* **Type** of fast (water, juice, smoking, etc.)
* **Context** of fast (start, end, day x of y, etc.)
* **Length** of fast (8 hours, 3 days, etc.)
* **Why?** What you hope to accomplish with your fast
* **Notes** How is it going so far? Any concerns? Insights to share?
Be sure to check back often as comments get posted throughout the day. Sort comments by "new" to be sure the newer comments get some love as well.
Answer
Type/Context/Length: [34/F] Currently on Month 2 of IF; transitioned full time to OMAD a couple weeks ago from an AM/PM Feed/Fast schedule; slowly incorporating lower carb
Why? Weight Loss; improved performance
Notes? I feel like I’m doing incredibly well at making the fasting a routine. My eating schedule is not strict. I basically eat my meal when I want in the day and just stick to once a day. A month in I have noticed quite a few things:
- I no longer feel like I *need* coffee in the morning. I used to survive on coffee and sugar free red bull on heavier work days. Now some days I don’t even drink it. I have a couple cases of AHA and still sugar free red bull untouched in my pantry that I keep forgetting I have. I crave ice water more than anything.
- Since I eat once a day I put high priority on making it something I want to eat plus something that is homemade (as much as possible). For this reason, my sugar consumption has lowered significantly. I had a very reasonable (and enjoyable) Thanksgiving plus leftovers. I’m looking forward to Christmas as well knowing it wont ruin my progress.
- I wear a Fitbit daily and some readings aren’t as positive. My heart seems more taxed. The RHR has gone down (but was considered healthy before and was never a concern) and my heart seems to jump into ‘fat burning’ by doing things that it didn’t consider a workout. Cooking dinner and laundry is now creating an elevated heart rate. I also have less quality of sleep by my fitbit metrics. I feel more alert in the day and wake feeling well rested but my Deep/REM cycles are very low.
- I don’t track my calories. I just rely on my eating schedule. Sometimes I’ll look at a meal and feel like it’s too light and add nuts to the mix. When I first began I was more hyper aware of my CICO but at this point I am just listening to my body. Periodically I’ll get hungry early the next day and know I should have ate more. I’m rarely hungry outside of the hour or two before I eat.
- I didn’t weight myself the first month and went by my feeling lighter. I think it was helpful to make me less stressed over failure. Now I’m stepping on my scale daily but not reading the numbers. My scale is set to “weightless” (wont show my weight) and will download my data onto my Fitbit app that isn’t set up to show me the weight without reading the widget. I’m using it as a very low priority metric and just trying to ‘trust the process’. The one week I checked daily I lost consistently each day.
What my Goals remain to be:
- Continue OMAD thru the winter. My primary focus is cutting.
- Continue adding flexibility exercises to my ‘fitness’. I don’t feel winded as easily. I’ll continue my bike but until my body normalizes I am trying not to stress myself out too much.
- By April/May I would like to add some form of lifting/bodyweights training as I transition out of OMAD and go more towards a IF schedule that allows two meals.
- Focus on goals outside of diet. The last couple weeks I have been on a binge of learning about macros effects on the body, everything Dr Fung has said, etc. My intention is to keep IF a lifestyle but not a hobby.
Sorry - this a very long post. It’s been awhile since I wrote an update and suspect I’ll only post them monthly or semi monthly.
Good Luck Everyone!
Answer
29/M: Just started IF as a way to help me control my daily TDEE and prevent late night snacking. Weight control from my COVID couch potato life. I’m on week two of 16/8, Mon-Fri, and my first week was a success! Only one day was particularly difficult last week but I pulled through.
Anyone else find they’re peeing waaayyy more? I’m not used to drinking so much water (in substitution for eating in the morning), I find I’m hitting bathroom breaks nearly hourly – common for newbies getting used to increased water intake?
Answer
39yo f in third week of 16:8 but only doing it 4 days a week.Stunning for overall health, reduced inflammation, health, and most importantly to reduce my recently highish cholesterol.Already enjoying the benefits. Reduced belly fat, more energy. I knew I was eating too much but I was surprised to learn just how much unnecessary food I was taking in, and that I can still enjoy my evenings without needing snack food and wine every night. I’m sure I would lose weight faster if I did it every night but I think only doing it 4 days a week is more sustainable for me and might reduce metabolism slow down for me.
Loving it so far