Intermittent Fasting

[SlinkyMike]

I'm trying it (18:6) for insulin control (self diagnosed insulin resistance) and weight loss.

I used to adhere to a strict ketogenic diet but I want to stop eating meat and doing keto without meat is not a thing I want to face.

Anyone got any experience/tips with IF?

 

[saor]

Which meal you skipping?

 

[RanzB]

I'm trying it (18:6) for insulin control (self diagnosed insulin resistance) and weight loss.

I used to adhere to a strict ketogenic diet but I want to stop eating meat and doing keto without meat is not a thing I want to face.

Anyone got any experience/tips with IF?

If you want to control your insulin you're better off cutting off the carbs, and pairing it with IF, as I mentioned in the other thread.

Why do you want to cut out meat?

I practice IF and longer fasts all the time. There isn't much beyond: stick to your eating window, don't eat when not in it.

 

[Zulfi]

I do IF.. (16:8)...Usually 20:00 - 12:00.. but now and then i change it up and increase my fasting interval thus decreasing my eating interval.

Every now and then i throw in a 24 hr fast.. and once in 6-8 wks i do a 40hr fast...

I was doing it primarily for weight loss and damn does it work!!! i love it.. honestly on the odd occasion that i eat breakfsat, it just messes up my entire day.. feel heavy, and bloated...

during the fast i feel amazing... Razor sharp focus..and just love not having to worry about meal prepping ALL THE TIME.
First week is ROUGH!! hunger pangs! but after that.. you become a machine dude!

Its awesome .. youll love it!

 

[SlinkyMike]

Which meal you skipping?

Breakfast. So I'm fasting from 20h00 to noon each day. Pretty manageable to far.

If you want to control your insulin you're better off cutting off the carbs, and pairing it with IF, as I mentioned in the other thread.

Why do you want to cut out meat?

I practice IF and longer fasts all the time. There isn't much beyond: stick to your eating window, don't eat when not in it.

Yep, no question you're right on that one - doing both will be very effective. I want to see what will work for me.

Eating meat has bothered me for a while on a moral level. Not preaching/judging, it's just not for me.

It leaves a big hole in my world though because I love to cook as well as eat and obviously meat is where all of the process exists in cooking. I'm doing a lot of Asian stuff like ramen/pho now since there is still some process involved in creating broths for those dishes. I've also started to bake sourdough which also has a fun technical side to it.

 

[RanzB]

Eating meat has bothered me for a while on a moral level. Not preaching/judging, it's just not for me.

Go hunting.

I'm doing a lot of Asian stuff like ramen/pho now since there is still some process involved in creating broths for those dishes.

Most of the stocks for those involve animal parts in some way or another.

 

[mercurial]

I have supper in the evenings and then I only eat the next evening. Lost tons of weight and it keeps it off, too. Also saving a lot of money. The first few days are the hardest, but the body adapts very quickly.

 

[saor]

Breakfast. So I'm fasting from 20h00 to noon each day. Pretty manageable to far.

Same - I find breakfast the easiest one to skip. Tho I sleep so much better skipping dinner.

I love to cook as well as eat and obviously meat is where all of the process exists in cooking.

Vegetarian here...give it a few months learning about more vegetarian dishes and prep and you'll enjoy it as much as cooking meat dishes. I don't really see cooking with veg as being any less of a process as cooking meat.

 

[SlinkyMike]

Go hunting.

Have been. Played a big part in my decision to change my diet. Lots of these creatures we eat are really friendly.

Most of the stocks for those involve animal parts in some way or another.

True but there are vegan options (vegan since several of the broths look for gelatin from some source.)

I have supper in the evenings and then I only eat the next evening. Lost tons of weight and it keeps it off, too. Also saving a lot of money. The first few days are the hardest, but the body adapts very quickly.

One Meal A Day or: 'OMAD' ...it's a bold move. I fear I'm a bit too fond of stuffing my beak to be able to pull this off, but if 18:6 doesn't work then I might have to ratchet down to 20:4.

Vegetarian here...give it a few months learning about more vegetarian dishes and prep and you'll enjoy it as much as cooking meat dishes. I don't really see cooking with veg as being any less of a process as cooking meat.

For me cooking is all about the Maillard reaction, deglazing after browning a piece of meat. Cooking a pork belly for hours or searing a steak with butter in the pan. I have to learn as if from the beginning again how to cook meals without meat. Veggies have been an accompaniment in my dishes until now.

 

[Tag11]

Been doing it since October. It definitely works (I skip breakfast) and I've lost a lot of weight. But I find the "you will have tons of energy" or "focus" talk to be untrue... I feel pretty much the same as I always did.

It hasn't been that hard, I substitute any morning cravings with water and black coffee and I'm fine to not eat until noon/1pm/2pm or sometimes even later. The hard part is not snacking after 8pm... that requires willpower (or no snacks in the house!)

