Maybelle, is it possible that your metabolism changed simply because you are older now? If you are not exercising/burning calories as you did when you were 25, then you won’t have the metabolism of a 25-yr old. That is going to happen whether you are on Fasting or not. If we are not keeping up the energy level, then the same amount of calories we always ate becomes too many calories. Loss of muscle mass can also affect the rate at which your body burns/processes calories. Must do one’s bit to maintain muscle mass!

I’ve kept off 70lbs for 17 years using a variety of diet plans and exercise. I’m a 67 YO man on zero meds with stellar blood chems, 112/68 BP and I currently weight 169 lbs @ 5’10” tall.

I’ve been using variations of 5:2 for 3 years. Mostly water fasting on my two fast days.

As we lose fat our TDEE goes down because we are carrying less weight as we move. So yes you are going to have to eat less as you lose. Most age related “slowdown” is due to muscle loss because we don’t do weight bearing exercise, but it doesn’t have to be that way. It is possible to retain and build muscle and bone at pretty much any age. The issue is it’s hard work. I’ve been doing DEXA testing to measure body composition and I’m gained 4 lbs of muscle over the last two years. My bone density is = to a 25 YO. My resting metabolism it 25% higher than the average man of my weight.

We also have fewer healthy mitochondria so we can’t generate as much energy as we used to. Exercise like HIIT are very good to stimulate production of mitochondria. Extended fasting will also kill off damaged mitochondria and help new healthy ones grow.

About diet: there are outliers that thrive on lots of starchy carbs but there aren’t very many. In general the closer your ancestry is to the equator the better you tolerate carbs.

I’ve worked with many people over the years and the vast majority thrived on high fat, moderate protein and low carbs. By low carb I mean lots of low glycemic veggies, little fruit and no sugars and grains.

The truth is there is no free lunch if you want to maintain a strong healthy body. To maintain muscle and bone it’s necessary to do some heavy resistance training. Cardiovascular health means some HIIT training. Movement of any kind is necessary and valuable but it doesn’t take the place of the hard exercise. I walk, dance and roll around on the floor with my dog for my movement practice.

Diet is important. Eating the right amount healthy non contaminated foods is key. Time restricted eating 5:2 style fasting and true water fasts work well and have different therapeutic effects on the body.

Let’s not forget about rest and sleep! If you are not getting good sleep your hormones get screwed up.

In short any diet that restricts calories will get some results, but some are way more effective than others for maintaining health

Well said, diverdog. Acurate as always. And Pol is right too — lots of bad habits to overcome.

I no longer want to lose weight. I now eat carefully to maintain. IF is not a diet, but a way of life.

Hi all Reading this is interesting. I am 62 have been on the 5:2 for around 2.5 years and lost over 10 kilos – most in the first 6-8 months. I still do the two day a werk fasting as i find with 6:1 i still gain weight. However i don t fast over the summer months july and august and have put on about 2.5 kilos. But unlike the past im not stressed about it as i know there is a 100 per cent proven method of removing the extra kilos. Because you don t get panicked and depressed about it you don t feel like bingeing or eating comfort food because you don t need to. I am starting back on the fast today and look forward to a happy healthy christmas when i know i will be down to around 56 kilos instead of 59 which is what I am am now.

Hi PP, ah I live in Italy too much gorgeous, wine, cheese, olives and olive oil!!