Eat-Stop-Eat (intermittent fasting)

Motorama · 06-18-2009, 09:01 AM

I have two questions about this program

1) Does anyone were able to reduce hypoglycemic episodes (reactive hypoglycemia) with the diet? In other words did you improved energy and blood sugar swings?

2) Can you do the Eat-Stop-Eat program while reducing carbohydrates, if your body feels better on low carb? Anyone tried?

Thanks

StephK · 06-19-2009, 05:23 PM

Ok, first day of fast! So far I feel great! Only 3 hours until dinner time. This is normally my big snack time, but I really haven't missed it...not sure why, but I am glad about that!

Motorama--I really can't answer any questions, as I just started and this is my first day of fasting. I have had problems with hypoglycemia in the past (in my skinny days), but not in recent years, so not sure about that, but I honestly do feel more energized today.

I hope to make some eat, stop, eat buddies!

StephK · 06-23-2009, 03:47 PM

I am a little disappointed that I did not loose anything with the first fast, but I am not discouraged yet. I am doing fast #2 today. I really am amazed at how energized I feel on these days! I thought the fast would be hard, but really it isn't.

Bettyinmd · 06-27-2009, 08:37 AM

Hi!
I would love to have some ESE buddies!

I've tried fasting before, but never made it permanent..I have a goal of getting under this pesky 200lb mark by my big 3-0 in August!!

I am healthy, in general..I train 3-4x/week with heavy weights to maintain muscle, and I do cardio on the other days..the training part, I love..I LOVE TO LIFT!! It's the nutrition side, that I believe has been holding me back..

What do I have to lose accept the fat?

leona · 06-27-2009, 12:20 PM

Hello,
I have recently combined IF with a low carb diet and it really helped to break a recent stall. So far, I'm really enjoying it.

Bettyinmd · 07-05-2009, 05:15 PM

Thats awesome!
For right now I am just going to do two 24 hr fasts per week..maybe even bump up to three if progress stalls!

jendiet · 07-06-2009, 02:19 PM

I do IF for weight loss too. I'm currently doing fast-5.

Bettyinmd · 07-07-2009, 03:43 PM

Jen- how has your progress with that been and when did you start?

eastbruce · 07-09-2009, 10:59 AM

I did the Fast-5 for three weeks, found it tolerable and lost 5 pounds. Yesterday I began Eat Stop Eat and was unsure how I would react to 24 hours without food.

Well, it was not a problem - I had only water, hot tea and one diet soda. I did get hungry around the 20 hour mark - that's when I broke open the Diet Rite soda. I got busy with something on the computer at my 6PM eating time and ended up not eating until 7PM. I eat LC so had a big hamburger with several slices of real cheese, two tomatoes & real mayo. Also 1/2 a cucumber. I was quite full and felt fine.

It is convenient not to have to worry and plan all those meals! We'll see how this works for me.

joyinSF · 07-13-2009, 01:59 PM

hmm..ok i think im going to do this IF thingy. seriously, ive been working out EVERY DAY , watching what i eat, no sugar, no fat, low carbs, and under 1200 calories, and for 25 days, i went from 140-143-140-146...what the ****?!? so now, im going to try this...i do have energy, but geez. its so annoying...

abie · 07-13-2009, 10:21 PM

I just wanted to chime in and say that I've been doing IF for about 3 weeks now. I'm using the Fast 5 method and have read the IF book. I've lost 11 lbs so far.

I started this coming off a 2 month binge of desperation. For that time period I would come to work with my meals all planned out. I would start with breakfast, eat an early lunch, be starving in the afternoon, cave and eat snacks, then go completly overboard at night. I did this cycle every day and it was making me crazy. Every morning I would start and fail.

My first fast day was kind of hard. I had 2 small cups of coffee, lots of water, and a couple classes herbal iced tea. I felt really hungry by dinner time. I broke my fast with a spinach, bananna smoothie, then a nice dinner, and then snacked on some fruit.

I went to bed that night for the first time in forever content and without guilt.

This program is working soooo well for me. I pay close attention to my fruit/vegetable/nutrient intake to make sure Im getting enough. It's so much easier to plan that out once a day instead of 3-6 every day. I'm not restricting calories but I do make sure I get enough.

On the weekends I eat multiple meals.

This weekend I cried tears of joy. For the first time in a really long time I see a way out. I have confidence again. I don't feel deprived. When I do eat, I'm hungry but clear headed enough to make good decisions instead of decisions coming from a ravenous place where I have the head of an addict.

I'm walking daily and doing strength training.

I'm really happy to have found this thread. I will continue to update on my progress.

joyinSF · 07-14-2009, 12:56 PM

ok, so starting today, i am doing IF...
here are my stats
age: 27 years old
height: 5'2"
weight: 143 pounds

i plan on doing this for a couple of months and i will keep you all updated.

I still plan on exercising an hour a day in the morning. but on days that i do eat, i will work out an hour and a half ...we'll see how i feel ....

belezura · 07-15-2009, 02:19 PM

I have one question: In those days I fast, can I chew sugarfree gun??? the ones I buy say it is less than 5 calories one piece...

jendiet · 07-15-2009, 10:41 PM

oh sorry! Ok on fast 5 I have lost 11 lbs in 4 weeks. But the most amazing and wonderful thing is my appetite has decreased. I no longer feel like binging and I get so full so quickly. I actually have to force myself to eat more calories.

I do the fast 5. My window I feel most comfortable with is 2-7pm. Though my weight loss is not extravagant it is steady and it's definitely mostly fat coming off of me.

I do cardio and weight lifting as well.

Moonlight Mistress · 07-17-2009, 02:29 PM

Hi. I'm very interested in trying this, but I'm still unsure how it works. From what I gather in this tread, you fast a few days a week for 24 hours only. My questions are:

1. How many days a week should you fast?
2. If you are counting calories, do you still try to reach your target calories for the week? For example, if you are supposed to eat 8,400 cals a week (1,200 per day), do you still eat that amount by eating more on your "eat days" or do you just eat 1,200 cals a day on the "eat days" and not worry about a weekly target?

Thanks!