I used to unintentionally intermittent fast. From high school all the way though college and even into the first couple years of my adult life, I rarely had breakfast. I just was never hungry in the morning, so I decided to do a lazy intermittent fast - I would still have coffee, but no food until lunch.
It worked well for me, however, that all changed when I went on vacation a few months ago. I was with my boyfriend's family for 3 weeks, during which time someone made breakfast almost every day. I was on vacation, so I thought, why not? Then after the vacation, it was holiday time, so I kept up with this habit of eating whenever I felt like it.
And now I am regretting it, because for the first time in over a decade, I am hungry when I wake up. I want to get back in to intermittent fasting and do it right this time - I finally kicked my caffeine habit, so I am just drinking herbal/decaff teas in the morning (no sweeteners).
All those posts I would see about people starving waiting to get to their eating window never made sense to me, I was always fine waiting until noon or 1pm to have my first meal, but now I get it.
It's only 9 am as I write this, and I am starving. Any tips for getting back into intermittent fasting? It feels a million times harder than it has in the past, especially as someone who loves food.
Thanks in advance!
Answer
You just have to do it and eventually the hunger in the morning will go away. You could cut carbs, make sure you get a complete night of sleep, and try to stay busy in the morning. All of these things can help reduce hunger pangs.
Answer
It’s hard, and I feel your pain. Like Miniapo I’ve been successful getting back on track when I’ve scheduled something to keep me super busy in the morning or when I’ve spent a few days allowing myself to only eat something nutritious but low carb and a little monotonous during breakfast. I do find that coffee, tea, water, hot or cold lemon water, carbonated water are all good crutches for me to fill my stomach and my time.
Answer
Just keep at it. I’ve had about seven false starts over the last couple of months, after getting out of the routine for a year, but now I finally feel like I’m in the groove again with fasting, proper diet and exercise.