds10 Posts: 452 Member
    edited April 2018
    I started it about three weeks ago...I do an 18 6 schedule. Basically I skip breakfast and do not eat after supper. I have lost 4 lbs since March 27th. I am happy with it and it keeps my eating in control. I find I feel hungry for sure during the morning but it is not that shaky starving feeling more just manageable hunger feeling. I drink an extra large plain green tea thru the morning.

    When I talk to people that have no weight issues I find that what I am doing now is something they do regularly...they do not eat after supper and if they do not skip breakfast they just have a smaller breakfast.

    I used to eat about 500 or 600 calories for breakfast at around 6:30 a.m. (couple of pouched eggs, high fiber toast) but by 9 am I was hungry again so I would have a snack and then by lunch time I was hungry again anyway. So for me I am just saving about 500 calories per day.

    I should add I do not count calories and allow myself treats (ice cream, chocolate, chips) BUT in moderation. I still get my calcium in, at least 5 servings of fruit & veggies, fiber, protein, etc.
  • Grich1234
    Grich1234 Posts: 3 Member
    I’ve lost 47 lbs since January 15th. I’m still new at it and am still learning. Solid rules helped me have success. I’m 6’6” and 400 when I started.
    I do use a food scale.
    I weigh in once a week.
    I do log everything that I eat.
    I do not eat after 8 pm
    I do intermittent fasts. Eat 4pm- 8pm The fasts haven’t bothered me like I thought they would.
    I limited carbs which was kind of tough to eat around.
  • YvetteK2015
    YvetteK2015 Posts: 654 Member
    I do 16:8. My window is between 2-10pm. It helps me stick to my calorie goal because if I eat before 2, I am so ravenous for the rest of the day. So this has been perfect for me.
  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    I eat breakfast and skip lunch, I then have dinner with my peeps in the evening. Don’t know what it’s called.
  • GottaBurnEmAll
    GottaBurnEmAll Posts: 7,722 Member
    I eat breakfast and skip lunch, I then have dinner with my peeps in the evening. Don’t know what it’s called.

    TMAD... Two Meals A Day... or EFE ... Eat Fast Eat. Or something. Gotta be catchy.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    edited April 2018
    I eat breakfast and skip lunch, I then have dinner with my peeps in the evening. Don’t know what it’s called.

    I may be wrong, but I believe that's called "skipping lunch". It'll probably never catch on, it's not very flashy. :D
  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    I eat breakfast and skip lunch, I then have dinner with my peeps in the evening. Don’t know what it’s called.

    I may be wrong, but I believe that's called "skipping lunch". It'll probably never catch on, it's not very flashy. :D

    Yep, that’ll work. It’s so dull though. Sklunch?
  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    I eat breakfast and skip lunch, I then have dinner with my peeps in the evening. Don’t know what it’s called.

    I may be wrong, but I believe that's called "skipping lunch". It'll probably never catch on, it's not very flashy. :D

    Yep, that’ll work. It’s so dull though. Sklunch?

    "Staccato Fasting!!!"

    How did you come up with staccato? Do you play an instrument? I play the piano and know a staccato when I see one. Staccato is when notes are shortened. Throw me a bone here. Lol
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    edited April 2018
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    I eat breakfast and skip lunch, I then have dinner with my peeps in the evening. Don’t know what it’s called.

    I may be wrong, but I believe that's called "skipping lunch". It'll probably never catch on, it's not very flashy. :D

    Yep, that’ll work. It’s so dull though. Sklunch?

    "Staccato Fasting!!!"

    How did you come up with staccato? Do you play an instrument? I play the piano and know a staccato when I see one. Staccato is when notes are shortened. Throw me a bone here. Lol

    Good observation - I play guitar, lol.

    Staccato - "a note of shortened duration, separated from the note that may follow, with silence". Kinda like breakfast, separated from the dinner that may follow, with silence. :D
  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    I eat breakfast and skip lunch, I then have dinner with my peeps in the evening. Don’t know what it’s called.

    I may be wrong, but I believe that's called "skipping lunch". It'll probably never catch on, it's not very flashy. :D

    Yep, that’ll work. It’s so dull though. Sklunch?

    "Staccato Fasting!!!"

    How did you come up with staccato? Do you play an instrument? I play the piano and know a staccato when I see one. Staccato is when notes are shortened. Throw me a bone here. Lol

    Good observation - I play guitar, lol.

    Staccato - "a note of shortened duration, separated from the note that may follow, with silence". Kinda like breakfast, separated from the dinner that may follow, with silence. :D

    Awesome! Staccato Fasting it is!
  • Fisah17
    Fisah17 Posts: 202 Member
    I workout 6 days a week so a traditional IF plan (days on/days off) only works when I commit to giving up my workouts on those days. I do a 5:2 once a quarter and usually only for a couple of weeks to refocus since managing my eating habits is rough (first time I have not been in maintenance mode so its a struggle even though I have a "low" weight loss goal of 10 lbs). On a daily basis I wakeup at 4a to workout so that's when the intake clock begins, I call it quits at 6p with nothing but water until post workout the next day. I am training myself to have more self control with my diet, which helps me take the intensity of my workouts down so I can last through the week.