There is talk about intermittent fasting being tough for women online somewhere, I've seen reference to it... But I am a woman and I absolutely love to eat just once a day. I would guess that in the last year I did that 85% of the time. I eat when I'm hungry, and I don't get hungry often when I'm eating this way. I also find that if I eat early in the day, all I want to do is eat all day, like I have primed the pump. But if I don't eat my meal until around 6 or 7 pm, I usually don't want to eat again after that. And more and more often I will forget to think about what's for dinner until its actually dinner time, like it hasn't crossed my mind all day.
I'm sure it works fine for women, but I tried it when I was breastfeeding and almost ate the baby at the start of the window!
Bigger meals make me more full and I think about food far less.
Same for me. I generally only eat twice a day, but occasionally I'll wake up really hungry and have what most people would consider a "snack" for breakfast. Most mornings I have no appetite whatsoever, so despite what all the "experts" say I don't eat until I get hungry (but not TOO hungry!)
I agree with others who say you need to experiment and see what works best for you. Everyone is different, and there really is no right or wrong way to schedule your eating throughout the day.
For SouthernMaven, Krampus, and you others who only eat twice a day, what does that look like? What times do you eat, how much do you eat, and what foods?
I've been considering eating twice a day only (less time to interact with food = better), but I can't find a lot of info on it. Just wondering if you guys could give me a picture. Thanks!
Two meals a day is the best. I'll never go back! Losing and maintaining has been nearly effortless with this approach.
Same.
I have never been a 3 meals a day person anyway so this isn't new for me. I just changed portion size and make some better choices. I don't restrict anything but I skip the obvious things like McDonald's.
For SouthernMaven, Krampus, and you others who only eat twice a day, what does that look like? What times do you eat, how much do you eat, and what foods?
I've been considering eating twice a day only (less time to interact with food = better), but I can't find a lot of info on it. Just wondering if you guys could give me a picture. Thanks!
Everyone is so different. I say only eat when you're truly hungry and not past 6:30pm. I feel wrong coaching you on how to eat twice a day if you may need to eat 3 times...or more.
novangel: Sorry, to be clear, I don't want coaching. I just would like examples of how some people do it. I may end up eating twice a day for a while, then switch. I often vary my meal number, times, etc. based on my schedule and what my appetite is like. I haven't tried twice a day and am just looking for some info on you guys' approach (which are probably all different to some extent). That's why I asked those questions (what times do you eat, what do you eat, how much, etc.).
I will by no means take anything you or anyone else says as gospel, I swear.
Last edited by LiannaKole; 01-13-2014 at 11:00 PM.
I can give you an idea of what i do, i'm following an 8 hour IF window but it is more 2 meals a day.
A basic day goes: Wake up, have 0 cal drink/water, exercise if it's a Monday/Wednesday/Friday, eat about 700 cals in two sandwiches between noon & 1, water/zero cal if i get peckish, 1000 cal dinner at around 7 o'clock.
Off course you would adjust your calories to the amount you need for weightloss/not to feel hungry. That amount keeps me only slightly peckish every now and then and keeps me on a steady weightloss. I had been doing a higher restricted 6 hour eating window before, so you may find yourself a bit hungry to start off. What makes up my calories: The sandwiches are made with wholegrain bread and a bunch of lettuce and fillings with lite cheese, Dinner is usually homemade lean burgers on wholegrain/chicken wraps in wholegrain/homemade pizza on wholegrain (not very diverse as i am a student).
Last edited by ShrinkingStudent; 01-14-2014 at 12:08 AM.
I just would like examples of how some people do it.
I do IF but I do 2 big meals and one snack. Other days I do one snack and one big meal. The first two weeks was hard for me. I'd chug (artificial sweetened) green tea and water. I have now changed my rules to allow some coffee. My eating windows are 8pm to 5am. It's helped me think less about food. I know now that I won't die if I don't eat. I used to obsess over food SO much. And I feel like I can listen to myself more.
I guess I don't adhere strictly, I kind of just eat constantly from lunch time until bedtime. I'd be in fighting shape if I didn't "need" ~200 calories worth of sweet treats every day!
For SouthernMaven, Krampus, and you others who only eat twice a day, what does that look like? What times do you eat, how much do you eat, and what foods?
I practice IE (intuitive eating) so it can be different every day, but on most days I'll eat my first meal around 11:00 am. It is usually pretty light, either yogurt with fruit or cheese toast (I LOVE CHEESE TOAST!) and then another meal between 5-6 pm. Generally it's a protein and two vegetables, but not always. Might be eggs and bacon. It's whatever I feel like eating at the time.
I generally don't snack in between, but if I do it's almost always a banana. I rarely eat anything after my evening meal, but if I do I try to limit it to nuts, like cashews or almonds. I find that I sleep better on a slightly empty stomach.
I don't practice Intermittent Fasting per se, but most of the time that's the way my meals fall.
