My experience with intermittent fasting

I'm a believer in intermittent fasting, although usually have nutrition if I do a CrossFit workout in AM. Glad to hear it worked for you and success you've had. With that said, it's a stretch to call elliptical cardio and expect drastic weight-loss / cutting from it.

As a kid, I never woke up in time to eat breakfast and didn’t eat lunch at school because I get nervous eating in front of other people. So I wasn’t eating my first meal until 3:30-4:00, then dinner about 8:00. I’ve unknowingly been “intermittent fasting” the majority of my life and have always been on the skinnier side (although not necessarily lean).

I believe it works but it’s pretty obvious that you’re more likely to eat less of if you’ve only got a small window to do so. No real magic to IF, but I’m glad to hear you’re having success with it.

I'm starting out right now. I tried doing full 24 hr fasts twice a week but I would end up so hungry by bedtime that it would backfire and I'd end up eating a bunch of food right before bed. I'm starting 16:8 this week and don't really think I'll have any problems because I've never been a big breakfast eater. Don't drink so no issues there.

OMAD sounds interesting. I'm trying this out for insulin control rather than weight loss and that sounds even more conducive to that.

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Would an iced almond milk latte kill a fasting routine in the morning? The calories seem small but I'm thinking even the smallest amount would stop the fast.

Correct?

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I don't know but good timing. I was just sipping my coffee with almond milk and wondering the same thing.

Anything the body has to metabolize breaks a fast.

Technically anything breaks the fast But there is nothing special about IF, it's just an easy way to control calories. Worry less about if something breaks your fast and more about overall caloric and macro intake.

haha I just order whatever I want, but have eaten a quick snack in the car. The worst is when there is a working lunch where everyone else is eating.

Legitimately eat whatever I’m craving. I mean I don’t go overload on fast food or anything

Good stuff man! Sounds like you went through a very similar protocol as I have in the past, and I’m absolutely positive this is some sort of health hack that yields undeniable results.

Now that my gym is back open I’m following a strict OMAD schedule M-Th and then easing up for the weekend with typically a 16:8 fasting window. I drink plenty of water, tea and black coffee during during my fasts which helps curb appetite. Workouts are usually after work for the most part, but I want to burn off this quarantine fat so I need to start doing light morning cardio. Like you mentioned, I eat whatever I’m craving for my one meal and the cut off for my eating window is 7:30pm.

This approach has been the most effective from my experience in terms of “dieting” without the typical restrictions attached to more standard diets. It honestly taught me a great lesson of mind over matter when it comes to self control and dietary discipline. Would highly recommend.

Currently doing 20:4 since Ash Wednesday. No change in what I eat nor in the calories consumed. The only change is when I eat (Noon to 4:00 PM). Walk 2 miles a day, and down 20.3 pounds this morning. I would eventually like to work up to a 72 hour fast maybe once a month or every two months. I'm noticing that I tend to have the largest weight reductions a day or two after I have a really big meal.