INTERMITTENT FASTING HAS WORKED MIRACLES
BarbMessimer
Posts: 362 Member
Looking back over my "diet history", I realize I've spent way too much of my life focused on and anguishing over food.
I've been on every diet imaginable since the age of 16. I was either torturing myself by depriving myself of food or was breaking the diet due to intense hunger and eating any and everything I wanted. I could never keep the weight off for long and afterwards I'd put back it all back on along with a few extra pounds, so I ended up worse off than when I'd started.
I even won a national weight loss contest in 2011. I lost 68 pounds in a short amount of time but ended up gaining 100 pounds within the years afterwards.
Needless to say, that at the age of 74, I was finally through with dieting and had accepted that I was always going to be fat. I decided I would eat whatever I wanted until the bitter end and didn't want anyone to mention the word diet to me ever again.
But my health got really bad as a result of the weight. I was diagnosed as being "morbidly obese" and was suffering from its ill effects on my body. I had back pain so severe that I was sent to pain management. I was practically bed bound due to the pain and was so short of breath that I could hardly walk. When I went to the store, I had to ride on their motorized scooters to get around. I tore a meniscus in my knee and surgery was needed. I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic. I had very little energy and was depressed.
Then I heard about IF (Intermittent Fasting). It was a way of eating and not a diet. You didn't measure your food or count calories. You ate 1-2 meals of your choice a day and just had to give up snacking. What could be easier?
I went online and read everything I could on the subject and watched YouTube videos by D. Jason Fung and Dr. Pradip Jamnadas. These highly respected doctors explained in great detail how IF was good for the body and could reverse many of the chronic diseases that came with being overweight.
Adopting the IF style of eating, I lost 30 pounds in 9 months last year, have gone on to lose an additional 30 this year, and my health has completely been reversed. I can walk easily. No more back pain. Have tons of energy with a bright and happy attitude. My meniscus healed without the need for surgery. I’m no longer diagnosed as being pre-diabetic. Amazing, isn't it. Following the IF plan has worked miracles for me.
Needless to say, I recommend IF highly. It's the solution to the obesity epidemic in our country. Diets don't work in the long run but IF does.
I've been on every diet imaginable since the age of 16. I was either torturing myself by depriving myself of food or was breaking the diet due to intense hunger and eating any and everything I wanted. I could never keep the weight off for long and afterwards I'd put back it all back on along with a few extra pounds, so I ended up worse off than when I'd started.
I even won a national weight loss contest in 2011. I lost 68 pounds in a short amount of time but ended up gaining 100 pounds within the years afterwards.
Needless to say, that at the age of 74, I was finally through with dieting and had accepted that I was always going to be fat. I decided I would eat whatever I wanted until the bitter end and didn't want anyone to mention the word diet to me ever again.
But my health got really bad as a result of the weight. I was diagnosed as being "morbidly obese" and was suffering from its ill effects on my body. I had back pain so severe that I was sent to pain management. I was practically bed bound due to the pain and was so short of breath that I could hardly walk. When I went to the store, I had to ride on their motorized scooters to get around. I tore a meniscus in my knee and surgery was needed. I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic. I had very little energy and was depressed.
Then I heard about IF (Intermittent Fasting). It was a way of eating and not a diet. You didn't measure your food or count calories. You ate 1-2 meals of your choice a day and just had to give up snacking. What could be easier?
I went online and read everything I could on the subject and watched YouTube videos by D. Jason Fung and Dr. Pradip Jamnadas. These highly respected doctors explained in great detail how IF was good for the body and could reverse many of the chronic diseases that came with being overweight.
Adopting the IF style of eating, I lost 30 pounds in 9 months last year, have gone on to lose an additional 30 this year, and my health has completely been reversed. I can walk easily. No more back pain. Have tons of energy with a bright and happy attitude. My meniscus healed without the need for surgery. I’m no longer diagnosed as being pre-diabetic. Amazing, isn't it. Following the IF plan has worked miracles for me.
Needless to say, I recommend IF highly. It's the solution to the obesity epidemic in our country. Diets don't work in the long run but IF does.
Tagged:
8
Replies
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Congrats 👏1
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This is exactly my experience. 68 years old, overweight and dieting all my life (never successfully over the long term). I began IF about 3 months ago and have lost 20 pounds. I have found that I am able to control what I eat over two meals and ignore feelings of hunger until they go away. I have traveled, taken holidays and gone to parties. It all seems to be working!2
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I am 70 years old and have lost 50 pounds since January. I was just counting calories for the first few months and when I suddenly stopped losing I found Intermittent Fasting and I will never go back to regular eating again.
