Fasting and hormones

So, a few months ago I decided to start fasting. It was great! I’d do 24 hours here and 48 hours there. I lost 7 pounds quickly and was keeping it off even when refeeding (it actually seemed I lost weigh on feast days and not fast days). Then I had my cycle and gained the usual three pounds. These pounds did not come off. No worries, it was just water weight and I’d keep losing keeping to the same schedule. Then my next cycle came and I gained a few more pounds that didn’t come off. Now there’s no weigh loss from the fasting. So, I decided to try and keep fasting but to keep an eye on my feasting days. Maybe I had been refeeding to a much larger degree than acceptable? (Because in my head I lost weight on feasting days, so I could eat whatever!) But the next cycle I added more weight and it hasn’t come off. And I’m stuck wondering if fasting is actually for me? Or women in general. A lot of the research hasn’t been done exclusively for females. And the studies on rats have shown some more negative effects of if on hormonal profiles (masculinization, shrinking of ovaries, increased grehlin, increased insomnia). So, I guess I need to talk this out with some other like-minded people and try to figure out what my key to success will hopefully be. I definitely know I didn’t do my best to clean up eating habits on feast days, we are talking candy and just tons of super calorically dense nuts. But beyond that, I should lose SOME weight when doing at least 48 hours of fasting a week, given the calories I’ve tracked the last couple weeks. I know I can’t possibly defy thermodynamics that much!

Answer

There are many women who have been successful with fasting so I don’t think it’s a case that you should assume it’s bad for women in general. If you like podcasts there is an Obesity Code podcast where several women are interviewed about their experiences with fasting. There are also examples of people who struggled with fasting at first.

In terms of your personal experience, can you post what you are eating on your feasting days? Beyond the candy and nuts you’ve mentioned. How many calories were you eating on the feasting day?

When you fast, is it a water only fast? Or do you include coffee, tea, diet soda, etc…? Any additions to the coffee / tea if you drink them?

Answer

I don’t think it is the calories you eat on feast days but the SUGAR. You will be successful! You are in process of resetting your body. Don’t give up, but try to eat less sugar and more veggies and protein. Also a few OMAD along with a 48 hour fast a week would move the scale and water retention.

Answer

I think it helps a lot to have knowledge of what exactly your cycle does to you. Then you can be prepared mentally to tough it out in the face of your body’s mean streak when it comes to diet, fasting, and hormonal betrayal!

The Interactive Effects of Estrogen and Progesterone on Changes in Emotional Eating Across the Menstrual Cycle

> Results confirmed that changes in ovarian hormones predict changes in emotional eating across the menstrual cycle, with a significant estradiol x progesterone interaction. Emotional eating scores were highest during the mid-luteal phase, when progesterone peaks and estradiol demonstrates a secondary peak.

Answer

Maybe you could try intermittent fasting every day. From what I’ve heard women have had more success with 16hr fasts everyday rather than extended fasting. I’ve been experimenting with longer fast for weight loss bit haven’t gone beyong 24hrs. Ive noticed a difference in how I feel but don’t wanna look at the scale yet so I can take say for sure that it’s working for me

Answer

I’m in the same boat- initially when I started “seriously” fasting I got down to my lowest weight in years(123), then around Christmas I hit a plateau despite doing up to 24 hour fasts (one time I even didn’t eat dinner, went to hot yoga at night and the next morning I was the same weight as the day before). I’ve only been gaining/staying around 128-130 since then. I’m trying to be more diligent on the weekdays, but I’m wondering what I could be doing wrong. I’m not eating any different than I was when I first started (and was losing weight regularly) but I’m wondering if there might be something that could explain it…

Answer

In the Obesity Code it becomes clear that it does not only matter what you eat, but also when you eat. So firstly, for things what you eat, it’s important to avoid foods that can spike your insulin, so it would be best to avoid foods high in carbohydrates and sugar, and to move towards a more ketogenic diet. Secondly, when you eat matters, hence the fasting, but you’re already doing that, so that’s great! As I read in the comments though, you add creamer to your coffee, and even though it is just a small thing, this will take you out of your fast, so best to avoid it all together probably! Idk if this will make any difference for you, but based on the book I think it would? Anyways, would love to read an update from you later on how it’s going and what you changed!