The FastDay Forum

[carorees]

Interesting chart! Maybe I should switch to that for a while and see how I go. I am just worried about restricting myself even more with a longer fast everyday, low carbs etc etc.

I don't think you can do much harm in trying it for a couple of weeks. But don't do ADF at the same time. Just go for the eating window. Start with an 8 hour window and then adjust according to results. You can have your eating window when it suits you so if you are getting up at 4.45, why not start eating at 11 and finish by 7? If that is easy, try starting at 12 and then 1.

I think that breaking your fast with something low carb is ideal such as a handful of almonds (i.e., don't follow my example from yesterday!!!). Then have some carbs with your meals but you know, don't go mad with the carbs.

My experience @Debs - I've had what I thought was a 'bad' couple of weeks, have been doing 16/8 or less 6 days a week but no proper fast day, have indulged in cake a lot, and was expecting to see a gain, but have lost a pound effortlessly! Not bad considering that I've been basically the same weight for about 8 months and can't seem to lose anything without being very strict.

So well I'm happy with 16/8 and will continue with this for now, though am going to add in a couple of longer fasts over the next two weeks in preparation for my easter holiday!

[Debs]

Thank you ladies, and your experience is interesting Nicky-94. I've been stuck for a while now so it is worth a shot. I generally manage pretty well as I am generally too busy to think about food these days at work so I can generally last. I had hoped ADF might be the answer but obviously not, it seemed like a good option to fast every other day.
At least I don't get nagged if I don't have brekkie these days!

[carorees]

It might be that any change will create a bit of a boost and you have to keep mixing it up. I remember reading an opinion piece by someone like Peter Attia or someone like him saying that studies on skipping breakfast done in people who normally eat breakfast found they lost weight but interestingly, studies on eating breakfast in people who normally skip breakfast also found they lost weight and so it could be that any change in eating habits can result in some weight loss. Possibly because the body tends to optimize its circadian rhythm to adapt to the eating routine and so changing the routine 'catches it out' as it were.

[Debs]

Yep, makes sense! Interestingly, now work has become incredibly complex and challenging I am finding I am thinking a lot more clearly when fasting. A positive!!

Thank you ladies, and your experience is interesting Nicky-94. I've been stuck for a while now so it is worth a shot. I generally manage pretty well as I am generally too busy to think about food these days at work so I can generally last. I had hoped ADF might be the answer but obviously not, it seemed like a good option to fast every other day.
At least I don't get nagged if I don't have brekkie these days!

I sincerely hope that 16:8 will help @Debs.....good luck.

[Debs]

A carbocalypse? I have those occasionally!! Thanks @izzy, I think I will give it a go and see how long I can fast for.

[carorees]

@izzy

Carbocalypse Now"

LOL!

Wow -- as a total newbie I never realised there was so much possible variation. I need to get my head around this. Good luck with all your eating windows -- in the meantime I will stick to something fairly straightforward...we could call it "vanilla 5:2".

[carorees]

Welcome to the forum @OneBigLife!

Oh yes, there is a lot of information here, but you're right, I think it's best to stick to vanilla-flavoured 5:2 for now. As you progress and if you read around the forum you will gain the tools to change things around if you need/want to. The best thing about intermittent fasting is how flexible it is and how everyone can find a method that suits them.

Good luck with it and make sure you tell us how you're getting on!

Hi Caroline @carorees,
I just looked at your progress tracker and it says you have reached your GOAL weight!! Is this true??? I've been awaiting a big joyous announcement, piccies and a party with the whole gang! Or did I miss it?? I'm so excited for you it may as well be me!
Xxx julianna


p.s. has anyone seen the ' low carbers tent' in the fastonbury glamping grounds?? Have they packed up and gone hone due to inactivity I wonder or maybe it's there and I can't see it??

[carorees]

Almost Juliana, almost! Am just waiting for my trend weight on Libra to reach target (300g to go). I have seen my target 3 times so far but have bounced back up again.

Will deffo throw a virtual party when the trend weight hits the magic number!

The low carbers tent is here: fastonbury-glamping-grounds-f34/2014-low-carbers-tent-t10527.html

Interesting chart! Maybe I should switch to that for a while and see how I go. I am just worried about restricting myself even more with a longer fast everyday, low carbs etc etc.

@Debs, I am combining ADF and 16:8. Basically, I do 16:8 on non-fast days. I decided to do this in response to a specific problem: I was overeating on non-fast days, starting with empty calories for breakfast and ending with evening snacking and wine drinking. 16:8 has cut out a lot of pointless calories for me, and brought non-fast days down to TDEE.

I should add, this is to get rid of the last few pesky kg before going on maintenance again. I don't think I could keep it up long term.

[Debs]

Thnks MaryAnn, have you noticed a difference as yet?

3 kg of holiday gain came off quite quickly. It might have been mostly water weight, but I do feel 16:8 has helped speed things up. I'm mostly happy about getting non-fast days under control...