Intermittent Fasting

[Stid2677]

I know many here are into fitness and everyone feels like they would benefit from dropping a few pounds. I like many have tried various diets and have had limited success, with every single one I was always hungry. Just thought I would share with my fellow Rocksliders a eating technique I have discovered that has been the most successful eating change I have ever found. It is called intermittent fasting, I will let you use Google to research all the specifics, and there is a couple ways to do it. I use the noon to 8pm eating period and fast from 8pm to noon. NO food from 8pm to noon and drink only unsweetened coffee ad tea during my fasting period.

I do my exercise in a fasted state, this helps burn body fat as your body has very little else to burn. I combined this with a almost ZERO sugar, low carb, high protein diet. I have gone from my all time high weight of 194 lbs, 43% body fat to 135 lbs, 15% body fat. I lost an average of 5 lbs a week.

After the first 21 days or so, off the sugar, that constant hungry feeling went away. I can honesty say this is the easiest any diet change has been for me.

Other than skipping breakfast, this way of eating is almost unnoticed by your friends and family. I'm still able to go out have share a meal with friends. The effect on my health and energy level has been amazing.

Best thing is no gimmicks, no expensive supplements. I do take a daily multi vitamin and fish oil.

Steve

 

[Will_m]

Impressive drop in body fat, especially at your age, or what I think your age to be (50-60?). I've heard a lot of good things about IF, and do practice it on a limited basis but I think this is an accurate review and should show that people who struggle with body fat aren't out of the fight due to age. I would say that dropping that sugar was probably the single biggest thing you could do for yourself, especially if you had a somewhat sugar diet prior to it. However, this could be very tough for some as I think sugar has been shown clinically to be an addictive substance exhibiting withdrawal characteristics when going "cold turkey." Did you do any heavy weight training with this and how did IF affect the performance of it? Was it something you adjusted to or did you feel a chronic weakness under load?

Regardless, kudos to you on your weight loss and for setting an excellent example of staying in sheep shape. 15% body fat is pretty damn low for most men.

 

[Stid2677]

I turned 52 on Nov 1st, you are spot on about how addictive sugar is. Sodas were my main sugar source, and Cokes are about the only thing I still crave. I have joint issues so I can't really do any weight training, I do walk and swim.

I have not felt weak or out energy, in fact I find that I feel stronger and have more energy now. I do admit that I probably drink more coffee and tea and therefore ingest more caffeine than I should. Like anything, it can be a tool in an overall diet plan. There is no miracle way to get fit, but takes a day to day approach.

Another surprising benefit, has been my knee that I was ready to have replaced has greatly improved.

I had tried to cut sugar before by reducing the amount I used and using sugar substitutes, but IMHO the artificial sweeteners only made me want more sweets. "Cold Turkey" was the only thing that has worked for me. I have had a treat here and there and without fail, I find myself wanting more, another hit so to speak. So I try to stick to fruit when I have a hanker for something sweet and now candy and such is too sweet as my taste has adjusted.

 

[5MilesBack]

Interesting. I've been living a specific diet style my entire life and never knew it. However I've heard it said before "If you want to be skinny, watch and see what skinny people do".

I've never been a breakfast guy, makes me nauseous to eat right after I've gotten up. I have my coffee every morning and then eat lunch around noon. Lunch is my favorite meal of the day. Then of course coffee in the afternoon as well. Then I eat dinner around 6pm and I'm done for the day. Funny thing is......I never really "feel" hungry. I eat because it's time to eat. And never have been much of a "sweets" guy, but as I get older I really like dessert. But prefer the fat to the sweets. I drink a lot of water every day as well. I'm 6'6" and right now just a hair over 200. Still working on getting back up to pre-season weight of 212. And I'm 50.

I've gone two days straight without eating before and it really wasn't that big of a deal, as long as I have my coffee.

 

[Poser]

43% BF at a weight of 194?? How tall (short) are you?

 

[Stid2677]

43% BF at a weight of 194?? How tall (short) are you?

5 foot 6 inches.

