But I don't recommend intermittent fasting for people with preexisting health conditions such as diabetes or other diseases...They need to follow their doctors advice...But healthy people will have no problems with intermittent fasting besides experiencing the normal side effects from hunger...A healthy human being can actually go without food much longer than they realize.
Health Benefits of Intermittant Fasting and OMAD (one meal a day)
- Thread starter Happyflowerlady
- Start date
Catlady
Well-known Member
- Location
- Southern AZ
I give you a lot of credit for doing the 3-day fast every couple of months, I would be happy to do it twice a year.
What do you take during that long fast? I just drank lots of distilled water, sometimes with lemon juice, drank cranberry juice (it has sugar) and drank black coffee with a level teaspoon of sugar 3 times a day. I know the sugar is a no-no, but it was the only way I could do that fast. Better something than nothing, eh? I don't know if that sugar negated the benefits of starving for 72 hours. What do you think? I'd like to try it again.
StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
I’ve only just realized this thread isn’t just intermittent fasting; it’s only eating ONCE a day and fasting the other 23 hours.
Ohhh boy.
No way I would do that unless forced for medical or other reasons. I detest being physically uncomfortable and become a woman on a mission to remedy the problem, whether hungry, thirsty, cold, hot, sleep-deprived, or in pain.
p.s. My husband would strongly recommend my going on a self-imposed fast. Smart man. He'd be hearing, "Oh. My. God. I. Am. SOOOOOO Hungry." over and over and over.
Catlady
Well-known Member
- Location
- Southern AZ
I'm going to do the 72 hour fast in mid-January, after the holidays. I'll try very hard not to do the coffee and juice. What's the use of doing the fast if it takes me out of ketosis by taking the sugar. Thanks!
I’m also a big fan of water only fasting. Pair that up with skin brushing and / or coffee body scrubs and one can feel incredibly energized. It is great for detoxing. I used to be better at doing them than I am now.
I’m still a fan of intermittent fasting, I’m just not sure about the once a day but I won’t rule out anything. Right now the 6 hour window of eating is working very well.
My energy is high which I’m expending on exercising and I’m already feeling my body toning up some. This is definitely working so I’m very pleased
I’m still a fan of intermittent fasting, I’m just not sure about the once a day but I won’t rule out anything. Right now the 6 hour window of eating is working very well.
My energy is high which I’m expending on exercising and I’m already feeling my body toning up some. This is definitely working so I’m very pleased
Catlady
Well-known Member
- Location
- Southern AZ
The MAIN thing you have to make sure is that you fast, no food at all, for at least 16 hours a day, the longer the fasting hours the better. You want your body to eat up the fat cells rather than rely on a constant sugar supply. I call it once a day, but I eat during my two hours from 5-7pm. When you read about intermittent fasting, people do it in all kinds of ways. There's even one version where you fast for two days, not consecutive, and eat the other five days. I prefer this way so that my body gets used to the routine.
On the 72 hour fast, both times I lost 6 lbs in 3 days, but I gained it all back when I started eating again. But, that fast I like to do for detoxing, it's not about losing weight. I'm going to try it again in January.
Great post thanks.
I was cheating in that I was drinking water with stuff added. It’s not sugar but it’s still messing with my adrenaline and fat burning potential so I’m going to stop that. I’d also been eating mints occasionally through the day which contain sugar.
I’m liking the fact that my body is expecting to eat at a certain time each day and I’m sticking to it. Due to this I’m starting to remember my vitamins again.
A Food schedule. That’s what I was missing before.
I foolishly started a habit of eating when I’m hungry.
... lol ...... wondering why I’m gaining weight. 
That's the same time that I do my winter fast, right after the holidays...One reason is because I feel kind of guilty for consuming so much great food, and the second reason is to give my organs and body a good detox and cleansing from all the delicious sugary sweets and junk that I ate from Thanksgiving to Christmas...And then it's back to mostly clean eating with the occasional cheat meal or treat thrown in.
