[dgramie]

I have been reading here for a few weeks.I normally hang out on the 300+ thread. I lost 90lbs 3yrs ago and gained back about 40. I am struggling to get it plus more off. I decided I need something new...so I have decided to join you. I did my first fast yesterday and it was 21hrs. I had a slight headache but that was all I felt. I loved the feeling of calmness and control. I had coffee this morning at 8 and lunch and then a snack, stopped eating by 4. I plan to fast now till at least 1 tomorrow.
Any advice for me just starting?

[Italiannie]

Welcome aboard dgramie!!!!

Play with your fasts and see what works with your lifestyle. If you've been reading, you'll see that we are all doing what works for us. You will find that your fasts get easier as you go and you will naturally pick healthier choices. My biggest piece of advice is that when you break your fast, eat some fresh fruits, drink some beverages and then eat regularly, not "making up" for lost time.

Most people don't have headaches after their first few fasts. I wouldn't recommend overdoing it at first. It's a marathon, not a sprint, so make a priority of getting comfortable with fasting and you'll be fine.

I think you may find that you obsess less about food, and hopefully you'll enjoy a freedom that you never had with regular dieting.

Have you visited the web pages for
Fast-5, Eat Stop Eat, Lean Gains, etc?????
Great information and you will find a plan that works for you.

Good luck and again, welcome!!!!

[esmi134]

way to go 35x35!! And to everyone else who continues to do IF despite the setbacks that happen sometimes. But when we have the loss it feels so great!

I did my 24hr fast on friday and today I ended up with a window of 17/7 and I'm ok with that. Hopefully tomorrow is better..have a great IF day everyone!!

[esmi134]

Welcome dgramie!
I had headaches when I first started for a few days but then they went away...My advice would be not to beat yourself up if you don't eat like you planned and just try again the next day..good luck!

[dgramie]

I dont think my headache ended up being from the fast. I ended up sick yesterday. Body aches chills, sinus issues and throwing up. Guess its a stomach bug of some type. I know alot of stuff is going around.
I drug back out my old weight loss books and I ate this way naturally. I would eat one meal on the weekend days. I would eat from 9-4 most days. I am going back to that. It worked well for me. I will base today on how I feel.
Thanks for the welcome!!

[Sum38]

dgramie

I have been following IF as its posterchild would Yesterday I had 4 1/2 hour eating window and by the time I was done with dinner, I was stuffed.

I really like it. I like eating BIG meals. Somehow the 5 or 6 small meals always left me hungry and wanting more. I am eating very well balanced meals as well.

Today I am fasting till 11 am (18 hours) and having 5 hour eating window till 4 pm. Then 24 hour fast. I like fasting from 3 to 3 or 4 to 4 because the last hours before 6 pm felt like torture. Last 24 hour fast I did was 3:30-3:30 and it was very easy. -- I snacked at 3:30 with a nice mozzarella salad and had family dinner with the rest of the clan.

My weight is heading back down to it's lows. I am not bloated at all. I usually have swollen fingers and lately all my swelling has gone down.

I hope everyone is enjoying this glorious Sunday!

[Mizzthingaling]

Originally Posted by Italiannie

Mizz - I know there are several versions of paleo out there. Do you omit potatoes, legumes and things like that? How often, or do you eat fruits? I think I may need to tweak my choices a bit.

I do eat fruit, but no legumes or bread. I will add sweet potatoes back when I get closer to goal. My fruit varies but I have eaten one serving a day( apple, raspberries, etc) and the my weight loss did not suffer. I do eat it early in the day though. I did start using coconut oil and I must say that it does help with speed of loss. I ran out though but will get some more.

Congrats 35x35. I am trying to take a break on weighing until April. I want to see how my clothes and measurements change. IF really combats my stomach and back fat which are the hardest for me.

[LisaTcan]

Hey everyone!
Thanks for the advice, I feel like my week went really well I just fasted before noon but my calories felt like they went way farther and I was down in 3 lbs!
I'm debating trying a 24 hour fast this week and I think I'm going to try not eating until 1pm.

[esmi134]

Hope you feel better dgramie.

Sum38, when I ate 6 times a day small meals I was never satisfied.

LisaTcan, good job with your weight loss.

Happy Monday to everyone and hope the scale is good to you.

I weighed this morning and lost a lb since last week.
Today I want to try for a 22 hour fast.

[Sum38]

I made it 24 fast. And this time it was a piece of cake! :

I stopped eating around 3 pm yesterday and it was easy to do 3-3. I just had a wonderful tomato/mozzarella/basic (home grown ) snack. Now I am good to go until family dinner time rolls around.

