The FastDay Forum

I never expected a miraculous weight-falling-off-me situation, but I am a bit dissapointed in actually gaining weight this week! It's only 0.4 pounds but I'd have been really pleased if that 'only' had been a loss.

I've been doing really well on my fast days, finding it all really achievable and still not over compensating on my eating days, but it doesn't seem to be working! My body fat has increased also and that makes me more upset than not losing weight!

I haven't exactly been depriving myself on non fast days but not going mad either. I think I should be having around 1900 calories on eating days and I've been around this, perhaps a little over on a day or so. I probably did less than 500 calories on fast days last week too.

I am keen to stick with this for the health benefits but was really banking on some weight loss also to keep my motivation up. For me there is no point in doing this if I have to calorie count to the nth degree on eating days also as it then feels like a restrictive diet that I just won't stick to.

Does anyone have any wise words/ anything to buoy me up as feeling down today (and on a fast day too!)

Hi
Sorry to hear you are disappointed with it so far. I don't think you need to 'calorie count to the nth degree' on non fast days but I do think it is helpful to know what you should roughly be aiming at calorie wise as it is easy to either overestimate what one eats or how active one is so it is useful to have an idea of your TDEE. I know (for example) there's a sort of rough estimate that on non fast days women can eat around 2000 cals a day but if I ate that much (even at my heaviest) I'd put weight on. I'd try working out your TDEE and maybe taking more notice of the amounts you eat for a couple of days just to get an idea and see how it goes. Also have you measured yourself because a lot of people on here seem to lose cms before anything else. Don't give up though - it does work!

Hi @Lu Lu Sorry this WOL seems a disappointment to you but don't give up or even get down many members have said sometimes its 4-6 weeks think @rawkaren And @CandiceMarie are 2 examples of this slow start, however did you measure because sometimes that shows a reduction before the scales and as you said you are also getting the health benefits, stick with this for a few weeks more then you should receive payback.

Hi, Lu Lu. I'm sorry that you are feeling disappointed but many people on here report a slow start - so it's not just you. Have you input your stats into your Personal Tracker? If you do so, then it will give you a more accurate estimate of your TDEE.

I agree with you about calorie counting and I gave it up after three weeks. However, from years of calorie counting I have a good idea of the calories in foods that I regularly eat so on non-fasting days I would keep a very rough count in my head. This lasted for another few weeks and then I gave that up too!

I hope that you keep going with this WOE despite your set-back - it really does work!

Stick with it. It was a month before I lost anything and then I had a big drop. I gave hearted that the loss is not linear

[carieoates]

It'll come, take a look at my tracker, I'm a slow loser too. Stick with it. The fasts become easier too. My tummy doesn't dare rummble anymore.

Hi lulu, did you have any loss on your first week weigh in and second week weigh in? Sometimes when we have a big loss our body adjust and we stay the same weight or gain a bit but don't worry stick with it and you will see a loss again soon.

[Tracieknits]

I'm sorry you're frustrated! Do you weigh once a week? It's entirely possible the scales caught you on a heavier day.

I weigh daily, and I average the week's weights for my "official" weight. I have found that on any given day, I'm within about a three pound range.

Please try not to get bummed out by one bad weight - which isn't even that bad and could be accounted for by a big glass of water!! Be patient and watch for trends.

I have found using my fitness pal just to keep an eye on the feast day calories v helpful. I'm still eating really well and sticking on the whole to my TDEE, some days under. I do think that sometimes we can under estimate what we eat on a 'normal' day and so for the first few weeks it might be an idea to find out if there is a pattern of something being not quite right, could be too much fats and sugars or carbs etc. often we don't realise just how much is in certain foods.

Also keep drinking plenty of water, hope you start to work out where the issue might be soon

[Moogie]

This is perfectly normal, so don't worry!
In the first few weeks of fasting some of the big initial loss is water weight, of which some is regained while fat is lost too. This can result in a little bit of a yo yo effect on the scales, as the water weight rebalances.
If you haven't lost anything yet it's well possible you have lost fat but are holding extra water. Are you drinking enough? If you don't drink enough water your body will retain more.

Can I ask what your BMI is please? How much are you wanting to lose?

0.4lb is nothing to worry about. Our bodies vary naturally from day to day and also throughout the day. If you happen to be holding a little more water or have some food that hasn't, er, passed through yet - or if you're getting towards/are on your period this can also affect the weight. Don't fret over less than half a pound, put it down to natural variation. You've probably lost weight and it'll show up next week as your body balances out.

As for the fat %, I find mine can vary somewhat based on what I've eaten and how hydrated I am (or not). Scales at home can be pretty inaccurate on this front and should only be used as a rough indicator of your downward trend

Chin up old bean, you're doing fine!

Thanks for all your replies. I am going to stick with it as its a new way of life/ eating for me that I am happy to do. I also don't feel deprived on fast days as there are plenty of tasty options under 500 calories - I can even eat out! Also, I am finding it easier every time just not to eat for a day.

I am also doing 16:8 I think too as I rarely have breakfast on days after a fast (or any day come to think of it!)

I probably do lack water on days I am not working. I drink loads at work but at home I tend to be too busy to sit down and have a drink! I do make it up in tea a bit though!

I have measured but not lost anything there either. I guess I was just expecting something to change by now.

I have decided to do a half fast today as I was away with work yesterday and had 3 meals. I didn't gorge but ate more than I would on a normal day so am taking it very easy until dinner tonight!

I think my BMI is around 23.4. Id' love to lose half to a whole stone but might be pushing it a bit there!