Catlady
Well-known Member
- Location
- Southern AZ
Just curious, do you go off your diet during the holidays? Not guilting you, I don't blame you at all, life is too short not to take some pleasure. It's so hard to abstain when everyone else is pigging out and having fun.
January is the ideal time to get back on the wagon and start the new year right.Yesterday I did very well on eating one meal. I did however have a banana at dinner time but I’m feeling really good. At the moment I’m cooking a chicken dinner with mega roasted vegetables coated in olive oil. Plus I ‘love’ getting excited about making better meals. This diet is making me become much more selective about what I put in my mouth and I have much more appreciation of food in general. This is working well.
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Catlady
Well-known Member
- Location
- Southern AZ
Why do you seem to be apologizing for the banana? I'm trying to remember what you told me, to eat fruit a half hour before dinner but I keep forgetting, not a big fruit eater and I know that's bad.
I'm getting off my butt and off the internet, have a stuffed cabbage recipe that I want to try making. Also marinara sauce and an apple pie.
I’m not a big fruit eater either but I figured it was fructose on it own so wasn’t fermenting any other foods I was eating . If you are going to eat fruit you are best off eating it about 20 minutes BEFORE any other food especially meat.
P.S. I’m often apologizing for things I shouldn’t.
I’ve got issues.
During the holidays we have family visiting from out of town, and everyone is celebrating and eating all day and night, so I don't want to be the Debbie downer who's sitting there saying: "Oh I can't eat for another 16 hours" so I just enjoy the moment...I do try to have some self control though...I won't just gorge myself all day, but I'll eat more than normally.Just curious, do you go off your diet during the holidays? Not guilting you, I don't blame you at all, life is too short not to take some pleasure. It's so hard to abstain when everyone else is pigging out and having fun.
fancicoffee13
Senior Member
- Location
- Texas
I had coffee this morning with creamer and sugar and then ate absolutely nothing until dinner. I had fried rice with chicken and a slice of pecan pie and then a burrito. About 900 calories. And that will be that until tomorrow at lunch. Drinking a lot of water.
fancicoffee13
Senior Member
- Location
- Texas
I want this link because I just started this OMAD diet. I fasted 19 hours yesterday. I had a cup of coffee, drank water the rest of the day, ate a big supper and water. I haven't completely figured this out. I am now fasting another 16 hours, had a cup of coffee this morning and going to have a big lunch and drink plenty of water and will fast until tomorrow's big breakfast. I don't have any health issues like diabetes, just want to eat healthy and lose about 35-40 pounds. I just want to know if you keep this diet up daily or every other month/week?
fancicoffee13
Senior Member
- Location
- Texas
I stay busy and my mind is not on food so I also realize having 3 meals a day was a habit. I am feeling fine. I don't eat until I am full, just satisfied. So, I am fine. This is my second day and have lost a pound or two.
Roadwarrior
Member
I'm throwing my 2 cents in. I have a different approach to food. I was diagnosed as Type II in 2015, spent a week in the hospital getting my count back to under 300. I now maintain a 135 lb weight loss since my release. I keep my count below 110 usually in the high 80's to low 90's. I found through MY research that I do better eating a smaller meal of complex carbs at least every 5 hours. I snack on a bag of MY brown bag popcorn at night before bed. I stay pretty much to my routine as possible. When and if my count gets below 70 I start with the shakes & confusion. A quick induction of complex carbs (1/2 C unsweetened apple sauce) corrects the problem. I haven't had a soft drink in 5 years, no breads/pasta at all (can't believe the labels), not one pastry, nor anything I think has been processed.
I eat the following complex carbs, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, beans (mostly canned - convenience), popcorn & eggs (lots), one meal with <4 oz s of red meat. As much coffee as I can drink, lightened with half n half (whole dairy is a must with Type II). Yes, I can eat the same meal every day, have for 5 years, only variety is the choice of protein and bean. My cholesterol count is 167, my A1C is 5.1, my BMI is 23, I eat a banana a day (sm) for the potassium (no leg cramps). My PCP has lowered my insulin intake until it hardly registers on the syringe, taken me off BP meds. Agreed that I don't need statins that I so far have avoided. Only med I still take is Metformim, he wants me on them since they are supposedly good for many things.
