Please don't leave the forum people are just trying to help...its called constructive criticism. Alot of people here have experience you should thank them for their comments and learn from them....good luck with your goal!

Thank you everyone for your concern. It's been a rough couple of weeks.. I ate yesterday and today and I'm about a pound more then when I posted this. So overall, about 6 pounds down in a week of IF, and that's something I could have done low carbing. Plus, when I'm low carbing, I feel so much better. Amazing even. So I guess the inital 9 pounds I lost was about 3 pounds of water weight. But, I guess I had to learn the hard way. Everytime I eat now, my stomach cramps up about 20 minutes later and hurts really bad. I hope I didn't hurt myself.. The scary thing is, if I were still losing weight doing this, I KNOW I would still be eating like that.

I still don't agree with the approach of one of you, but I understand the intent. Thank you. Me and my cramped up little stomach are gonna run to the bathroom now.

Start off slow. Eat bland foods like liquid jello, broth and plain toast. Slowly add in chicken and vegetables. You can't rush into meals after doing that

Too late! haha.. I didn't eat a lot at all, but it's not gentle food. I'm still below 1500 cals in a day.

You know what I find strange? I just STOPPED losing weight doing this after about 5 days or so. It came off fast, but then it just stopped. I didn't change anything, and I even ate a smaller meal when I did eat. But I haven't gained it back, with the exception of a few pounds, but that could also be because I have been eating heavier food.

food volume definately does a lot. So does saltier food. Lets say you did 1500 calories in potatoes, steak and broccoli. You might gain a lb because of the potatoes and steak.

but lets say you did 1500 calories in leafy greens, that might not show as a gain.

1500 calories in junk food, because of the salt, would show a gain.

Make sense? All calories are not created equal and the answer to everything is 42.

Rikku- I don't think you should necessarily give up "IF" after a one week trial of eating one meal every 2 (or 3?) days b/c that is not the way it is supposed to be used in the first place. If you would like to research it, you will find a lot of helpful info. You could start with a 14 hour fast and a 10 hr feed everyday while watching your calories. No matter what weight loss method you choose, you can't lose 1-2 lbs a day indefinitely- weight loss will slow down.

All the best to you. Hope you feel better soon.

I suppose you're right. I guess I just *really* am ready to get out there and feel good both inside and out. I am growing incredibly impatient! I may still do a few small fasts during the week along with low carb. Do you think that would speed it up a little?

Glad to hear you're sticking around. I was worried about you good luck

IF is a good tool for keeping your calories down, so yes, it could be good if you like it/know how you want to use it. If you like low carb, then that could also be great for you. You have to choose whatever works for you, but you can def combine both.

As many people say around here, "Slow and steady wins the race." Find your patience, find the right plan for yourself, keep it strong and you will succeed.

None of us expect you to agree with all of us (or even any of us), and if you remember that you'll feel a lot more supportive.

Some of the best support I get here is from the people who think what I'm doing is absolutely INSANE (and aren't afraid to tell me so). We don't have to agree to support each other, but we do have to put our opinions out there (sometimes even the ones that sound "mean" to some of us).

I actually get more out of the opinions that disagree with mine (just like I get more out of the negative reviews on amazon.com than those that are gushingly positive). Because the disagreeing opinions challenge me, and make me think.

In the end, I may decide that the critics are right and I've been making a mistake, or I may decide (whether or not I research the accuracy of their opinions) that I'm just as confident (if not more so) that my approach is right for me.

So take what helps, and forget the rest, because it's not our opinions and experiences that matter, it's sharing them that does - so that people can know that they're not alone (no matter what their experience or opinions are).

I wouldn't even want to miss out on the "harsh" criticisms, because some people say they need that, and if they believe it, even though I don't understand it, I have to accept that. I'm ordinarily not going to be the one who gives or needs it, but I also don't have to worry quite so much about how carefully I need to word my posts, because I can be assured, that no matter what I say or how I say it, it will be exactly what someone (not necessarily the op) needs to hear.

And if I or others completely botch the job and start getting nasty, the moderators will quickly remove those posts or close the thread (and remember you do have a right to contact the mods with complalints about a thread or posts to it, and you can also use the ignore function to block out posts from members whose posts upset you (you won't see any of their posts).

I have a very thick skin, but there have been members in the past (none currently) whose posts would constantly get under my skin. And yet other people would post how much they LOVED those members' posts, so it's obviously just a personality-clash thing. Blocking their posts (so to me they don't even exist to me) was extremely helpful for my emotional well-being.

Do what you've got to do, and say what you've got to say - that's the bottom line here. Not everyone is going to agree, and even some of those who passionately DISAGREE can still like you and be of support and help to you (if not on every topic, at least on some).

It is important to remember that very, very few people here are going to judge you, and those that do or seem to be aren't worth your hurt feelings. And while it may have no control over your feelings (just as many of us feel we have no control over our eating) we all do have that choice, but it takes practice to exercise it, and to find the best ways to exercise the choice.

Thank you very much. I really do appriciate it.

I'm just a bit sensitive about this topic, that's all. I'm so confident in every other aspect if my life, but my weight continues to challenge me in every way.

Based on what I've read I would strongly reccomend you do not intermittent fast.

You do not have a healthy relationship with food, it seems.

After six months, if you've established some solid dietary habits, you should consider adding a 24 hour fast once or twice a week to your routine.

Intermittent fasting without good dietary habits usually does not work out well from what I have seen.

Rikku-

Here are a few articles you might want to take a look at:

http://www.paleoforwomen.com/shatter...he-literature/

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/women...#axzz2EHiSD2gC

http://www.stumptuous.com/problem-3-hormone-****

http://www.stumptuous.com/problem-2-muscle-munching

Thank you, that was very informative

I haven't tried intermittent fasting personally, but I'm fairly familiar with the concept having done CrossFit for 18 months where a lot of people (men and women) swear by it.

I think what it comes down to is your relationship with food. Why not try something really basic to get yourself going? Eat healthy, whole foods within a certain calorie limit and take it nice and slow. The people I know that do intermittent fasting started when they were at a healthy weight (this is just my personal experience, not saying it's the way it has to be). They had a fairly "normal" relationship with food, ate a paleo diet already and did a lot of research on IF as a means of improving fat loss and enhancing their performance in the gym. It is a very extreme way of eating so it's kind of like you need to take baby steps to get there... I think if you've been struggling with weight and food as long as you say you have it might not be the healthiest place to start.

I'm no expert, but I really feel for your situation. It shouldn't be this much of a struggle mentally. If you commit to a plan and stick with it you should feel good and see results, however slowly.

I hope you find something that does work for you. IF *can* work, but maybe just not right now, like JohnP suggested.

And don't get offended when people give it to you straight - it's done with the best intentions, even if it's not what you want to hear and not necessarily right. It's just an opinion. You could end up proving them wrong or you could end up learning from their experiences.

Good luck