I too was morbidly obese and I could barely make it to the mailbox, I couldn’t breathe. I went to many different specialists and they couldn’t find a reason for me not being able to breathe. Well with the weight loss I am now breathing normally again, it was all beacause I was too fat. I feel good, like I have been given my life back.1 -
Do you have any tips on eating. I am doing 16:8. I tried it in the past and never lost anything.1
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I keep to 1200 calories a day using My Fitness Pal to log everything I eat. It really is easy to do once you do it for awhile. Occasionally I eat more if there is a special occasion but that only happens rarely. I am doing 18:6. I never could eat when I first get up so this is easy for me and stopping eating at 6 pm keeps me from snacking in the evening. Aside from losing weight I have much more energy. I was in stage 4 kidney disease and that has recently lowered to stage 3.
I eat yogurt every day and lots of fruit and small portions at dinner. I have practically cut out all potatoes, bread, and pasta.1 -
Mistake0
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merryday12 wrote: »This is exactly my experience. 68 years old, overweight and dieting all my life (never successfully over the long term). I began IF about 3 months ago and have lost 20 pounds. I have found that I am able to control what I eat over two meals and ignore feelings of hunger until they go away. I have traveled, taken holidays and gone to parties. It all seems to be working!
Merryday, I'm so happy for you. I've been singing the praises of IF for the past 20 months. You'd think I was trying to sell something but no, it's free. It has completely changed my life around!
If you don't mind I'd like to add you as a friend and we can support each other.0 -
LaurieKane1 wrote: »I am 70 years old and have lost 50 pounds since January. I was just counting calories for the first few months and when I suddenly stopped losing I found Intermittent Fasting and I will never go back to regular eating again.
I too was morbidly obese and I could barely make it to the mailbox, I couldn’t breathe. I went to many different specialists and they couldn’t find a reason for me not being able to breathe. Well with the weight loss I am now breathing normally again, it was all beacause I was too fat. I feel good, like I have been given my life back.
I KNOW!!!!! I was "circling the drain" and not long for this world the way I was going. Like you, I couldn't walk to the mailbox. I'm an entirely new person now!
If you don't mind, I'd like to add you as a friend.1 -
LaurieKane1 wrote: »I keep to 1200 calories a day using My Fitness Pal to log everything I eat. It really is easy to do once you do it for awhile. Occasionally I eat more if there is a special occasion but that only happens rarely. I am doing 18:6. I never could eat when I first get up so this is easy for me and stopping eating at 6 pm keeps me from snacking in the evening. Aside from losing weight I have much more energy. I was in stage 4 kidney disease and that has recently lowered to stage 3.
I eat yogurt every day and lots of fruit and small portions at dinner. I have practically cut out all potatoes, bread, and pasta.
Laurie, that is ABSOLUTELY the way to do it! I shoot for one meal a day but it lasts over 4-6 hours so it's not really one meal. I have never had so much energy and mental clarity as I have now. It's a real "game changer"!!!!0 -
wlholmes2381 wrote: »Do you have any tips on eating. I am doing 16:8. I tried it in the past and never lost anything.
I would lengthen my fasting window gradually to where you fast for 18-20 hours. It might take you months to work up to it but that's OK.
Also, watch what and how much you eat. I don't count calories (Did it all my life without long-term success and won't do it anymore) and cut back on fried foods, processed foods including frozen dinners, flour products, complex carbs like potatoes, peas, beans and rice, sweets and limit your fruits as they're high in fructose which has to be digested by your liver. No snacking between meals.
IF works for everyone and it will work for you!
I'll send you a friend request and encourage you.0 -
Of course you can add me as a friend 😊0
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I'm afraid of doing IF for fear of eating crazy amounts of food (even the wrong food). How do you decide what ratio of fasting/eating? Do you still log food on MFP?0
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*peeks in*
Friendly reminder that IF is NOT a magic bullet, you still have to eat less than you burn, you can do IF and still need to log/pay attention to calories consumed, and no one method of losing weight will be good for everyone.
And that Fung isn't all that highly respected around here.
