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Is it just not for me?

I’ve tried various forms of IF… 18:6, 16:8, 20:4, and OMAD. I saw the biggest result with OMAD (-4 lbs in one month). I see so many people talking here about how great they feel, but during my fasting periods I always felt unable to focus, headaches, and like I was just counting down the hours until I could eat. I made sure to get electrolytes and drank plenty of water and coffee. I just can’t seem to function at my best like others seem to and it made my inefficient at my job. Anyone else in the same boat who was able to overcome this somehow? I’m wondering if it’s just not for my body, but I wish it were. It seems to be doing so much good for so many of you.

Answer

Your right, it may not be for you. There are tons of reasons why your metabolism cannot tolerate going an extended amount of time without food. Most of us stick to it because it’s the easiest for us and our metabolism. If your getting Shakey or having adrenaline spikes from skipping a meal that’s a very clear reason you should not be intermittent fasting.

Answer

Just curious. I didn’t see you mention exercise anywhere in your post. Are you doing anything like that, cardio or walking, lifting weights? I know a big part of my IF results had a lot to do with me also starting an exercise routine. Anyway, just a thought.

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If after sticking with it for a while you still haven’t adjusted, then time-restricted eating may not be the method of weight-loss best for you. Every diet is a means to the end of achieving a calorie deficit through /r/cico and different people prefer different methods. IF helped me a lot, but plenty of people lose weight without it. You could do keto, you could eat primarily high volume whole foods, you could do more cardio, you could track your calories (my personal recommendation) and then eat whatever allows you to feel good whilst hitting your goals.

It can take some trial and error to find what helps you keep a calorie deficit while keeping your sanity. IF is an excellent tool for lots of people, but it isn’t magic; and it’s okay if it’s not the method that works best for you.

Answer

Did you gradually get to OMAD or did you jump in? Maybe you need to adapt to fasting over time. For some, it’s easier if you start with a 12 hour fast, then as you adapt, lengthen the fasting time by 30 minutes to and hour at a time, gradually getting to OMAD. Some people need to eat earlier in the day and fast later in the day. Also, nothing wrong with opening your window with a small snack and eating your official meal later in the window. OMAD does not have to be one plate full of food. Some people need two meals a day for awhile first.