I’ve yet to seriously stick to IF, but I find that I need at least 3-4 hours between meals before I’m hungry again. I eat a paleo-style diet with moderate carb intake (150g), so I’m wondering if force feeding myself in a tight window will be difficult and taxing on my pancreas, which might lead to binge eating habits. What I’m assuming though is that after a few weeks I will naturally be hungry for my selected IF window?
I’ve already been overeating for my entire life. It was just a matter of limiting the overeating sessions to just 1-2 times a day.
Now the enjoyability of overeating has increased tenfold because of the palette cleanse that comes with fasting.
It sounds like your metabolism currently runs exclusively on carbs. As your blood sugar falls after feeding, you’re feeling hunger and a sense of panic. It’s not that uncommon in our modern world, when we’re constantly fed. You might read about the “Carbohydrate-Insulin Model.”
I’d encourage you to fast for 16+ hours (don’t eat after dinner and skip breakfast). Keep yourself busy. Preferably physically active. This will blunt your feelings of hunger.
Accept that you’ll feel hungry for a bit. Don’t think of hunger as a bad thing. It’s not. Do experience it repeatedly. This should convince you that a little fasting won’t hurt you.
After a couple of weeks, you’ll become more fat adapted. Your body will burn fat to supply your body’s energy while fasting. You also won’t feel as hungry.
I mostly do one meal a day / OMAD lately. I just don’t get that hungry anymore. A 6-8 window isn’t really tight at all. You’ll get used to it after a few weeks. Also, if I’m only mildly hungry, I honestly just see it as losing weight. I no longer get super hungry on OMAD days - usually the most it gets to for me is mildly hungry around 8-9pm, and the feeling goes away usually before I’m asleep. Be sure to drink lots of water either way.
If you are diabetic though, or concerned about your blood sugar levels, intermittent fasting may not be for you (seeing you reference blood sugar levels prompted me to write this).
I do OMAD, it’s worked very well for me. From my experience, concern about your pancreas is not founded. I mean, the point of IF is to minimize how frequently you are spiking insulin. Obviously, I am not a MD, certainly not your MD, so idk if you have underlying pancreas issues that would substantiate your concerns. Can you ask your MD or registered dietitian?
You can find what works for you and take it easy. Start with something like 12:12 and go from there. You’ll see how it works and helps in so many ways. Did not create negative expectations and things to be fearful about. Your body might live this snd do really well.