But glad you all are finding something that works FOR YOU because that's the important part.4 -
I would love to hear why you think you don't feel hungry when you're IF, but you did while dieting, what was different for you or if anyone has input on this? I definitely feel hungry while fasting. Is that not the case for most people? and why do some people not feel hungry while fasting and others do? Does it have to do with your BMI in general?0
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@MomLarisa, it's a good question. I have a friend who would faint if she didn't eat throughout the day, and even eats just before bed so that she sleeps well. I, on the other hand, seem quite able to start eating later in the morning and stop by 7pm, with no issues, even though I stay up fairly late. I wouldn't be able to sustain 1200 calories a day in a 4 hour window, that's for sure. But, I seem to benefit from not eating in the evenings - fewer overall calories with little hunger and feel better the next morning, too.1
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Hello!
I've recently started IF (20:4). I'm 34 yo and I decided to give it a go because it sets "rules" / gives structure. 2 weeks I have been doing it and feel pretty good. I fast from 7pm to 3pm. I have found that for the first week around 12:30 I'd start to feel hungry, but I'd drink some water and that would hold me over until 3 when my eating window started. This week I've noticed that I'm getting that hungry feeling a little bit later at like 2 or so, but again I'll drink water and it'll tide me over until 3.
Now, I have not done any research per se and do not intend to. I drink tea (black, earl grey, peppermint, green) with no sugar/sweeteners and water. I will have coffee mixed in with my protein drink during my eating window though. I am counting calories and eat anywhere between 1200 and 1500 depending on the day. Exercise has not happened yet, but I'll add 30min on the treadmill a couple times a week here soon.
My only issue so far is that I have had intestinal issues (if you catch my drift) a few days a week since starting this and it always starts after I have eaten. Does not happen every day though. Has anyone else experienced this? I did have my gallbladder out 5 years ago, so that might be the culprit, but I don't know.
The positive is I don't feel bloated any longer. Thats the biggest difference so far. I started IF at 200lbs at 5"2" and I've been at 196.8 for the last 2 days so I've lost 3.2lbs so far. I feel like this is something that I can stick with and get results.
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I'm afraid of doing IF for fear of eating crazy amounts of food (even the wrong food). How do you decide what ratio of fasting/eating? Do you still log food on MFP?
I keep to low carb and stay away from processed foods and commercially fried foods. I've dieted all my life and know what a portion size is, how many calories are in what, etc. I used to log everything into MFP and made a big production out of it... but it was too time consuming and didn't work in the long run for me. I reduced my calories to the point that it affected my hormones (especially ghrelin and leptin) and they caused me to become voraciously hungry after a while of dieting.
I don't consider what I do dieting. I eat until pleasantly full (80%) and am satisfied. I eat whole foods, mostly fresh. I use my air fryer a lot and bake or broil my meat. I love making relish plates with all kinds of fresh raw vegetables on it. I love caesar salads, celery with cream cheese and avocados.
I've never eaten so well and my health has improved as a result plus I've had a tremendous weight loss. When you find something that works, you stick with it. I've been doing IF since March 2021 and my appetite has remained normal.0 -
*peeks in*
Friendly reminder that IF is NOT a magic bullet, you still have to eat less than you burn, you can do IF and still need to log/pay attention to calories consumed, and no one method of losing weight will be good for everyone.
And that Fung isn't all that highly respected around here.
But glad you all are finding something that works FOR YOU because that's the important part.
Hmmmm..... interesting comment. I believe in giving the body a rest from the digestive process so it can spend that energy and time on building new cells and repairing the old. I try to allow 16 hours of "rest" before eating again. Perhaps that reduces the number of calories I burn and that's all to the good.
I don't believe we were designed (evolved) to eat multiple times a day or to eat calorie restricted diets. Hunter-Gatherers ate and then went without until the next "kill". I've been following that principle with great success and at 76, I am a bonafide lifelong dieter and this is the only way of eating that has worked for me. A younger person would probably do even better... but yes, a person needs to find what works for them.0 -
I would love to hear why you think you don't feel hungry when you're IF, but you did while dieting, what was different for you or if anyone has input on this? I definitely feel hungry while fasting. Is that not the case for most people? and why do some people not feel hungry while fasting and others do? Does it have to do with your BMI in general?
Great question. I feel hunger while fasting but not like on a calorie restricted diet. It was pretty intense in the beginning and I had a dull headache for days, but I learned that the hunger passes and you feel better. You even have a lot of energy. Now after all this time, the hunger I feel is very mild and passes easily.
The hunger I was talking about when I reduced my calories was different. I lost weight but after a while, my appetite/hunger became so strong that it was uncontrollable. I could have bitten the corner off a wooden table, it was so strong and that was due to my altering the hormones ghrelin and leptin. When they finally kicked in, I was a goner and regained every bit of my hard-earned lost weight and added more.
