I remember the best meal I had the smell everything, and this only happen during my 7-8 hour of fast I feel like my mind is fighting me to eat with everything it got, yesterday I fall and really regret it I ate 2 hours before sleep and when I ate I felt like I didn’t actually need it, my body made it so bad that I should eat and no problem mate tomorrow you can do it again… How do you fight your thoughts? Like I try to do something like play a game on phone or watch a movie.
I find it helpful to DO something, rather than just distracting with games/TV. Walking, making something, volunteering, learning - getting out and away from just sitting around waiting to eat. Take the focus off the clock/food safe put that energy into doing something with your time/life. It’s also helpful to just say, ‘Not now’. That’s all. Just wait five minutes. Then another five minutes. And be on the lookout for anything else to do in the meantime. I like to play the game of reminding myself that I’ve had food before, and I’ll have it again… Just not right now. There’s no hurry…. Food will still be there.
I’m 59, and have practiced fasting since I was 19. Longest was 21 days a few years back. Lately I’ve been doing a 5/2 rotation since injuring my knee December 4th. 5 days water/coffee/electrolytes only, and 2 days eating (whole food plant based). Helps with inflammation. Going to switch to some variation of OMAD/IF once I get where I’m going. Not a number so much as a feeling of wellness/usefulness, if that makes sense. Anyway, have fun with it - one minute/day at a time!
I think the key is identity change. Your not intermittent fasting your an intermittent faster. And as this kind of person you dont cave to some thoughts about food. Embrace the newer better person you are and keep going with it. When negative thoughts happen try to accept them but do not allow them to do actions that aren’t congruent to who you want to be. You will have fails but the more success you have the stronger your identity will become
This might sound cheesy but I talk to those thoughts like they are a small child, literally.
“yeah that was a good meal, wasn’t it! But remember we already ate that meal and we don’t need to eat it again right now.”
surprisingly effective. Be the boss of your brain. :D