SUBREDDIT RULES

I’ve recently started intermittent fasting with a 19/5 window (1-6 pm, or sometimes 12-5). It worked for my mother so I figured I’d give it a try. I get that things like sugar free soda/tea/energy drinks will “break” a fast regardless of the lack of calories because of the sweetness. My mom has insisted however that drinking anything with “floral” or citrusy notes can also potentially break a fast. So she says black coffee, black tea, and green tea are safe to drink, but not things like earl grey, mint, chai, or ginger tea because they have other “food related” flavors to them. I just wanted to hear your guy’s opinions on this. Do you find this to be true in your experience or no?

• Type of fast (water, juice, smoking, etc.)
• Context of fast (start, end, day x of y, etc.)
• Length of fast (8 hours, 3 days, etc.)
• Why? What you hope to accomplish with your fast
• Notes How is it going so far? Any concerns? Insights to share?

Be sure to check back often as comments get posted throughout the day. Sort comments by "new" to be sure the newer comments get some love as well.

Share something that you personally experienced when starting IF that is not talked about enough?

I've only done IF for fat/weight loss. I do 18:6 throughout the week and OMAD on the weekends. I do strength training (mostly body weight) and some weighted vest incline treadmill walking. I usually get 8k steps a day.

I'm a 44year old male, 6'5, and 208lbs. I've just reached a "normal" BMI. I'd like to build more muscle and lose fat, but not necessarily lose any more weight.

What would your advice be?

Hey guys newbie to the community here ✋🏻

I work out in the morning and only have lunch and dinner around 1 and 7 pm, so a 18:6 fast.

I’ve seen a few people who were healthy do it and they seem alright.

Do you think this is detrimental to my health or recovery? Please share your thoughts.

Super proud of myself with doing 18:6 and occasionally OMAD , started going to the gym regularly and making sure to hit at least 10000 steps daily although I work in a hospital so on work days it's upwards of 20000 , thanks for all the inspiration and support from this group 🤙 no pic as of yet though I want to get down a few stone more yet before I do 🤣

I have been at a weight of 94kg (im 169cm tall) for about 2 years since i started medication(antidepressant). Even before that i was bigger, ive always weighed over 80kg since i started puberty 10 years ago.

No matter what i did, the scale never even moved 0.5 down ever.

But this week (after IF 16:8 for about 3 weeks, with working out nearly every day starting in sept) i actually lost 2 kg!

I think i also gained alot of muscle so the scale hasnt moved alot yet, but i can definitely tell some loose skin in my stomach and more muscle definition in my stomach and legs.

I hope i can keep this going now i feel very motivated this time to actually reach my goal weight slowly someday and stay there

SW: 94.6 kg

CW: 92.2 kg

GW: 75kg

UGW: 65kg

I really want to lose weight. I have been overweight since I was 20. I always had a nice body before that and weight was never on my mind. Shopping was easy, I could pick out anything ai wanted, knowing it'd fit. To picking something labelled L or XL and it still sitting tight or simply won't fit. But from the age of 19-20, a lot had changed in my life and ever since then I lost grip on my weight.

Since then I have been jojoing between the mid 70s and low 90s (kilogram) but. About three years ago, I spiralled and developed an eating disorder (boulimia) out of unhappiness with my weight and body. The weight flew off within weeks. I went from at the time 93 to 72 kilo and I felt great about my body. But it was taking a toll on me mentally and physicallyI developed an addiction to the desease and my body started to break down. Which is also when I started to plateau. I couldn't get past the 72 anymore. So I sought therapy for the boulimia. I got out of therapy at the beginning on 2024 and I stopped throwing up, but ss a result, I have gained massive weight. I weight myself today and I am a staggering 107,9 kilos. I feel awful and I literally feel like my body is dying. I want to lose the weight, but I don't know where to begin.

I downloaded an app for intermitted fasting. I was contemplating on buying the "coach" function on the app, but not sure how much value it will add.

I love carbs. I am not a big bread eater, but I do eat rice and pasta. And a lot of the dishes from my culture are rice based. So it will be tough to completely cut those out.