I allow myself to eat normally now (low carb, good whole food, of course) and watch the timing, allowing at least a 16 hour rest. When I eat my one (or two) meals, I'm certainly hungry but the meals are satisfying. I eat to the feeling of 80% full, not stuffed.0 -
merryday12 wrote: »This is exactly my experience. 68 years old, overweight and dieting all my life (never successfully over the long term). I began IF about 3 months ago and have lost 20 pounds. I have found that I am able to control what I eat over two meals and ignore feelings of hunger until they go away. I have traveled, taken holidays and gone to parties. It all seems to be working!
Excellent! You and I are living proof that this new way of eating (which is really the old way) works. It's the way our bodies were designed to eat. It's natural. Starving yourself on a low calorie diet isn't.
Congratulations!0 -
LaurieKane1 wrote: »I am 70 years old and have lost 50 pounds since January. I was just counting calories for the first few months and when I suddenly stopped losing I found Intermittent Fasting and I will never go back to regular eating again.
I too was morbidly obese and I could barely make it to the mailbox, I couldn’t breathe. I went to many different specialists and they couldn’t find a reason for me not being able to breathe. Well with the weight loss I am now breathing normally again, it was all because I was too fat. I feel good, like I have been given my life back.
That's exactly what I'm talking about! I believe it will work for everyone but I suppose there could be an exception or two. I'm certain I've added years to my life by adopting an IF lifestyle but even better than that, I can finally live a full life again. I have tons of energy, am out and about and my much younger friends and family members can hardly keep up with me. I feel wonderful!
Congratulations!
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wlholmes2381 wrote: »Do you have any tips on eating. I am doing 16:8. I tried it in the past and never lost anything.
You might want to extend your time to 17:7 and then to 18:6. I usually do 20:4.
As far as eating, I eat high protein/low carb. I don't measure, weigh or count calories but avoid (as much as possible) processed foods, anything with flour, commercially fried foods, potatoes, rice, beans and peas, sugar and most fruits as they contain fructose which has to be digested by the liver and puts stress on it.
I eat a lot of whole fresh foods: tomatoes, celery, carrots, bell peppers, different kinds of lettuce, artichokes, okra, squash, broccoli, cauliflower, avocados, hard boiled eggs, beets. I have cheeses, cottage cheese, cream cheese, butter, half-n-half, sour cream. I air fry, broil, boil, bake or pan fry my meat in olive oil and/or bacon drippings. I eat chicken, turkey, beef, pork, fish and other seafood.
I occasionally have a "no-no".... some little treat that I know isn't healthy but when I do, I eat it around my meal time so I don't get a sugar spike and my blood sugar is more stable.
The really important thing is to completely rest your digestive system for at least 16 hours. I hope this helped!0 -
LaurieKane1 wrote: »I keep to 1200 calories a day using My Fitness Pal to log everything I eat. It really is easy to do once you do it for awhile. Occasionally I eat more if there is a special occasion but that only happens rarely. I am doing 18:6. I never could eat when I first get up so this is easy for me and stopping eating at 6 pm keeps me from snacking in the evening. Aside from losing weight I have much more energy. I was in stage 4 kidney disease and that has recently lowered to stage 3.
I eat yogurt every day and lots of fruit and small portions at dinner. I have practically cut out all potatoes, bread, and pasta.
Very good! 1200 calories might be a little too low though. In the long run, it might trigger your hunger hormone ghrelin and make managing hunger much more difficult.0 -
CrawfordBayNicola wrote: »@MomLarisa, it's a good question. I have a friend who would faint if she didn't eat throughout the day, and even eats just before bed so that she sleeps well. I, on the other hand, seem quite able to start eating later in the morning and stop by 7pm, with no issues, even though I stay up fairly late. I wouldn't be able to sustain 1200 calories a day in a 4 hour window, that's for sure. But, I seem to benefit from not eating in the evenings - fewer overall calories with little hunger and feel better the next morning, too.
I suppose there are people that would not be able to forgo eating for an extended period of time, even though we know the body would kick in and provide energy from fat storage. I'm not sure how much is psychological versus physiological.
Glad you have found success. I too couldn't maintain IF on 1200 calories a day.0 -
Making_Impossible_Possible wrote: »Hello!
I've recently started IF (20:4). I'm 34 yo and I decided to give it a go because it sets "rules" / gives structure. 2 weeks I have been doing it and feel pretty good. I fast from 7pm to 3pm. I have found that for the first week around 12:30 I'd start to feel hungry, but I'd drink some water and that would hold me over until 3 when my eating window started. This week I've noticed that I'm getting that hungry feeling a little bit later at like 2 or so, but again I'll drink water and it'll tide me over until 3.
