Not new to fasting… Wondering if this will work for me.

This topic contains 4 replies, has 3 voices, and was last updated by indigolace 8 years, 7 months ago.

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indigolace

5:23 pm
23 Mar 16
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My trainer recommended I check out this diet and see if this is something that could work for me. I have a goal of losing 50lbs by November. I’m already lost 9 lbs just by incorporating high intensity exercise into my regime. I had been walking lots but now I have added weights.

So, my story is that I have PCOS and this effects the way my body processes insulin. I also have an under-active thyroid. The only thing that works for me to NOT gain weight, is to avoid sugar, carbs and most food in general. What I mean is I eat routinely around 900 to 1000 calories a day, sometimes a lot less. When I told my trainer about this she was shocked and I explained it was just a way of life. If I ate normally and consumed the amount of calories recommended for my size (even healthy foods) I’d gain weight. I don’t know why my body is setup this way but it is.

So, my question is, for a person who lives a life that is already in a frequent fasting mode, will this help? What if, on the days where you can eat normal, you don’t eat the amount of calories recommended but much less?

Thanks!

simcoeluv

5:44 pm
23 Mar 16
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Hi indigo and welcome:

I believe your eating 900 to 1000 cal. a day has caused your 9 pound weight loss, not your exercise.

As you are eating so few calories and apparently intend to continue eating at that low level, 5:2 or other IF patterns will only serve to shift when you eat those calories. You would eat fewer calories a couple of times a week and be able to eat a few more than you have been on the remaining days. The ‘recommendation’ of how many calories to eat on a non diet day is to eat your TDEE or less, so eating less than your TDEE is very acceptable.

Here is some information on 5:2: https://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/the-basics-for-newbies-your-questions-answered/

Good Luck!

indigolace

6:21 pm
23 Mar 16
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Thank you simcoeluv.

Actually, the 900-1000 calorie intake is not new. I’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember. Adding the strength exercise and now doing consistent cardio has, I believe, caused me to lose weight but it’s not consistent nor it is at a level that I could maintain schedule wise. I’d like to reprogram my brain as far as eating goes and was hoping this method could help to do that, but also to lose weight.

I’ll check out the link. Ideally I think I’d do the one day on and one day off. This may be an easier transition for me.

bigbooty

9:00 pm
23 Mar 16
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Sounds like you are already fasting 24/7 so Im not sure what 5:2 will do. If you don’t mind me asking how much do you weigh now? Perhaps calculate your TDEE and do a very accurate audit of what you eat to establish calorie intake needs as opposed to what you actually eat.

indigolace

3:59 pm
26 Apr 16
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Update: I wasn’t sure that this would work for me based on my eating lifestyle of very little calories consumed daily on a regular basis but this has been a saving grace for me! It gives me a goal of having 3 – 4 days a week of “normal” calorie range eating and then 3 – 4 days a week of fasting days. I do 2 – 3 higher calorie days followed by 1 fasting day. So, the pressure is not constantly on me to consume a ton of calories (or what seems like a ton to me!) all the time but to reach the higher calorie goal only a handful of days out of the week instead.

I’ve gone from 215 to 202 since I started on 3/24. Of course I also work out 4 – 5 days a week but I’d been doing that before anyway.

So glad I found this lifestyle. This will easily be something I can follow forever. My trainer recommended it and it is supported by our gym dietitian. So, I feel comfortable that it is very safe which makes me happy!