I can't take another diet, will this work, where all else failed?

This topic contains 5 replies, has 4 voices, and was last updated by Minka 8 years, 1 month ago.

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

Nazareth

5:19 am
28 Jan 15
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Hello, I’m listening to the audiobook over and over.

I have never considered intermittent fasting possible for me, because generally the way it’s done means HUNGER at the beginning and end of every… single… day…. and i have a problem with stomach acid so hunger is a nightmare for me.

Plus i have had most of my stomach cut out, so the large eating in the allowable hours was not possible for me either.

I like Joel Fuhrman’s diet but can’t do it… too much craving for bad food.

So i thought that i could try this diet, and for my 500 calorie days, i can have a couple green smoothies for very few calories and get in my micronutrients like a good girl

BUT… i used to be a raw whole food vegan, and i ate 600 calories EVERY DAY, i was always hungry, but never lost any weight, and ended up with my immune system getting angry at me.

so the big question is, and i hope this is the right place to ask it, is….. if i basically ‘fasted’ the way Dr. Mosely says i should and i did it EVERY DAY and never lost an ounce of fat (i’m quite overweight)

then WHY will only doing it TWO days a week make me lose weight????? i’m not getting it yet, what IS the simple secret of intermittent fasting??

i have tortured my body with diets only to end up fatter and sicker in the end, and i need an answer to this question before i will attempt this new approach…. i’m not longer into torturing myself for even one day A MONTH for what turns out to be no reason.

thanks everyone, sorry to sound like a downer

Couscous

8:39 am
28 Jan 15
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Welcome to the forum Nazareth. I am so sorry about your health and weight problems.
Not being a medical man, (and very few posters have medical experience) like many others can only give advice and support based on our own experiences. I would speak to your Doctor and discuss this way of life with him but research the background to the 5:2 first. I will not over load you with TDEE info and other bits and pieces about doing this as other supportive posters from around the world will no doubt pitch in. And that is one of the great things about this forum. You are not alone any more, you have every one rooting for you giving advice, tips and support. Click on the links at the top of the page, FAQs and take your time going through them. Many posters have many different types of illness and get support.
You have made an excellent positive start by posting.
Good luck to you.

Nazareth

10:23 am
28 Jan 15
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Hi Couscous! thanks for the encouragement, but i wasn’t asking for medical advice, i didn’t even mention what ails me i don’t think.

but what i want to know is why would this work for me when fasting EVERYDAY never made me lose an ounce? as i used to live on 600 calories a day.

LynneD

10:59 am
28 Jan 15
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Hi Nazareth,

In theory (and in practice for many), daily fasting would result in weight loss (for example, the CHRONies mentioned in the Michael Mosley book who are effectively on a permanent fast). This is not feasible or desirable for many, so the intermittent fasting (IF) method gives the benefits of fasting, unless of course you massively overeat on non-fast days. So the simple secret is that it is manageable for the majority and results in an overall calorie reduction, and with other health benefits from fasting itself.

So, whilst this seems to work for many people, if daily fasting is not working for you then it seems possible that IF would also not work: but I agree with Couscous that it would be good to discuss with your doctor to exclude any underlying medical conditions that may affect weight loss, especially as you mentioned a number of health issues specifically in your original post.

With best wishes.

Nazareth

12:44 pm
14 Oct 16
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I’m baaaack, ready to try again, testing out my hunger, and seeing if i can manage doling out my calories throughout the fast day.

once i went to a strange homeopath, that stuck and electric thingy on the tip of my finger to measure things, and he gave me a diet that i lost 40 lbs on without noticing because i was eating TONS and didn’t think i would lose weight…

BUT i lost the food list 🙁 how i wish i had it back, but i do remember that it allowed NO, ZERO canned or processed foods, not even ketchup…

and i mostly ate one meal a day (back before my hunger problems) of chicken, rice and brocolli… i do remember basa fish was allowed, and also BEER and berry sugar, and sea salt… so i was having a good time and the food was tasty…

so i thought i would do the 5:2 diet with salads on the fast day, and my homeopathic diet on the off days, and i’m quite excited about it!

Minka

8:32 am
15 Oct 16
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Hi Nazareth, I only started 5:2 in June and so just found this thread since reading your most recent post. I’m surprised that you wouldn’t lose weight on such a low calorie vegan raw diet. The only thing that comes to mind is possibly an under-active thyroid. When I was hypo, no amount of dieting made a difference since my metabolism was so slow, I burned very few calories in a resting state. Symptoms of this were low body temperature and low energy. Anyway, just thought to mention and all the best on going forward with 5:2!