In 9.5 weeks (move over Kim Basinger) I have lost 18 to 20 pounds (I count it as 18 since water weight and the variance in my bathroom scales means that over a day my weight can vary by up to 2.5 pounds.) That’s 8 to 9 kg, or about 1.3 stone. I know that the ultimate challenge will be to KEEP this weight off, plus the weight I still plan to lose.
Here’s the thing: I nearly always have a snack at ‘tea time’ – around 16:00/ 4 p.m. Since starting 5:2, I have sought to eat a snack like a handful of almonds (14 make 100 calories) or a teaspoon of peanut butter on half a banana. This is a significant improvement over my former handful of cookies or dish of ice cream or worst of all, candy bar. I eat this sort of thing every day – I include it in my FD. My FD is breakfast, a thin soup and half a banana, the snack, and maybe some salad greens for an early dinner at 6 p.m. So no, I personally do not fast for a period of more than 13 hours, although as the fast day progresses, I do eat less and less. (I am the reverse of many, I want my bigger meals up front.)
But: I have skimmed ‘the Obesity Code’ and read this quote:
“The balance between the fed state (insulin dominant) and the fasted state (insulin deficient) has been completely destroyed. We are now spending most of our time in the fed state.
β¦ We are taught to eat the moment we roll out of bed. We are taught to eat throughout the day and again just before we sleep. We spend up to 18 hours in the insulin-dominant state, with only six hours insulin-deficient.”
I want to know if the author, Dr. Fung, has any biochemical research to back his claims about this imbalance causing insulin resistance. Too many authors I read present theories that seem to make sense, but, like a jigsaw puzzle that can be made to fit together, but which does not produce a picture that matches the picture on the box the puzzle came in, what makes ‘sense’ may still be wrong. And yes, those authors include medical doctors.
Next, I wonder if he ever mentions fasting as a means of possibly decreasing insulin resistance.
But abolition of any and all snacks, including what I still believe are healthy snacks? Is anyone here convinced?
It is also true that my dentist has indicated that constant eating is hard on the teeth. So he is not keen on snacking. I have yet to see him since starting 5:2, so I’ll have to ask next time his opinion.
Also I have maintained since the start – no pun intended – that the real challenge for me has always been keeping off the weight, not losing it. I have no idea even as a personal anecdote how even a healthy snack affects weight long term.
So, I’m asking the board for opinions.
It is true that
1:31 pm
2 Oct 16