Intermittent Fasting

blackladyfitness92
blackladyfitness92 Posts: 4 Member
edited November 28 in Food and Nutrition
Your thoughts? Is it for everyone? How to get started? What are the pros and cons?

Replies

  • HoneyBadger302
    HoneyBadger302 Posts: 2,085 Member
    It works for some, doesn't work for others. It's a bit of a fad, but if it works for you, who cares? CICO is still the king, no matter when you eat, if you're not eating less than you burn, you won't lose.
  • kzzr
    kzzr Posts: 53 Member
    Like with any life choice/change it has to suit you and be something you enjoy doing. For me intermittent fasting is more about time management and eating to fit in with my life. I work odd hours and study part time. I have a terrible habit of eating poorly at night, so only having to prep 2 main meals instead of 3 saves time and I eat a calorie dense "dinner" when I need it most to reduce cravings. I personally always struggled to eat breakfast anyway, now I just move those calories to the time when I would be most hungry and likely to reach for something bad. I do 16:8.
  • rsclause
    rsclause Posts: 3,103 Member
    If you are doing LCHF or keto many people seem to like it and the hunger issue doesn't seem to be a problem. I haven't researched it or done it more than once (I just didn't feel hungry that day). When I was eating carbs I would freak if I missed a snack let alone a meal. So if intermittent fasting is strictly for calorie reduction I say why not just manage your calories. If it is part of a WOE that provides a benefit than why not.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    edited September 2018
    Pro - it's easier to stick to your calories when you only eat 8 hours a day.
    Cons - some people really need food in the morning.

    It's not magic or anything... if you're not hungry in the morning, don't eat, and you can use all your calories in the afternoon instead. My experience - sticking to my calories is MUCH easier when I don't eat until noon, but half the time, I'll get weak and dizzy if I don't... so I just eat when I get hungry enough that it's affecting my energy level... whether it's at 6am or 1pm (I usually don't eat past 6pm either way).
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    It just made me constantly hunger and couldn't stop looking at the clock for when i coule have my next meal.
  • rsclause
    rsclause Posts: 3,103 Member
    psuLemon wrote: »
    It just made me constantly hunger and couldn't stop looking at the clock for when i coule have my next meal.

    I'm with you on this one. I could possibly make it without breakfast on mornings I don't run but that's my favorite meal.
  • dmcnur
    dmcnur Posts: 157 Member
    I find 16:8, with the occasional 20:4 and 24 hour IF works well for me and hunger is not a problem. I follow a keto lifestyle (on medical advice) and have done so for a little over 10 months. Intermittent fasting has the benefit of autophagy (an interesting topic well worth some research) which can help with reducing the excess baggy skin left after large weight loss. I have lost about 77 pounds and at 62 years of age my skin does not have the elasticity to just bounce back.

    As with all diets and lifestyles, one size does not fit all, and individuals must do what works for them.
  • pinggolfer96
    pinggolfer96 Posts: 2,248 Member
    vandynnp wrote: »
    It totally kicked up my weight loss with the same number of calories in.

    Then you defied science. This isn’t possible from IF itself
  • yukfoo
    yukfoo Posts: 871 Member
    edited September 2018
    Almost 14 years of 16:8 IF. I will do it for the rest of my life. There's no magic. It's just another tool in your weight loss utility belt. If you have trouble with mindless eating and you just can't pass the fridge without having a look inside. Your family love snacks in front of the tv. IF might help you take some control. It made me aware of how often I was putting empty calories in my mouth and it was usually chocolate (my kryptonite). One thing. Many IF sites tell you eat "normally" as long as it's in your "feeding window". For some people that means a half of a large pizza/ Chinese food buffet or whatever and alcohol. It's fine because it's within your "feeding window". That's not the case. You have to track your calories. Your MFP stats combined with IF is a winning system. Good Luck.
  • amy19355
    amy19355 Posts: 805 Member
    During the work week, I eat most of my calories at the office, leaving an evening snack for at home. I pack stuff to eat in measured amounts: 2 small and 2 larger balanced ‘fuel events’. My inner dietician is highly motivated to think of Food As Fuel. The improvement in my work output has been nearly instantaneous! (Note to self: I don’t put anything but high test fuel in my sports car; why is my body any different!)
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