Thanks JohnP and Lackadaisy.

I had a stomach growl at noon, but not super loud, and just a little hunger. I actually started my window at 1:15pm, instead of 2pm. But I guess I will end it at 7pm.

I worked out at 10:30am, and felt great! I like feeling empty inside when working out. I feel like I can do more cardio for some reason. If I ate food and worked out, even if i waited for 2 hours, I just don't have a very good workout, like I get tired easily, or have digestion problems or get side stitches and can't run as fast.

So another question for you all...
How many calories are in your meals? Or do you just do whatever you feel like so long as there is a calorie deficit? For instance I would like to be 1200 cals / day, and I'm not sure how I should split up the meals or snacks in my window. Do you just do whatever you feel like for each meal until the calories are spent? Like for instance today, my first meal was huge, a large LARGE salad with lowfat dressing, some nuts, and some corn tortillas with cheese. That big meal was probably 500-600 calories. Do you make dinner larger or lunch larger?

Thank you all!

Beila I don't really divide up my calories specifically. I eat until I've eaten what I want to. Depending on my current goal, my calorie ranges are as high as 1500 a day, to about 800 a day. I just eat (aim for healthy things) until they are used up, or it's time to quit eating.

The trick, for me, is NOT to over think it. The more I dewell on it, the more likely I am to obsess and it just to become unhealthy and I'll binge, and fail.

For me, the simpler the better. Know that I am not going to eat until a certain time, have a couple of nice meals during that time, then eating (and worrying about it) is done for the day.

Just popping in ladies and gentlemen. I went off IF for about a week because of the holiday and life at home not really being conducive to it, so today is my first day back on the wagon.

Fought the hunger a bit more, as per usual, because my body was back on the mindlessly grazing routine. Today I did my eating window from about 2:30pm to 8:30pm and I kept my calories deliberately low. I need to let my tummy sort of rest from all the food I put in it, and get used to the windows and such again.

Today I had chicken noodle soup (with wonton strips) for lunch, cucumber/tomato/mayo salad for dinner, now I'll have a bowl of watermelon and I'm done for the day

the above is exactly what i ended up dong, but i not really planned to do it that way though.

lunch was a extra large salad, some corn tortillas with cheese, a big handful of almonds, and then moved on to watermelon. my window was like 1:15pm-7:15pm. Now that i'm done eating, i feel satisfied, and just a tiny bit full (it's now 7:45pm).

i could work out, in the evening, but will opt for an empty stomach run tomorrow morning.

i'm hoping this will work. i think my cals totaled less than 1200, although i can't say for sure. i just know that i don't need food now. i'm liking this style of eating and will report again on how i feel after a couple of days of doing this. i'm also going to try to experiment and see if 2 large meals will work better, one at 2pm and one at 6:30pm.

Yes...keeping it simple is key for me. 'Tis the beauty of IF. Tweak as needed...don't worry about the minutiae unless you need to, or like
to (John P!)

One detail that I would worry about is making sure your final meal has a good amount of a slow digesting protein especially for those of you who are doing small windows.

Other than that - protein intake should be kept high just like any other diet where you're limiting calories to help preserve lean body mass.

is nonfat greek yogurt slow digesting protein? i'm a vegetarian, but i'll eat fish and seafood.

Greek yogurt has milk protein which is whey and casein. Casein is slow digesting. If that is the only protein in your final meal I would say it is not enough. Fish, seafood, or any other "meat" is also slow digesting. Eggs are slow digesting.

Good point JohnP - his last meal suggestion is actually pretty important. I like to have cottage cheese with some fruit. It really makes a difference in feeling like I have enough energy to make it through. So yeah, that might not be considered minutiae, ... The questions you are asking, Beila, don't seem like over thinking, I just love seeing people let go of their dietary stresses....so maybe I lean towards too lackadaisical of an approach

For me, my first meal is typically my largest. I usually only eat two meals a day and maybe a snack in between. I like to eat larger meals because I find my digestion is better . I don't worry about calories too much but when I have entered them in on a regular basis out of curiosity, I found I was eating between 1800 and 2000 usually. I am fairly active and nursing my son once or twice a day for comfort more than for nutrition, but my body is still in milk making mode so I feel it is important for me to eat enough to get good vitamin/nutrition content to replenish what has been siphoned out of me during 5 pregnancies, nursing etc. I have a 5-6 hour eating window and then I have a day when I eat whenever and probably a little above my calorie needs. Just thought I would give you an idea what another IFer eats like.

An update on my weightloss - I maintained the loss over two family birthday parties and Easter and I have to say, I wasn't particularly careful about what I ate. I did stick to my windows...I adjusted them to the times of the parties or made them my higher calorie days. I'm back to losing now...almost 10 pounds in the last 5 weeks. My body is starting to change. My legs and arms are getting slowly slimmer and I did have to tighten the waist strap on my baby carrier. I had been nervous that IF would set off my binges...but it has actually been helpful at identifying some triggers and getting through some things that cause anxiety without turning to food. This is the first time since childhood that I have been able eat with joy and less guilt...and I feel good and am losing the uncomfortable fat. I don't feel the constant urge to eat, and the urges seem more manageable when they do pop up.

YAY YAY YAY!!!!!

This is so good to hear!

I agree 100% with eating joyfully with less guilt. You are doing an amazing job!

sarahmac--CONGRATS on your 10 pound loss! That's 2 lbs / week! AWESOME! That's great that you have found this to be working for you. I'm also feeling like this can work for me, but i'll keep at it for a week just to see.

Edit from Day 1:
I ended up doing a 1:15pm-8:30pm window. I ate another "snack" of 1 cup tomato soup. Warm soupy stomach always makes me stop eating for the day.

Day Two of IF:

2:00pm - 8pm window is planned.
Noon had the stomach growls 2 of them, then at 1pm. But during this time I was at the gym, so it helped me not turn to food.

I'm going to eat fish as my last meal, with veggies. Yogurt if I need one more snack.

I'm down 1/2 pound from yesterday, but that could be due to numerous things, not necessarily the IF. I haven't felt dizzy or weird, just the stomach growling around noon, which is tolerable as long as I'm doing something else to keep me distracted. LOVING this so far!

This afternoon I was sitting in my apartment around 3:45, starving with a growly stomach waiting for my husband to get home so we could have our dinner together. I was so FRUSTRATED and angry from being hungry.

I've always been under the impression that I have to eat breakfast. So every morning, hungry or not, I'd force down breakfast and not even 2 hours later be hungry again. But sometimes, on a lazy sunday or whatever, I wouldn't eat until noon or later and be perfectly content, then I'd promise myself I'd eat breakfast the next day because it's what's healthy.

After the episode today (which resulted in me saying that IDGAF and eating whatever for 3 hours after) I realized that something needs to change. It's not fair to myself to commit to a lifestyle change that I am miserable in. Eating small meals doesn't feel right to me. Eating breakfast at 8 am when I get up, even if I'm not hungry, doesn't feel right. I'm so glad I stumbled across this thread and can see that other people are having success with a different way of eating... one that seems more natural for me. I can't wait to get started!!

whoa... but I thought ANY type of fasting was difficult..
you guys are really determined! WOW!

GOOD LUCK!

It's funny you should say this. I personally do this because it is easier to eat this way. The only difficult part is the initial adjustment period which really isn't difficult at all.

Agreed!! Much easier and it takes the stress of spending money, time and food choices on breakfast when it's not really something I'm a fan of.