Fasting

[Dirtlover2005]

Feastie - yes I too find myself eating more sweet stuff than I would normally. Nothing too carried away but definitely more partial to the odd biscuit or chocolate out the tin at work where previously I wouldn't.

 

[goo_mason]

Speicher - you'd be surprised at how much you have lying around that can be used - eg a tin of Heinz tomato soup. I had half a tin plus a monster salad with capers, garlic, 2g of anchovy paste and a spray of balsamic vinegar for dinner, and that still didn't come to near 300 cals. Had 'em all in the flat without having to buy them specially. All I did buy was a no-fat yoghurt and some blueberries - breakfast was 150g of yoghurt with a small chopped banana and blueberries stirred in. Lunch was a tangerine that I'd saved from my breakfast allowance. I'll likely have the same tomorrow when I do my 2nd day.

I've been feeling strangely not hungry since Monday's restricted fast day, which is most unlike me. I haven't felt the desire to pig out or even snack since then. Long may that last!

 

[phil_hg_uk]

6 ' 5" - 6' 6" - he seems to be about as much taller than me, as I am than potsy!

That's what I mean when I say to people that "I was tall when I was a young man". There was only one other boy my height at school but these days I see loads of younger men who are taller than me. In fact, there are even a couple of women in Hebden Bridge who are taller than me!

Everyone is taller than me, except potsy of course .............. oh yes and Jo

 

[Feastie]

that avatar, Feastie

Why thank-you! It's one of the possums from the kid's film Over the Hedge... unbelievably cute.
In terms of whether to go for the ideal calorie limit (500 in my case) or to +100kcal and say that you're relatively active, chunkily built, whatever, I think you should do at least the first fasting day very strictly at the calorie limit set to get a feel for it, so you know how low you can go. Then after that adjust it to the point where you're eating the minimum you possibly can without feeling really hungry on a system of balance. If you're starving hungry, why not have a 10kcal cup of tea and push yourself to 510, or add an extra splash of milk to your cereal and end up at 550? If the ultimate outcome is that it facilitates you to continue the diet and not give it up, I reckon on balance you can add in a few calories here and there. Aim for 500 and then use the 500-600 range as your 'emergency extras as required' section throughout the day!
I originally thought I'd end up settling at 600 as I'm a massive foodie and pretty active, but actually I can manage about 500-550 no problem. If you're going to make yourself do it, you may as well make yourself do it properly! Hunger is physiological but the kind of hunger which you can't deal with for <24 hours is pretty psychological it turns out. Keep yourself busy, banish thoughts of hunger and food when they arise, ignore the occasional stomach pang as your gut has a moment and the whole thing is very tolerable.

 

[Garz]

Back OT, I am starting my first fast day tomorrow!

 

[Yellow Fang]

Did another fast yesterday. I think I've lost about half a stone since the new year. I was annoyed to find my BMI was still in the overweight category by 0.01. I am still about half a stone heavier than I was a few years ago, but sometimes I wonder if my scales have developed a fault.

I used to think that if ever I visited Auschwitz on holiday that it would not be respectful to go to a restaurant or bar, or do any sort of enjoying oneself that day. In fact, I thought it would be better not to eat anything at all. I thought that would be quite a hard thing to do, but it wouldn't be really; it would be quite easy.

 

[ColinJ]

I forgot that today is a fasting day!





Fear not though, fair readers, for I also forgot to eat anything - so I have been doing an accidental fast! It is now
time for a brunch consisting of a banana, some low fat natural yoghurt and half a teaspoon of honey.

 

[Kies]

Today was my fasting day ... But i had a mac attack :-(

 

[Garz]

It's nearly over now and the hunger pangs seem to have gone for a wee while!

Any suggestions of low cal food combo's they have since found to be filling on the fast days?

 

[Herzog]

It's nearly over now and the hunger pangs seem to have gone for a wee while!

Any suggestions of low cal food combo's they have since found to be filling on the fast days?

I'm not on this fasting diet, but porridge with water and salt is good for a low calorie, filling meal (snack?).

 

[ColinJ]

Any suggestions of low cal food combo's they have since found to be filling on the fast days?

Humungous great bowls of salad. Think - the biggest that you've ever eaten and double that -.probably less than 100 calories. Make some nice home-made dressing - another 100 calories or so. 200 calories for a couple of hard boiled eggs or a tin of tuna.

And that is exactly what I'm going to go and make for myself now!

 

[Garz]

Humungous great bowls of salad. Think - the biggest that you've ever eaten and double that -.probably less than 100 calories. Make some nice home-made dressing - another 100 calories or so. 200 calories for a couple of hard boiled eggs or a tin of tuna.

And that is exactly what I'm going to go and make for myself now!

I counted a small salad consisting of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper - not very large with a splash of nando's hot sauce for taste 60 cals. My morning ready brek with semi-skimmed milk seems to have burned up all the decent calories (185) which I have now learned hard way - and tea was chickpeas with more salad blowing the final few left. Three cups of coffee and that's it.

Do you skip lunch then?

 

[chqshaitan]

i have been reading this thread with interest as i am interested in giving it a go but wonder what impact fasting on the cycle days will do.

last week i started to commute to work, and managed 3 days with 3 back to back, this week i am doing 4 days with them all back to back, and from next week, will do 5 days.

each way i do about 7 miles so nothing major compared to some. also i am a large guy so wondering for my fast days if i should be aiming for 700 cals, and measure my progress. if i dont loose after a week i will drop 50 cals.

any thoughts?

thanks in advance

 

[Garz]

any thoughts?

You could either bump up the calories to compensate for the cycling days or just do one fast day at the weekend. The cycling alone will be enough for fitness/weight loss till your body gets used to it, I would take it slowly and try not to do too much too soon.

 

[ColinJ]

Do you skip lunch then?

Yes, but my lifestyle is very odd these days. I tend to get up between 09:00 and 11:00 and eat the first meal of the day between 10:00 and 13:00 so it is more of a 'brunch' than a breakfast. On fasting days, I wait until between 1900 and 21:00 to have my other meal. That lasts me until I go to bed between 02:00 and 04:00, though I usually have a glass of OJ at about midnight.

You could either bump up the calories to compensate for the cycling days or just do one fast day at the weekend. The cycling alone will be enough for fitness/weight loss till your body gets used to it, I would take it slowly and try not to do too much too soon.

Don't forget that the original idea of this 'fasting diet' was for its direct health benefits and any weight loss is more of a side effect. Ideally, you would keep the 2 fasting days for those health benefits.

I intend to stick to this way of eating for life, and will eat more on the other 5 days when I hit my target weight.