[Food] Lose 7lbs in January

[Uh_huh_him]

I'm a week into 11-7 intermittent fasting. Water and a black coffee before 11am. Usually a homemade green vegan protein smoothie at 11 and healthy big lunch at 1230. Maybe a snack and then a healthy dinner to finish eating by 7pm. Then water. Sometimes I eat some crap food and it doesn't matter, aslong as it's between 11-7. I like the simplicity of the rules.
This way of eating, for me, certainly helps with IBS, and pretty quickly too. That's the main benefit so far. Let's see if it also helps with weight loss. Main reason is to be healthy and drink more, secondary to lost a stone or so as I'm over my bmi. I'm interested in the blood sugar impact, keto side of fasting and also autophagy, getting rid of damaged cells.
It is taking some will power but I'm hopeful that after another week or so I'll lose more cravings and settle into it. I'd like to try at least a month of it before reviewing any results.

I have been fasting for 24hrs + once a week and just eating one meal a day thereafter.
I find fasting has had a huge benefit on my overall well being.
Significantly more energy and alertness as well as increased focus during the day.

 

[HalfaSeatOn]

If you can’t run…….just walk. Just as good for weight loss for most people

Walking is very underrated. I go for a short brisk constitutional before breakfast every morning to wake the system up.

 

[HalfaSeatOn]

I have been fasting for 24hrs + once a week and just eating one meal a day thereafter.
I find fasting has had a huge benefit on my overall well being.
Significantly more energy and alertness as well as increased focus during the day.

I’m more in the little and often camp but do have longer periods where I naturally don’t feel like eating (after a bigger meal). I also aim to stop eating by 6 pm (but won’t deny myself if I’m naturally hungry but equally won’t give in to my brain that has engrained poor habits) My reading of the science is that metabolism has a dimmer switch that the brain turns up and down to preserve energy so would turn down under fasting. Whatever works and it’s working for you.

 

[Swimboy64]

I've got to put my hand up and say it's all gone to shit. My guess is I'm heavier than when we started all this. It's all very embarassing.

As of Monday, I need to get back on it.

I'll report in here in the hope that I can embarass myself into sorting this out.

Sorry everyone. It happens!!

CBH it does happen and remember this is all down to you so thanks
Get back on it I am doing sugarless march and have cut my calorie intake so hoping to lose a lb a week
Good luck mate

 

[Uh_huh_him]

I’m more in the little and often camp but do have longer periods where I naturally don’t feel like eating (after a bigger meal). I also aim to stop eating by 6 pm (but won’t deny myself if I’m naturally hungry but equally won’t give in to my brain that has engrained poor habits) My reading of the science is that metabolism has a dimmer switch that the brain turns up and down to preserve energy so would turn down under fasting. Whatever works and it’s working for you.

I'm pretty sure that it all boils down to calorie deficit in the end.
Fasting/Keto is the easiest way for me to stay in calorie deficit.
Everyone's different.

Portion size just doesn't work for me.
I find it far easier to be disciplined and eat one good meal a day, than I do trying to eat 3 small meals.

 

[HalfaSeatOn]

I'm pretty sure that it all boils down to calorie deficit in the end.
Fasting/Keto is the easiest way for me to stay in calorie deficit.
Everyone's different.

Portion size just doesn't work for me.
I find it far easier to be disciplined and eat one good meal a day, than I do trying to eat 3 small meals.

whether it’s one or three meals the key is having the right foods ie natural, unprocessed rather than refined. Probably better counting blood sugar levels than calories but I think if you are eating and living healthily things will look after themselves. As you point out whatever helps with having the willpower and discipline to sustain it is key.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

whether it’s one or three meals the key is having the right foods ie natural, unprocessed rather than refined. Probably better counting blood sugar levels than calories but I think if you are eating and living healthily things will look after themselves. As you point out whatever helps with having the willpower and discipline to sustain it is key.

Yeah good point.

I enjoy cooking and eating, so I am tending to cook a single, fresh meal from scratch each day, as my only meal.
So what I am eating is pretty healthy in regards to additives etc.

