Just putting the idea of intermittent fasting out there. There are lots of methods but my lifestyle works with the 16:8 method (2 meal/optional snack). This does not mean restricting calories or not eating a balanced diet just creates a smaller "eating window" This is a lifestyle change rather than a quick fix crash diet and concentrates on eating nutritious macro balanced meals.
Just wondered if anyone has made this change....
I've had secondary hypothyroidism for 22 years (since age 17). I take Levo.
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Bexg
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I quite often do it, but just because I'm either not hungry or because it is easier to delay a meal. It's made no difference that I can tell to my weight - but I might have been fatter without it, no way to tell. I suspect it would work better to eat in the morning and lunchtime and not in the evening, but that is socially difficult.
I did a phase of doing the 5:2 intermittent fasting and did lose weight, but the 600 calories on fast days is very little. I think it helped reduce my overall consumption of food on non fast days but being Hashis I don’t think a full day fast is good for us. Since stopping I have read some scientific papers that suggest starving the body is a trigger for autoimmune conditions. Also keeping up our intake of protein in the morning is important. Having said that, since being on LDN my appetite has waned and I naturally don’t feel much like eating before about 10.30 in the morning. So now, like you I try to eat within an 8 hour window during the day, leaving the evening clear for taking supplements and my LDN. I don’t think I would manage it if I was still looking after a family, but being on my own mostly it’s easy and I make an effort to eat two good, healthy nutritious meals a day.
I tried the 5:2 for a number of months with great success, losing 10 Ib in as many months (relatively slow, but much more achievable). I found it the hardest eating regime, but at the same time the easiest as it didn't feel as though I had to deprive myself 24/7 and on non-fast days I could have treats while still losing weight. I was anticipating continuing and losing further weight when I had an accident whereupon my general health declined. Since then I've not felt well enough to do it, with the inevitable weight gain.
I once tried the 16:8 regime but that didn't do anything for me. I think it was the restriction in carbs with the 5:2 diet that was one of the keys to success and I'm now beginning to realise that as I have idiopathic hirsuitism (similar to PCOS) then I'm highly likely to have insulin resistance.
By the way, Michael Mosley is now advocating 800 cals on fast days as so many people said to him that 500 for women was far too low (I kept to 600 and that was very difficult). He is advocating the Mediterranean diet and recently had a feature in the Mail on Sunday (probably available online).
Having said all this, I now feel ready and able to try the 5:2 diet again and have been amassing recipes in preparation. I'll let you know how I get on!
I used the 5:2 diet to lose weight (24lbs in about 7 months). I found that it was absolutely critical that my medication was optimum otherwise I would not lose any weight. (This was proved to me when I had an under-strength batch of T3 and could not lose weight until I changed the batch when the weight started to go again.) I usually do a 29:1 to keep my weight stable and do a 6:1 to lose a couple of pounds if necessary. I hate the ‘diet day’ but I find I’m better on this than a calorie controlled diet all the time. (I have an excellent carrot cake in the tin as I type.) My husband tends to leave the house when I have one of my fast days. I do believe that it has health benefits. I do not have Hashimoto’s.
I'm reading Michael Mosleys book on the 5:2 way of eating and am thinking of trying 6:1 as I have CFS and Hashi's. Nice to see that fast days have gone up to 800 cals! If I can do 1 day a week, I might be able to do 2. I like the sound of all the repair, etc. that is said to start when fasting. I try and fast for 12 hours overnight, which isnt too difficult.
Hi Bexg. I've read about it and given it some thought but had it on the back burner until I watched the video mentioned last week called KILLING FOR PROFIT. I pulled it up on youtube and recorded it on a playlist for health videos. I watched it-took me 2 days. Worth it. In the second half a nutritionist on the panel said this about fasting which I didn't know. Apparently fasting, even just overnight (ielike you mentioned 16:8) helps the gut heal by giving enough hours to regenerate good gut bacteria without having food to deal with. (My paraphrasing from my understanding.) Also, am going to try for 2 meals a day as I never eat breakfast til it almost turns into brunch. So brunch 10-11AM and dinner about 6-7pm. Will see how it goes. Until I get used to it will carry raw almonds in my purse to avoid eating out. Am trying to turn eating food anywhere not prepared by me a rarety. Been doing too much of that. Thanks for mentioning the topic.
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PS I'm assuming 16:8 means eat daily within an 8 hour window and fast overnight for a 16 hour stretch?
I’ve been hypo since November! I have a lot of weight to lose. Started IF almost 2 weeks ago doing 18:6. Absolutely love it!!! I feel like I’ve lost weight and I feel healthier, more energy! Time will tell if it helps me lose weight
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