The FastDay Forum

Thank you My Fasting Buddy!

When I first started this WOE, overeating after fast days wasn't a problem for me. But since Xmas, it has become one. I started doing 16:8 on non-fast days to cut out breakfast (which was just empty calories in my case) and after dinner snacking. It definitely helped a lot, but I'd still rather be making healthier choices on non-fast days.

Still overeating on non fast days after 1 year on 5:2 diet. Have lost 12 lbs which I am pleased with, but if I didn't have the "rree for all" mentality on non fast days, I would do better.

I still cannot seem to stop overeating on non fast days, but worst of all is WHAT I eat, which is generally calorific rubbish, like chocolates and crisps. I actually prefer fast days as I feel I am more in control of my appetite and food intake.

bluefish wrote: Still overeating on non fast days after 1 year on 5:2 diet. Have lost 12 lbs which I am pleased with, but if I didn't have the "rree for all" mentality on non fast days, I would do better.

I still cannot seem to stop overeating on non fast days, but worst of all is WHAT I eat, which is generally calorific rubbish, like chocolates and crisps. I actually prefer fast days as I feel I am more in control of my appetite and food intake.

I've been the same! Fast days have been easier than normal eating days.. The last couple of weeks though my appetite seems to be naturally decreasing, probably cos i'm back on the very low carb wagon after a few months of being addicted again! I'm so relieved, as over-eating and really intense cravings were getting seriously out of control; I felt completely out of control!

I am now doing 4:3 for fasting and 18:6 on non fast days. I am still managing to cram a fair bit in on non fast days but no where near what I ate pre fasting.

I' m really interested in this,coz after my first few months of doing well on feed days,i.e., keeping to or under TDEE,occasionally going a bit over to mix things up, i now find it really difficult not to overeat on feed days,and to eat cr*p,like @bluefish said. For a while, didn't lose weight, now putting it on.
Where does all this come from? With the best will in the world to do well and yet i am struggling..
I call my feed days " replenish" days to remind myself they're about nourishment.
Right now,fast days are miles easier than replenish days :0(
@carorees any ideas? I wd willingly agree i am just greedy,but i doubt any of us fasters really are..seeing as we can fast at least twice a week.

My theory (for what it's worth) is that increased stress increases cortisol and increased cortisol pushes the body into sugar burning mode. If you think how people who have to take steroids for a medical condition pile on the weight and find themselves constantly hungry, you can see the similarity. As steroid medicines and cortisol work in the same way, it makes sense. Too much stress (to which fasting itself contributes to a degree) can cause cortisol to rise enough to create this problem.

The solution? That's tricky. I would say not to keep adding more fasting, but to follow the 'famine effect' treatment of eating nutritious food and trying to limit the carbs, perhaps follow an eating window approach rather than long fasts and at the same time maybe try to restrict the carbs to a carb window. But most importantly, try to reduce the other sources of stress in your life. A good night's sleep is also important...easier said than done I know! Fresh air, walking exercise rather than anything too strenuous, can all help too.

I might be wrong, but it seems to me that the people who have been struggling are often those who report that they have been going through a particularly stressful time of late.

Makes sense! I am currently doing 4:3 with 16:8 on non fast days. Do you think this is maybe over going it? I had thought the less I ate the more weight I would lose. I cannot say I am particularly hungry doing this it is more about eating from habit just now. I am having a difficult time just now trying to sort out my fathers care, or lack of it.

Thanks caro@carorees
The illness i have is partly caused by too much adrenaline and cortisol in the system.
Todays feed day has been the best ive done in ages,have had 1000 cals so far and got about 400 in my din-dins..hopefully gettin back on track.
Will remember yr advice..thank you ..still knocked out by how fab you look in yr latest pics! X

Hope you get your Dad sorted soon Bob@bobshouse ..must be such a worry x

@Bobshouse I think awareness of the issue is probably the key. If you are not feeling hungry you are likely not awash with cortisol! I think that after a while on this diet we all know what normal fasting hunger is like and what is not normal. So if your hunger whether on fast or feed days is excessive it is worth having a think about why.

Hi everyone, I’m here because I am having the problem of overeating sometimes the day after fasting and it’s annoying me greatly after eating so little to go wrecking my efforts like this! Why am I doing it? Anyone figured out why for yourselves? I’m very interested in your answers

Why do we over eat? Because we can? The best answer I"ve found is we overeat for three reasons, Hunger, Reward, Stress and I'll include boredom. Eating is pleasurable it's a reward system, , nature made us that way because it was a means for survival back in the caveman days when food was scarce. Now it's taken on a life all it's own, cooking shows, treats, snacks, entertainment, social gatherings... the list goes on and on. What I did was retrain the old way of thinking, food may taste good but if we are overweight it isn't good for us. If you are truly hungry than eat but eat only what you need, not what you want or think you want. Think of hunger as your body telling you it's using up those extra pounds, Improved mobility, appearance, health and most of all long term satisfaction is the reward. Learn all you can about nutrition, especially sugar and processed foods! If you cut most of those out you will find losing the pounds will come easily. It really is all about serotonin and dopamine, the reward/satisfaction chemicals in our brains that makes survival possible but also leads us astray. My favourite method to stay on track is cue up some youtubes on nutrition and health, it gets my mind back to where it should be.
That's my two cents on the matter. Oh yeah, it's OK to be hungry! Folks don't think of it that way but it's not only OK, it's a good thing.
Roscoe