Hi. I’m new to the fast diet. Despite following the diet for four weeks now, I’ve not lost any weight. This is despite having a calorie deficit during those four weeks of ten thousand calories (achieved through a combination of fasting and exercise). I recently read an article (taken from a clinical study) that showed that, for some women, weight loss is inhibited while fasting because the body can become stressed out and cortisol levels can rise. My body has definitely been stressed by the diet: although I find the not-eating relatively easy, I really, really struggle to sleep soundly on fasting days. I am so disappointed with the person weight loss benefits of this diet that I found myself caring less and less this week, until today, which was meant to have been a fast day, when I totally spoiled my fast and ended up bingeing on takeaway and biscuits. Now I feel fat and disillusioned. My question is this: is there any women on this forum who struggled to lose any weight at the beginning of this diet? If so, did the weight eventually start to drop off? I’m considering going back to Weight Watchers or doing Lighter Life. I used to be four stone heavier than I am now, but I was also two stone lighter than I am now this time last year. The perpetual fight with weight – despite sticking to rules – is discouraging.