[Jenna]

So far I have seen nothing but positive stuff with this (lots of online reasearching - perusing bodybuilding forums, youtube, etc). I have long been a believer in occasional fasting for health benefits as well as spiritual gain, but had never thought about adopting this type of eating routine. I have completed a couple of 20 & 30 day fasts in the past (along with a few shorter ones) so I don't think that going 24 hrs without eating would be difficult, especially knowing that I would be able to eat normally every other day. I think the method that seems to be the most "doable" with my schedule & my family's schedule would be having dinner daily. Apparently many people will eat dinner, then eat normally the next day (breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc), then fast until dinner the following day & so on & so forth. Doing this works out to a 24 hr fast every other day, but you still technically get to eat daily (because you always eat dinner).

At any rate, it sounds interesting, and I have seen a lot of people getting good results in terms of better cholesterol numbers, lower bf%, better muscle gains (for those that are weight lifting), more energy, etc. I plan to give it a go & see how we like it (Bryan plans to try it out with me).

In the mean time, I will be continuing to workout (I have lost nearly 20 lbs so far) & specifically getting more consistent with weight training again.

[AnnBK]

Well, Jennifer, as a very old lady who has some training in nutrition, I can only suggest that your approach has major flaws. I have achieved my very advanced age by eating a balanced diet (with lots of splurges), generous exercising, and a general involvement in life. And I got really lucky with some great genes from my ancestors. I think being engaged with life is the most important thing.

[April Showers]

Jenna, on 17 February 2013 - 11:11 PM, said:

So far I have seen nothing but positive stuff with this (lots of online reasearching - perusing bodybuilding forums, youtube, etc). I have long been a believer in occasional fasting for health benefits as well as spiritual gain, but had never thought about adopting this type of eating routine. I have completed a couple of 20 & 30 day fasts in the past (along with a few shorter ones) so I don't think that going 24 hrs without eating would be difficult, especially knowing that I would be able to eat normally every other day. I think the method that seems to be the most "doable" with my schedule & my family's schedule would be having dinner daily. Apparently many people will eat dinner, then eat normally the next day (breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc), then fast until dinner the following day & so on & so forth. Doing this works out to a 24 hr fast every other day, but you still technically get to eat daily (because you always eat dinner).

At any rate, it sounds interesting, and I have seen a lot of people getting good results in terms of better cholesterol numbers, lower bf%, better muscle gains (for those that are weight lifting), more energy, etc. I plan to give it a go & see how we like it (Bryan plans to try it out with me).

In the mean time, I will be continuing to workout (I have lost nearly 20 lbs so far) & specifically getting more consistent with weight training again.

From what I've learned, this way of eating can really wreak havoc on your metabolism. I would never try it - it would just make me cranky every other day. I'm no expert, but your body needs consistent fuel and if you're looking to build muscle, you usually need to up your protein intake. I go to weekly nutrition classes and they've told me that most people who fast a whole day like that end up eating more calories at the end of the day than they would if they'd just eaten regular meals.

[mimes1]

I'm doing Weight Watchers and eat all day long! Last week I lost four pounds, and didn't feel hungry at all. Praying and fasting is one thing, but as a means of regular diet it would scare me.

[MariJ]

I agree with all the above. From everything I know, feel and read - it's not a healthy way to eat or live.
Good work on your weight training, though - that seems a great way to go.

[Sara Arell]

Sweet Jenna, I do applaud your desire to find the perfect way to lose weight, sweetie, but I have to agree with what everyone else has said here. This will definitely wreak havoc with your metabolism and while you may feel wonderful at first, it will catch up with you. I wouldn't do this either really.

Years and years ago, I had to have my jaw wired shut for a terrible TMJ issue (it fixed it and I was the oral surgeon's assistant so I was under his care the entire time) and I was on a nothing but liquids diet for two weeks. I dropped lots of pounds and felt great while I was on it but the week following after he "unwired" me was terrible. I had lost the weight much too quickly and my body reacted terribly. Since then, I have gone on "just soup" diets for 4 or 5 days and I've had great success in losing weight that way, but I was at least getting those nutrients to my body.

Be careful, sweetie - you have four beautiful children who need their Mom strong and healthy. This diet will eventually sneak up on you and may cause some real health issues!

But congrats on losing all of that weight! I know you're very happy about that!

Hugs!

