I.F. too long or too soon?
(20 posts) (12 voices)-
wrinkledamanda
MemberHey guys, I just want to make sure I'm doing this I.F. right. It's actually not a conscious desicion, and that's the problem, I think. I just don't feel like eating. I'll have my salmon with olive oil and parmesan cheese at maybe 1 am, and I don't eat for the rest of the day (I work third shift, so really night). Is this bad if I do it too often? I was proud yesterday to last 24 hours, but I'm wondering if it's going to have adverse effects if done too often or too long, especially in regards to weight loss. I don't know if it's my problem still being stuck in cw, but is my body burning fat or muscle when I'm doing that? I assume that Grok didn't eat very often at all during the winter, so it shouldn't be a bad thing, but then again, he didn't have aspirations of losing 130 lbs! haha
Thanks for your help guys!
Posted 5 months ago # -
When you skip meals your body switches over to burning fat. If you're eating plenty of protein and fat the rest of the time I don't think you really have to worry about losing muscle- especially if you're working your muscles and keeping them strong.
Generally when I IF I just set an "eating window" which is usually (for me) lunch at 12:00 pm and maybe a snack later in the afternoon, then dinner around 7-8:00 pm, then skip breakfast and eat lunch the next day- so 8pm to 12noon is about 16 hours without food.
I lost 125 lbs. It can totally be done. :)
Posted 5 months ago # -
eva
Memberfor example this week ive done 3 24 h dinner-to-dinner IFs in a row... just didnt feel hungry. Today after these 3 days felt ravenous in the morning and had some -ok a lot- of roasted pork and a few plums... if you are not hungry its stupid to eat... your body will let you know when it needs the energy.
Posted 5 months ago # -
Griff
MemberBecause I'm generally hungry when I get to the end of an IF, the hardest part, for me, is not to stuff myself when I sit down to my next meal. Yesterday I managed not to, though, and the results were clear: better post-dinner sugar numbers and a better waking sugar, as well. It's hard to know when you're not hungry anymore if you (like me) tend to eat quickly so you can get on to other things, because that creates a tendency to eat too much, as it takes about twenty minutes for the body to realize it's full and send you the "stop eating now" signal. I've had to train myself to stop, wait a few minutes, and listen to my body before I get more food nowadays.
I'd recommend shorter IFs to start with; maybe skip breakfast and wait until lunch to eat, and work up from there.
Posted 5 months ago # -
wrinkledamanda
MemberOk, thanks guys! I was just worried I wasn't eating enough or something like that. I'll try to maybe shorten them, and definately check out that book, I've seen it mentioned a few times on the boards.
Oh and Diana Renata, that's amazing! How long did it take you, and how often do you IF?
Posted 5 months ago # -
RogerDeRok
MemberDiana Renata, I didn't realize you'd lost that much! Wow! Amazing!
I usually IF 18-20 hours on my work days (5 days per week). Some days I'll have coffee first thing in the morning, but not every day. I was actually wondering if this is fasting too frequent, but I'm liking the weight loss results. Like Diana Renata I'm in the 100 club (101 in just over 10 months). I eat around 6:30-7pm after work, usually a really big meal consisting of at least one pound of meat and then some vegetables. Couple hours later I may snack on nuts or carrots or something. Then sleep and do it again the next day. On my 2 days off I usually have 2-3 meals.
Posted 5 months ago # -
wrinkledamanda
MemberWow I'm so excited about joining you guys in the 100 club. I want to lose about 130 lbs. So you only eat once or twice a day, then Rodger? That seems about perfect for me. I always tend to eat more on my weekends, too. How often do you excersize, and what kinds of excersizes do you do?
I read in some magazine that Angelina Jolie doesn't really "work out" and the person writing the article was amazed that she just took a long, relaxing walk through her garden. That's very primal. :D
Posted 5 months ago # -
RogerDeRok
MemberYeah I only eat once per day most days, a big meal. I walk about an hour 6 days per week and do 10 sprints once per week (about 50 yards each). 3 times per week I do some body weight exercies that only take about 20 mins with one of those days including doing some weights (curls and clean n' presses).
Posted 5 months ago # -
I think one of the biggest things you can do when it comes to major weight loss, is to change it up pretty frequently. I noticed my body liked to get used to habits, so there were a lot of plateaus. Switch up your eating patterns, eating less most of the time, but eat more now and then. Same with exercise. Change it up frequently. Lots of variation in diet and exercise will help it pass more quickly too because then you won't get bored.
One thing I noticed with my longer fasts, is that I almost had to force myself to eat after a certain point, but then it was like opening a flood gate. Once I learned to recognize my body's signals and paterns, it got much easier. :)
As for exercise, I've run the gammut- almost literally. When I first started out losing I just walked on the treadmill. Eventually I turned into a Chronic Cardio Queen, running 6 miles a day. Now I just do what sounds like fun at the moment. A walk around the neighborhood- 20 to 40 minutes depending on the route, some weights and stuff, maybe a bit of yoga, or sprinting when the mood strikes. I'm starting to depend completely on mood to dictate my workouts now. It's much more fun that way, in my opinion.
Posted 5 months ago # -
wrinkledamanda
MemberThis is all excellent information. Basically, just do what your body wants you to. So, I could excersize a bunch if I feel like it, and not so much if I don't want to, as long as I get moving for a bit every day.
On another forum (body modification forum, go figure), maybe the best piece of advice I've seen to get yourself going is to lace up your shoes and get at least as far as the mailbox; usually you'll find yourself saying, "just a little further." And that works if I can get my shoes on. Haha which doesn't seem like I even have to if it werent for my feet getting sharp things in them.
Anyways, thanks so much for all your feedback, I'm still learning, and I'm constantly impressed by how helpful you all have been, and continue to be. thanks!
Posted 5 months ago # -
So if ever you don't think it's possible, trust me when I say IT IS. ;)
Posted 5 months ago # -
I am really interested in this IF business. Everything I have ever read/heard tells me that this isn't right for your body, as it teaches it to panic and store, store, store your next meals in case of famine.
I guess it's different if you're eating primal, right?
Posted 5 months ago # -
Jedi
Memberactually if you read a Brad Pilon's research, it is not to do with primal eating, but it does happen that many of us PBers IF too :) check out http://www.fitnessspotlight.com, they have some great stuff on fasting.
Posted 5 months ago # -
emmie
MemberFor the past 8 months I've been doing what might be called a form of IF--alternate day dieting (JUDDD). Because I'm hypothyroid and post-menopausal, I have to seriously restrict calories in order to lose--<1000 a day. Trying to do that daily gets very frustrating.
With JUDDD, I eat 450 cal (max) on MWF (I don't do pure alternate because I work out on my "up days), and about 1400 cal on T, Th, Sat, Sun (although I try to keep one of those weekend days at 1000, usually unsuccessfully).
The creator of this plan suggests that the body doesn't respond to fasting for about 48 hrs. so that those minimum calorie days don't affect metabolism, etc. He also says that research indicates that the effect of <500 cal is as good as total fasting in terms of the benefits to the body.
I've been very satisfied eating primal on this plan. I lose very slowly because of my compromised metabolism, but I've dropped 45 lbs in the 8 months.
Posted 5 months ago #
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