 

[herecomesaregular]

I have been fasting for 24hrs + once a week and just eating one meal a day thereafter.
I find fasting has had a huge benefit on my overall well being.
Significantly more energy and alertness as well as increased focus during the day.

That's v impressive but tbh not something i could feel i can do, realistically. Hopefully i can have similar results with the 11-7.

 

[herecomesaregular]

So, 3 and half weeks into 16/8 fasting or 11am-7pm eating window only. No blips.

.....and not lost anything at all .... Started at 17st 4 and still 17st 4. Not dropped a pound. I'm definitely eating less (and I don't booze) and I still walk a lot (even with fluid in the knee, I don't drive).

Also fasting a.m blood sugars have gone up from 5.4 ish to 5.8.

Fecking hell! Surprised and disappointed but will continue until I hit 6 weeks. If still no weight loss and increased blood sugars then, for me, I can only conclude fasting is not the answer!

 

[heathgate]

I started on the 6th Jan.... simple reduction in bread, biscuits and various treats.. slightly less alcohol added to generally healthier meal choices.... 100 sit-ups and 100 pressups too, if I want to, I can now comfortably tuck in a shirt without feeling self conscious. ( A litmus test for me)

6th Jan - 87.7kg
This morning,...78.8kg.

I want to keep it here now, certainly not below 78kg anyway.

 

[jakarta]

Have lost a fair amount of weight by junking Lunch.

A basic Breakfast , usually a boiled or poached egg on a slice of toast followed by a proper meal at Suppertime.

Tonight it will be our weekly visit to our local chippy, Haddock, chips and mushy peas...

 

[Knocky's Nose]

We're all different, but this place is all about sharing, so :

I've lost 10kg since Jan 4th, so that's not too much under a stone a month.

First up - NO alcohol. That's the biggest f*cker of any weight loss programme. I was drinking a bottle of wine and 3-4 beers a day over Christmas and felt like crap. Alcohol is a c*nt. It gets you into a routine of looking forward to it at the end of the day and traps you there. I've not had a drop since New Years Eve and I sleep better, feel better, and have saved a fortune.

Anyway...

I adhere to the 18 hours off, 6 hours on rule fairly loosely.

8.30-9am : Black coffee, no food

Gym : Weights and then a 300 calorie burn on the cross trainer (could be substituted by a long walk or half hour run in the evening (plus possibly buy some weights from a charity shop or eBay like I have done previously). I've gone part time with work now so have the free time to do the gym thing.

Midday(ish) : Something like a chicken wrap, eggs on brown toast - something heavy on protein, and a banana, plus a tiny bit of chocolate like one milky way. I'm not going to make dieting miserable.

6pm(ish) : Big meal. A choice of Steak, Chicken, Jacket Potato, Vegetables, gravy - whatever I want basically. Then for pudding, a sliced banana with Blueberries, Raspberries or Strawberries - smothered in low fat greek yoghurt and half a twirl crumbled over the top.

Evening : Sports Direct mug full of hot water, some lemon juice, some ginger paste and a drizzle of turmeric.

I buy ALL of my ingredients at Lidl so the cost isn't silly.

Literally the weight is falling off me.

Good luck to anyone wanting to lose weight. Quitting alcohol is the best start you can make, then it's all a lot easier.

 

[Weststander]

So, 3 and half weeks into 16/8 fasting or 11am-7pm eating window only. No blips.

.....and not lost anything at all .... Started at 17st 4 and still 17st 4. Not dropped a pound. I'm definitely eating less (and I don't booze) and I still walk a lot (even with fluid in the knee, I don't drive).

Also fasting a.m blood sugars have gone up from 5.4 ish to 5.8.

Fecking hell! Surprised and disappointed but will continue until I hit 6 weeks. If still no weight loss and increased blood sugars then, for me, I can only conclude fasting is not the answer!

