Intermittent fasting - positive results??

@SBee oh very good point. I had not even considered how extra body weight would contribute to pain. I have always been within my optimum weight range for my height and frame so it never crossed my mind.

Let us know how it goes. You got my support. And I do remember how tough it was when I did it. I can totally relate to the coffee thing. LOL
 
SBee said:
Afternoon @Badger hope your part of Wales isnt snowed under... In Herts\Cambs area we got away with hard frosts only ( so far 🙄)

Good you are mostly managing the intermittent fasting. Im weirdly worried in that I have found it so easy to work within my daily routine that I must be doing something wrong!
Only missed 2 days by an hour so not stressing about it.. Proof will be in the blood tests in Jan. In myself, i do feel I have more energy and a better sharpness of mind, but that may be due in part to upping the thyroid meds. For me, am more that happy to continue.

worse part is can only drink zero calorie drinks in fasting part - skimmed milk allowed in coffee but in the great scheme of things I utterly refuse to give up a decent milky coffee, skimmed oat milk is more a punishment than a pleasure.... Hence I drink just water and totally clock watch until the 8 hours window begins and kettle gets switched on 😁

Keep on it Badger, I think even the smallest benefits build up to help us help ourselves.
Click to expand...
We have snow in parts such as Wrexham but just wind and rain here on the coast. It's been bitterly cold here over the last few days. Fair play to you for treating yourself to a nice coffee once the eating window begins. I find that I'm okay until mid/late afternoon before the hunger pangs really kick in. My knees would surely appreciate me losing 6 stone more.
 
Being honest here @JamieMarc, whilst being in an ok range weight wise, the (devastating for me) loss of good exercise due to chronic fatigue means I have put some weight on. looking forward to some occupational therapy in Jan to help with that.

So yeah, anything I can change is a plus.

Fear not, am putting in another order for flavoured coffee tomorrow 😂 that last hour of fasting is definitely the hardest. Few vices (lie actually) but coffee is dear to my heart...
 
@Badger evil north wind for us too, even inland.

Regarding hunger pangs, what probably helps me a lot is for the past 3 years or so I never actually feel hungry. Assume is a meds side effect. So although I enjoy food, I dont actually ever feel hungry. Helps in this situation. Any weight loss can benefit so many parts of our bodies but impact on pain levels may not be the top benefit. Am going for smaller but longer term changes if I can. Am more liable to stick to them with my personality.
Keep warm and as well as you can .
 
I'm new to these threads and have never been diagnosed with fibro, not even sure it's an issue but I do have lots of Gi issues and upper back pain. Sometimes pain behind my upper arms. I wanted to comment on the IF as I and hubby have been doing 16/8 for 7-8 years. We've recently begun to eat one meal a day on Monday, Wednesday and Friday which makes those days a 24 hour fast. If you read Dr. Jason Fung's books, you'll learn a lot about fasting. You can have a tsp. of cream in your coffee because a small amount of fat won't break your fast. Oat milk will, however, because it's made from oats which are carbs. I've been doing this for so long I don't believe I could go back to a normal eating pattern. I can't say it's made a difference in my GI issues but then I've had flu (not sure if Covid) in October 23 and again October this year 24. I may even have Long Covid but I try to avoid doctors (a personal reason) and I take no meds if any kind. Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents worth about fasting. I do recommend Dr. Jason Fung's books for really good info.
 
Thats a great commitment you and your husband undertake @waypat. Im genuinely enthusiastic on doing the 16/8 which seems to
work well in my day to day life. A 24 hr fast would not work for me but its so good you two have found IF beneficial to yourselves.

Whilst blood tests in Jan I hope will show an improvement to my cholesterol levels, I will continue with the 16\8 as it already makes me feel less ' sluggish '. Chronic fatigue doesnt help my actual energy levels of course , but my body does seem happier with this new pattern. IF seems to make sense to me. Any I always know any small improvements can build up to make a better overall health.

Thanks for the Dr Fung recommendation.

Oh and welcome to the forum. I hope you will find it useful
 
I do find when I can stick to a 16\8 IBS and acid reflux are not so bad. The longest I've lasted is 2 and a half days during which my stomach and bowel seemed to feel better. Probably just a case of not being aggravated as much but worth while. I would like to see what happens if I can last three days? It's worth a shot.
 
@Badger i genuinely feel any changes for the better of our bodies also impacts on our minds. It means we are wanting to do something positive for ourselves, show ourselves some kindness.

My character is that any massive change seems too much or I wont be able to stick to it, but smaller stuff works for me.

Just think to yourself 2 1\2 days is really beneficial - its so much better doing something rather than than nothing. Again, like you, my digestive system certainly feels happier. I have missed a couple of days, just an hour or two out, but dont beat myself up about it, just get back on track the next day.
 
I've been reminding myself small changes as I go along will add up and may be easier to stick to. As you say we can get back on track, I'm glad I can usually wait until 4pm. Hunger pangs seem to also feel like nausea / IBS.
 
@SBee and @Badger ....I think you are absolutely correct about small changes. It is when a person decided to make huge sweeping changes in their life, things that may be challenging to do or to change, that so often they do not find themselves able to continue with the change. Then that leads to feelings of failure, which make the person feel terrible about themselves, and only adds to whatever problem there was in the first place that prompted the desire for change. Ultimately, it can lead a person to give up.

If a person approaches change in tiny increments it is far more likely to be useful. One very small change at a time; it doesn't hurt to make those things so tiny you don't even think it can make a difference, at first.
And it is important also to give yourself credit for every thing you do that is good for yourself. I have sometimes talked to myself as if I were a puppy, telling myself "good job!" when I have done even a small thing. It seems beyond silly to do that, but no one else ever has to know you are doing it, and I have found that there's something inside me that responds to that positive feedback even though it's coming from myself.

It is a fact that you can move a huge pile of rocks one stone per day if you just keep doing it. Tiny changes add up to larger changes. And when you can feel good about making a small change in your life, it will give the confidence to continue on to one more small change. In this way, we can do hard things.
 
Tiny steps is the only way for me @sunkacola and @Badger otherwise I will always fail.

I had a (rare) good appt with a new GP recently, usually NHS drs are generally only given about 8 mins per appointment... i was in there over an hour. ( he is bound to be reprimanded if he keeps up with such valuable appts🙄), when he looked over my current health records he asked how I was getting on.
I said much as any of us probably feel - I have no choice, some days are worse than others but we have to carry on. I can only work on one symptom at a time ( unless its an urgent\time critical thing ) or its its too overwhelming, and I will likely give up or MH suffers.

Also I said I have to be realistic, none of this is ever going away. It may get better, or worse,but it here to stay.
It was he who suggested intermittent fasting. I think he realised my character will be receptive to trying a meds free regime.

But @sunkacola you are so right that we often fail to give ourselves enough credit. Its very easy to acknowledge when we dont achieve what we set out to do, but we must appreciate that we even attempt ways to benefit ourselves.
 
If only the CFS would improve that would help too @JamieMarc but you know how it goes, any kind of improvement is a bonus.

Its certainly and achievable method for me. I am a bit of a carb fan,but whatever eating plan is put in place seems to unconsciously make me more aware of how\what I eat as well, so am making even better choices than I have without being on the 16\8.
 
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