INTERMITTENT FASTING MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD
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BarbMessimer
Posts: 265 Member
FASTING MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD 11/06/22
What happens when you haven’t eaten for a good long while and are delaying eating until your set time? During this period of time of “fasting” do you get sick and weak? Absolutely not. Instead, you get energized!
Your eyes open wider, brain activity is enhanced, and you become more aware, alert and mentally sharp. You’re more creative and get great ideas. You’re happier. You’re on a “natural high” with a bounce in your step!
Feeling this way is what I like most about IF and is far from how I felt prior to practicing it. I ate like most people, having several meals a day with snacks, especially one before bedtime. I was tired and sluggish all the time. I was extremely heavy and could hardly walk. I had knee and back pain so bad that the pain kept me almost bedbound. I was depressed. I rarely went out of the house unless it was to go to the doctor’s or a restaurant to eat. The doctor even gave me a disability parking permit because of my mobility impairment.
But all that is behind me now. I've lost 60 pounds and I love how I feel. I’ve become a “feel good” junkie. I love the almost euphoric feeling I get from IF and you can experience it too. By the way, it's free. No shakes, pills, injections or special meals to buy.
To start out, read everything you can online about IF and watch videos by Dr. Jason Fung and Dr. Pradip Jamnadas on YouTube. Start out slowly with just two meals a day and no snacking in-between. Eat healthy foods and drink plenty of water, unsweetened tea or black coffee. You’ve got this!
What happens when you haven’t eaten for a good long while and are delaying eating until your set time? During this period of time of “fasting” do you get sick and weak? Absolutely not. Instead, you get energized!
Your eyes open wider, brain activity is enhanced, and you become more aware, alert and mentally sharp. You’re more creative and get great ideas. You’re happier. You’re on a “natural high” with a bounce in your step!
Feeling this way is what I like most about IF and is far from how I felt prior to practicing it. I ate like most people, having several meals a day with snacks, especially one before bedtime. I was tired and sluggish all the time. I was extremely heavy and could hardly walk. I had knee and back pain so bad that the pain kept me almost bedbound. I was depressed. I rarely went out of the house unless it was to go to the doctor’s or a restaurant to eat. The doctor even gave me a disability parking permit because of my mobility impairment.
But all that is behind me now. I've lost 60 pounds and I love how I feel. I’ve become a “feel good” junkie. I love the almost euphoric feeling I get from IF and you can experience it too. By the way, it's free. No shakes, pills, injections or special meals to buy.
To start out, read everything you can online about IF and watch videos by Dr. Jason Fung and Dr. Pradip Jamnadas on YouTube. Start out slowly with just two meals a day and no snacking in-between. Eat healthy foods and drink plenty of water, unsweetened tea or black coffee. You’ve got this!
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Replies
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I have toyed with IF for the last few months, not really to lose weight at first but more to get appetite under control as I could eat and eat and eat without any fullness.
Well I agree, IF is amazing. I can now easily go till noon without anything but water and that's from 4PM day before sometimes. I can easily so 16-20 hours no food. And my work has been the best it's ever been! I have been much more focused!
I intend to IF and calorie count from 11th November till I reach my goal weight!16 -
FinallyLosingIt93 wrote: »I have toyed with IF for the last few months, not really to lose weight at first but more to get appetite under control as I could eat and eat and eat without any fullness.
Well I agree, IF is amazing. I can now easily go till noon without anything but water and that's from 4PM day before sometimes. I can easily so 16-20 hours no food. And my work has been the best it's ever been! I have been much more focused!
I intend to IF and calorie count from 11th November till I reach my goal weight!
Excellent! IF is really a game changer. It's improved my life by 100%. I have so much energy and enthusiasm that my younger friends and family members have a hard time keeping up with me... lol10 -
I may get back into IF/Time Restricted Eating - I did it for a few months. I never got the euphoric feeling but I also felt a little less sluggish. That was nice.7
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Barb, how long did it take you to release 60 pounds and what IF protocol did you use? Thank you.4
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IF is fascinating but I am a runner that tries to get out there at least 3-5 times a week. With the calories burned while running and on my rest days I normally do either recovery runs or strength training so still have active calories being burned on those rest days. In a two week period, where I am tapering down to a race my calories per day average 2200, on a normal two week period of training I am burning upwards of 2500-3000 calories a day.
