Brand new, been doing 16:8 for less than a week. It is going pretty well. I was struggling with an upset stomach the first few days and realized it was based on how I broke my fast. I would eat something easy super fast (I was starving the first few days, I was a snacker!).
My question is though: My current eating window is 11a-7p and it seems to be working well. Can this window shift though? As in if I have plans to go on a date night, can I plan on that and break my fast that day at 1p and be good until 9p? Or will I see more benefits by keeping my window at the same time each day. What’s everyone’s experience been?
I work on the premise that as long as I’ve been fasting for at least 16 hours, it doesn’t matter when my window is, and it seems to be working fine for me! I do remember reading somewhere that breaking your fast earlier in the morning is bette (can’t recall why exactly), but I work night shift + don’t have an appetite for at least a few hours after I wake up anyway, so I just so whatever’s convenient for me.
tl;dr - changing your fast time is fine, make your fasting work around your life Vs making your life work around the fasting! :)
I try to keep to the same schedule (OMAD around 2-3) on boring days, but on special occasions I will extend the eating time. As far as building habitats, doing the same thing everyday makes it easier to form a habit, but sometimes your body can get too used to a particular time and changing it up occasionally might actually help.
Like the other poster said, whatever you pick has to fit your life. Have that date night and make sure you don’t talk and think too much about IF. Afterwards just say to yourself that it is part of a sustainable plan and don’t worry if the scale goes up a notch, it will come back down quickly enough.