Short term fasting. Is it good for us?

I think this is very good for our systems and does no harm...... our digestive tract needs a rest sometimes to catch up with 'things'

I couldn’t fast during the day but like to eat the evening meal between 5 and 7 and then have nothing at all for 12-14 hours and sip water in the evening. Evening are usually sat in front of the tele and then to bed so it’s quite easy to do. That’s my idea of fasting lol.

No! If I don’t eat regular meals a migraine would be triggered.

Dr Michael Mosely is an advocate of fasting. Look him up.
Stone age man would have naturally fasted when there was nothing much to eat! It’s good for us occasionally.

I do 16:8 everyday No breakfast, lunch about 12 to 1 o’clock and dinner about six. Perhaps a small snack before 8. Then nothing.
I have never been hungry. My BP, cholesterol and blood sugar fell. Never felt better.

I'm BBbevan without the small snack. Certainly working for my body.

I put on well over a stone after the menopause, and did everything to lose it. Nothing worked. 10 years later Michael Mosely introduced the 5:2 diet. Fasting 2 days a weeek - eating no more than 500 calorie a day. That was 2014. I lost two stone in 4 months and have never put it back on.

I now do it for a week or two after Chrismas and holidays and otherwise one day a week. I am sensible about not over eating on the other days, except for on exceptional occasions

16:8 intermittent fasting works very well for me. I have lost quite a bit of weight in this way.

Similar to others, we have dinner about 7pm, I next eat between 12:30 and 2pm. It keeps my weight, which is fine, the same.

Am not trying to lose weight any more. I went up 10kg after the menopause and, as I suffered from gastri reflux, started having evening meal at 6pm and nothing after. I slowly came down to the correct weight for my height. Took about a year and have not looked back. No more gastric reflux either.

No, I was curious about fasting more with the idea of cleaning out my system.

I'm another follower of Dr. Michael Mosley's books and tv programmes. I can't remember the exact words but, basically, he said the digestive system really slows down during the hours of 7pm until 7am so food should be avoided during that period.

Then, during the period 7am until 7pm, you should chose an 8 hour period when you eat your meals. That way you fast for 16 hours every day.

I have my breakfast at 10, lunch at about 1 and my evening meal between 5 and 6. I've certainly started to feel better in myself

I am not a fan of follower of any of the fad diets, whether it be 16/8, 5/2, not eating carbs, only eating carbs, not eating fat, only eating fat, etc. etc.

Surely a good, varied diet which fits in with our life styles - small portions at the three or four eating times each day, is the answer.

What sort one person is totally wrong for someone else. Also different medical conditions may necessitate different times of meals.

And, so few of these mention the great importance of taking in adequate fluids .

As an ostomist, I know that I need even a great fluid intake that those who have working colon. And, maybe a higher salt intake those others.

When I was younger and very physically active, I could, of course, have a far larger intake of calories and still keep my weight down, than I can now when I take very little, if any, exercise (do not think my trundles round on my mobility scooter count).

If I had diabetes, then I would probably need to follow a different eating pattern to the one I currently do.

We all know if we are overweight or underweight, etc. We all really know what foods will exacerbate these conditions.

Take a look at the the Michael Mosley horizon documentary called Eat, Fast and Live Longer . On BBC iplayer.

He is my GPs idol.

No I would feel sick if I didn’t eat at regular times, not quite sure why, I have various ailments, but I’m not going to punish myself for some fad diet.
M0nica what do you eat on a 500 calories a day? I could do this if it involved regular snacks.

I do 16:8 fasting, which works for me became I've never eaten breakfast or been an evening nibbler. I have a snack around 12 o'clock, my main meal around 6, then sip water throughout the evening.
When I first started, I went down two dress sizes..! ?

i am diabetic so I have to eat regularly.

I just swim around 150 - 200 lengths per week. Never put weight on since starting to swim upon my retirement. Not lost much either... hey-ho!

Not for migraine sufferers or indeed those with bad acid reflux. Regular, small meals are better for some.

Fasting in a sensible way is not a 'fad diet' - it's a medically proven way of giving the liver a rest and allowing cleansing of the system. People have fasted for centuries, and Muslims fast during the holy month of Ramadan from sunrise to sunset, eating the same number of calories as they might normally in the hours between sunset and sunrise, and depending upon where they are in the world and the time of year (Ramadan moves) the hours of fasting can range from 16 to 12. The evidence is that fasting like this is not harmful to anyone unless they have particular conditions, and that people emerge from this month-long regime feeling energised and having lost excess weight.

My GP told me 30 years ago to have at least two days a week with no food intake (only water) for 16 hours a day and to eliminate meat in the remaining 8 hours. The more recent advice from Michael Mosely uses the same science.

I was never inclined to eat breakfast. Now I live alone, I get up, feed and walk the dogs, do shopping if required and when I get home I have some muesli and a cup of tea. I have something savoury and some fruit for Lunch and very little else apart from drinks until bedtime when I have a cup of tea and a digestive biscuit. I have no longer.got type 2 Diabetes and keep my weight stable with this eating regime

tried the 24 hour fast a few times ,found all i thought about was food! i do the 18/6 now far easier,i like the advice 'only eat when you are hungry' how many of us do that?

Nonogran

Dr Michael Mosely is an advocate of fasting. Look him up.
Stone age man would have naturally fasted when there was nothing much to eat! It’s good for us occasionally.

I used to fast my large dog one day a week, in wild he wouldn't always have a kill to devour and his larder may be also empty does that count? My sugar levels drop like a stone and I feel sick and dizzy without grub for ooh.......an hour or so?

I've found it keeps my weight constant. And it seems quite easy to do for me. In fact if I have a lunch or tea to go to it feels all wrong! When I first started doing it I had a ferocious headache for a few days but I drank a lot of water and persevered. At first I drank tea, but so much my hygienist asked me if I'd taken up smoking! Tannin is the worst for old enamel... Anyway, now I can do it without thinking, fasting from 10.00 until 7.00 and nothing after 8.00 until 10.0 next morning.

I’m a migraine sufferer so it’s not a good idea. My sister doesn’t eat breakfast as she feels this is the only way she can keep her weight in check. However, she’s seen a rapid increase in her migraine attacks. She will not look at an alternative way to control her weight though.