LeighZ's Journal, 03 December 2020

I’ve seen a few people here try IF and they seem to like it. When I hit a block in my weight loss I tried it for a week which was fine. I did lose weight but I couldn’t keep it up, I was tired and I missed food too much 😂  

From what I can tell, Intermittent Fasting is well researched at this point and has a number of proven benefits for weight loss, fat loss, and detox. A lot of this information extends from the work of Dr. Jason Fung. Hope this helps! 

It works as a form of caloric restriction. I did it for a while, but I found that it made me feel that I'd "earned" the right to eat anything I wanted when I did eat, and yes, I did overeat, so it didn't regulate my hunger as some people claim. For me, it encouraged a restrict and binge pattern. I don't think there's anything special about it. It's just another form of caloric restriction, so if it makes it easier for you to restrict calories, go ahead. Mixed/contradictory findings in studies regarding loss of muscle though. 

It works as a form of caloric restriction. I did it for a while, but I found that it made me feel that I'd "earned" the right to eat anything I wanted when I did eat, and yes, I did overeat, so it didn't regulate my hunger as some people claim. For me, it encouraged a restrict and binge pattern. I don't think there's anything special about it. It's just another form of caloric restriction, so if it makes it easier for you to restrict calories, go ahead. Mixed/contradictory findings in studies regarding loss of muscle though. 

IF (intermittent fasting) is an eating pattern of eating and fasting. We all do it... it's called sleeping. There are different patterns (lengths of fasting). I do a 16-8 pattern. Meaning I don't eat anything for 16 hours after my last bite of food in the evening. So I finished dinner around 7pm, my "breakfast" isn't until 11am the next day. Others do a 5-2 pattern, which is 5 days regular meals, 2 days of liquid meals or just water. 

Intermittent fasting helped me bring my weight down slowly and my blood sugar down fast. Now that my blood sugar is mostly down to a normal level, I am having to adjust the Intermittent Fasting to avoid having low blood sugars. I am still learning how to do that, so the fasting window has changed. Now my fasting period has changed to about 8 pm to 9 am. At first it was 3 pm to 10 am. (I have a glucose drop at bedtime frequently now and need to eat a snack, which throws off the IF) I liked IF and did not feel hungry when I was doing the short eating window. Three meals a day is a habit that is easy to break, when it is supper that is omitted. It is not as easy to skip lunch and eat only breakfast and supper. All I have read about IF encourages me to continue it, but if you are diabetic, you must check your blood sugar more frequently than usual.  

I like it because it puts guardrails on the hours I'm allowed to eat. I try to get all of my food calories in a 4 hour window. I allow myself fat (cream) in my coffee before I gave my one meal of the day. OMAD and IF keep me sane and I don't get hungry. 

I’d say talk to a dietitian or your doctor with some people I have seen it work great for others is made things worse and for some it did nothing it really depends on how your body responds for I do my own form of it I don’t eat past like an hour or two before going to bed due to my blood sugar liking to drop while I’m asleep then I wait an hour after waking up so I don’t have a sugar drop after waking up which for me causes not nice symptoms but I still go eat immediately after waking up 

Somewhat with 14:10 & 12:12 IF. Not eating after 7-8p and no eating before 8-9a. 

It’s the fasted way to lose weight and eat healthy within the non fasting window. I have been on it for 131 days, I lost 35 Ibs. It’s not so easy but cheap.  

I tried it for a while. I got better results eating 600-1000 grams of salad (no dressings!) before every meal, really fills you up. 

Was difficult at first being in a scheduled eating time but adjusted pretty quick. 16:8 is best I can do. Make 8 hour eating time per your life. I eat 8am to 4 pm cause it works for me. Nothing after 4. Period. Do my 30 minutes pedaling somewhere 6:30-7 so I can eat soon after as always hungry by time finished. But if you are up later, am & pm make your own 8 hours. I don’t focus on fasting part I focus on eating part!!! Times & what I eat. 🍀 

I fast until my lunch break. From dinner (around 7pm) until around noon or 1pm the next day. I only have my morning coffee/almond creamer. I have lost 20lbs since late October. I don't know if it's the fasting or the other diet changes. I'm not a breakfast at breakfast time person anyway but I was eating breakfast because it was 'the most important meal of the day' lifetime mentality. But I'm also now fasting on the weekends as I am no longer hungry in the morning. Agree it is a form of calorie restriction which I desperately needed to teach myself. With that being said, you should never ignore your body's TRUE hunger. Drink a glass of water. No dice? Still hungry? Have a small something. Don't sit there and starve just to save a few calories when you really should be eating. Also another leason I had to teach myself! 

IF is awesome! I'd like to get back to it again. It isn't working with my schedule completely rn but it worked wonders. Super healthy too. Try the Simple app to learn more. 

I am not an expert but I do not think I know of any newer studies that says that time restricted eating is a problem for metabolism. There are studies that says that seriously undereating over a long time may damage metabolism A study was done on Biggest Loser contestants that seemed to suggest that they could not or had an almost impossible time keeping their low weight after their crash diet. But I do not know of any study that says just restricting your eating window can be bad. There was a study published in New England Journal of Medicine last year that reviewed the research and concluded that it indicated that time restricted eating in addition to help you lose weight improved metabolism, lowered blood sugar; lessenend inflammation . I lost my weight with time restricted eating. I think my metabolism is quite good. I can maintain my weight eating almost 2000 calories. I lose weight if I go under 1400 and for a small older lady that is not too bad  

I do it but not on a regular basis. I eat most clean foods. If I've had alot of calories the day before, I will compensate by IF the next day. I also fast once a month or as needed when I feel the need to " clean out my system" Just saying, it works for me. 

Wow! Thanks for all the info everyone! I’ve been terrible this last week! (Since Thanksgiving) really haven’t cared about what I’m eating, or when for that matter. I’ve hit a plateau on my weight..so I thought I might give IF a try. Eating that little sweet snack before bed has GOT TO STOP!  

I think it is unhealthy. I'm doing the cabbage diet now. my last day is tomorrow. I have not lost much yet. will finish it and then start a main healthy diet. Fast are good for starting a new diet or to cleanse. This diet is very low on calories so they do recommend exercising. I have been hungry every day.