Hi everyone,

I read up on intermittent fasting over the weekend and decided to give this a try. I’m 32 years-old and would like to lose around 23 pounds or 10.5 kg in total, although I’m probably 13-15 lbs from where I am generally happy with how I look. I’ve got a friend’s wedding coming up in about 5 weeks, and I’d like to try to lose some decent weight before that, so I am going to try to do 4:3 most weeks, but realistically may do 5:2 on weeks when I’ve got more stuff going on.

I have gone up and down over the years with my weight and would like to try to find an approach to eating and exercise that is more sustainable than what I have previously done (I’ve gotten down to that ultimate goal weight more than once in the past couple years but never maintain it). It has been relatively easy for me to both gain and lose weight in the past, and over the past year or so, that losing weight part feels like it takes more effort, which worries me. But, I can’t say I have actually eaten well for any sustained period of time during that year. I also had a thyroid hormone test a couple months which was at the high end of normal, and I’d like to put in a good effort at eating healthily, exercising, and losing some weight before I get it re-tested to see if it remains an issue.

Today is my first fasting day, and I’ll post results here weekly. I have found forums like this to be helpful and encouraging to post my progress in the past.

I am curious how carefully people watch what they eat / count calories on their non-fasting days? I read about the alternate day fasting approach over the weekend which advocates that you can eat whatever you want on non-fasting days (though found that most people eat close to their normal calories naturally). Does anyone also try to limit certain types of food on their non-fasting days such as refined carbohydrates and sugars?

Thank you!!