I am 164 cm or 5,4 ft and 107,9 kilo or 237,8 pounds.

I am looking for any insight, tips on where to begin with intermitted fasting. Which schedule to pick. I also think the "eat anything you like within your eating window." That often comes with intermitted fasting, a bit misleading. That can't be true if you want to lose and keep off the weight. So any tips are welcome!

Thank you for reading.

Could anyone suggest a book or other text where I could read more about IF? I read the wiki and FAQs here but I still have questions.

Some questions I have:

• I've seen people talk about about 5 or even 15 days fasts. Are they not eating at all for 5+ days straight? How do they get vitamins and essential nutrients? Vitamin C, for example must be consumed as our bodies don't make it.

• My bowel health has been awful since starting 16:8 IF a week ago. I have IBS-D and it's been extra bad these past few days. Any thoughts? I'm always on the higher end for fiber, so I don't think it's that.

• I'm plant-based (mostly vegetarian but I eat meat maybe a few times a month) and low FODMAP. There's not a whole lot of info on these diets and IF.

• What counts as a "dirty fast?" I drink herbal tea (nothing added) at night. Should I stop?

I'd love to read an in-depth book on IF. Or even just a really good resource that goes into more detail than this sub's wiki. Thanks in advance. Happy fasting. 😊

I'm about a month in and I broke my 8pm cut off time for a few beers with friends I havnt seen in a while and this morning my gut feels so dense and heavy. This will mark the second time iv gone outside my schedule and iv noticed this both time. Which I like this fact cause Im really just enjoying fasting. The hardest part is missing breakfast food as it tends to be my favorite but overall I'm feeling way better

For those of you who tested different IF schedules, which one was the most efficient for you and worked the best? Was it the 16:8, OMAD, ADF, 5:2 (and/or any other schedule possible) and why? I am getting back into the wagon after falling off for a bit and am wondering what would be the best approach this time. Other than starting slow and steady! Would be very interested in your stories and suggestions!

So I’m M(24) I have been fasting religious and exercising for 2 Months and down 37 pounds and staying away from soft drinks,Fried foods, bread etc. I’m still getting the belly grumbling and hungry. I promise I have stuck to my fasting window of 20H fast 4H eating but I’m seating here with my stomach singing me a symphony. It won’t stop:(

I work from 9 to 4, during my work I neither eat nor drink anything, I barely have time to do so actually and if I did I can only have a hot drink (tea, coffee, ...)

That's why I have to have a breakfast before I go to work which is usually at 6:30 AM because I live away from my work place so I have to go outside very early in the morning, and I come back home usually at 5:30 - 6 PM and have my lunch + dinner at that time

which spares me only almost 12 hours fasting, and I need to lose weight (7 kilos), so is that enough? and if not, what can I do/follow to enter the ketosis cycle to burn the fat?

unfortunately, when I get home, I become very hungry and munch on carbs (bread, rice or spaghetti) which is awful ikr but I didn't realise that I'm doing so only after I finish my plate which is way too late .. and I noticed that I crave sweets so much nowadays that I can eat 2 biscuit packets (each has 6-8 pieces) , I wasn't like that before idk why actually and I feel so bad

so do you have any tips you can share on how to manage my diet during my work? it's my very first job and most of my bad eating habits I'm having rn are due to stress eating because I want to do very well and prove that I'm worthy of this position (I work in a research lab) tho my colleagues are very nice and encouraging but because I'm the newest and the youngest I feel like I need to read and study more to be good enough (that's when I binge eating sweets and baked goods :( *sobbing* )

Yes yes, we've all seen the questions, does semen break a fast. But here's MY question on the subject.

semen lasts around 2.5 months in the testes, then it's absorbed back into the body. IF, and it's a big if, if a guy doesn't clear the pipes in 2.5 months, and the body starts cycling the supply, would that have an impact on fasting levels since they're absorbing the nutrients of their own swimmers?

I'm gonna say probably not, but....yall weirdos want to ask about 5 hour old ham stuck in your teeth, might as well ask this to give you something else to chew on.

