Just a beginner

Hi all. I’m a 46 year old man, 5’3”, 206 pounds, who is pre-diabetic and has not-so-great lipid profile numbers. My doctor recommended IF to help with insulin sensitivity and cholesterol, as well as potentially (as I get better at it) to help with weight loss. She suggested I start with 12:12, and then work up to either 16:8 or 18:6 (she says that she eats one meal a day, but that she has been working on this for several years now). Historically, I’ve been a pretty frequent eater, like a breakfast first thing in the morning and snack before bed kind of person, so even 12:12 is feeling like a whole new world to me. It’s actually kind of nice most of the time, although I’m noticing myself feeling hungry/cranky at bedtime (I’m drinking water to help with this). I wake up feeling pretty excellent though so far. I’m also noticing that I’m a lot more aware of feeling kind of droopy (?) after eating, even if I don’t eat a lot. No major question here, just sort of seeing if this sounds fairly on par with normal progress. I know the evening hungriness is normal but the post-eating droop is questionable.

Answer

Ah yah I know that droop. My best understanding is that switching digestion on takes a lot of energy. Going from constantly eating to fasting will make this energy drain more noticeable. Nothing to worry about. Keep yourself hydrated, stay slow and steady, and stay aware of any changes

Answer

Read all of the success stories here and that will give you a boost. Easy does it at first!! You’ll do fine a little at a time!! You can do this. Even with the worst hunger pangs your body can produce, you know you’re not going to die. Drinking lots of water is the best thing you can do as you start out. Just in case you drink diet soda, kick that habit now.

Answer

I’m a female and a bit older, and was recently diagnosed as type 2 diabetic. But otherwise, my story is very similar. In June, I went low carb, started IF (usually 16:8) and track my food using the LoseIt app. My doctor also put me on a very low dose of Rosuvastatin and I started taking metformin.

My bloodwork at the end of last month was great. My cholesterol is finally in normal range. I’ve lost 50 pounds and have a ton more energy, and my blood sugar is under control. I can even have sweet treats or sandwiches on occasion without my blood sugar getting completely out of whack, probably because my insulin resistance has improved and I’m a lot more active (because I feel better).

My point to all of this is, it’s totally worth the effort. Just feeling better and having more energy is a gold mine the hardest part is avoiding, snacking, especially late at night after your eating window has closed. But that’s also the most important piece of the puzzle. I think for me, cutting out, snacking, has been the real game-changer because I’ve done low carb before and haven’t had these kinds of results.