In this photo I was about 180

 

[Eagle]

I've been intermittent fasting for a little over three years now. I've also used carb back loading a fair amount as well, which is great if you have any intention to lift heavy. I've never had an issue with hunger in the mornings, and do all my workouts right after I wake up. Eating window is generally Noon to 8pm, workout is usually from 5-6am.

 

[Poser]

You're numerical differences in body weight and BF% do add up, but it's still hard to imagine how you could have had been carrying 43% BF and only have weighed 194 without being especially short or carrying basically no muscle. Obviously you were carrying a heavy pack around so you had some muscle.

Comparatively, I am 5 inches taller than you, weigh 194 and am 11.5% BF. I am .65 lbs heavier per inch of height than you are and I'm fairly lean. If I weighed as 2 lbs per inch of height like you do, I'd weigh 146, which I probably haven't weighed since I was in 5th grade. I am presently carrying 22.6 lbs of fat. If I dropped to zero BF, I'd weigh 171. The equivalent of me weighing 146 seems inconceivable unless I was a stick.

Sorry to go down the math wormhole, just starting plugging numbers and it made me scratch my head. Anyway, I eat all day everyday. My body doesn't like to hold muscle very well -wants to naturally lean out especially my legs. I'm trying to get stronger, so I have to eat a lot.

 

[Stid2677]

I have for sure lost some muscle mass, but I have gone through man-o-pause .

I have been using my fancy scale that measures body fat. I'm sure it is not super accurate but is close.

Today after I ate.

 

[jaxdialation]

Intermittent fasting makes no sense at all to me. It's NOT the most bizarre strategy I've heard of though. And no, a body scale can't tell u sh$t about body fat. Calipers cost less and tell you more.

 

[njdoxie]

holy crap, that's an impressive weight loss, I'm gonna try it out even though I'm not fat, I need to lose 20 lbs without being hungry all day, it's just too simple not to try, hard part will be not having a protein shake after my morning workout....... if it doesn't work, no harm done, no money spent

 

[Stid2677]

holy crap, that's an impressive weight loss, I'm gonna try it out even though I'm not fat, I need to lose 20 lbs without being hungry all day, it's just too simple not to try, hard part will be not having a protein shake after my morning workout, if it doesn't work, no harm done, no money spent

Good luck! I wish I can say it did not cost me anything,, going from 36 inch waist to 29 inch waist has made me have to buy all new clothes. About the only thing that still fit was my socks. I went from not being able to find 36 inch pants with a 30 inch inseam to buying youth size large to get Under Armor pants that fit.

 

[jm1607]

Alright brother, I think you've convinced me to start fasting again..

GJ!

 

[jpolson]

Went to college with this guy. Just finished his doctorate. Speaks all over the country. Has multiple articles about fasting. Link to one below.

http://miketnelson.com/mike_t_nelson_articles/fasting_for_weight_loss.php

 

[Vance in AK]

Steve, maybe a silly question but since you said you only drink unsweetened coffee/tea during your fast I have to ask. I assume you also drink water during your fasting periods?

 

[Stid2677]

Steve, maybe a silly question but since you said you only drink unsweetened coffee/tea during your fast I have to ask. I assume you also drink water during your fasting periods?

Yes Sir, I drink water during the fasting period, I avoid consuming any calories during the fasting period.

I have eased off this holiday weekend, and enjoyed sharing some good food with family and friends. But I will be back on my schedule tomorrow morning.

Happy Holidays to all.

 

[Vance in AK]

Thanks Steve. It's an interesting concept that I may try.

 

[jpolson]

I went to college with this guy. He speaks all over the country about strength training and fat loss. Here is a link on his website about fasting. He has a lot of good stuff on there.

http://miketnelson.com/mike_t_nelson_articles/intermittent_fasting_fast_fat_loss_question.php

 

[Stid2677]

Very interesting Podcast, basically the diet and exercise plan I have been doing.


Joe Rogan Experience #752 - Mark Sisson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwd6InD2nDk

 

[brunse]

I have lived the last twenty years of my life on what I call the "lion diet." I don't eat much all day and then only till I'm full at night, usually around 9 pm. Then I go right to sleep for 7 hours. I do love my coffee in the morning. My fit weight is around 165, yet I generally stay around 173 now.