• Type of fast (water, juice, smoking, etc.)
• Context of fast (start, end, day x of y, etc.)
• Length of fast (8 hours, 3 days, etc.)
• Why? What you hope to accomplish with your fast
• Notes How is it going so far? Any concerns? Insights to share?

Be sure to check back often as comments get posted throughout the day. Sort comments by "new" to be sure the newer comments get some love as well.

So my boyfriend never really told me I was getting “fat” he’d just say “We eat A LOT, so our stomachs aren’t going be the smallest” even though I’ve always been an average size, I’ve gained a considerable amount of weight the past few months. Since losing weight with fasting (trying all methods mainly focusing on ADF) my boyfriend is more affectionate, turned on by me, and compliments me more on my results. It just makes me think, before he always complimented me, but he was always poking fun at my fatty parts,not really being as “turned on” and not really directly telling me to lose weight. This was funny bc he’s actually a blunt person, and this I’m used to. Idk if I’m trying to be offended, but he does follow a lot of instagram models so of course that makes me self conscious and is basically (without knowing it) saying “if they can look like that, so can you” idk now I just feel pressured to keep up with my body and fasting. But I guess this is how it is when you lose weight and realize people “treat you better.” How has anyone navigated through this properly? All in all, fasting really has been a cheat code to losing fat and keeping my muscle. My goal is to do ADF all the way through December (15 days eating/15 days fasting) 😭🙌🏾🫶🏾

Serious question, your tips are highly appreciated.

I’m a teacher. I started IM and walking 3-5 miles a day this past June, the Monday after school ended. I weighed 223. I was tearing it up in the summer. When school started in early August I weighed 201. Man I thought for sure I would be under 200 for the first time in 16 years. But no school started the stress began. I eat a small lunch. Then stress induced dinner where I eat and eat. My walking decreased 1 to 2 miles a day. Slowly started gaining. I got frustrated so I stopped weighing myself. I bet I’m at 210. Challenges include dehydration. As a teacher I cannot drink the necessary water to stay hydrated since I can’t use the restroom whenever I need to. Then I get somewhat constipated. Again most times I have to hold it.

Is anyone going or have gone through a similar situation? Anyone have any advice?

Hello there. I’m trying for 72h fast 1st time ever. I’m concerned about hydration. I do t drink much. Like ever. I have liquid iv which I plan to dissolve in 16oz of water. It has 15 cal per stick. No sugar. Rn I’m at 40h into my fast. Will liquid IV break it? Thx.

I've gone two months of mostly 16:8 fasting as a 63 yo male with pre-D. Starting/current/goal weight (lbs): 224/214/190. I say mostly because I've done occasional 18 and 20 hr fasts when it felt right.

I'm taking my first IF holiday the US thanksgiving holiday. We have many guests and don't want my 2 month old lifestyle change to be a wet towel on our eating holiday.

I'm expecting to restart 16:8 on Sunday night without incident. Mentally, I've enjoyed the break, and I'm looking forward to getting back to my two-month normal. Will my 4 day binge change anything about getting back on the IF lifestyle or my glucose or digestive cycles?

I workout in the morning before work all 5 days of the week. If I finished the workouts prior to 7 AM is starting the eating window at 11 or 12 too late? I’m not sure how to adjust the fasting/eating window. I mainly want to keep dinner since it’s the family meal. Thanks!

Sorry if this been asked before

I need to eat breakfast because of work but it's always so hard to fast after. I have a bit of experience with morning IF and it was never a problem. Any advice?

I been fasting 14/10 for two days using the OMO app. It is going good! The food logging is driving me crazy thou.. It says I need to stay under 1240 cal, and it is NOT easy. I have never been a calorie counter before, but thought I'd try it, and I am shocked. Im not eating junk, but fruits, nuts and overall healthy (as of now 😬) but the calories add upp faast😭 Im 5'5 , 120lbs but would like to drop about 10lbs. Loosing weight is not my main goal with fasting but it sure would be nice to! Soo Im wondering, is it possible to loose weight without calorie counting. And is fasting going to beneficial without it?

Thaaanks💫