The FastDay Forum

Oh Rufus!

You don't need anyone telling you what you already know do you?

I don't think that for you fasting is the right approach for weight loss, but them who am I?

You are 4lb overweight, cut yourself some slack!

Bob,

Take a look at the cover of the book "The Fast Diet." Do you see fat people on the cover? No. This is not "Fasting for Fatties." It is fasting for everyone.

If I were to cut myself some slack, I would soon be 5, 10, and 15 pounds overweight and eventually in the position of many of the people on this board. Michael Mosley was not obese when he started the diet either. Outwardly, he looked okay, but after a visit to a doctor, he realized he needed to make some drastic changes. He has lost 20 pounds but still continues fasting for the health benefits.

My goal is to eventually be slightly underweight. I plan to eventually get to 113 pounds on this diet and maintain that weight with fasting and calorie restriction, sort of like the CRONies...

Totally sound approach keeping your weight gain to amounts able to be lost in a short time.

However, the initial post was why is this so difficult? I still don't see why you are making it so hard for yourself, eat up to 500 cals, don't be starving, have a sustainable lifestyle...

Hi BBT,

Thanks for backing me up! And thanks for bringing this back on topic! I agree. I am planning to eat more on fast days to make things easier. I do want this to be a life style. I also was wondering if the fasting gets easier over time. Many people say it does.

I'd probably be even more positive if you were a wee bit heavier but it's how you feel that's important. I was a bit sad when I initially read your post yesterday as I don't want anyone to starve, there's no need.

The fasting does get an awful lot easier. I've just completed a run of ADF over 10 weeks. I'm going to 4:3 from now on. I eat better on every day of the week as I've got over the munchies stage, the not wanting anything stage and am now in a happy place where I don't get that hungry and then I do eat, food tastes great.

Hang in there, do be in control of your eating, check you're feeling well/strong and appreciate the number on the scale is a snapshot and does fluctuate naturally and it'll all be ok.

The idea behind Dr M's book, I believe is for the diet to be as sustainable as possible. Hence the comparison between 4:3 and 5:2, shows no major difference in an additional day of fasting per week; and the reason why consecutive days in the 5:2 diet is psychologically tough.The ease of having a fast day and then having any food cravings on the following day, makes this whole concept easy to adopt as a lifestyle. The more we practice it, the easier it becomes. Also, we will get used to what foods measure in calories, and then eventually will do the calorie counts automatically! Wishful thinking?

Nope, not at all.

I will do 4:3 because I find it pretty easy and would prefer the extra day to strict cals on fast days. Aim from start has been keeping cals under a 1000 on fast days. I don't really count cals but think I'm probably on 5-700 on a fast day. I did at the start and now stick to similar patterns of eating.

The relaxation on the off days means that I can continue, pretty much infinitely. My OH is now very supportive as it's so sustainable, much better than any previous diet.

Rufus- I don't think anyone mean't anything other than to express their heartfelt concern, and in these days of eating disorders and silly size 0 celebrities, we all need to look out for each other! I have a couple of friends who get quite underweight- one of them looks to me like she is already developing a slight forward stoop from osteoporosis. I try to get her to see she is underweight and despair at the damage she is doing herself. If you are not like that then I am glad, but please don't mistake concern for having a go at you- it is hard to estimate body composition based on weight and height alone, if you have a high body fat, and not very much muscle, even at your weight you may not look thin. I'd be interested to know where you got the info on the zero to max 1/4 intake. xx

I think a 6:1 approach to get the fasting benefits is what you should go for. And then some strength training to help you get the body shape you're after. 115 pounds is going to look very different on a range of people, but if friends and colleagues and family are asking you why you're dieting, the maybe you need to take a step back and be realistic about your goals.

I'd be interested to know where you got the info on the zero to max 1/4 intake. xx

It is in the book about taking in 1/4 of regular calories on a fast day. The 500 cal for women is a guideline. Some will require less.

You can do a water fast if you want, but most people find it very difficult. The reason you eat some food is to make the fasting more tolerable.

You can probably find the info in the book or on Mosley's blog.

I will do 4:3 because I find it pretty easy and would prefer the extra day to strict cals on fast days. Aim from start has been keeping cals under a 1000 on fast days. I don't really count cals but think I'm probably on 5-700 on a fast day. I did at the start and now stick to similar patterns of eating.

The relaxation on the off days means that I can continue, pretty much infinitely. My OH is now very supportive as it's so sustainable, much better than any previous diet.

Bob, if you take in more than 1/4 of your normal required calories, you do not get so much of the health benefits of fasting. Something to consider.

The idea behind Dr M's book, I believe is for the diet to be as sustainable as possible. Hence the comparison between 4:3 and 5:2, shows no major difference in an additional day of fasting per week; and the reason why consecutive days in the 5:2 diet is psychologically tough.The ease of having a fast day and then having any food cravings on the following day, makes this whole concept easy to adopt as a lifestyle. The more we practice it, the easier it becomes. Also, we will get used to what foods measure in calories, and then eventually will do the calorie counts automatically! Wishful thinking?

The data from comparing 4:3 to 5:2, I assume you are getting from this forum. Keep in mind, those numbers are inaccurate because this is not a controlled study.

I am fasting today. I ate slightly more -- half dozen scrambled egg whites with salsa, some artichoke hearts, and two zucchini sliced and steamed. Feel better already.

It changes all the time. Today after a 24 hr fast I feel weak and my body feels the 4 lbs I have lost since 3/13. For some reason. for me a 24 hr fast with only liquids works well. That way I dont have to think about food except for a breakfast at dinner. I think losing slowly works best for me.

I will do 4:3 because I find it pretty easy and would prefer the extra day to strict cals on fast days. Aim from start has been keeping cals under a 1000 on fast days. I don't really count cals but think I'm probably on 5-700 on a fast day. I did at the start and now stick to similar patterns of eating.

The relaxation on the off days means that I can continue, pretty much infinitely. My OH is now very supportive as it's so sustainable, much better than any previous diet.

Bob, if you take in more than 1/4 of your normal required calories, you do not get so much of the health benefits of fasting. Something to consider.

I'm going to be doing this for at least a year, two probably. I need it to be sustainable over this time. I also do a reasonable level of exercise & like to eat...So being too strict is counterproductive.

The weight loss at this point is more important health wise as I had to get my BP pdq or end up on meds.

Bob,

You might consider reducing to 600 calories on fast days. It is really not that hard if you eat two meals a day. One of the benefits is that your stomach shrinks and you eat less on feast days. That is the benefit of the diet. If you don't try it, how will you find out?