It is my PMS time, the reason I wanted to try IF. If this helps me cure my huge cravings; I will be a follower for life. I need all I can get...duh...don't we all?

[wvuchick]

Good morning everyone.

Well I've been miserable all weekend with sinuses. So I didn't go to work yesterday and consequently didn't fast. Think I will fast tomorrow and Friday to make up for it.

I lost 2.5 lbs this week. I'm 10.2 lbs from Onederland. I can't hardly believe it.

Welcome dgramie.

And great job to everyone else, wish I could address all of you personally, but I got work to make up for missing yesterday!

Have a great Tuesday!

[35X35]

Wow wvu--- that's incredible! So close to ONEderland must feel amazing -- can't wait to see you get there soon!

SUM38 -- way to go on the 24 our fast! I find them a bit difficult to do myself because I ♥ eating at night so it's difficult to go from say 9pm to 9pm the following night because I don't want to eat a bunch of stuff *right* before bed. Like Italiannie always points out though, I LOVE how IF can be worked for *anyone's* lifestyle! Good on you, keep it up!

esmi -- way to go on the lb loss! One lb at a time adds up to a lot in such a short amount of time!

lisat- way to go on the 3lbs, that's huge especially for someone without a whole lot to lose -- congrats!!!

mizzthing -- I wish I had the willpower to weigh myself less often. I do take a break during my period so I skip a week of weigh-in due to bloating etc. I'm always happy to see the ~~whoosh~~~ that happens after. Let us know what the scale says in April! Clothes are a great indicator as well and I do use them to reassure me when I haven't seen a loss but I've been sticking to plan.

dgramie -- seems like a few of us have been sick recently, although the headache could be from fasting as well. Hope you feel better soon! For me, I find that it just all depends on the day, where my hormones are at etc. Some days I can do nearly a 24 hour fast and feel fantastic, other days I'm at 15 and feel like I could faint lol... so I pay attention to my body and honor it. If it's one of those days I meant to do a 20 hour fast and I'm feeling faint at 14 hours, I'll have a bit of protein like a hard-boiled egg or a serving of cheese or of nuts. That helps a lot until the real eating begins lol

As for me, I've been doing GREAT with eating, but cruddy in other areas LOL We've all been sick and just getting over it (me and the kids, hubby hasn't gotten it thank God). Then, our entire apartment flooded Sunday due to a pipe bursting and holy mackarel the damage and clean-up and STRESS of it all is incredible. I'm thankful though that they are footing the entire clean-up bill and that we have renter's insurance and nothing truly sentimental or unreplaceable was damaged. Still though, holy COW the stress of having to uproot kids (including a baby) and deal with it.

I ACTUALLY FORGOT TO EAT one day. That makes me laugh because I used to roll my eyes at people who "forgot" to eat. WHO FORGETS TO EAT????????? lol I guess I just needed a pipe to burst haha jk... Seriously though, I'm loving IF especially during this time because the only meal I have to worry about for myself is in the evening when hubby is home. We've been ordering out because of being unable to use our kitchen to any degree yet, and since I've been fasting and being reasonable with portions when I do eat, I'm anticipating another loss this week.

Hope everyone is well

[wvuchick]

I've heard sinuses are going to be really bad this year due to the unusually warm winter. And bugs are supposed to be bad. So I'm prepared for lots of headaches and a sore nose, since I live in the mountains surrounded by trees.

35- I used to say that too. How could someone forget to eat. But I have done it too and I think, really?

[cherrypie]

finished a 24 hour yesterday. I'm considering less eating time the days I'm not fasting as well. My problem now is gaining back the loss on my off fasting days.

[Sum38]

I just about cried this morning; I was 145.5 pounds after my 24 h fast yesterday I have not seen that number in 4 or 5 years. I don't know if it will stick, but it felt oh so good!

I fasted 17 1/2 hours; I had a smoothie around 11:30 am. I wanted to go a little longer but hubby really wanted one of those smoothies I make -- My eating window will be around 6 hours for today. -- I am excited to see what tomorrow's weigh in brings, anything under 147 will be embraced!

cherrypie What is your eating window? -- I prefer having 5 hour window, but like today it will be 6. I don't like any longer one, I think I would consume too many calories.

35X35 Oh that just sucks! Glad it is paid, but just dealing with it.

wvuchick Sorry about your sinus problems! Congrats on weight loss!

esmi134 How was your fast?

to everyone I missed.