The FastDay Forum

Well, it's almost the end of January and I haven't lost any weight. I've been struggling a bit on fast days (I might do one well, but not the other) and I guess I've been going over a bit on feast days. So I decided yesterday to give this a shot. My window is going to be 12-8. and I'm going to try to keep my calories between 1000 and 1200 on those days. Yesterday was a fast day, so I still kept my calories low (about 700) and I think I will try to do that one day a week. The only day I can't do it is Sunday, because I go swimming in the morning and I need a banana before I go to avoid foot cramps and I'm always very hungry afterwards. I kinda have rituals set up for that day! But I'll still stop eating no later than 8 that day also.

I feel good about it. Part of it, I think is just because it's new and exciting. I've never really considered it before, because I kinda like breakfast food, but I thought I could always still have that on occasion for lunch or dinner or a little snack!

In conjunction I've also been trying hard to get at least 8K steps on my fitbit every day and I'm going to be training for a 5K soon, and of course the swimming on Sundays.

I hope it all works!! Any thoughts are welcome!

Good luck@cblasz i think i need to do the same...minus the fast day(s)
I' m not in the right mindset for fasting right now,and one thing ive learnt about fasting is you must be in the right mindset,otherwise its nigh on imposs to do!
I know youve done great in the past,from things youve written,youre a focused person mostly,so ive got my fingers crossed for you!

Hi! There are many people who swear by the eating window (16:8 or another variation). I tried it a looooong time ago and got caught up in the clock thing and trying to be the same everyday! Who was I kidding? I never do anything the same everyday! So, I decided it wasn't for me. Then, with some of the recent studies, it seemed that it might be more doable. So I am doing kind of a hybrid. 5-2 or 4:3 ish, (ofttimes more than 5oo cals--more like 600 or 700) depending on how I feel and my schedule of activities. On all days, I am trying to stay within an 8 hour eating window--say 8 or 9 or 10 to 4 or 5 or 6. Flexibility--it's my blessing and my curse, but it is mine , so I'd best make it work for me! We'll see how it goes! to you!

Good call @cblasz. I cannot fast at the moment. I don't know what happened to me, after, can it be 3 years? OH is in hospital and has been very sick, and it's all just too hard to add the extra of restricting food. I am considering your lead. I have just about given up the hope of losing any weight but I am now at a weight I can live with, so that's not the issue. The issue is, I don't want to put on weight and end up at a weight I can't live with! And then have to struggle to lose it again. So, your plan, is to skip eating until what time? And nothing after 8pm. So I guess that means you don't eat until 12. I might do is as a trial, starting next week. Don't want to rush this!

Sending good thoughts your way, SallyO. Take care of yourself.

Oh @Sallyo, I hadn't realised that your husband was in hospital and quite unwell. You need to just take care of yourself (and him of course) at the moment and don't fast if you're not feeling like it. You have done brilliantly with your initial weight loss and then maintaining it. You have learned what foods will make you put on weight if eaten excessively and about portion control, so that is probably enough to keep your weight steady at the moment and if you cut out breakfast then that's a few calories saved as well!
My warmest best wishes to you and your husband. XX

P.S.I have just realised that I have been doing a kind of 16:8 since I cut out breakfast a few months ago! Well fancy that!

Been thinking of you @sallyo and i' m so sorry about yr hubs..i hope he' ll be much better soon
I think its marvellous if you're at a weight you can live with xx well done on getting there and yes,pls stay there, by hook or by crook, coz its soul destroying when all the good work is undone....
sending big hugs yr way xx

Big hugs to you and OH @Sallyo, hoping for the very best for you both. {{{+}}}

I always find 16:8 a useful tool for mindful eating, I usually keep an eye on my calorie intake while I'm at it as eating within TDEE keeps me honest:0)
Good luck folks

Lovely forumites! Your good wishes almost makes me cry. Who would believe that a bunch of people I don't even know! could mean so much to me. OH is a lot better and coming home Monday. Really it has been a lot easier having him in hospital. I think I will start the new 16-8 tomorrow after all.

Thanks for all the replies and support for my new initiative!! Yesterday went well. And I peaked at the scale this morning and it was the lowest it's been in a month! But I'll wait for the official number next Monday. I did have to kind of remind myself that I don't have to be super strict about the calories, that that's part of the plan. So, I let myself have a hot cocoa last night after dinner.

@CandiceMarie - thanks so much for the encouraging words! And you are right, you really do have to be in the right mindset for fasting.

@bordergirl - that sounds like a good plan for you! I think for me with just 1 sort of fast day, the schedule is going to be key for me. I do good at following rules and not so good when they start to get grey. Let me know how it goes for you!

@Sallyo - I'm so sorry to hear about your OH. I'm glad he is going home soon though. I know those situations can be very hard for fasting/dieting in general. (Although when things are extremely stressful I sort of involuntarily fast.) Anyway, I think this might be good for you to just maintain your weight. I am using a 12-8 window, but you can use whichever window works best for you, 11-7, 1-9, whatever! I guess some people shorten the window, but for now I'm going to keep this one. It works well with my schedule during the day and gives me enough to make and eat dinner when I get home.

So glad your OH will be home soon @sallyo x
And yes,its the upside of the internet isnt it? How folk we havent met/ live far away can nevertheless feel so familiar to us and we can feel such affection for them x x
Good luck with 16:8- i am gonna give it a go too..i really dont want to count calories any more but its a hard habit to break as ive done it for many years,tho it bores me to tears!
Reading stuff which is helping me in a book called" Slim For Life" by Jason Vale..its helped me before,so i am re reading.@lizbean i promised i wd tell you more about it..i havent forgotten,i just only seem to do small bites on the internet lately..the screen or something drains me quickly. Promise will say more soon.

@Sallyo I'm so pleased to hear your OH is coming home and very sorry to hear you both have had a worrying and tough time recently. I agree with everyone, readjusting wellbeing priorities to help us through stressful times is a positive and is to been seen and felt in a positive light. Thx @CandiceMarie lovely to hear from you and pleased to hear you are resting up from the screen, it's surprising how debilitating technology can be, I'll slim for life, we can all google and read @nursebean I saw you posting on another thread earlier this week, glad to hear you are a thriving bean with slimming world.... no lurking my dear, we want to hear all your news and good chatter when it fits you!
Go @cblaz great plan, and you have a merry following, might join you soon x
Moi, I'm quite exhausted and it's only the end of January. Guess it's time to put on the breaks and come up with my master wellbeing plan going forward
Take care x

Well, my official weigh in day is Monday and I'm sure it will go up a little after the weekend, but as of this morning I'm down about 2lbs from doing 16:8 every day!!! I'm so excited about it! It has been really easy too. (I know it's only been one week.) Today is a little harder, because I'm not at work and I normally really like breakfast on weekends. But, I'm keeping busy. I'm going to go for a walk/run soon and do some errands, so by the time I get home it will be time to eat!

I had to give up 5:2 over 2 y ago, and put on about 1/2 the weight I`d lost. I am trying 16:8 now and its early days, but I`m optimistic. It seems to be less stressful than 5:2 for me, and it has reduced my appetite and sweet tooth. Still have to watch the calories, but not obsessively.

Hi chingola. You have chosen an interesting name. Hope that fasting will work for you this time. Good luck.