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Intermittent fasting with unpredictable energy needs?

I did intermittent fasting with pretty good results when I was working at an office job, 16:8 basically losing breakfast and waiting til 12 to 8. However, my new job has me occasionally going out to do physical labor in the morning, with usually very little forewarning on when we’re about to go. When I try to do these without eating breakfast, I can collapse or almost pass out. I’ve tried protein bars/granola, scarf them down when I start getting hunger pangs, but I don’t really enjoy them. How can I get back into this regimen while being prepared in the morning? Should I switch my 16:8 hours?

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Answer

How early is “morning?” Could you shift 2 hours earlier to 10am-6pm?

Also depending on how rare it is to do work and how much warning you have, you could just go off schedule on those days so you don’t pass out. Might be a little uncomfortable to get back in rhythm but it’s not like you’ll die by being a little bad at your diet for a good reason.

Answer

You might be low on electrolytes. I’d take vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes in the morning to clear that up. You’re only in about a 13 hour fast in the morning when you do that physical work. No reason why you should be feeling that.

Answer

Consider your energy needs may have changed, and I personally found dizziness was helped a lot by adding more salt into my diet, also helping with my low blood pressure.

You could also try changing your eating window. I DO work an office job. I eat 8am to 4pm because I do spend more energy in the morning and dislike being distracted by hunger at work. That schedule was more intuitive for me to start with.

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