Now I eat a whole foods, plant based diet, and trying to shovel 2500+ calories of healthy food down your throat in an eight hour period is uncomfortable to say the least. Plus, since I run most of my runs in the morning, after an 8 hour sleep period, this would mean I was having to run fasted. Which more and more science is coming out that it is better to not be fasting when you run. So I had to give it up because to those two main reasons. Even so, I have managed to lose over 100 pounds, drop my cholesterol down to normal and better levels, and kept from having to take meds for pre-diabetes, which would have been full blown by now had I now taken control of my body. My reason for using MyFitnessPal is to insure I eat enough calories daily, a 360 degree shift from when I started and was looking for those deficit calories.
So if you can make IF work for you, go for it, but if you get into working out regularly, it may become a challenge to keep it up, depending on your eating habits.22 -
Barb, how long did it take you to release 60 pounds and what IF protocol did you use? Thank you.
It took me 18 months. That sounds slow but the weight has stayed off, and I've been eating a regular diet of good whole foods with occasional splurges during my eating window. I'm not very hungry throughout the day. I eat once around 5 PM but sometimes have a bedtime snack (some protein or cottage cheese) if I get the "late night snacking crazies".8 -
aCountryVegan wrote: »IF is fascinating but I am a runner that tries to get out there at least 3-5 times a week. With the calories burned while running and on my rest days I normally do either recovery runs or strength training so still have active calories being burned on those rest days. In a two week period, where I am tapering down to a race my calories per day average 2200, on a normal two week period of training I am burning upwards of 2500-3000 calories a day.
Now I eat a whole foods, plant based diet, and trying to shovel 2500+ calories of healthy food down your throat in an eight hour period is uncomfortable to say the least. Plus, since I run most of my runs in the morning, after an 8 hour sleep period, this would mean I was having to run fasted. Which more and more science is coming out that it is better to not be fasting when you run. So I had to give it up because to those two main reasons. Even so, I have managed to lose over 100 pounds, drop my cholesterol down to normal and better levels, and kept from having to take meds for pre-diabetes, which would have been full blown by now had I now taken control of my body. My reason for using MyFitnessPal is to insure I eat enough calories daily, a 360 degree shift from when I started and was looking for those deficit calories.
So if you can make IF work for you, go for it, but if you get into working out regularly, it may become a challenge to keep it up, depending on your eating habits.
You're doing great!!! I'm 76 years old and do well to walk. 2 years ago I was bedbound and could hardly make it to the bathroom. Had severe back pain, a torn meniscus and was depressed. All that has changed now due to IF.21 -
I've been doing 5:2 IM for over 9 years. It has dramatically changed my life. I lost 30 pounds over the course of 6 months and I've kept it off. MFP is a big help too. It allows me to keep track of my calorie and sugar intake. 5:2 involves 2 days a week where I eat only one meal consisting of 500 to 600 calories. The rest of the week I use MFP to count my calories, keeping it to about 1600 a day. Weekends are for doing whatever I want, but my first fast of the week is usually Sunday, so it's not a huge window of relaxed eating, but it's enough. IM has helped me to develop a healthy relationship with food. I've lowered my cholesterol, my blood sugar and my blood pressure. All are in a healthy range now.14
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IF has helped me to lose weight, stop the cravings and be able to go for long periods without food. But I have to admit I do use the bone broth by Dr. Kellyann that has 17 g of protein and is fabulous for intermittent fasting. I also do longer fast which my body seems to need since I have a thyroid issue. Just when Covid started I broke my right foot couldn’t drive or move and put on a Covid layer along with so many others totaling 28 pounds. I have now lost 28 pounds down to my normal adult fat left and I am planning to lose these 20 pounds.7
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I've been doing 5:2 IM for over 9 years. It has dramatically changed my life. I lost 30 pounds over the course of 6 months and I've kept it off. MFP is a big help too. It allows me to keep track of my calorie and sugar intake. 5:2 involves 2 days a week where I eat only one meal consisting of 500 to 600 calories. The rest of the week I use MFP to count my calories, keeping it to about 1600 a day. Weekends are for doing whatever I want, but my first fast of the week is usually Sunday, so it's not a huge window of relaxed eating, but it's enough. IM has helped me to develop a healthy relationship with food. I've lowered my cholesterol, my blood sugar and my blood pressure. All are in a healthy range now.
