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Why IF is so much easier than my old low carb diet

In the past I have successfully lost weight on low carb diets (anywhere between 10-25 pounds). It usually would take a significant commitment to see results. Of course, I always end up back to my old ways and regain it. Lately I’ve been struggling to see results going low carb. The scale just didn’t want to budge anymore and it’s hard to stay on low term.

I decided to change things up and have been intermittent fasting for about 6 weeks now. Somewhere between 18:6 and 16:8 depending on the day. I’m down about 5 pounds, and guys I sure am impressed.

Factors that seem to work for me:

  1. Only one “diet decision” a day to get right. With the low carb diet, I was constantly faced with decisions on what to eat throughout the day. And being a human, I didn’t always get this right. With IF, it’s just waking up with decision to wait until noon to eat. Done. Easy. It’s like you get the diet part of your day over with before lunch and can move on.
  2. I can still eat my favorite foods. Obviously you aren’t going to lose weight if you go crazy, but I am still losing weight eating pizza and pasta and an occasional dessert. I didn’t think this was possible!
  3. I don’t need to snack as much. With a low carb diet, I was hungry all the time. I never felt like I had enough to eat. I was always thinking about food! Now about the only time I think about food is that last hour or so before I break my fast and it’s easy to distract myself. I don’t spend my whole day miserable.
  4. I get full quicker. Not sure why, but I feel much more aware when I’m getting full and seem to eat a little less as a result.

I am beginning to really appreciate the lifestyle and once I reach my goal weight will consider it as an option for long term maintenance.

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Answer

I just commented something similar on another post. It’s much easier for me to just not eat for a set period of time than it is for me to count calories or carbs daily. I lost weight on dirty keto but it was hard to sustain for longer than a few months at a time and I always went back to old habits. I still eat low carb but I have the flexibility to have a glass of wine or dessert if I choose to.

Answer

I’ve been doing it 16/8 and 20/4 for 2 months and have lost \~40lbs. Its just so simple and most of the time its pretty easy. I really think mainstream diets make weight loss more difficult and lead to yo-yoing by encouraging eating small meals all day. Then this leads to always being hungry and when you swap your diet foods for normal foods you can balloon really quick.

I try to eat relatively healthy on a day to day, but I’ve gone through Thanks Giving, beers at the bar on the weekend, drinks at events after work and plenty of other diet breaking events. I lost less weight those days or maybe broke even, but I’ve never felt like I failed (like I would have on a normal diet).

For Christmas tomorrow, I’m not gonna worry about it and around 8PM, I’ll start my fast like normal. Its honestly like finding a cheat code to lose weight.

Answer

Saaaaaaame. (Though, to be fair, I still mostly low-carb it. But the pressure of having pushed the button on my fasting app, and not having just a small snack … then caving, just suits my brain so much better.)

Answer

Something to keep in mind that hopefully helps with mindsets, fasting isn’t a diet. It’s just a time frame when you knowingly and willingly just don’t consume calories. A when you eat paired up with what you eat.

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