The FastDay Forum

I do two 36 hour (water and coffee) fasts twice a week. I eat whatever I want the other days. ANYONE ELSE DOING THIS? what ARE YOUR EXPERIENCES?

Theres a liquid fasters' group here. just cant seem to find the thread.

I know i couldnt do it

[carieoates]

Hello.
The reason many of us do 5.2 is because we like food, and it's a nicer way to lose that fat because we can handle a couple of days of less calories. I firmly believe that fasters are generally foodies anyway, and relish the great taste and general eating experience.
You won't find many people here who zero cal fast as it's not necessary to go so extreme and still lose weight.
But I could be wrong......

Hi @renata, When I did 5:2 over 18 months ago, I did zero cal fasts. I don't know if I lost more than if I had eaten something but I found it easier because if I started eating I would not want to stop. Plus no faffing about creating calorie counted meals.

After 4 months I converted to time restricted eating which I liked even better, as I could tuck in to a lot of delicious food every day, but that's another story ...

I think a few people do or have tried zero cal fasts, I seem to remember @wildmissus did for a while?

Thank you for all your reply's. I looooovvvvveeeeee my food, and that's how I got to 30kg (approx. 60 pounds) overweight. So yes I do think most fasters are foodies, but I also love the way I look in cloths and how much better I feel, physically and emotionally not being the weight I was. The 36 hour fasts are not easy, and when it gets crazy at work like this week I have opted to eat under 500 calorie on the days I was supposed to be fasting and 1200 on the days Im not, so Im still in a deficit. I hate counting calories that's y if I know im 2 entire days in deficit I can eat the baked chocolate cheesecake I have been craving all week! Im a women and I have read some disturbing stuff on ADF, as applies to hormones ect. has anyone experienced any hectic changes?

Re: hormones: I am 15 years post-menopause and had been doing fine with very low dose estrogen. After almost a year of 5:2 eating 435 cals on fast days I got to the lowest weight I have attained in 30+ years and lost my flabby tummy fat. Unfortunately, I also started hot flashing and having dry eyes and other symptoms of low estrogen. I then saw my weight start moving up despite continued fasting.

I regained the tummy fat(which stores estrogen) and ended up with more belly flab than I started with even though I remain at a lower scale weight. Fortunately, the hormonal symptoms abated. I won't shoot for so low a weight again. My body needs that tummy fat!

I would also advise not doing calorie restriction on non-fast days. 1200 calorie days following 500 calories days may slow down your metabolism making it tough to lose and to maintain. Going back to eating maintenance calories for your goal weight on non-fast days is much safer. The idea behind intermittent fasting is to avoid putting you body into a state where it thinks starvation is a threat and fights harder to keep and add the fat necessary for survival.

I have just started a similar approach in Sep, so this is my 3rd "no food" fast. I don't do zero cal as I like the cream in my coffee! That and a lot of 0-cal sparkling water. I'm also not sure if it's 36 hours exactly, I think sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on when I eat that last food before the fast. (Last night I think I had some yogurt around 9pm, but I won't eat again until tomorrow, which might make it 35-42 hours, depending on when that "break [the] fast" occurs.)

Like others have said, I am one of those people who prefer not to have to think about food at all on a fast day, once the initial mental aspect is out of the way, it's almost easier somehow. And I'm seeing new lows on the scale, so it seems to be working. Usually I hover around a number for ages, so for me, early days, this seems to have shaken things up in a good way. I'll keep you posted!

In the last few fasts, I inclined to have less food than my allowance is, miso soup and some raw veggies or frozen fruit is enough. It seems easier to me with each fast, maybe I will do zero-calorie in the future.

Hi everyone, thanks for taking the time to write your experiences! Especially about the hormones @peebles. I'm like 34 so maybe, hopefully I'm still okay. I love the way I feel after a 36 hour fast, lighter and proud that I did it again. The hunger is also not terrible all the time, it can be hectic like an hour or so after 18 hours but if you can get over 20 hours it's easy. The thing is I really pig out on my non-fast days and it is such a pleasure to eat all the foods that are forbidden. I know that's not popular and I should eat clean but sometimes an xtra long chilli cheese from burger king rocks! I try to still be in a deficit week on week but this is the easiest and most enjoyable method of doing so. Non fast days I'm in the 2000 calorie range, lead's to a pound of weightloss a week, slow and steady! I do believe exercise is important though and the benefits of strength training fasted blows my mind. I think protein is important too. Lost a pound and a half last week! Whoop whoop! Keep on trucking guys!

[wildmissus]

I did 36 hour water fasts from April 2013 to July 2014 when I went on holiday and have struggled ever since. I have since been trying to fast at 500cals but I can't remember the last time I did it successfully as when I start eating I keep eating! Last year when I came back my holidays I started a new job working early shifts which may be part of the problem. I am changing my shifts in a few weeks to shorter day and evening shifts which means I won't eat at work which will also save a lot of questions about why I'm not eating. So hopefully I'll be able to get back to 2 water fasts and losing weight again. I did not calorie count on non fast days and yes I feel that I lost more weight by water fasting or at least I lost it easier.

Have you tried 4:3 @Renata. but with normal 500 calories fast days and a full 2000 on non fast days.

As said above 1200 on non fast days is too little to succeeed generally in this plan. I dont totally understand the science behind it but never be below your TDEE on your deemed non fasting days. Ever ever

I think that may be great! Had a terrible binging weekend! Im fasting today, I need to concentrate at work and fasting helps a lot with that. I think that maybe I should try a 4:3. it sounds very doable, but I don't think I will get enough of a calorie deficit to actually loose if I eat an entire 2000 calories. My TDEE is 1600 cal, maybe I should do 1600 4 days and 500 on three days. I really think that could work and could be easier. 11200 maintenance on 4:3 would be 1600*4+ 500*3 = 7900. This could work. Thanks, especially if I eat the 500 calories after a workout!

@wildmissus, im hoping I can do the 500 cal because the entire day not eating is feeling more and more like depravation and then I binge. I binge so bad. Im in a bad place today after a weekend of hectic binging! Im determined to get back on the wagon, am fasting today, but im going to try and not shame myself.

I think that may be great! Had a terrible binging weekend! Im fasting today, I need to concentrate at work and fasting helps a lot with that. I think that maybe I should try a 4:3. it sounds very doable, but I don't think I will get enough of a calorie deficit to actually loose if I eat an entire 2000 calories. My TDEE is 1600 cal, maybe I should do 1600 4 days and 500 on three days. I really think that could work and could be easier. 11200 maintenance on 4:3 would be 1600*4+ 500*3 = 7900. This could work. Thanks, especially if I eat the 500 calories after a workout!

Yes of course if your TDEE is 1600 then only have 1600 four days a week.. sorry i must have misread your TDEE as 2000

theres a great 4:3 tent here on the forum I will look for it.

@renata I found the 4:3 tent in there. we will all provide lots of good support and encouragement on this method in there.
Come on in.
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