That's what I'm talking about. I had given up on EVER dieting again and had resigned myself to being "morbidly obese" for the rest of my life even though I saw my health declining rapidly. Somehow, I discovered IF and it's worked miracles for me. Like you said, I've been able to keep the weight off and that's something I could never do when I followed calorie restricting diets.
Congratulations on your weight loss and improved health!7 -
IF has helped me to lose weight, stop the cravings and be able to go for long periods without food. But I have to admit I do use the bone broth by Dr. Kellyann that has 17 g of protein and is fabulous for intermittent fasting. I also do longer fast which my body seems to need since I have a thyroid issue. Just when Covid started I broke my right foot couldn’t drive or move and put on a Covid layer along with so many others totaling 28 pounds. I have now lost 28 pounds down to my normal adult fat left and I am planning to lose these 20 pounds.
Excellent! You must be so proud of yourself! I find it amazing how long I can go without food. Sometimes I think about food but it's more in the context of a passing thought... like maybe I'm bored and looking for something to do. Not real hunger. My night time cravings are getting under control too but still something I'm working on.3 -
IF has helped me to lose weight, stop the cravings and be able to go for long periods without food. But I have to admit I do use the bone broth by Dr. Kellyann that has 17 g of protein and is fabulous for intermittent fasting. I also do longer fast which my body seems to need since I have a thyroid issue. Just when Covid started I broke my right foot couldn’t drive or move and put on a Covid layer along with so many others totaling 28 pounds. I have now lost 28 pounds down to my normal adult fat left and I am planning to lose these 20 pounds.
Question: can you drink the bone broth during your fasting window?1 -
i just naturally go a long time before eating, I eat dinner at 5pm and dont eat at night and eat next morning around 8 a.m.3
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I’ve just started IF this week. Also doing 1600 cal. I’ve found that I have no problem doing 14-16 hours.
I usually eat dinner/snacks till 9pm then will eat my first meal at 2-3pm the next day. Previously I would eat a 5-600 cal for breakfast then skip lunch and then go hypoglycemic (sometimes getting diaphoretic) at around 2:00 and then eat everything in sight.
So far I’ve really liked how steady by blood sugar has maintained during the IF.5 -
I have an autoimmune disorder and follow the AIP Protokoll * which does wonders for me. My inflammation markers are down, and my pain and the night sweat disappeared.
I started IF because I was curious, I expected that I would feel better. Nothing prepared me for the hunger feeling, which is not bad, but it took some getting used to.
I stop eating at 2 pm and have my next meal at 8 am the following day.
I have breakfast at 8 am
Small lunch at 11 am
Last meal at 2 pm
I eat between 1200 - 1600 calories a day.
I have lost 58 pounds in a year. I am aiming for the 100-pound loss this year.
I am 59 years old and feel great.
*AIP AutoImmuneProtokoll (no gluten-no sugar-no legumes-no eggs-no caffeine-no alcohol-no dairy-no nightshades-no nuts/seeds)10 -
I’ve just started IF this week. Also doing 1600 cal. I’ve found that I have no problem doing 14-16 hours.
I usually eat dinner/snacks till 9pm then will eat my first meal at 2-3pm the next day. Previously I would eat a 5-600 cal for breakfast then skip lunch and then go hypoglycemic (sometimes getting diaphoretic) at around 2:00 and then eat everything in sight.
