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Intermittent fasting for weight loss and lower blood sugars.

J

jb42

Member
Hi, I'm new around here, so you might have discussed this already. I've been type 2 for over 20 years and had no success with weight loss until trying intermittent fasting about 5 years ago. The eat less/move more diets might result in some initial weight loss, but people tend to put it back on (plus a bit). Believe me, I've been a serial dieter for over 40 years and only ever continued my down-a-bit and up-a-bit-more trend. With intermittent fasting (alternate days) I lost 30 pounds and have never regained it. In fact I've continued to lose very gradually. While intermittent fasting, my sugars were down to 6.1 (36). I've slipped a bit (though my weight hasn't) and must get back on the fasting wagon to reduce sugar levels. Anyone else doing this?
 
I did try but didn't work cos I got too hungry. Appreciate your story though and happy for you, well done! May I ask are you doing 16-8?
 
When I was doing is seriously I did 36/12. Fasting from (say) 8 pm Monday to noon on Wednesday. Then 8 pm Wednesday to noon Friday. So i would eat for 12 hours on Monday, Wednesday and friday. It sounds like a long time to fast bit in that 36 hour period I slept twice, so only really had Tuesday and Thursday being a non-eating day. I drank plenty of water. The first day I did it was hard, but it got easier as I got into the swing of it. I'm now a lot lighter and 16/8 works well for me.
 
Hi @jb42 - did you by any chance get on to IF from Jason Fung?

It's hard work to get into, and you need a plan, but I totally agree that a 36 hour fast is kind of the sweet spot for most impact and least risk.. I found, and still find it to be really the biggest lever I can pull. I'm only half a year into it, so cannot say that it's for life, but I'd like to think I'll have a place for it for ever.

For a couple of months, I was essentially eating (as normally as I could, but low carb high fat) every other day, so 36 hours before breaking fast.

For me, it was all about getting my liver truly empty on a regular basis, and I saw the period as being necessary, but unsustainable (by design) - what it did do though, was get me through the undeniable "hungry" phase, so that now I find that I typically fast for a full day every fortnight or so, kind of when it suits (it's a brilliant way of dealing with any single day, "how can I plan what to eat in this situation?" - "oh, I'll just make it a fasting day, easy") without ever feeling hungry, and in fact I look forward to those days, because I feel best.
 
Can I ask what is HGH therapy?
 
I'd like to know what is 'internal fasting'? - Is there such a thing as external fasting?

Also ''better results' than what?

My own experience is that I hate to be hungry and so started with LCHF and eating more calories than before until I became fat adapted. Then since I had all that body fat available as fuel I could fast for hours, or even days, without feeling desperate for food.
 
Went to the site, but I'm still unclear what any of this has to do with diabetes... Growth hormone and testosterone therapy? Your profile says you're not diabetic, so...? Intermittent (not internal) fasting is often used to gain control over glucose levels and the clinic does tackle obesity from what I see on the front page, but I'm still at a bit of a loss. You want experiences from real people, but you also want to advise? About what? Diabetes, intermittent fasting, hormone therapy? Not trying to give you a third degree here, but I'm naturally curious, and since English isn't my first language I am genuinely interested whether I'm missing something vital here.

In any case, welcome to the forum. Though I'm not sure how much use we are to an non-diabetic who doesn't seem to be caring for one, or something, either... If there's anything we can help with though, give a shout!
Jo
 
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