Hello,
I’d love to see some success stories of people who have done rolling fasts and kept the weight off. I want to try this but am concerned that I won’t be able to maintain the weight loss without adopting these rolling fasts as a lifestyle. The reason? I started OMAD at around 1200 calories a day (49 F, SW 215, CW 185, height 5’7”) a couple of years ago and lost an initial 30 lbs. Then, my body did what science suggested and reached a state of homeostasis. So after the initial loss, I’ve done the same thing (OMAD around 1200-1500 calories a day) since the loss and have maintained (and have enjoyed doing so as I choose what to eat carefully (whole foods, mainly plants) and it is the highlight of my day). I am now ready to try to lose another 30-35 to get to a normal BMI and am considering rolling fasts. I am, however a little bit worrisome, that I will again reach homeostasis and have to keep up that lifestyle. I LOVE to eat and enjoy doing so daily so not so sure I can, or even want to do that long term.
So, if you maintained, how did you do it? Also, how did you ease back to a normal WOE, or did you?
1200 - 1500 calories per day seems low to not lose weight at your CW. Are you counting calories to make sure that is how many calories you are taking in? I think if this is the case, you may try to up your calories (lots of fat intake) for a few days or a week and then try an extended fast. Strength training may help as well.
I am F/47 and having success doing (3) 42 hours fasts per week. I listen to the podcast The Fasting Method and this is what they recommend as their gold standard for weight loss. On my eating days, I eat in a 4-6 hour window. I fast on Sun, Wed & Fri.
I do not have any maintenance stories to share as I am still losing. But my plan for maintenance is to go from 3x42 to a daily eating window. Then gradually work my way to 18:6-16:8 for maintenance. I plan to do this slowly, gradually increasing my eating window but maintain at least 16 hours daily.
Are you exercising as well? I feel like when people talk about metabolism and calories for maintenance, activity level is a huge part of that conversation. The people that I know that “run hot” or have a “fast metabolism” move twice as much as the normal person.
While I, also, don’t have a maintenance success story [yet!], I do have some info that may be helpful. From my research, I’ve found that it is important to mix up your fasting and feasting, when losing weight or maintaining, to keep your metabolism strong and healthy. For example [and this is purely an example as there are many choices you can make that fits your body/needs], D1- IF 18/6 keto feast, D2 & 3- OMAD carnivore feast, D4 & 5- 48 hr water fast, D6 & 7- eat whatever, whenever. Hope this helps!