Not sure if this is the correct forum for this question - apologies if it isn't.
I noticed quite a few people on here mention fasting. I've started reading up on the 5:2 diet where fasting is described as a day of 500 calories.
My idea of fasting use to be a day with just fluids and no food, but this may well be an outdated idea.
If anyone would like to share what they consider fasting to be that would be great.
Thanks x
Personally, I'd say fasting is whatever you want it to be. If you prefer to just go a day without eating, and that works for you, then just do it. I'm not convinced that fasting has any particular benefits or downsides, so deciding when or how to fast is really just a matter of personal preference.
I have little time for any diet that mentions the word "calories", or makes prescriptions for a certain number of them to be consumed - ultimately your own body is in control of your caloric intake, and if you eat less today then you'll eat somewhat more the next day and the next day.
Thanks for the reply. According to Dr Andrew Mosely in his book The fast diet its suppose to reduce circulating levels of insulin like growth factor, which we need in childhood but not so much when we have grown enough! Not finished the book yet but it seems that the science behind it makes sense. It's proving and interesting read so far 😀
Hi Zendaya I do fasting now only something I've started lately and I have my last food around 7pm and next time I eat is my lunch next day I drink black coffee water and herbal teas from the evening till the next day if that makes sense. Xx
Hi Iwilldoit thanks for this. That does make perfect sense. We have all been conditioned to three meals a day (plus snacks) which means we are constantly bombarding our bodies with food. With your amazing weight loss what you are doing is definitely working and this is good advice to follow.
We really need to give our appetite hormones a chance to do their job, after all it is the signals from our brain that drives us to eat. Of course we are more than that and emotional eating when we know we are not hungry plays a role.
So interesting to hear everyone's views and experiences x
Your very welcome, yes I was one of them as soon as I opened my eyes it was breakfast and as soon as it was near 12 mid day I was having lunch but being on this plan I'm listening to my body what my body wants. In the morning I can go till 11.30am or even 12.30pm which I never believed I could do that. I have found I have a relationship with food now looking at it in away I've never looked at it.
And when I eat I stop when I'm satisfied and never eat in a way that I am so full like I use do. And if I feel hungry I tend to have a drink if that don't work I do as myself I'm I actually hungry or is it I think I am. As where before I would eat weather or not I was hungry. Xx
A medical fast is usually only water and possibly clear liquids like tea, coffee or broth, but fasting as a religious observation covers various sorts of self denial. The 500/800 calorie day fits this broader definition.
There is a place of HU for discussing fasting particularly, but as there is not much to say about not-eating, it's pretty quiet there. But I did make a post that addresses this question. It got one reply!
healthunlocked.com/fasting-...
Thank you for the link. Ha yes not eating isn't that exciting to talk about😂It is interesting though with scientific advancements how much more we are finding out how something like a fast affects the body. X
But you did get 5 “likes” on the post too! 😊 … I think there are loads of interesting discussions on that forum about the benefits and methods of fasting… just takes a bit of time searching around.
Why is it called a medical fast subtle_badger xx
I don't mean that's it's name, I mean the sort of fast a clinician might put your on. If your doctor asks you to fast before a procedure (eg surgery or colonoscopy), it will usually be only clear fluids or nil-by-mouth in some circumstances eg the last couple of hours before surgery.
The name for this sort of fast might be a water fast.
healthunlocked.com/fasting-...
Oh sorry its me brain don't always register. Xx
Hello! You might find some interesting posts and discussion over on the Fasting forum too. Link below.
These days I’m generally following my appetite, which seems to mean a period of fasting (or really just not eating!) of around 17 hours each day. Then I normally have lunch and early supper.
For me, normal daily fasting means I’m not eating anything during the’fast’, but I drink coffee with a bit of no-sugar almond milk or sparkling water. I’d do things a bit differently if specifically ‘fasting’ for a longer period of time. .. but I don’t do that much these days.
Hope you enjoy reading/researching a bit more, and that you find an approach that works well for you.
healthunlocked.com/fasting-...
Thank you! Yes I really enjoying reading around and taking into account what works for others. Our nutrition means so much and we are in such a privileged position to have a choice. 😀
Oh, there is another way to think of Fast Diet (or it's successor, Fast800) as a fast. 500 or 800kcal is only going to give you one or two meals and no snacks. If you are generally eating 5 or 6 times per day (eg EatWell), then those 2 fasting days are going to have a 16-23 hour water fast outside those meals.
