Intermittent Fasting

About 2 weeks ago, I was bemoaning (to myself mostly) that it seemed no matter what I did, I couldn’t lose weight. I have been eating pretty carefully and working out pretty regularly for the last few months but I’ve been stalled.  I chalked it up to years of disordered eating and age. Mentally, I know I don’t need to lose a lot...In fact I’d be fine if I didn’t lose anything…I recognize that now after years of therapy.  But the fact is I’d feel better if I were a bit thinner.  So it was just frustrating. 

And I was always hungry.  I thought that this insatiable hunger might be due to hormone changes.  Even on those days when I would bring my food (which consisted of several small healthy meals) to work, it did seem like I was prone to minor binges late in the day.  Meaning I’d want sweets at the end of the work day.  Often times, in spite of the regular eating, all I could think about was candy.  On my way home, if I needed stop at the grocery store for something, I’d find myself unable to resist the urge to also buy a candy bar.  Or sometimes I would stop at Baskin-Robbins.

A while back I had started on the interval training recommended by Dr. Mercola.  I get his daily email, so I was looking at some other articles on his website.  Then I came across an article on Intermittent Fasting.  I had heard about IF before, but since I had been long indoctrinated into the culture of eating frequently “to keep the metabolism fired up”, I had never thought IF was for me.  After all, I’m a fairly normal weight and the idea of fasting somehow just seemed wrong, unhealthy even.  But as I said…I was SO frustrated with doing the same “healthy” thing for years and it didn’t seem to be working for me.

So (with the awareness that I have to be VERY careful about descending into eating disorder behavior), I decided to try IF.  There are several different variations of IF, but the one that sounded like it would be easiest for me and my schedule was the “feeding window” or “scheduled eating” approach (which is the one that Dr Mercola uses).  You only eat during a certain period of the day.

I decided to try the 6 hour window (2:30-8:30).  I figured I’d feel terrible and hungry and cranky…but the fact is, I’m loving this!  From the first day, I have felt great.

My routine now (Monday through Friday) is:

• A large iced coffee with cream from McDonalds on the way to work at 7:30 am (I take my vitamins with it)
• In the afternoon (after 2:30), if I really feel like I need it…some nuts or an Atkins protein shake.
• A healthy dinner (which means minimal processed carbs and no junk!) around 7 pm, and (maybe) fruit with yogurt for dessert around 8 pm
• Lots of water and tea during the day.
• Sometimes during what would normally be lunchtime, instead of eating, I take a short nap in my car.  I wake up feeling refreshed and ready to go back to work.

The weekends are bit more challenging:

• I eat a light lunch around 2 pm, and dinner around 7 pm.
• I have 2 glasses of wine or beer on Saturday.  

So, here are some of my thoughts:

• I feel liberated from worrying about food during the day! I don’t have to think about what to take for lunch, purchasing it in advance, preparing it, packing it.  I love just getting up and ready for work, and walking out the door.  During the week, I’m busy at work and don’t even think about food.
• On the weekends, I keep busy doing housework, gardening, walking Buster, so the different schedule is not too problematic.
• It’s also liberating that I can look forward to really enjoying my dinner without guilt or worrying if I’m eating too much.  (I’m starting to wonder if eating several times a day was stoking my appetite, rather than my metabolism.)
• My mind is clearer than it's been in years.
• My joints are hurting less and less.  The bursitis in my left hip, that I've had for years...is gone.  
• My cravings for sugar are GONE! 

But you may be wondering the results of the main reason I started this…weight loss?

Well, the answer is…I’ve lost weight easily.  I don't weigh myself, so I can't actually guess as to the amount, but my pants are getting looser and looser every day.  My stomach is getting flatter...every morning I wake up looking forward to seeing the physical change.  Shirts I couldn't button a few weeks ago, fit fine now.   The best part is it’s been effortless and actually enjoyable. 

If you are interested, just do a web search on "Dr Mercola intermittent fasting."  The science behind IF is very compelling.  You have nothing to lose but your cravings and excess fat.