I’m curious of people’s methods. Do you mark it the minute you decide to stop eating? Or do you start it the next day, let’s say after dinner?
I start the zero app when I’ve stopped eating.
However, it’s important to call out that technically your body isn’t fasting until it’s done digesting any food already in process. It’s a common misconception that our fasting begins when we stop consuming. It’s actually starting when our body is no longer in a fed-state. This isn’t as important to consider unless you’re aiming for the cellular changes that are time bound.
I like to start around midnight, but this time I finished dinner at 7:30pm and started at 8 after I drank some water and brushed my teeth. I start after brushing my teeth. Make my mouth feel clean to start a fast.
During IF I keep the same hours every day, and whether or not I start eating a while after my eating window starts or stop eating before the eating window ends, I consider it 20 hours. The times are more like guideposts for me. For extended fasts I just choose a start time and end time and don’t encroach upon the fasting period (I just go by the clock, don’t use a timer).