Short term fasting. Is it good for us?

Another fan of fasting. There is growing evidence of its benefits and alot of You Tube videos to explain how it affects the metabolism.

I’ve been doing IF (Intermitant Fasting) for four months .I’ve lost 17 lbs in weight so very happy with the regime .
I fast for 16hours from about 7pm to 11am and eat a low carb diet for 8 hours during the eating hours , mostly fresh fruit and vegetables with chicken or fish and drinking lots of water or tea during fasting hours . I’ve got so used to this way of fasting that I find it easy to maintain. It’s not for everyone but it has worked for me.

A few years ago I would not believe the eating regime I am on now. The transformation is extraordinary and, even more strange, I didn't find it even remotely difficult. Life is so good.

4allweknow We went back to having our main meal at lunchtime when we retired.

We found before that, that a light breakfast, followed by a light lunch led to snacking in the afternoon.

*MissAdventure 30-35, in both paleolithic and neolithic.

I’ve been doing the 5:2 on and off for several years now (off being when I wasn’t 100%, when I was recuperating from a broken arm and on occasional high day and holiday weeks when it was hard to fit a fast day in). It’s helped keep my weight in check and my blood pressure down and I feel healthier for it. I also find I’ve a better appreciation of my food on the non-fast days. I must admit I usually skate closer to the 800 calories top limit these days than I do to 500, but it’s still fasting.

The 16:8, 18:6 type of fast didn’t suit me - I’d rather get it over with in 2 days and couldn’t easily fit my wine into the schedule!

How old were cavemen when they died, on average?

Not suitable for people with metabolism/digestive disorders, otherwise it’s up to you.

I do not eat breakfast and aim to finish eating in the evening by about 6.30 - so do not eat for about 17 hours on a typical day - and I don't miss breakfast at all! I used to love it - but now really do not crave toast and marmalade, or whatever, when I get up. As others have said, cave men and women would have been forced to fast regularly, and we have evolved to live that way. I have read that when our bodies are not busy eating or digesting, they get on with repair work.

I’m an advocate for fasting particularly after reading Michael Moseley’s fast 800 and do the intermittent fasting 8:16. I have cereal and fruit about 10, salad if I fancy at lunch, not always and dinner at 5 ish. Not hungry in the evening and it keeps weight in check.

Fernhillnana, I too have hypothyroidism and have no problems at all with intermittent fasting. I fast for anything between 14-20 hours. I don't feel hungry and I've noticed I sleep much better and generally feel better in myself. You do have to be careful to ensure you eat good healthy food when you do eat though because you've reduced the number of meals you are eating. That's not to say you can't eat the goodies too. I'm 69 and have done every diet going over the years, this is the easiest one ever and I feel the best I've felt in a long long time.

Is it ok for people with hypothyroidism? My metabolism is absolutely shot at and I’m not sure what it would do on fasting. Maybe ok?

Our eating habits have changed over the years. How many of us can remember eating our main meal in the middle of the day (dinner) and a small almost snack sized meal at say 6 pm. (Teatime).That was what I was reared on and maintained until about the 00s. Never had a weight issue and have tried to think of anyone in my age group who did. The old style eating system seems to be the forerunner to fasting, long gaps in eating we adopt nowadays to address weight issues.

I do 16:8 five days a week from 8pm to 12am. If I feel a bit hungry, then I have a drink. I do have to take painkillers with food every morning, so I have a small smoothie with kefir, banana matcha and flaxseed with them. If I don’t need painkillers I wait until 12 to have it.
I don’t fast at the weekend as I believe in the 80/20 principle and also can have an enjoyable breakfast with my husband two days.
This works brilliantly for me, it has helped with IBS and keeps my weight and body fat on a nice low level. So easy to do as the rest of the time you can eat what you like! (Which usually involves a piece of cake about 4pm!).

Not eating between meals isn't really fasting, so I can't see the harm in having nothing after dinner until the next morning.
As for the rest of it; I don't think it's a good idea to go without food for long stretches of time.
Not that I'm any expert, and I'm overweight anyway.

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.

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.

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?

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?

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

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.

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

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!

i am diabetic so I have to eat regularly.

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..! ?