I wish I would have known about intermittent fasting long ago as it is soooo easy. I fought for two years eating breakfast and lunch and a light dinner. I kind of had a reverse order IF with eating most of my calories early in the day as I tend to be hungrier early in the day, but I still had to make dinner for the family and then pick at the one meal that was homemade for the day. The social meal. The meal where people eat the most...
But by NOT eating in the morning (I drink a half caff coffee with a good dollop of half and half) I don't get very hungry. I eat one high protein and high fat protein bar for 180 calories for lunch and then I'm good until 7 pm... I then eat a huge dinner and I'm good for the day. I don't feel deprived as I'm eating the most at the social meal of the day and I get to eat the yummy homemade food I prepare for the family. I still watch the carbs, but besides that, I just eat 700-900 calories at night and feel great!
I did this last summer and dropped over 30 pounds in three months before starting my new job and getting derailed. And I can feel it should be fairly easy this time too. It just leaves me feeling so much less deprived!!!
I wish I would have known about intermittent fasting long ago as it is soooo easy. I fought for two years eating breakfast and lunch and a light dinner. I kind of had a reverse order IF with eating most of my calories early in the day as I tend to be hungrier early in the day, but I still had to make dinner for the family and then pick at the one meal that was homemade for the day. The social meal. The meal where people eat the most...
But by NOT eating in the morning (I drink a half caff coffee with a good dollop of half and half) I don't get very hungry. I eat one high protein and high fat protein bar for 180 calories for lunch and then I'm good until 7 pm... I then eat a huge dinner and I'm good for the day. I don't feel deprived as I'm eating the most at the social meal of the day and I get to eat the yummy homemade food I prepare for the family. I still watch the carbs, but besides that, I just eat 700-900 calories at night and feel great!
I did this last summer and dropped over 30 pounds in three months before starting my new job and getting derailed. And I can feel it should be fairly easy this time too. It just leaves me feeling so much less deprived!!!
Congrats on finding an approach that works - through the day - for you! Personalized fine-tuning is what it's all about.
Congrats on finding an approach that works - through the day - for you! Personalized fine-tuning is what it's all about.
Thanks so much! The only time it's a bit difficult is when I go somewhere that is having lunch. Like, today I went to a monthly meeting where there is breakfast AND potluck lunch. I sat there through the breakfast with my iced tea. For lunch, I sat there with my protein bar.
I wasn't feeling triggered or anything, but it feels odd to be abstaining.
berry, sounds like a good plan! Will you let yourself enjoy the occasional breakfast/lunch for special occasions or continue to abstain like you did for the meeting?
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Still pretty much maintaining over here on 5:2. I'm actually becoming quite comfortable with that. I'd still like to lose more weight, probably another 20+ pounds, but I'm just not willing to make any additional restrictions right now. Especially since I've been enjoying running so much and more restrictions might make that difficult.
I think once we move and get settled in Colorado, that will be the time. For now, I'm going to enjoy being the smallest I've ever been as an adult and maybe buy some more clothing that I won't shrink out of in a month. Most of the time I feel pretty great about myself.
berry, sounds like a good plan! Will you let yourself enjoy the occasional breakfast/lunch for special occasions or continue to abstain like you did for the meeting?
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Still pretty much maintaining over here on 5:2. I'm actually becoming quite comfortable with that. I'd still like to lose more weight, probably another 20+ pounds, but I'm just not willing to make any additional restrictions right now. Especially since I've been enjoying running so much and more restrictions might make that difficult.
I think once we move and get settled in Colorado, that will be the time. For now, I'm going to enjoy being the smallest I've ever been as an adult and maybe buy some more clothing that I won't shrink out of in a month. Most of the time I feel pretty great about myself.
I will have breakfast or lunch (and have) when it's an occasion that matters to me and I "want" to take part in. Like, when we had fresh strawberries from the farmer's market, I had breakfast with the family over the weekend. And sometimes I'll choose a big meal at lunch instead of eating dinner, but for the most part I would like to just stick to this plan as 95% of the time I'm by myself in my office at work for lunch, so it's easy to not eat lunch.
And... I already responded on another thread about maintenance.
