I’ve been doing calorie and macro counting for a few months and have lost 16 lbs! However, all the measuring and weighing is getting exhausting and making me really anxious and obsessive. I have 20 more lbs I’m hoping to lose. I’ve been doing 16:8 fasting now for the past two weeks, but haven’t noticed a difference yet. Is it normal for it to take a few weeks? For reference, I’m a female in my late 20s
First congrats on the progress. It’s hard and you deserve a congrats for the success.
I felt IF immediately. Laying in bed at night (I only eat lunch) with my stomach growling was a welcome feeling.
I had weight loss immediately the next day and every day afterwards though I’m not weighing in everyday anymore.
I just read a book called Life In the Fasting Lane by Dr. Jason Fung (& co.) and it said in there it can take up to 6 weeks for women to start noticing weight loss. Something to do with how our hormones are a lot more complex, simply put.
Edit: added an extra word in title in original comment, have removed it
Definitely takes time. Consider working out when fasting. Nothing crazy. Just run a mile or something. This really sped things up for me.
I’ve also been experimenting with mixing 5:2 with 16:8 and eventually OMAD. I find it easier to have a nice ‘reset’ twice a week. (I can’t fast for long periods of time)
You could gradually get more restrictive until you notice an impact. Introduce 5:2. Or add an hour to your fasting window every couple of days.
And over time you might naturally transition to longer fasting windows / shorter eating windows where calorie counting isn’t all that important.
I’m losing some weight every week. I hear it takes time for the hormones to recover. Really I noticed being more alert, not needing coffee as much and feeling less sugar cravings a few days in. I’m only about three weeks in. These changes tell me I’m on the right track.
I hear 18:6 helps with weight lots more so I might move to that after I hit the month mark. I’m doing 16:8 currently
Pretty much within the first 5 pounds I lost. My stomach has shrunk quite a bit from the 20lb I’ve lost so far (still a ways to go) but I’ve essentially being doing OMAD and eating whatever in moderation with one can of ginger ale (it’s my vice) coupled with 40min stationary bike sessions 5-6 days a week and lifting some dumbbells and doing body weight exercises every other day.
Keep at it! 16lbs is awesome progress, I’m sure the other 20 will come off faster than you realize. Everyone is different so all you can do is work on your own progress
I’ve consistently lost around 7-8 lbs per month, although I am also a consistent 7-days-per-week faster and at least 4-5 days per week exerciser. However, I’d say I didn’t really start to notice until after I’d dropped the first 30ish pounds or so. At that point, my clothes started to get baggy and I began to see results in my face.