Not eating takes self-control, but the easiest kind of self-control. Because you can’t bargain or compromise with time. You learn to say I can have that, but not right now. And by the time you can have that, you’ll be surprised that you don’t really want it. IF has been life changing for me in the way I look at, and think about, food.
I follow a well known IF expert and he’s ok with coffee in the morning with heavy cream. Some people do billet proof coffee (coffee with unsalted butter and coconut oil). That may help you with delaying your first meal until you start your eating window. You don’t want to eat or drink anything that would have an affect on insulin levels until you reach your window.
IF is perfect for lazy people haha. i know this, because i am lazy!
like others have said, IF is just about restricting the time, not necessarily the food. it’s still not a good idea to house 6 doughnuts, but eating one doughnut is no problem. i haven’t changed my eating habits at all, beyond dropping excessive snacking & soda drinking, and while i burnt out hard on 20:4/19:5, that was due to mental health issues. i’m down 35ish lbs in 5mo. the actual fasting part is easy. if you’re in a better place than me, starting at 19:5 should be fine. it’s it too hard, go easier!