Although you’re fasting, which for several reasons I think is great for the body, do your non fasting times include much in the way of carbs? Aside from growing kids, manual workers and athletes, we really don’t need many carbs, especially when aspiring to lose weight. I feel healthiest when lunch has zero carbs, dinner zero to a tiny proportion of rice. Packing the plate out with veg and lean protein. Some fat eg 10% fat greek yogurt as a dessert help convince the body that you’re full.

 

[Cordwainer]

This is a really good thread, and shows how non exact a science weight loss/healthy lifestyles are. I tried fasting a while back and just couldn’t stick at it long term..also sure I read something about your body storing more fat than normal when fasting as it doesn’t know when the next lots coming from, which could partially explain limited weight loss for some? For me not snacking between meals and trying not to eat after 7pm and before 10am the next day seems to have really helped.

 

[herecomesaregular]

Although you’re fasting, which for several reasons I think is great for the body, do your non fasting times include much in the way of carbs? Aside from growing kids, manual workers and athletes, we really don’t need many carbs, especially when aspiring to lose weight. I feel healthiest when lunch has zero carbs, dinner zero to a tiny proportion of rice. Packing the plate out with veg and lean protein. Some fat eg 10% fat greek yogurt as a dessert help convince the body that you’re full.

I'm not downhearted because as you say I'm looking at general health not solely weight loss (I'd like to lose a stone and a half nothing drastic). Hoping for better sleep, drinking more water, better bowl movements. Latter two definitely improved but oddly I'm sleepless and dreaming wildly.

My non fasting includes a homemade protein shake (always green with spinach and broccoli, vegan protein powder and only limited fruit) for one meal and two decent meals with veg starters. Yes some carbs and you're right maybe I should cut them down but they're not excessive. But will think about that area with your suggestion. I was just eating normally , definitely less than previous, so I'm surprised still no weight loss.

 

[Weststander]

I'm not downhearted because as you say I'm looking at general health not solely weight loss (I'd like to lose a stone and a half nothing drastic). Hoping for better sleep, drinking more water, better bowl movements. Latter two definitely improved but oddly I'm sleepless and dreaming wildly.

My non fasting includes a homemade protein shake (always green with spinach and broccoli, vegan protein powder and only limited fruit) for one meal and two decent meals with veg starters. Yes some carbs and you're right maybe I should cut them down but they're not excessive. But will think about that area with your suggestion. I was just eating normally , definitely less than previous, so I'm surprised still no weight loss.

When I do an occasional long fast (6pm day one to 8am day three), during the second night I literally dream of food .

 

[Uh_huh_him]

January 1st 22st 0lbs
February 1st 21st 1lbs
March 1st 19st 10lbs
April 1st 19st 0lbs

Weight loss slowing down, which is normal.
But fell off it a bit this week.
Need to buckle down again.

 

[albionalba]

After a hol break from 16-8 with regular (a few beers) drinking for two weeks 4lbs added from nowhere. Alcohol is the worst as others above have reminded. Been trying 20-4 for the past couple of weeks and seems better than 16-8 because I found the 8 gave too much time to cram in food without hunger abating. Now with the 20 (9pm - 5pm next day) it seems better - also helped by more daylight now I think. Plenty of black coffee from 6am to 9am, herbal tea rest of the morning, Coke Zero / Pepsi Max or similar as lunchtime treat then apple, cheese and crackers at 5pm, healthy (but not restrained) dinner at 7 , bowl of fruit before 9pm and then repeat as many days as possible without being too anti-social at weekends. The shorter eating window is way better as never feel that perpetual hunger / eating like the 8 hours and just isn't time to eat as much. Shed those 4lbs added no problem and now focussed on a bigger loss. Fingers crossed.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

January 1st 22st 0lbs
February 1st 21st 1lbs
March 1st 19st 10lbs
April 1st 19st 0lbs

Weight loss slowing down, which is normal.
But fell off it a bit this week.
Need to buckle down again.

That's really impressive. Well done.

 

[shingle]

At my heaviest about 15 years ago I was 22st 9lb (144 kg) After plateauing many times I am now down to 15st 9lb (98kg ish) and Ive managed to keep it off

Im 5' 10'' and for health reasons need to shed a final 2 and half stone (15kg) Starting today