Fasting

Weight loss is about eating less calories than you burn. Fasting in itself doesn't do anything for weight loss, unless it helps you to consume less calories.

I do a light version of intermittent fasting, but it helps me stay within my calorie limit: I usually skip breakfast and don't eat before lunch. In my case that means a 13hr fast.

(Intermittent) fasting is helpful for weight loss in that narrowing the window for eating is one tactic some people find helpful for controlling calorie intake. No magic.

12 hours is a pretty standard spread between dinner and breakfast, IMO. If you're a night snacker, that might help you cut out some excess calories. For me it wouldn't make a difference, since I don't typically eat after dinner (and often skip breakfast, just because that's my natural tendency, not because I'm "practicing IF" or anything).

I have been fasting once per week from around 6pm-5pm the next day, so skipping breakfast and lunch. I've been doing this on and off for several years, more recently as i've been losing weight. I find that this is the best way for me to enjoy a really satisfying meal, sometimes a glass of wine or pudding on a Saturday night without having to restrict myself. I personally feel like it gives me a nice reset and reward for being good all week, and helps me stick to my weekly calorie goal.

I remember when i first started fasting it was almost excruciating, i'd feel ravenous by lunch time and dizzy by mid afternoon. However i believe the body adapts to converting fat to energy and the more you do it the easier it becomes. From experience i would say it takes at least a month to 6 weeks to really adjust to fasting that long but it really will get easier and easier. You could start by just pushing yourself a little, if you start to feel weak and dizzy don't over do it just try for consistency and gradually adjust as your body gets used to it.

These days i don't find a fast difficult, it's a challenge sometimes but i don't feel like i lack energy anymore. Infact i accidentally did an 18hr fast last week when i went shopping and skipped breakfast, i was too busy to stop for lunch and before i knew it was time for dinner!

I do this simply by virtue of not liking to eat breakfast and not eating after 8pm. If it doesn't work for you, there is no virtue in forcing yourself into doing it. But it has nothing to do with weightloss other then as a tool to eat fewer calories.

My suggestion would be to note down when you are hungry, and try to find an eating schedule that compliments when your body wants food, that doesn't involve too much.

For me that is saving calories for afternoon, because I have a tendency to graze a lot when I'm at home, and eating a big meal in the afternoon makes that less of an issue.

ddlehr wrote: »

Is anybody fasting? I've tried 16 hours fast with 8 hour eating window and struggled. Thinking 12 hours is more doable, but not sure if that's as helpful with weight loss. Any suggestions/tips?

IF doesn't have anything to do with losing weight. Weight management in general is about overall calories, not timing of your meals. IF can help some people more easily maintain a calorie deficit by essentially skipping a meal and/or any snacking they might normally do during the fasting period.

Also, I'd think a 12 hour fast would just be normal for most people...I usually have dinner around 8 or 8:30 in the evening and my breakfast around 9 AM the next morning.