So I’ve hinted here and there in a few blog posts about my recent health journey. Some may call it a diet but I refuse to succumb to diet culture so it’s a health journey.
I don’t like to do “before and after pictures” because sometimes when other people post them, I feel bad about myself. I’ve taken my own progress pictures but I don’t intend on sharing them with anyone. I don’t weigh myself so I can’t tell you if I’ve lost weight. I don’t actually own a scale and I’ve committed to not finding out how much I weigh when I go to the doctor.
Instead, I note the way my scrubs fit. Maybe a little tighter somedays, maybe a little loose other days. I note how bloated I feel after I eat certain food. I keep track of how my body feels and my energy level. I do refer back to my progress pictures every now and then but that’s a slippery slope too.
So what have I been DOING? Everyone always asks that. I’m sure you’ve heard it before: Oh my gosh! You look great! What have you been DOING? Well I’ll tell you.
First of all, I paid to join a program called Faster Way to Fat Loss. It was $199 for the six weeks and that is coming to an end on Saturday. I had a long talk with Craig if it was right or was going to fit in our budget and he said (what he always says) “Go for it!”
The idea of the program is to incorporate intermittent fasting. So for example, for a few weeks I would fast for 12 hours and then eat for 12 hours. I built my way up to skipping breakfast and eating all of my food between 11 am and 7 pm. This is a 16:8 fasting schedule. Then, over the weekend I did my first 24 hour fast followed by a 21 hour fast.
If you’ve never fasted before, it sounds really hard. If you’ve never worked night shift before, it sounds really hard. Here’s what you do:
Saturday I was home, I grazed, I didn’t restrict myself, I ate a little more than I usually would. At 6 PM I was done eating; I went to work. I drank a ton of water all night and didn’t eat on my break. I had some coffee and some more water on the way home. I went home and went to bed around 9 AM, then I woke up at 4:30 PM and didn’t eat until I was on my way to work again at 6 PM. Viola! 24 hour fast complete!
Then, I was done eating by 7 PM, (I ate a BIG meal!) got all of my calories/macros in, and began fasting again. Same thing – lots of coffee, lots of water, then went to bed at 9 AM, woke up at 4 PM, ate at 5 PM so there was a 21ish hour fast.
In conclusion, fasting is really easy on overnights. It makes your body more sensitive to insulin, it keeps your body in a fat burning state, and after I’m done fasting, the bloating and the puffiness is just gone. I feel SO GOOD after I fast. The key is to not over eat after fasting so I make sure I’m still tracking what I eat, not restricting but also not over eating. Restricting calories is also counter productive so just eat good choices!
I love fasting mostly for what it does to my insulin response. Imagine snacking all day. Your body is always making and secreting insulin into your blood stream – just a little bit all day long so it never really clears. Food goes in, insulin gets released all day long.
Imagine you only are eating one meal a day – insulin is only released once and then clears the blood stream (in a sense). That insulin is READY to go and your body is more sensitive to it.
I’m not an expert and I don’t claim to be but I’ve done a ton of researching into intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting is good in combination with other healthy choices – just fasting alone won’t make you lose weight. Honestly, I mostly do it because I feel like it is a good reset for my body and I feel so much better when I fast. It’s just an element of what I’ve incorporated on my health journey and wanted to share it with you.
The one book I’ve read that really turned me on to intermittent fasting is called The Obesity Code and it is written by a doctor. He explains why every other diet fails – not just because of how it isn’t sustainable but actually what it does in your body to make you lose weight and gain it back.
It’s easy to listen to, and has awesome reviews! Here is the link to the obesity code: https://amzn.to/30F5hmP
and here’s a link to the book I mentioned in yesterday’s blog post – Chasing Cupcakes by Elizabeth Benton: https://amzn.to/34nV6UA
I’ve read far too many diet books in my day but these two are top notch and the reviews will tell you that as well! Let me know if you love them!
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I loved fasting! I’m hoping to work in some in conjunction with breastfeeding once baby comes. I know it gets a bit tricky when it comes to calorie intake but I think I could figure something out.
Congratulations on your health journey. Thinking of it as a journey is helpful because it is a lifelong process. ?????
I read the Obesity Code as well. I tried IF and I can’t do it. I get incredibly nauseous from it every time I try it. It’s sad because I really enjoyed fasting. I think every person has to find the way of eating that works for them. I’m glad you found something that you like and works for you. I decided this year to cut out all processed foods and gluten (after reading Wheat Belly). I only ate lean meats and fish, vegetables, fruits, olive oil, nuts, eggs and beans. I also drank water and unsweetened soy milk. It helped me lose 30 pounds this year. I’ve tried many other diets and none have worked for me. I think any type of eating plan has to be something you’ll stick with long term or else it’s not going to be worth it in the end as the weight will come back. Overall I enjoy eating this way but it’s very hard. My husband is very picky with food and so is my daughter and some nights I am making THREE different dinners. Anyway, I think what you’re doing is definitely sustainable as it sounds like it helps your body feel good and you enjoy it.
KETO. Most days I eat one meal a day. Limited protein, lots of green leafy vegetables. Coffee gets me through. I try to stay with the 20 carbs per day.
So glad you found what works for you. It is rather like that old debt snowball…you see it working and it makes you excited to work even harder at it until BOOM! you are where you want/need to be to stay healthy. Well done!!
I enjoy eating, I enjoy being thinner too. I do not like to fast, I always feel deprived. I’ve done WW for the past 11-12 years. and although fasting will fit into that. It does not please me.
Results are what you want! and if you are getting it w fasting More power to you.
I haven’t finished reading TOC – but I need to! I eat between 2 p.m. and 8p.m. it is what I think I can live with the rest of my life. My weight loss has hit a plateau (maybe I need to read a few more chapters HA. I also have PCOS and the insulin issues makes SO MUCH SENSE with this eating plan! God Bless!