Bordergirl - Thank you for this post! After I stopped this WOE for some stupid reason AND stopped weighing myself (this after successfully losing about 17 lbs, reaching 132 lbs on ADF; I'll never make these mistakes again!!!), I gained back all I lost plus gained more, solely because I stopped fasting. So now, 2 years later, I'm at 159 lbs (and I'm only 5 ft 4!) and I'm back on ADF at age 47. I really don't know why I stopped fasting; I actually don't mind it most days and some days even look forward to it/feel good. The only non stupid thing I've done in this 'non ADF' 2 year time period is upping my exercise so my overall body shape, health, and fitness are decent.
So, reading your story, especially since your starting weight is so close to mine, is inspiring me in getting out of this new low ('high') and keeping it off pretty much like you do. I was wondering when you lost your weight, how often did you fast per week and did you count calories on non fast days? Also, for exercise, if you did, how often did you exercise, and on
fast days too? Finally, how old are you and how tall? Sorry for all the questions - any info is so much appreciated.[/quote]
Hi Sifrina! I apologize upfront for the length. Okay, my story: I am 5'4" tall and 67 years old (until May 21), basic pear shape with slender midriff. Reasonably athletic when young, I weighed about 133 lbs. or so until I got pregnant with my daughter at 38. I lost the pregnancy weight, and didn't put on more weight until stress from my teaching job and menopause (probably) made my weight go up to 185 or so (age 48). I slowly brought it down some, but not enough, over many years. My cholesterol and blood sugar were borderline. Not good! My husband says I had started to walk like a little old lady. I felt like a little old lady--round and not too steady on my feet. I broke a couple of bones in my foot and I remember thinking that if I weighed 50 lbs. less, it would be a lot easier!
I usually fast twice a week with the days varying according to what's happening in my life. A few times I've done ADF, for a week at a time. I've also tried 16:8, but it didn't fit me; also 6:1--too spread out. However 5:2, even if my fast days occasionally exceed 500 calories, seems to work best for me. I counted calories on fast days at first, but only occasionally now. The same thing for non-fast days. I weigh daily most times-- unless we are traveling, but not always at the same time and not always nude. I log it sometimes, other times not. In case you couldn't tell, I am not a very organized person. But somehow, this casual "keeping an eye on it" helps to keep me close without obsessing.
I generally eat 3 small meals each fast day, occasionally only 2. Breakfast (may be at 7am or 10am) is usually coffee and nuts with berries or apple and a little cheese or yogurt (very small). Lunch may be homemade veg soup or a salad and a little protein. Dinner is either a salad and some protein or soup and cheese. I drink a lot of black coffee and selzer water. I don't do many carbs--just feel better that way. A couple things I learned: I wouldn't die from being hungry and how great food tastes when you are really hungry! When occasionally I decide that a fast day is not working for me or something comes up and I really want to deviate, I just cancel the fast day and decide to do it the following day or just skip it until the next scheduled fast day. I don't feel like i failed--I just changed my plan! I love the adaptability of it! Overall, my appetite is much smaller. So my non-fast days are a little more liberal than my fast days. I would guess I eat in the 900 to 1200 calorie range most days. I really eat what I want, but what I want is pretty healthy--lots of veggies, lean meat, cheese, fruit,a little butter, the odd good bread. I love really good bread and the occasional chocolate treat, but only homemade (maybe not my home, but somebody's home
). I won't waste it on packaged junk. I do limit carbs because I can go overboard and then I don't feel well. Also, I had been pre-diabetic, and I don't want to go there! I enjoy an occasional glass of wine and the luxury of eating what I want.
My local Rec Department started Zumba classes, and I decided to give it a try. I loved it and went to 2 to 4 classes a week. Then, my daughter graduated from college, and she and I went to Europe for 5 weeks carrying our packs, taking trains and public transportation, staying in hostels and small hotels, eating like the regular Europeans, and walking and climbing stairs and walking some more. I would have died had it not been for Zumba! When we got back, I kept up the walking everywhere in our little town and going to as many Zumba classes as available--usually 4 per week. Amazingly, my body changed back to pretty slim with a waist and hipbones and everything. I applaud your dedication to exercise. In my opinion, it is a vital part of the whole. Exercise makes me more dedicated to healthy eating and vice versa!
I think it is great that you are doing this at 47--that many more years to enjoy your old/new body!
I often think "Why did it take me so long to do this? It was so easy!" As my dad used to say, "Too soon old, too late smart." Oh well.
Experiment and find the best way for you. Best wishes
Posted: 08 Apr 2016, 18:56
It is great to see Intermittent Fasting getting some positive press here in the U.S. for a change! What a great story! I agree with Dr. Varady in that I don't think I could go much higher on "Feast Days" than 10% higher even if I wanted to. 
It is a bit of a coincidence seeing this thread, because I was thinking about how relatively easy it is maintaining my 5:2 weight loss when I know so many people who put it all (and then some) back on in less than a year. It made me curious, so I looked up my initial start date weigh-in (158 lbs) on 3-21-2013. My goal weight was 137, which I hit in 11-30-2013. Since then,over a period of 2 and one-half years, I have been above 137 about 3 times --up to 141 lbs. for a week or two at a time and then back down. I would bet that is fairly unusual in the dieting universe!
#4 I enjoy being relatively slim. Strangely enough, I feel like the overweight body I lived in for those 20 years I was kind of an impostor body, not really mine. I feel like I'm back in my real body eating the way I used to eat. I've always liked pretty healthy food, so it isn't terribly hard. It's mostly reasonable portions.