Hi all. I've been lurking and said I would jump on in. I am doing ESE. I think 1-2 a week works better for me than everyday. I already follow a liquid type diet every other day. I started with 14 hours last Tues and I will start 16 hour today. If I can go longer I will, if not it's okay.

Oh an Kelley gum always makes me hungrier when I fast so I try not to chew it much.

I tried the gum yesterday too. I'm with Mizzthingaling, I thought it made me hungrier too, or it could have been the cupcakes and donuts outside my office door. How cruel the world is... :D

I think it is ok though. If it helps you get through the day, by all means.

It's great to see more members joining the thread. Welcome! :)

kelleyb, I chewed sugar free gum my first two fasts and it did help me out. After that first week, I could then make it through with just water during fasts.

Weekly weigh-ins sound good to me, it keeps me accountable.

Been going to the Goal Photo Albums and they are very encouraging. Hopefully I will be up there as a skinny chica.

Hope everyone is having a great day

I have been going through the goal pics too. Love it, such great inspiration. Hope we all end up there! :D

I guess great minds thing alike. I was looking at the goal pics as well. I did a 16 hour fast today. It went well. The last 30 minutes was a little tough but that was because I was waiting for someone so there wasn't much else to do. I made it though. I ate a lunch that wasn't the healthiest but was low carb. I've decided to move my Callanetics days to my fast days to see how that works.

So nice to see new faces here...hi all!

Well today is supposed to be my fast day. But the husband and I carpooled so that probably means we will go to lunch together, so my fast may be tomorrow. Not eating breakfast in case he bails on me though.

I do love this aspect about IF, it's so easy to fit in my lifestyle.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Yesterday during my eating window (2-7, usually finish by 5:30 ish)
I felt more hunger than I have and ate more when I was home and my hubby made dinner so we enjoyed that. I got fuller than I had been since starting fast 5, but instead of giving up on trying the diet I decided to do better the next day (today) so I was kinda happy that I reacted that way because in the past I would just have ate everything in my kitchen and given up on trying.

Thanx for keeping me accountable

Esmi, It's not a diet, so you just take one day at a time. While IF may not be for everyone, just because you were hungry one day doesn't really mean much. That's the beauty of it.

I did IF all through the holidays. I enjoyed the holiday meals and celebrations. I did not really lose much during those weeks, but I came out of it without a gain and a great sense of accomplishment.

You're doing great! Keep going.

I sure hope this is also true of vacations! :D I'm planning a road trip to my old stomping grounds and have been wondering how to fit IF into it. We shall see....

Either way though, I have been surprised at how easily I've been able to keep to IF. I do get a headache the first fast of the week, but nothing the 2nd fast. I have a history of migraines but it seems the longer I've been with IF the less intense the headache. Guess my body is finally accepting that this change is long term. :p

Esmi- I get hungry some days and overeat. However, the way I look at it is that that happens to me anyway no matter how I eat or how many times a day so with the fasting I am still not eating as much.

Mellyme and Italiannie- I am REALLY hoping to get through vacations and holidays without weight gain and bloating!! I have a vacation coming up next month and I am hoping that for the first time ever as an adult (and I am 42!) to not come home with a weight gain. I do believe that it is very possible with this WOL. Looking forward to giving it a shot.

I have had a really great week with 5-6 hour eating windows most days and feel like my body is changing. Stay strong for the weekend everyone!! Have a good one.

Thanks for the responses on the gum. Luckily I have not felt much need to chew this week.

KellyB - I'm going on vacation at the end of the month, so I'm interested to see how it goes. My plan is to do Fast 5 - Eating light snacks beginning 4-5pm and then going out to dinner and having whatever I want - within reason. My goal is to stay the same, knowing when I get home there may be a couple of pounds of salt weight.

I also think that IF has helped me so much in the area of not eating and finding other things to do, that fasting during the days of my vacation shouldn't be that hard. Of course, if a unique opportunity comes up, I'll eat. I want to feel good and light on my vacation, and eating all day won't do that for me.

Well, that's my plan, anyway ;)!

Today is my 3rd fast day. I'm excited. I get an hour lunch, so instead of eating I get to do fun stuff. :)

TGIF!!! Have a great day everyone.