Intermittent Fasting/Flexible Dieting

How many of you follow intermittent fasting/flexible dieting? Do you feel it works better than when you eat just your allotted calories/macros whenever you want throughout the day?
Trying to decide if its truly a good "diet" plan or if it works more like a placebo affect.

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unknown

Annie_01 wrote: »

CSlupe11 wrote: »

How many of you follow intermittent fasting/flexible dieting? Do you feel it works better than when you eat just your allotted calories/macros whenever you want throughout the day?
Trying to decide if its truly a good "diet" plan or if it works more like a placebo affect.

You might also take a look at zigzag dieting. I am trying it now to see if it fits my life style. My calorie level is 1370. Two days a week I eat lower...two days higher...and three days at 1370.

I was interested in the 5:2 but just didn't know if I could go that low in calories for those two days. The zigzag allows me to have one day on the weekend at a higher range and one day mid-week.

That's a good idea. I tried that for 1 week and it was much easier than IF.

unknown

Hi my new blog http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/fastforlife1 tells of my experiences with Intermittent Fasting and gives a brief description of different types. Whatever plan you choose, calories count. I think the Warrior Plan is the most effective for weight loss, but I usually eat 1000-1400 calories in a 6 hour window 5 days a week. 2 days -1800 calories. But I'm older than you and it is a real struggle to lose weight.

unknown

FoxyMars25 wrote: »

Yes, for me, this is pretty similiar to zig-zag dieting or calorie cycling as I tend to go way overboard on weekends when it comes to drinking and my diet as well. I can be doing awesome all week and then drink two bottles of wine on a Saturday night, which screws everything up. Now, I am using 5:2 to create a larger deficit in two days instead of trying to stick to the same 1700 cal each day (which of course, I always surpass with the wine). This week, I had my two 500 cal days on Monday and Wednesday.
On Tuesday and so far today, I am not even that hungry. I have been up since 4:00 am (as I workout in the mornings before work) and I still have not had anything to eat today because I simply am not hungry. So, even though I am allowed to eat at maintenance on these other days, so far, that is not happening as I am not even that hungry. Which is great news for when the weekend approaches as I should be able to have my wine/go out to dinner without destroying the deficit I worked to create all week.
This is also incredibly bizarre as I am ALWAYS hungry. I was doing the TDEE method where I calculated my TDEE based upon the amount of exercise I do (6 days a week average 40 min each day) and was eating at about 20% below that, and I was ALWAYS STARVED. I have been searching the forums trying to find out why I am always hungry. I find people saying to eat more fat, eat more protein, etc etc, well, I was.

And I was still. hungry. all. the. time.

But now, I feel wonderful and I know I just started doing 5:2 but I am simply amazed at how this is really controlling my cravings and my appetite. I also feel more alert and focused at work and have plenty of energy. I just hope this continues as I really think this is going to work for me. I lost 65 pounds since 2012 and then stalled for about a year, and then gained 10 pounds last fall (due to a medication I went on). I stopped the medication but have not been able to get this 10 pounds off. The sad part is that I was not even at my goal yet ( I was maybe 10-15 lbs away and now I am 20-25 away) and have been incredibly frustrated and upset because the weight just won't come off, mainly due to the fact that I like to drink on the weekends and that hurts the deficit I created all week.

Sorry about the long post, I am just so excited about this so far!

Don't be sorry for the long post. LOVED reading it! Glad you have found something that has worked for you. As far as being hungry all the time, you're exercising often which means you have a higher metabolism than people who don't exercise. When I strength train I'm hungry all freaking day! LOL

Yes the wine calorie intake doesn't help so that's good that you're taking that calorie deficit into consideration BUT I will tell you that alcohol can totally destroy all your hard work. I used to like to drink on the weekends but when I read on what it does to the body, it totally ruins all the exercise, diet, etc you did all week. Bummer!

unknown

@SLL & @HSmith - IF and HIIT have lowered my fasting glucose to 85 - before it was 99. (Nor bad for a 59 year old who still has 50 pounds to lose). When working out in a fasted state, the body's glucose has already been depleted, so the body draws its energy from fat. If nothing else the hormone blast and the high that follows makes working our fasted awesome! I also walk and lift.

unknown

I do 16:8 too, although most days is closer to 20:4. I am really hungry in the evenings and get very irritable! It just makes sense for me to save my calories and eat in the late afternoon/evening (and then I don't want to kill my husband!). I still weigh and count everything I eat/drink but it makes it much easier to stick to my goals.