Thanks so much! The only time it's a bit difficult is when I go somewhere that is having lunch. Like, today I went to a monthly meeting where there is breakfast AND potluck lunch. I sat there through the breakfast with my iced tea. For lunch, I sat there with my protein bar.
I wasn't feeling triggered or anything, but it feels odd to be abstaining.
Good going! It's nice to know you weren't triggered. It's one thing to not be tempted, and another to be tempted and fight it off. Having something to look forward to - in this case, an amazing 700 - 900 calorie dinner - makes all the difference!
I equate the temptation to overeat with a temptation to regain. That is NOT appealing to me at all, at this stage of the game.
I'm really enjoying your blog, btw. I agree with your latest article that using work that needs to be done as exercise is a win-win all around. I don't really like to mow the lawn, for instance, but I love the number of calories it burns!
I noticed you said in another post that you can move your big meal to a different part of the day. I do that, too, with the 1200 calories, which I like to have kind of in the same time span, so I feel full. It can happen at breakfast, lunch, dinner, going out with friends/family, going to a movie, etc. (usually with a little left over for a snack or two later). This approach is extremely versatile.
Where is everyone? No one doing this diet any more?!!?
Two things. First, we have a new facilities manager in our office (nice, older guy) and we were chatting yesterday and he shared with me that he followed the 5-2 diet and lost 65 pounds last fall (and has been maintaining it). So, first that is cool that someone in the office "gets" the intermittent fasting thing as so many people do not.
Second, we are going out to dinner tonight with family and THIS is when IF is really nice. I can eat a normal size meal while out (though watching what I get and portion size as I don't want to eat a 2500 dinner!)
Berry, I'll probably be doing this diet for the rest of my life lol But its become second nature. Maybe when I get back to losing I'll need the added support.
So awesome that IF is becoming more popular here! It will be really nice for you to have someone to be open about it with, as most people just don't get it.
I'll pipe up here since the thread seems a little slow (everyone on vacation?) Normally I would continue to lurk since I'm very new at trying IF but since you asked "where is everyone?" and I am here, well ...
I am adding IF two days a week to what I am already doing. My "fast" days, or really low calorie days, consist of having a piece of fruit and a hard-boiled egg white for breakfast, an apple for lunch, and a normal healthy dinner. I aim for between 500 and 750 calories for the day. Doing this has helped me lose a little more than 20 lbs. since early May when we returned from vacation.
I just find that IF gives me so much more freedom. Like, last Friday we went out for dinner (something we rarely do) with some family. I had my half and half in my coffee in the morning, a protein bar midday, and then I was able to eat a normal (modest) dinner (skipping the bread and giving it to my son). If I were eating like I did last time down, I would have gone over the top for calories for the day. Which isn't a big deal as it's a single meal, but now I don't have to have those unavoidable days.
And man, do I enjoy having dinner with my family - a real dinner. Last night - two sausages, a few roasted mini bell peppers, and scoop of broccoli and a single slice of garlic bread. Calories for the day? 1100.
Trainer Gunnar Peterson gave a shout-out to IF in last month's Fitness RX for Women. (This is a fairly hard-core fitness magazine that includes fitness competitors as its target audience.) He specifically recommended reading up on it in response to a letter asking about effective fat loss methods.
Where is everyone? No one doing this diet any more?!!?
Two things. First, we have a new facilities manager in our office (nice, older guy) and we were chatting yesterday and he shared with me that he followed the 5-2 diet and lost 65 pounds last fall (and has been maintaining it). So, first that is cool that someone in the office "gets" the intermittent fasting thing as so many people do not.
Second, we are going out to dinner tonight with family and THIS is when IF is really nice. I can eat a normal size meal while out (though watching what I get and portion size as I don't want to eat a 2500 dinner!)
So wonderful that you got an Alternate Day faster at work! And I'm also happy to hear he's keeping it off - that's inspiring.
Hope you had a great dinner with the fam. It is a kick to be able to enjoy meals out, and not have to make a to-do over it. It's all a matter of planning and control, and seeing that we have the wherewithal to manage our eating like champs!
Personalized fine-tuning is what it's all about. 
Most of the time I feel pretty great about myself.
