re: My experience with intermittent fasting

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Not possible to the degree your describing.

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And yet it is. Sorry to burst your preconceived notions bubble. Down 21 pounds as of today. Same amount of food consumed.

Okay here’s an update on my journey over the last month since abiding by this healthy lifestyle protocol:

Cut out all alcohol.
Eat only one meal a day. (Lots of veggies and protein). *Completed a 54 hour fast once*
Supplements: Whey, Creatine, Leucine, Pre Workout, Red Beet Crystal.
Lift 5-6 times per week (not back to full strength yet but making good progress)
Run/walk 3 miles a day.

Went from 205 down to 185. *weight does fluctuate between 185 and 190 depending on when I’m on the scale, but 185 is just the lowest I’ve been consistently seeing this week.
More vascular.
Less jiggle.
More confidence when looking in the mirror.
Mental clarity has seen significant improvement.
Overall energy levels significantly boosted, especially in the morning.
Significantly less appetite. *virtually no more late night cravings/snacking

What is OMAD?

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Okay here’s an update on my journey

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That’s all awesome, and I’m glad OMAD has worked for you. But how sure are you that it’s OMAD and fasting that is responsible and not simply the weight loss and dedication to fitness?

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But how sure are you that it’s OMAD and fasting that is responsible and not simply the weight loss and dedication to fitness?

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I suppose it could be a combination of multiple factors. In the past I haven’t been able to replicate these results without some form of IF. It was only after I experimented with a ketogenic diet a few years back where I noticed a bigger difference in not only weight loss, but also those other added benefits. Then, flash forward a year later and I started experimenting with OMAD. To the best of my knowledge I was inadvertently slipping into a slight state of ketosis simply by eating once a day even without controlling the intake of carbohydrates through my diet.

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Aren’t those responses to the weight loss and added activity?

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They very well could be, and I’m not discrediting them in any way, shape or form. I’m merely crediting this OMAD approach for the quick benefits and results I’ve seen thus far. I’ve hovered around 190 for the past 10 years even when I’m in my best physical shape. I’ll jump up to 205ish fairly quickly if I’m not exercising regularly or not disciplined with my diet. This OMAD approach has made it far easier for me to control my appetite, stay disciplined with my diet and see physical changes of my body regardless of what number I see when I step on the scale.

I was very displeased with the way my health (mental, physical and spiritual) was headed towards during the quarantine and this lifestyle change has made all the difference in rebounding back to being in good condition from all previously mentioned aspects. Now that I’ve established a routine suitable for a lifestyle I don’t struggle against, it’s put a better perspective on things as they relate to a simple measure of a number on a scale. I’m starting to focus entirely more on the nutrition side of things so that I can still be around 190, but a more lean, mean, fighting machine rather just in a “healthy” weight range for my height, age and sex. It’s true what they say about the difference between looking good and feeling good. And right now I’m able to see the positive results in the mirror, in the gym and on the scale all simultaneously.

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Well the omad is allowing him to consistently stay in a caloric deficit over time and which is causing the weight loss.

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Bingo. I weighed 199 at the end of January and as of today i am at 174. I was always one to do strict dieting like keto along with IF, but just like everyone else, I would do great and it would last for small amount of time. So this time I just decided to eat less. Crazy right..I have always made smarter choices when it comes to eating but also would tend to over eat. Now, I still make smarter choices but cut back on over eating and started to somewhat track my calories. This is way easier to keep up long term rather than just going strict diet. I get to enjoy delicious foods but I just eat less. Eat less Move more!

you've dropped from 205 to 185 in 6 weeks? I wouldn't call that hitting a plateau. You just lost a lot really fast which just isn't a sustainable rate so naturally your progress is going to slow down. Have you looked into reverse dieting? It's something I've just recently started reading about but it sounds like a good way to help increase your metabolism

Here is my experience with IF and OMAD.

26 year old male, 5'11", does not workout/exercise, desk job, but is constantly active and outside on weekends.

Started IF about two years ago.
Within days it turned into OMAD.
On top of OMAD I was watching portion size and in general trying to cleaner/better. I dropped weight quick, around 25-30Lbs in the first few months.
I quit OMAD as I was happy with the loss, went back to my regular habits and started to gain weight back. Not all that I lost, but made it back to my average.

I am comfortable at my average and did not really care to lose weight again, but I did want to maintain it.
So I started OMAD again. This time, I payed no mind to portion size or what it was we cooked for dinner. I also only did it 4-5 days a week as it was the easiest.
I guess over time it just became normal for me, and I don't even realize I am doing it anymore. It is well over a year now and I have maintained my weight within 2-4Lbs+-.
Keep in mind this is with no cardio, exercise, or gym. I guess the only "exercise" I get is when I am outside working on stuff, cutting grass, in the woods, etc.

I know it has down sides, but for me the positives out weigh them.

Ben Greenfield: The Powerful Health Benefits Of Fasting (Plus The Top 5 Questions I Get Asked About Fasting).

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There are some researchers like Dr. Satchin Panda who hypothesize that the taste of anything, including coffee, can cause this release of incretin hormones or other digestive hormones from the digestive tract that may either make you hungry or may disrupt some of the circadian rhythm benefits of fasting, or may decrease even potentially some of the autophagy benefits of fasting, but I've never seen research that shows that to be the case. And I think that in most cases, coffee, tea, sparkling water, or even non-calorie sources of sweeteners like stevia, for example, in water or in your beverages, is just fine and does not hurt or harm your fast. Long story short: if it has calories in it, it breaks your fast, and if not, it doesn't. That simple.

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