We took our kids on an extended Disney World vacation with the "Disney Dining Plan." When we left, I had lost about 26 pounds from my starting weight and was very worried about regaining. I was not willing to 'fast' on my vacation.
I used a 16:8 method every day. I did not eat anything or consume any calories at all until we had our first meal, usually around noontime, and then also at dinner, usually around 6 p.m. I was easily able to fast for 16 hours per day, sometimes it ended up being more like 18.
At meals, I ate a ridiculous amount of food. The dining plan we purchased gave one "counter service meal" per day and one "sit down meal" per day. The counter service meal was always choices like burger/fries (chips), pizza/salad, that sort of thing, a dessert and a drink. The sit down meal was similar - entree with side, beverage, dessert. The portions were *huge* and the desserts were absolutely decadent. I ate ridiculous amounts of food.
The 'snack' allowed on the plan was what hubby and kids used as breakfast - muffins, ice cream sandwich, other similar unhealthy stuff and I did a diet soda.
Granted, we were walking *miles* every day and were at the parks from open to close and so on. I've been exercising actively for months to build my endurance for the trip. Walking at vacation was much slower pace/more laid back than my exercise routine, but still lots of it. It was a fabulous vacation.
When I got home, I had LOST 2 more pounds!
The question, then: I'm back to my 5:2 routine, and I'm wondering if it is safe/healthy/okay to do 16:8 on my non-"true" fast days and then a full fast on the 2 actual "fast" days??
I find that I don't like to eat breakfast very much. More importantly, I find that once I start eating, it sort of turns on my appetite switch and I want to eat.
Anyway, I've chosen to fast for health reasons, not just weight loss. I've never been much of a breakfast eater yet that didn't prevent me from becoming overweight in the first place. I want to proceed on the wisest/healthiest course. I would welcome insight/opinion/personal experiences.
I used a 16:8 method every day. I did not eat anything or consume any calories at all until we had our first meal, usually around noontime, and then also at dinner, usually around 6 p.m. I was easily able to fast for 16 hours per day, sometimes it ended up being more like 18.
At meals, I ate a ridiculous amount of food. The dining plan we purchased gave one "counter service meal" per day and one "sit down meal" per day. The counter service meal was always choices like burger/fries (chips), pizza/salad, that sort of thing, a dessert and a drink. The sit down meal was similar - entree with side, beverage, dessert. The portions were *huge* and the desserts were absolutely decadent. I ate ridiculous amounts of food.
The 'snack' allowed on the plan was what hubby and kids used as breakfast - muffins, ice cream sandwich, other similar unhealthy stuff and I did a diet soda.
Granted, we were walking *miles* every day and were at the parks from open to close and so on. I've been exercising actively for months to build my endurance for the trip. Walking at vacation was much slower pace/more laid back than my exercise routine, but still lots of it. It was a fabulous vacation.
When I got home, I had LOST 2 more pounds!
The question, then: I'm back to my 5:2 routine, and I'm wondering if it is safe/healthy/okay to do 16:8 on my non-"true" fast days and then a full fast on the 2 actual "fast" days??
I find that I don't like to eat breakfast very much. More importantly, I find that once I start eating, it sort of turns on my appetite switch and I want to eat.
Anyway, I've chosen to fast for health reasons, not just weight loss. I've never been much of a breakfast eater yet that didn't prevent me from becoming overweight in the first place. I want to proceed on the wisest/healthiest course. I would welcome insight/opinion/personal experiences.
