Intermittent Fasting
I started experimenting with intermittent fasting about three weeks ago. Four or five days per week, I use the eight-hour window method, which for me means squeezing my meals into the period between noon and 8:00 PM. A few times I’ve forgotten to eat a snack at 8:00 PM, so the between-meal fast was extended by two or three hours. I’ve also been picking one day per week — Saturday or Sunday — to go without eating at all. As I noted in a couple of posts, it’s easier than I would’ve suspected.
I ended up doing a 22-hour fast a couple of days ago without really intending to. Tom Monahan (the composer for Fat Head) and I are working on a music project together, and my old second-hand guitar isn’t up to snuff for recording. So in the early afternoon — after skipping breakfast, which I often do — I set out for Guitar Center in Nashville, planning to buy a particular acoustic/electric combo guitar, based on some positive reviews. I figured I’d be home an hour later.
The good news is that Guitar Center had that particular guitar in stock. The bad news is that when I played it, I wasn’t impressed with the sound. Rather than let budget-consciousness seduce me into buying one guitar that would serve as a mediocre acoustic and a mediocre electric, I accepted that I’d need to buy one of each.
So my one-hour shopping trip ended up lasting four hours, as I tried out several acoustics, then several electrics, narrowing down the choices until I was satisfied with the final two. That put me in rush-hour traffic on the way home. Rush hour in Nashville isn’t anything like rush hour in Los Angeles, but nonetheless it after 5:00 PM by the time I got home. My last meal had been at 7:00 PM the previous evening. It wasn’t exactly a total fast because I’d had coffee with cream in the morning, but still pretty close. I was only aware of feeling truly hungry for the last hour.
I weighed 200 pounds when I began the intermittent fasting experiment. Yesterday at the gym (we don’t have a scale at home), I was at 194. I wouldn’t label that as rapid weight loss, but considering that I eat quite heartily during my non-fasting periods, I’m pleased.
Netflix
I just received word yesterday that thanks in part to the popularity of Fat Head on Hulu, our internet distributor was able to strike a deal with Netflix to offer the film in the Instant Play lineup. I’ll make an announcement when it’s actually available. A sincere thanks to all of you who helped Fat Head make a splash on Hulu.
If you enjoy my posts, please consider a small donation to the Fat Head Kids GoFundMe campaign.
The answer as to why people on low carb diets eat less is because they are already eating up the fat stores in their bodies for fuel and therefore don’t have to eat as much if their bodies’ energy needs are already being provided for by their own fat cells.
That’s why my fasts are turning out to be painless.
As most low carbers will tell you, the less carbs I eat, the less hungry I am, and IF just happens.
I’m not really thinking about doing it on purpose. I got up this morning after only two small meals yesterday (total carbs 14 for the day), and was mildly surprised to not want breakfast. I just was not hungry at all.. and that is a great feeling, after so many years of eating a high carb diet. I used to feel hungry all the time.. I can’t even count how many times I said to myself “How can I be hungry?? I JUST ate!!” Arggh!
Didn’t eat until 2pm today when I finally felt a hunger pain.
That’s why I want to tear my hair out (what little is left) when people dismiss low-carb diets by pointing that people end up eating less, so that’s why they lose weight. They’re not asking the crucial question: WHY do people eat less when they cut the carbs? Obviously something in our use of fuel has changed.
Yay! Now hopefully I can suggest it to my friends who don’t like to use hulu or don’t have access to it, but do have and use Netflix. 😀 Although, I highly doubt anyone on my fb friends list ever listen to me when it comes to nutrition, no matter how smart and talented they claim I am.
The answer as to why people on low carb diets eat less is because they are already eating up the fat stores in their bodies for fuel and therefore don’t have to eat as much if their bodies’ energy needs are already being provided for by their own fat cells.
That’s why my fasts are turning out to be painless.
Sigh.. my problem is I used to get hungry on carbs, solved that going low carb, but after a year of successfully eating and losing weight on low carb (under 50g a day) I am getting hungry again, despite eating full meals. Does the low carb effect diminish? I’m hoping the carb ups with help me decrease appetite. I’m confused so any pointers from your readers would be most welcome. All the forum’s tell you to drop the carbs further but I’m not convinced. I like IF but I don’t lose weight doing it.
I haven’t heard of the appetite-control aspect diminishing. If anyone has suggestions for what’s going on with Jo, chime in.
Sigh.. my problem is I used to get hungry on carbs, solved that going low carb, but after a year of successfully eating and losing weight on low carb (under 50g a day) I am getting hungry again, despite eating full meals. Does the low carb effect diminish? I’m hoping the carb ups with help me decrease appetite. I’m confused so any pointers from your readers would be most welcome. All the forum’s tell you to drop the carbs further but I’m not convinced. I like IF but I don’t lose weight doing it.
I haven’t heard of the appetite-control aspect diminishing. If anyone has suggestions for what’s going on with Jo, chime in.
When I eat carbs I get ravenously hungry, shaky and dizzy and even get heart palpitations. I now eat anywhere between 10 to 50 grams of carbs a day and never have any shaky-with-hunger feelings. I think people who don’t have blood sugar problems refuse to believe that the problem exists.
I recently read a magazine article about how we have ‘evolved’ to eat 3 meals a day and snacks, and if we don’t our metabolism will be ‘upset’… which is so stupid that I just had to blog it.
http://medphyzz.blogspot.com/2011/01/nutritionist-nonsense-1.html
I don’t start eating each day until I really need to and I’m now pretty much living on (almost carb-free) chocolate fudge cake… it is mega-satisfying!
