Obviously everyone is going to start at different places, some folks are already eating pretty close to various IF methods sans some snacking. But if you feel up for it, 16:8 is a challenging but reasonable way to go for most folks.
I would give that a try, or work your way up to it as needed, then once you feel you’ve got it stick with it for 2-3 weeks. If it’s not getting the results you want then you can start to tinker with ways to change it but still maintain sustainability. That could be calorie counting, changing what you eat, extending to longer fasts, etc. Like you said it’s ultimately going to be a journey of finding what works for you.
Good luck!
Everyone has different tolerances. You have to do what works for you.
I jumped straight into Omad. It was hard. Really hard. But I didn’t know wtf I was doing when I started. I didn’t consume any electrolytes. Which you probably don’t need for a 24 hour fast, but it probably would have helped when I first started.
The first three days were nightmarish. The fourth wasn’t no picnic, but the third day is as bad as it will ever be. It only gets easier from there.
Today is going to be an easy day. Tomorrow is going to be even easier.
Why not just try fasting for a day and see how you feel. It’s just a day, no pressure, and you can figure out what you need. You can keep it as simple or as scientific as you want. Write down your impressions of the fast day and see what you think.
Don’t overthink it. 16:8 is usually a good place to start. 16 hours fasting each day is enough to start seeing benefits of lowering insulin, while still being short enough that most people find it doable.
It is a simple way to start. Most people just skip breakfast, have lunch and dinner between noon and 8 PM, and then stop eating — cut out any late-night snacks/drinks after 8 PM. Not too huge an adjustment.
Give it a month before you decide whether you want to change to a different schedule.