Quote:
Originally Posted by Crimzon
Trying to keep cals at 500. Fat eats up cals pretty quick.
Perhaps some ideas???
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Of course, if IF doesn't work for you, it doesn't work for you... everyone has to find their own lifestyle that works for them, but... I just want to throw out ideas to you or anyone else.
Following someone "else's" diet isn't necessarily what will work for you. Some people can do 5-2 and be fine. Others can do it differently. Others can't or don't feel good doing it all all. Same with low carb diets, etc.
I don't think I could do 5-2. I like following similar patterns and eating 5 days on, 2 days off would be hard for me. Eating just 500 calories for the day would be hard for me. So, that's not the form of IF I do.
I have had 4 years of trying different things to figure out what works for me. And over that time, I've tweaked and tweaked and tweaked.
First, I did just low carb with exercise and reduced calories. Then I switched to eating most of my calories in the earlier part of the day as that is when I seemed to be hungriest. Then I realized it was because I started eating in the morning that I got hungry (insulin response - even on low carb) which was becoming a problem because I was by myself for snacks and lunch and I would be mostly out of calories for the day by the time dinner time arrived and here I would be cooking for my family and able to eat none or little of it. AND that was the most yummy food of the day!
Finally, last summer I decided to stop drinking milk in my morning coffee and added a bit of half and half instead. I put in a 1/3 to .4 of a cup. That's 110-140 calories just on half and half, BUT!!! It keeps me satiated (with drinking some iced green tea or decaf tea) until 12:30. Then, I eat ONE quest protein bar. I get a little something sweet, and lots of protein and that keeps me satisfied (with lots of water/iced tea) until dinner time at 6:30. Then, I prepare the most marvelous dinner and eat (mostly) as much as I want. I just skip the starch (or eat a smaller portion of it).
Like, I can have a huge plate of homemade stir fry of veggies and chicken with almonds or cashews. Or, a good size steak with green beans or other veggies. Or, a HUGE salad with egg, nuts, veggies and greens and olive oil and avocado. My dinners are usually 800 calories (or a bit more or less) and I'm satiated and feel GREAT and I end the day eating no more than 1000-1300 calories.
Now, I haven't thrown any vigorous exercise in there yet, when I do, I'll probably need to eat a bit more, but I'll throw in a spoonful of peanut butter or make a protein shake.
I simply don't think I could easily or willingly give up my big dinner. Especially with being the only cook in the house of an 80 year old, two 40 somethings, a teen boy and a 10 year old boy.
That is what "I" do and it's taken lots of testing and searching to see what works for me. I would never prescribe my diet to anyone because someone else might find it unbearable.
That's why I hate prescribed diets - or follow these rules diets. I think they are a good starting point, but it doesn't mean you can't modify them to work for YOU.
We sat across the table from one another while I sipped coffee and she ate chicken strips and fries and I think I actually made her self conscious about her meal, which wasn't my intention.