Hi, there are a lot of variant types on fasting. Fasting is good if you are fat adapted as your body uses your bodies stored fat for fuel. Outside of Keto I do not see really how fasting is beneficial. With Keto fasting occures naturally as you become less hungry and tend to eat usually 1 meal a day. Fasting as with everything is different for everyone. So it is really finding out what works for you.
I can see what you mean about once your appetite is regulated and you are burning fat you only eat the food you need when you need it.
My only concern with Keto is that I have read reports that it can lead to thinning of the bones. Not sure if this is correct but I am someone who needs to look after bone health. That's why I'm aiming for low carb. I've been sugar free for a long time and that definitely helps with appetite regulation.
Thanks for your reply, much appreciated x
There is no proven evidence of bone thinning caused by keto. Within keto i consume a lot of full fat dairy products not to mention calcium from leafy greens such as brocolli. 😊
Thank you 😀
I don't think that is true. Well, I guess there is no proven evidence is true, but the evidence is worth following up. I mean, famously there is no proof that smoking causes lung cancer.
A quick google lead me to this paper, and there are further papers in the references that would warrant investigation.
frontiersin.org/articles/10...
I am not saying keto definitely causes bone thinning, just that I can't right now say there is no evidence it does.
Thanks for the reply and the link x
Do you suffer with osteoprosis?
No I don't have osteoporosis but I've had to have both of my hips replaced due to arthritis. As this is genetic I have it in other joints and may need further surgery. With any replacement surgery bone density is important in how successful the surgery is x
If you have atheritis i would suggest you check with your GP or even better your Specialist. I would definitely do as much research as you can on this. I was put on Keto by my neurologist for epilepsy.
That's good advice, thanks. I'm really aiming for low carb, definitely no sugar and no processed foods. I don't think keto would necessarily be ideal for but I know if I don't go too low on carbs, and get them from healthy sources I shouldn't go into ketosis. Thanks for your reply x
If you aim for under 40g of carbs you can still get into ketosis. LCHF is probably better for you in my opinion. But again i recommend you speak to your specialist. Your probably best researching how to improve calcium intake but also vitamin D as vitamin D enables you to absorb calcium into your bones.
I do fasting quite often, where I don't eat anything at all, but do drink black tea or coffee and lots of water.
Intermittent fasting means that you only eat within a certain period of time and you fast for the rest of the day. The 5:2 diet can help you with that.
They are both good, you choose which way to go.
I am lowthyroid and I find that I do better on a full fast for as long as I feel that I want to carry on with it. Once I am into the fast I get no hunger at all. I wouldn't do it if I was hungry for days.
I break my fast with vegetables usually and I have a very low calorie diet generally too, 1 meal a day. Mostly mushrooms, green vegetables, limited protein no more than 3 or 4 times a week. I have oil in limited quantities too.
But this is because I am hypo thyroid too. I am trying very hard to lose weight and fighting to get there one day.
Hope you get to where you want to ne.
Thank you for your reply. It was very useful. Well done on finding such a great personal balance to suit your health conditions. The food you eat sounds very healthy. I think in the Western diet many of us eat too much anyway. Interesting that your hunger goes away after a while. Maybe we are a bit conditioned to respond to hunger immediately because for most of us food is so plentiful. X
Yes, I agree, we are al, used to having a nice big plateful of food and if we are given nouvelle cuisine and an egg cup sized portion of food, we would be horrified. That is why all the 'all you can eat' buffets are so popular! LoL
I like Steven Grundy's philosophy too. I found him on You Tube and I try to follow his example. But it doesn't always work!!!!! LoL I ate a home made beefburgers yesterday with a flaxseed wrap, also home made and I am 3 lbs heavier today! LoL so back to the drawing board for me.
I remember being quite enthused with the 5:2 diet at one time. For quite a while I was having two days a week where I had my supper the evening before then didn't eat till about 2 or 3 the next day, so maybe about 18 hours break or so. Then during the rest of the day I had a couple of salads, say maybe with an egg, or some fish etc and in winter some green soup. I aimed to avoid carbs on my fast days but I didn't count the calories.I found it suited me very well and seemed to take the edge off my appetite in general.
That sounds like it worked really well and is a good approach. I don't eat sugar and have been cutting down massively on carbs and I can see what you mean about going for much longer periods of time without food. It seems like a good way to go.Thank you for your reply...much appreciated x
There are lots of different types of fasting nowadays and all have different hypothesized merits and benefits. A useful book is The complete guide to fasting by Dr Jason Fung, he has lots of talks on Youtube too if you search his name
Thank you I will look him up. Much appreciated 👍
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