So far I’ve really liked how steady by blood sugar has maintained during the IF.
GOOD FOR YOU! I find it very easy to follow the principles of IF. I usually give my digestive system a 16 hour rest before eating again and eat protein and low carb whole foods when I do. I'm a completely different person than before I started. The biggest thing is the energy I have now. At 76 I can work circles around my much younger sister (14 years younger), and she can't imagine how I can do it. BTW, 2 years ago I was bedridden with back pain and have absolutely none now.4 -
The_Fat_Optimist wrote: »I have an autoimmune disorder and follow the AIP Protokoll * which does wonders for me. My inflammation markers are down, and my pain and the night sweat disappeared.
I started IF because I was curious, I expected that I would feel better. Nothing prepared me for the hunger feeling, which is not bad, but it took some getting used to.
I stop eating at 2 pm and have my next meal at 8 am the following day.
I have breakfast at 8 am
Small lunch at 11 am
Last meal at 2 pm
I eat between 1200 - 1600 calories a day.
I have lost 58 pounds in a year. I am aiming for the 100-pound loss this year.
I am 59 years old and feel great.
*AIP AutoImmuneProtokoll (no gluten-no sugar-no legumes-no eggs-no caffeine-no alcohol-no dairy-no nightshades-no nuts/seeds)
I'm impressed! You're doing great! As far as hunger, I feel hunger too but it passes after 10-15 minutes and isn't really that bad. I just tell myself then that it's my body signaling me that it's burning up fat and that helps me tolerate it better. I'm going slower than you... 60 pounds in 22 months but I'm content with that. I'm only aiming for another 30 this year and know that's a reasonable goal. Not going to set myself up for failure! My ultimate goal is to lose 100... so we're talking 40.... I won't be too thin then either... I'll be 170 but at my age (76) and 5'7", I think that's a good weight. Old people look sickly if they're too skinny... lol6 -
I just started a few days ago, 16:8 anyways. So far so good.6
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@BarbMessimer,
’Old people look sickly if they're too skinny... lol’
I hope you just misspoke here as this is not an absolute, more your opinion.
Achieving a 100 lbs final weight loss and a BMI of ~27 is great for you, it really is.
However, it would mean I would have to gain 40 lbs to have that same BMI. Something I am not planning on doing over the next 6 years (our age difference).
I maintain a BMI of 19 and have for the past 13 years, I feel I am well proportioned and reasonably muscled for my age, not too skinny or sickly looking, to me. Others are allowed their opinion.Me at 65 left and last birthday right, next birthday will be my 70th. (The dress is know as my birthday dress, hence the repeat of it)
A person’s weight is predicated on their comfort level in conjunction with dr consultation, calorie needs
(some find that weight has to be adjusted up so calorie compliance is easier to manage), and preferred image.
Just wanted to clarify this as not all older people need to aim for the ‘overweight’ (you) category, or the bottom of the ‘normal’ (me) category. It is a personal (caveats above) choice.
Cheers, h.11 -
We have gradually moved to a 16:8 IF naturally over the last 90 days. It fits our life, our long sleep schedules, etc. We did a LOT of reading, watching, research and we’re compelled to do a beginners 49 hour fast last week. Not for weight loss but other health related benefits. WOW! Felt fabulous in and now after the fast. We were doing butter coffee and coconut oil tea with soy sauce and the water with lemon or apple cider vinegar. So I guess that is called a dirty fast? I’m anxious to try the 72 hour fast for the immune system reset, stem cell therapy, full autophagy effects. I have also done a 48 hour protein sparing modified fast (~800 calories/day of lean protein and veg only with water). Actually felt better on a full fast. We are discussing doing a 24 hour once per week.
I recommend everyone consult their medical team, do the research IN DEPTH, be smart. There is some incredible scientific findings (particularly with cancer and cancer treatments) that are very exciting but fasting can be dangerous and can lead to damage and death. That said, there is very little risk of death for a healthy adult from a 16 hour period each day that is not for feeding.
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