I had tea (no sweetener) today - but I’d better go eat something!
I am giving this a try this week as this is actually fairly consistent with my overall general eating habits with at home. However will be away for a week with the kids and it will be pretty impossible to try to stick with this during that week. But at least it hopefully gets me in a mindset and if I can do it this week I’m sure I can get back to it after the holidays.
IF is successful for me because I wake up blissfully unhungry. As soon as I have a bite or taste of anything but plain water I get hungry. So for me no coffee or Diet Coke until noon when I start eating.
Is any liquid (water, tea, whatever) allowed after dinner? I cut off food at 8, but I might like a cup of tea while doing holiday cards. Is it allowed or not?
I am sure water, tea etc are always good. Fast doesn’t mean nothing, it means no food.
@jym626 For various reasons, Stevia or monkfruit sweeteners instead of artificial. I recently read of issues with erythritol- don’t remember what, or maybe it’s better for baking. Just not sure, you’d need to google.
The issue with conventional sweeteners like Splenda or the rest, per my doc, is that the body doesn’t process it during digestion. It sits in the intestines (until everything goes out,) can lead to diarrhea and whatever.
When Bob mentions the variety of ways to do this, remember each person’s body has individual tolerances and you need to learn what does work for you- particular foods, amounts, frequency, or combos.
Thanks- Have stevia so that works. And I think my massive costco-bought box of sweet n low is finally almost gone…
As for after dinner, Tea would be no sweetener, but coffee…
My husband is a great fan of Mayorga coffees, most of which are too fruity for me (all hail dark roast). I refer to their Colombia Dulce Amor as Cherry Coke. 
ETA so hopefully less likely to need augmentation with sugar, etc.
I traveled this weekend. It really was not that difficult to stop eating at 9 and pick up again at 1-2. Even 15/9 was acceptable to me. I find 16/8 totally easy but I have messed up a few times and did 17 hours fasting. I feel awful whenever I do that. I have always known that I do not need to eat until 1:00pm but 2:00 leaves me feeling low.
The NY Times article I posted above cites substantial benefits from 10-14. I’ve done 9-15 with great results. And if my eating time goes over once in a while, no problem.
Eat For 10 Hours. Fast For 14. This Daily Habit Prompts Weight Loss, Study Finds
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/12/08/785142534/eat-for-10-hours-fast-for-14-this-daily-habit-prompts-weight-loss-study-finds
Oh cool- 10/14 is easier to do
I’m so disappointed. Have been doing intermittent fasting for about three months as well as low carbing. Nada, nothing the scale isn’t moving. I’m 65, healthy, no meds, work out regularly. I just am more comfortable ten pounds lighter. I’m envious of everyone ‘s weight loss doing IF.
@Lassie3
I am younger, does rigorous exercise almost daily. Not overweight but would love to drop 10lb?. I have been doing IF (8/16) for about 1 year, with not much changes in weight per se, but reduced in sizes (10 to 4/6), I think it was fat weight changed to muscle weight. Started 6/18 IF for about 3 months and lost about 6lb. I think for some people, IF’s impact might not be immediate nor dramatic, but it does happen. DH does 4/20 and has lost close to 50lb and maintained the loss for more than a decade.
Well makemesmart, you have given me hope. I guess I’m in it for the long haul.
If your progress has stalled (or not begun), change things up. The body adapts too well sometimes. Try eating in the morning and then fasting. Try eating without fasting one day a week. Keep your body from “knowing” what will happen every day like clockwork. Do an “egg fast” (google it). If you’re not diabetic, try a 36 hour fast. Stop working out regularly, or change your workout.
Don’t stop exercising, unless you need to recover from injury. And absolutely, workouts should be changed. Routine is the enemy!
Kaiser Permanente, a major health care provider here in CA (and elsewhere) posted this blog post:
“Hype vs. fact: The reality behind 2019’s most popular nutrition trends.”
It doesn’t matter when you do or don’t eat your calories, if your calories in exceed your calories out. IF has been dumbed down and mainstreamed, IF as a way of limiting weekly calories IMO is terrific, if the calories are actually limited and the caloric intake is quality. It seems that “fasting” means different things to different people.
I combined IF with calorie restriction to lose 50 pounds in five months. And another 20 in the four moths after that. I don’t know what role IF played in my losses. My doctor had told me that at my age I woukd likely lose only half a pound a week at most. Did IF speed that up? I don’t know. But it made it easier for me to stick to a reduced calorie diet ( something I still do 5 or 6 days a week)
I’ve been experimenting a little bit with IF and I’m amazed at how easy it is to skip breakfast. I was sure I would be light-headed or at least hungry but maybe I have changed over the years? The metabolism really does seem to have slowed down in my 50s. So I’ve been mixing in a few no-breakfast days but I’m not quite sure how that works with exercising. I generally do an hour-long session at lunchtime…if I don’t eat beforehand, I’m afraid I won’t have energy. If I delay breakfast, I’m afraid I won’t have digested my food properly before working out. How are the rest of you timing your food before exercise?
I would love to lose just 5 pounds, BTW. I have actually lost about that much over the past 2 years by exercising more and trying to eat better, not really a weight loss diet, just paying a bit more attention to what goes in my mouth.
Maya54 when you mentioned a reduced calorie diet, what range are you talking about? I suppose I could eliminate 200 calories or so in the evening by not having my wine with dinner, but then is that worth my sanity?