Why I decided to give intermittent fasting (IF) a try

[SimoneHU]

Most of my life I had no problems with my diet, I even studied ‘diets’ (Nutrition at University). From studying and personal experience food and body were like a math problem: calories in and calories out. But last year two major things happened to me: I turned 30 and I went through treatment for breast cancer - which involved a lot of corticosteroids during chemo e now hormonal therapy for the next 10 years.

No surprises these changes affected my body and I can feel it. I recently tried 4 weeks of -1000kcal restriction with the help of my Fitbit (calories in and calories out) and I lost a disappointing 800g of weight. The only explanation is that the restriction (and maybe my medication) affected my basal metabolic rate (BMR) and now I burn fewer calories just by staying alive. My body is saving up.

I first read about (and experimented with) fasting before undergoing chemotherapy. I came across some claims (very little evidence) that fasting for a few days before chemo could lower the side effects. I don’t know how I managed at the time (must have been fear), but I did a 4 day fast before each chemo infusion, ending the day after the session. Placebo or not, I didn’t have the classic side effects from chemotherapy: nausea, vomiting, tiredness, dizziness etc.

If I did 4 days fast before, intermittent fasting (IF) should be a piece of cake? I certainly prefer to eat cake between 12-6pm than not eat cake at all.

Of course, there are other benefits in my mind, including slowing the progression of cancer cells (if I still have some or develop another one) cell.com/cancer-cell/fullte...

That's it! What about you?

Comment below and let me know why you are fasting...

[Vesa]

Super interesting! especially the anecdote about your not having any horrible chemo side effects after fasting - what did that fasting look like?

I'm trying intermittent fasting too. I did it once before, a few years ago for about a year and found that the first week was difficult but you get used to it pretty quickly. I'm trying it again now because some of my family are trying it and have told me how improved their energy levels are. I also feel as though my relationship with food is very much about daily habits, rather than eating mindfully or eating when I'm actually hungry. So I want to try and bring some awareness in to what I'm eating, why and when!

[SimoneHU HealthUnlocked in reply to Vesa]

Nice! Would be great if my partner was doing it as well, so far my biggest challenge is getting home and having to watch him eat 😂

Yeah, I know from other people that that chemo hits people hard. I was also given a highish dose, as it is protocol for young patients. 😓

On the first 4 day fast I barely had anything but water, than the next ones I gradually added few things more in the 'fast mimicking diet' style, where you can can have a few calories (low carb) and still stay in a fasting state. I lived on miso soup, vegetable stock, seaweed etc.

[S11m Volunteer 70lb IF20]

Hi, SimoneHU

I always thought that food you ate in the evenings got stored as fat - and if I ate late in the evening I did not sleep well.

So I was eating little or nothing in the evenings long before I heard of Intermittent Fasting.

When I wanted to lose weight, not eating anything in the evenings was the obvious, no-hassle way to eat less, so I ate nothing after 19:30, and gradually narrowed the "eating window" until I was only eating between 10:00 and 14:00. IF 20:4 or 20/24.

My standard treatment for a tummy bug was always to eat nothing for two nights and a day, and, if that did not work, I did it again!