The latest fad diet 'One Meal A Day', would be dangerous for me as a Type II.
The saying, 'Eat to live, not live to eat'. Is my guideline.
I eat the following complex carbs, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, beans (mostly canned - convenience), popcorn & eggs (lots), one meal with <4 oz s of red meat. As much coffee as I can drink, lightened with half n half (whole dairy is a must with Type II). Yes, I can eat the same meal every day, have for 5 years, only variety is the choice of protein and bean. My cholesterol count is 167, my A1C is 5.1, my BMI is 23, I eat a banana a day (sm) for the potassium (no leg cramps). My PCP has lowered my insulin intake until it hardly registers on the syringe, taken me off BP meds. Agreed that I don't need statins that I so far have avoided. Only med I still take is Metformim, he wants me on them since they are supposedly good for many things.
The latest fad diet 'One Meal A Day', would be dangerous for me as a Type II.
The saying, 'Eat to live, not live to eat'. Is my guideline.
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This is great news then. Congratulations.
I started this week and it’s been going very well.
I’m not sure how much weight I’ve lost yet as I’ve made the decision to only weigh myself once a week but hope to be below 150 by Monday.
What’s been great is that my energy level isn’t going up and down like it used to and I don’t crave sweet things unless I burn myself out with too much exercise which sometimes happens with me.
Now that I’m eating fewer meals I’m much more fussy about what I eat when I do eat and I’m enjoying my meals much more.
Yesterday I didn’t jog but fast walked for 1 hour 15 minutes and did one hour of balance ball.
fancicoffee13
Senior Member
- Location
- Texas
Well, you are doing better than me. I had a total knee replacement, and am on my 3rd month. Aug. 21. I am able to walk without a cane and am walking around kinda normal. So, no jogging for me. My exercise for the first time since Aug. 21 was line dancing yesterday. Better not do that again for awhile. I am making a mistake in what I am eating. Lots of carbs. Today I ate a whole baked potato with cheese and sour cream and butter, fried rice with chicken, and and slice of pecan pie. Wrong choices! I did some reading about this online rather than go by all these posts here. Some eat for one hour and fast for 23 hours, and there is the 16:8 (which is what I do) and the 5:2. So, I fast for 16 hours and eat a meal. I fasted for 16 hours the first time and then had supper. The next fast of 16 hours took me to lunch, and now I will fast and have a big breakfast before church. Healthier meals. I can get on the bike in the gym, and I do have leg exercises I do.
Catlady
Well-known Member
- Location
- Southern AZ
Sounds like that is working for you, congrats.
When I reach my goal, I'm thinking of having breakfast and dinner and skip lunch and see how that works and if it will help maintain my weight loss. I've read that it is not a good idea to skip breakfast all the time.
fancicoffee13
Senior Member
- Location
- Texas
Right. I love breakfast, that is why on my third day I will be having a breakfast for sure! Coffee, big cheese, sausage, egg croissant and hash browns.
I found other sites on google that explain more about this diet, or way of eating. Some seniors I know eat just one meal a day anyway.
C'est Moi
Dishin' it out.
- Location
- Houston Y'all
No matter what type of lifestyle changes you make to lose/maintain weight, they should be sustainable changes that you plan to continue from now on. If you go on some crazy "diet" and lose weight, then revert to your previous habits you will gain it all back. So make changes in your life that you know are positive and that you will be able to stick with for the long term.
The basic rules for losing weight have never changed; eat less/move more. That's it.
The basic rules for losing weight have never changed; eat less/move more. That's it.
Catlady
Well-known Member
- Location
- Southern AZ
I'm not religious and I love to have a big breakfast on Sunday morning. LOL
I think what works on this kind of diet is that the body has to feel hunger for a while, that forces it to eat the fat cells rather than hang on to the fat cells and eat the carbs from frequent meals. Of course, this diet would not work on people with diabetes type II like Roadwarrior and Win, they need to eat more frequent meals. I'm going to research what Roadwarrior said about complex carbs and try to eat more of those.