Love the heading, “Stupid Alert.” So we evolved to eat three meals per day? Man, the hunting must’ve been amazingly easy and reliable.
When I eat carbs I get ravenously hungry, shaky and dizzy and even get heart palpitations. I now eat anywhere between 10 to 50 grams of carbs a day and never have any shaky-with-hunger feelings. I think people who don’t have blood sugar problems refuse to believe that the problem exists.
I recently read a magazine article about how we have ‘evolved’ to eat 3 meals a day and snacks, and if we don’t our metabolism will be ‘upset’… which is so stupid that I just had to blog it.
http://medphyzz.blogspot.com/2011/01/nutritionist-nonsense-1.html
I don’t start eating each day until I really need to and I’m now pretty much living on (almost carb-free) chocolate fudge cake… it is mega-satisfying!
Love the heading, “Stupid Alert.” So we evolved to eat three meals per day? Man, the hunting must’ve been amazingly easy and reliable.
I only eat when I’m hungry. I don’t eat breakfast right away weekdays (wake up at 5am, eat around approximately 9). I also weight lift fasted on Saturdays. This wouldn’t work for me if I didn’t eat low carb (LC). I also wouldn’t have called it IF. I used to obsess about food if I didn’t eat. I’d also get hangry (angry hungry). My coworkers have given up on fixing my ideas about food and diets. Some have even commented that they’re jealous I eat ribs and chicken wings for lunch and still lose weight. HA!
That storm that hit DC last week and caused mass chaos in our area, besides the damage and frustration – a lot of people couldn’t get dinner on time. Made the always “interesting” DC commute worse. The average time to get home was about 6 hours. People were getting dizzy, foraging in their cars, getting really angry, etc. Yeah, it was stressful but at least I wasn’t starving.
I think IF works best as long as you’re getting good quality + amount of sleep. From what I understand it’s an extra added stress to your body if you’re not doing other things right. (I think the sleep thing is where I tend to fail.)
I agree sleep is important. When I’m short on sleep, I’m hungry. Fortunately, since I work at home with no particular schedule, I sleep until my body decides it’s time to wake up.
I only eat when I’m hungry. I don’t eat breakfast right away weekdays (wake up at 5am, eat around approximately 9). I also weight lift fasted on Saturdays. This wouldn’t work for me if I didn’t eat low carb (LC). I also wouldn’t have called it IF. I used to obsess about food if I didn’t eat. I’d also get hangry (angry hungry). My coworkers have given up on fixing my ideas about food and diets. Some have even commented that they’re jealous I eat ribs and chicken wings for lunch and still lose weight. HA!
That storm that hit DC last week and caused mass chaos in our area, besides the damage and frustration – a lot of people couldn’t get dinner on time. Made the always “interesting” DC commute worse. The average time to get home was about 6 hours. People were getting dizzy, foraging in their cars, getting really angry, etc. Yeah, it was stressful but at least I wasn’t starving.
I think IF works best as long as you’re getting good quality + amount of sleep. From what I understand it’s an extra added stress to your body if you’re not doing other things right. (I think the sleep thing is where I tend to fail.)
I agree sleep is important. When I’m short on sleep, I’m hungry. Fortunately, since I work at home with no particular schedule, I sleep until my body decides it’s time to wake up.
First, congrats on your documentary….I loved it!!! I am in the middle of my weight loss (20lbs so far) and am really focused on eating eggs and any other type of meat. For the first time in my life I am eating real butter and whole milk (only stuff my husband has ever eaten) and it seems to do me well.
That said, I was quite surprised by this post. I wanted to ask about how often I should be eating (as of right now I am eating something small every 3 hours fat/protein heavy meals with fruit in between for snacks) because I hear the “keep your metabolism going” argument. That has always seemed logical to me until I thought about the low insulin levels during sleep meaning more body fat loss during that time. Is that what the IF is about? Do you have links for the research? I am mixing cardio workouts and pilates to build up my strength so I don’t want it to affect my workouts. I would love to get some advice!
From what I’ve read, intermittent fasting won’t slow your metabolism if you’re eating quality meals when you’re not fasting. I’ve lifted weights twice so far at the end of a 36-hour fast and was surprised that I was just as strong. Here are some placed to get started reading:
http://www.leangains.com
http://www.eatstopeat.com
First, congrats on your documentary….I loved it!!! I am in the middle of my weight loss (20lbs so far) and am really focused on eating eggs and any other type of meat. For the first time in my life I am eating real butter and whole milk (only stuff my husband has ever eaten) and it seems to do me well.
That said, I was quite surprised by this post. I wanted to ask about how often I should be eating (as of right now I am eating something small every 3 hours fat/protein heavy meals with fruit in between for snacks) because I hear the “keep your metabolism going” argument. That has always seemed logical to me until I thought about the low insulin levels during sleep meaning more body fat loss during that time. Is that what the IF is about? Do you have links for the research? I am mixing cardio workouts and pilates to build up my strength so I don’t want it to affect my workouts. I would love to get some advice!
From what I’ve read, intermittent fasting won’t slow your metabolism if you’re eating quality meals when you’re not fasting. I’ve lifted weights twice so far at the end of a 36-hour fast and was surprised that I was just as strong. Here are some placed to get started reading:
http://www.leangains.com
http://www.eatstopeat.com