I have been trying to do 16:8 IF for about 2 weeks now. I have 2 questions… If my hours are irregular, for example if some days I have my last meal at 5pm, and some 7pm, but always fast for 16 hours from there, will it be effective? And if on the odd occasion I cannot do 16 hours but do 14/15 hours, is that better than nothing? Any advice is appreciated.
I have been fasting irregularly with great results. I think that a lot of people choose to stick to a rigid routine, because it helps them stay consistent. In my case, scheduling set meal times is simply not feasible due to the way my work week is structured. Obviously you should aim to meet your goals everyday, but missing your deadline by an hour is not the end of the world and if you beat yourself up about it too much, you are more likely to fall off the wagon completely.
The end time doesn’t necessarily matter, no. It’s malleable like that.
The structure being consistent only helps you be consistent. Rigidity breeds discipline..
Are you eating less doing this? Are you reducing calories? That’s the job. This is a structure for a diet, so if you have quit eating at night, you are doing better.