Liv Lite's Journal, 29 May 23

Been there done that. I have done 16:8, 18:6, OMAD, 24, and 48 hour fasts. Feel free to ask any questions you might have. But let me get this out of the way first: Regardless of the style or length of the fast, it provides nothing in and of itself in regards to weight loss. Any weight loss realized during a fast is a result of being in a calorie deficit, and nothing to do with the time restriction. Almost all of the benefits of fasting are mental/emotional/spiritual. So, if you’re looking at fasting to somehow “kickstart” fat loss, I’ve got some bad news for you. If however you are looking at fasting to help recalibrate your flavour palate, or to get more comfortable with being uncomfortable, that is where fasting really shines. Completing a long fast can reassure you that you are capable of difficult things! But unfortunately, it won’t help with weight loss UNLESS you are someone who finds it easier to remain in a deficit by restricting your feeding window. Beware though…there are many more who find fasting leads to cravings and binging. So you have to know yourself and determine if this is right for you. Another downside of fasting is that it can be extremely difficult, when you get into the smaller feeding windows, to get all of your nutrients consistently day in/day out. On the positive side, it makes life super easy. No figuring out what to prepare multiple tomes per day, if you get caught in a situation where you have to miss a meal, or its delayed, you’ll be better equipped to handle it than someone who has never fasted, less dishes, less waste and pollution… Whatever you end up doing, best of luck with it. 

Thank you, SM! That's exactly what I want a recalibration! Longer digestion times, less planning & thinking of 3 meals a day is my goal, not a magic bullet. Overeating is overeating, no matter the time frame. Hope it helps with my energy levels (found when I was stressed during move last year & ate less & not often, my energy was high!)I am basing this off my own experience and current routine: eating in about 3 hrs; later I wasn't hungry but ate anyways! Then went over with that last meal!! Just experimenting; no intention to starve to lead to bingeing. Unfortunately, too familiar with that binge-restrict cycle! Thank you for your honest input. Greatly appreciated! :) 

SM said it beautifully. I am one of those that without my 16:8 or 18:6 I eat and eat and eat. That being said, it doesn't stop cravings, it doesn't stop hunger and it doesn't stop over eating. It is just something I find works for me.  

I've tried them, multiple of them and ended up staying around the same weight. And I've received since then advice from nurses and doctors saying fasting is actually quite bad for you IG track and not to do it 

my piece of advice from my nutritionist: "Its quantity and quality of calories that matter. nothing else matters except movement. strive for 1600 calories per day and make sure 1440 are nutrient dense calories. that means you have only 160 calories for indulgences a day. if you need to restrict your eating times to achieve this then that is fine. but it is also fine to eat 10 meals of 160 calories. try not to eat 3 hrs before bedtime and sleep for 9 hrs. that gives your body 12 hrs break from processing food which will help to curb appetite and cravings. watch your sodium and saturated fat intake. weigh your food. track your calories. avoid alcohol. once you challenge yourself to a new eating style for a couple of weeks it will slowly become a pattern. the pattern is the goal. this is how you become healthier."