Now, I have not done any research per se and do not intend to. I drink tea (black, earl grey, peppermint, green) with no sugar/sweeteners and water. I will have coffee mixed in with my protein drink during my eating window though. I am counting calories and eat anywhere between 1200 and 1500 depending on the day. Exercise has not happened yet, but I'll add 30min on the treadmill a couple times a week here soon.
My only issue so far is that I have had intestinal issues (if you catch my drift) a few days a week since starting this and it always starts after I have eaten. Does not happen every day though. Has anyone else experienced this? I did have my gallbladder out 5 years ago, so that might be the culprit, but I don't know.
The positive is I don't feel bloated any longer. Thats the biggest difference so far. I started IF at 200lbs at 5"2" and I've been at 196.8 for the last 2 days so I've lost 3.2lbs so far. I feel like this is something that I can stick with and get results.
I had IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) for years with really bad diarrhea. Then when I started IF, it continued for a while. Now everything is normal and what a relief it is. Seems that my gut bacteria has improved and has made me regular. But I understand it's common to have a change in bowel habits in the beginning so hang in there. It should get better.
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BarbMessimer wrote: »*peeks in*
Friendly reminder that IF is NOT a magic bullet, you still have to eat less than you burn, you can do IF and still need to log/pay attention to calories consumed, and no one method of losing weight will be good for everyone.
And that Fung isn't all that highly respected around here.
But glad you all are finding something that works FOR YOU because that's the important part.
Hmmmm..... interesting comment. I believe in giving the body a rest from the digestive process so it can spend that energy and time on building new cells and repairing the old. I try to allow 16 hours of "rest" before eating again. Perhaps that reduces the number of calories I burn and that's all to the good.
I don't believe we were designed (evolved) to eat multiple times a day or to eat calorie restricted diets. Hunter-Gatherers ate and then went without until the next "kill". I've been following that principle with great success and at 76, I am a bonafide lifelong dieter and this is the only way of eating that has worked for me. A younger person would probably do even better... but yes, a person needs to find what works for them.
The only reason I got involved is because, in your enthusiasm, you were making blanket statements. You literally are telling people to limit fruit because...the fructose has to be digested? One of the generally accepted foods considered healthy. If it comes down to fructose vs the liver. I'm pretty sure the liver would win in a fight. You can't kill that internal organ off so easily.
And the only way to lose weight is to restrict your calories (by however means is sustainable for the person). Otherwise you'd maintain or gain. Which are also valid weight goals.
IF has definitely helped other people around here but so has just plain losing weight. IF and 3 meals a day and grazing all day and counting points and eating Subway two times a day (even tho Jared turned out to be a perv) or going on the Twinkie diet were just a means to that end.
It's just concerning because, with your success, people are now coming to you for answers and they're....not the most well informed ones.
Basically, eat your freaking fruit, people, unless you have a medical reason not to or just plain don't like it.
(Sorry, there are just hills I will die on...CICO and carbs aren't the devil are two of them)
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BarbMessimer wrote: »The really important thing is to completely rest your digestive system for at least 16 hours. I hope this helped!
Sorry, but nope. The average transit time for food to pass completely thru the digestive tract is 24-72 hours. The stomach will empty quicker than that, but not the rest of the system. Unless you are doing extended multi-day water fasts, you are not resting the vast majority of the digestive system. In fact, once you begin eating solid food as a child (with some exceptions for medical conditions), there really isn't a time where there is no food in the digestive tract.
[quote="BarbMessimer;c-47145025"
I suppose there are people that would not be able to forgo eating for an extended period of time, even though we know the body would kick in and provide energy from fat storage. I'm not sure how much is psychological versus physiological. [/quote]
Rather condescending, don't you think? What about people like my wife? She is hypoglycemic, which means that if she doesn't eat every 4-5 hours, her blood sugar drops like a rock and she starts having physical symptoms like body tremors and heavy sweating, followed closely with mental confusion. Given her condition, it would be extremely dangerous for her to attempt IF.
I have nothing against IF, and I practice it daily myself, simply because that is my natural eating pattern, but please understand that IF is NOT the panacea that you are preaching and that some of the info you are giving out is downright dangerous!5 -
"I don't believe we were designed (evolved) to eat multiple times a day or to eat calorie restricted diets. Hunter-Gatherers ate and then went without until the next "kill". "
Mean life expectancy of the hunter-gatherers was 35 years old.2
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