 

[Madaboutbullterriers]

Have been doing IF for the last six months I normally do 20/4 during the week and 16/8 over the weekends I eat basically whatever I want and have lost an incredible 28KG. I know I could push it even more but this works for me (in fact it's the only diet/lifestyle choice that has worked and I am able to maintain)

 

[SlinkyMike]

Been doing it since October. It definitely works (I skip breakfast) and I've lost a lot of weight. But I find the "you will have tons of energy" or "focus" talk to be untrue... I feel pretty much the same as I always did.

It hasn't been that hard, I substitute any morning cravings with water and black coffee and I'm fine to not eat until noon/1pm/2pm or sometimes even later. The hard part is not snacking after 8pm... that requires willpower (or no snacks in the house!)

Mind if I ask how much you lost over how long a period? You have described my current system to a tee.

I'm really worried I'll grow weak as Friday drinks approach. It's not unusual for those to last well after 8pm

 

[cerebus]

I don't eat until around 2pm every day. My wife and I have put off a lot of weight and it's turning out to be a permanent lifestyle. After 2pm I don't even worry much about what I eat.

I'm not vegetarian but to be honest it can't be too difficult to go that way. What about going pescatarian? If you want to learn how to cook vegetables, you must get good at Asian cuisine. Bok choy, napa cabbage, daikon, bean sprouts, tatsoi, soy curd, so many kinds of mushrooms, and they just know how to cook them so nicely.

 

[SlinkyMike]

Have been doing IF for the last six months I normally do 20/4 during the week and 16/8 over the weekends I eat basically whatever I want and have lost an incredible 28KG. I know I could push it even more but this works for me (in fact it's the only diet/lifestyle choice that has worked and I am able to maintain)

If you have a moment would you mind unpacking the bold part a bit? Are there any specific things that you do limit? Do you track calories or carbs?

I don't eat until around 2pm every day. My wife and I have put off a lot of weight and it's turning out to be a permanent lifestyle. After 2pm I don't even worry much about what I eat.

I'm not vegetarian but to be honest it can't be too difficult to go that way. What about going pescatarian? If you want to learn how to cook vegetables, you must get good at Asian cuisine. Bok choy, napa cabbage, daikon, bean sprouts, tatsoi, soy curd, so many kinds of mushrooms, and they just know how to cook them so nicely.

Yes, I do eat fish and other sea food but not cephalopods. 100% on the Asian cuisine. I see you're in SW, If you ever find yourself Cape Town side then check out Mr Changs in Sea Point. Best I've had by a long chalk.

 

[Madaboutbullterriers]

If you have a moment would you mind unpacking the bold part a bit? Are there any specific things that you do limit? Do you track calories or carbs?


I gave up coke and sugar but will still eat things with sugar in my eating window otherwise I do not limit any food I just try and eat less than 1500 calories a day

 

[saor]

If you have a moment would you mind unpacking the bold part a bit? Are there any specific things that you do limit? Do you track calories or carbs?

Avoid things from boxes and packets. If everything you're eating is freshly prepared (even your snacks) from whole ingredients, you can generally worry less about counting calories and limiting foods. You will naturally eat far fewer carbs when you're no longer eating pasta, rice etc.

 

[Tag11]

Mind if I ask how much you lost over how long a period? You have described my current system to a tee.

I'm really worried I'll grow weak as Friday drinks approach. It's not unusual for those to last well after 8pm

I didn't have a huge amount to lose to be honest.
October 2017 -> March 2018 - I've gone from 79kg down to 67kg
Most of it was lost in the first 3mths, since then the weightloss has been much more gradual. In fact, I've plateaued the last month and I'm fluctuating between 66kg and 68kg... but then again, to be fair, my target weight was always 70kg... I just sorta went beyond because I could. I haven't been terribly strict with myself the last 6 weeks... I will often eat breakfast on the weekends as it is nicer to do so with family.

The one concern I have is that my body has become much more efficient... I do a lot more weight training and cardio than I did 6 months ago on a lot less food, so I am a bit worried that if I start eating breakfast and stop training then it will all come back. Fortunately I don't want to stop training so won't let that happen (at least not right now).

I'm one of those people that enjoys eating, which does make it a bit tough... and I don't really have a "full" point when I eat my food... so it's all about self control. But this is definitely the best "diet" I've ever been on, it was the most effective and least difficult... finally a "lifestyle" I can fit myself into.

 

[Tag11]

Avoid things from boxes and packets. If everything you're eating is freshly prepared (even your snacks) from whole ingredients, you can generally worry less about counting calories and limiting foods. You will naturally eat far fewer carbs when you're no longer eating pasta, rice etc.

What kills me is portion control on things like nuts (I love Almonds and Cashews) and Biltong... even on 1 meal a day, I can overshoot my calorie intake with these "healthy" snacks.

 

[Tag11]

I gave up coke and sugar but will still eat things with sugar in my eating window otherwise I do not limit any food I just try and eat less than 1500 calories a day

Good point.

I've basically given up all additional sugar and I don't have any soft drinks. I've also dramatically reduced my alcohol/beer intake, which was much easier than I expected.

I don't count my calories.

 

[Inzaghi007]

Do you lose muscle weight with intermittent fasting?