[alsoarty]

April Showers, on 18 February 2013 - 01:49 AM, said:

Jenna, on 17 February 2013 - 11:11 PM, said:

So far I have seen nothing but positive stuff with this (lots of online reasearching - perusing bodybuilding forums, youtube, etc). I have long been a believer in occasional fasting for health benefits as well as spiritual gain, but had never thought about adopting this type of eating routine. I have completed a couple of 20 & 30 day fasts in the past (along with a few shorter ones) so I don't think that going 24 hrs without eating would be difficult, especially knowing that I would be able to eat normally every other day. I think the method that seems to be the most "doable" with my schedule & my family's schedule would be having dinner daily. Apparently many people will eat dinner, then eat normally the next day (breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc), then fast until dinner the following day & so on & so forth. Doing this works out to a 24 hr fast every other day, but you still technically get to eat daily (because you always eat dinner).

At any rate, it sounds interesting, and I have seen a lot of people getting good results in terms of better cholesterol numbers, lower bf%, better muscle gains (for those that are weight lifting), more energy, etc. I plan to give it a go & see how we like it (Bryan plans to try it out with me).

In the mean time, I will be continuing to workout (I have lost nearly 20 lbs so far) & specifically getting more consistent with weight training again.

From what I've learned, this way of eating can really wreak havoc on your metabolism. I would never try it - it would just make me cranky every other day. I'm no expert, but your body needs consistent fuel and if you're looking to build muscle, you usually need to up your protein intake. I go to weekly nutrition classes and they've told me that most people who fast a whole day like that end up eating more calories at the end of the day than they would if they'd just eaten regular meals.

I agree with April. Up your PROEIN intake and eat 6 small meals a day. I need to do that as I'm obese, but when I stress I eat. this thread is making me think about my diet. Thanks for posting it.

[tiza126]

In all the diets & eating plans I've tried, NONE of them recommend fasting or skipping meals. It does mess up your metabolism and water weight. And like others have pointed out, it would make me cranky. I would end up overeating and binging after the "fast" was over.

We had a weight loss challenge at the office a few years ago. In order to make his goal, my manager fasted for the last day or two. He did lose a ton of weight and reached the goal to win the prize...but then he was sick for the next few days as his body tried compensating for it. And ended up gaining it all right back, plus some.
Nothing I would recommend.

[Jenna]

I do understand the concerns you have all voiced. I also know that I have worked with dieticians, nutritionists, and doctors. I have followed calorie counting, WW, high protein, clean eating, & metabolic research center - I really didn't lose weight with any of it. What DID end up working, was consistent weight training, and eating reasonably healthy along with a few splurges & lots of water. The fasting I have done in the past was for spiritual reasons but I did lose a fair amount of weight in the process. If done properly, and with self-control, weight lost during a fast can be maintained.

I think what rang true to me was that I feel in our culture we tend to eat even when we don't need it because we have been conditioned that we are supposed to. If you think about it, it wasn't long ago that people weren't able to roll out of bed & eat a full meal for breakfast. Farmers frequently ate only once or twice a day & worked a gob. I think fasting, or eating during a much smaller window of time each day, was far more common than essentially grazing through the day. Every time I stuck to the 5 or 6 small meals a day I ended up frustrated that it seemed I was spending all of my time either thinking about what I was supposed to eat next & when, preparing the next small meal or snack, or eating it. Even more frustrating was the fact that at the end of each week (or month, or whatever) I hadn't really lost much for all my efforts. I definitely did my best though, because at that time I was in the military & had 6 mo to be back in regulations after having my baby. I didn't make it (despite careful cal counting & working out 6 days a week, sometimes 7). Being on the "weight management program" is stressful to say the least (if you fail to meet the requirements in 6 mo time on the program you are automatically discharged from the military).

Either way, I know a couple of people that have been eating using IF (intermittent fasting) and one that has been doing ADF (alternate day fasting) for a good while. I never realized it because they weren't really talking about it. Both people that are using IF have kept the weight off for over a year. The guy that has been using ADF has maintained his weight loss for 5 yrs & has improved his blood pressure, cholesterol, body fat %, & has put on & maintained a nice bit of muscle. The metabolism concern was something I looked into as well, and there seems to be research supporting the idea that (similar to muscle confusion), eating higher calories one day & much lower (or almost no cal) the next keeps the body from adjusting calorie burn for efficiency. The weight lifters I spoke with on a couple of forums seem to agree that their metabolism remains higher than when they were eating more frequent meals daily. A couple of them are competitive body builders & track stuff like that religiously because it affects their training so much.

I will keep your thoughts in mind though, and I appreciate your input! I will do some more research before I decide one way or the other, but so far I really haven't seen much negative (there are a handful of people that didn't like the fasting at all & stopped it, and a few others that thought that the "high" calorie day meant they could eat a whole pizza & not gain. LOL)