Hey y'all! Anyone and everyone is welcome to jump in and join us.

This is the Intermittent Fasting DAily Menu/Results/Accountability Thread. It's where a few of us (or many) are going to log in and encourage each other while we experiment with our own IF plans. You can list or talk about anything--not just your food. I look forward to adding in HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) and core exercises to my walking plan while practicing IF. So expect to hear about that too. hehe I expect some of us will talk about the known IF side-effects like insomnia, circadian rhythm disturbance, etc. It's all good! Let's hack this IF mofo! mkay?

There is not any 1 specific IF plan--there are so many to choose from, so this is a BYOIFP (bring-your-own-IF-plan) and join the fun! This is the thread where we'll post our daily menus and maybe some piccys at times! We can discuss progress, issues we might notice, look at how we may want to refine our own personal plans. I do think you should be healed from surgery and have your doctor's and RD's blessings to try something like this and you should do a ton of research and reading about Intermittent Fasting.

IF isn't only about weight loss, it's about taking specific measures to limit either quantities, calories, macros, or sometimes only consciously altering eating windows/schedules in order to effect metabolic change and reduce inflammation and improve health markers.

Ok, let's do this thang!!!

It was the lunch. That was 327 (the cheese was a big culprit, but I Loooooooove cheese).
Dinner was 4 ounces lean pork and 1/2 cup wilted collard greens. Verrrrrry easy to get in a dinner for <200 calories with lean pork or chicken

Just now, Sheribear68 said:

Okay so now I can quote. ???

Anyway, I drink coffee almost every morning and I put about an ounce of plain milk in it.
I’m not being purist on this ATM, so I don’t count my coffee as breaking fast.

Not saying I’m correct, just saying that’s what I do.

I am going to try this starting tomorrow

16 minutes ago, Sheribear68 said:

It was the lunch. That was 327 (the cheese was a big culprit, but I Loooooooove cheese).
dinner was 4 ounces lean pork and 1/2 cup wilted collard greens. Verrrrrry easy to get in a dinner for <200 calories with lean pork or chicken

I'm still lucky to down 2 oz. of lean meat at a sitting!

Just now, Orchids&Dragons said:

I'm still lucky to down 2 oz. of lean meat at a sitting!

This is what I worry about. Last night for dinner i ate ONE shrimp...a little cauliflower risotto and a few bites of zoodles and was overly stuffed. Every meal with protein is like this. So I am going back to forcing myself to drink shakes to supplement again

I am hoping it gets easier to eat protein.....sooner or later.

Just now, CurvyMom said:

This is what I worry about. Last night for dinner i ate ONE shrimp...a little cauliflower risotto and a few bites of zoodles and was overly stuffed. Every meal with Protein is like this. So I am going back to forcing myself to drink shakes to supplement again

I am hoping it gets easier to eat protein.....sooner or later.

This is the main reason I haven't really tried IF. I would have to depend heavily on supplements or foods with supplements added and I'd rather not do that.

2 minutes ago, CurvyMom said:

This is what I worry about. Last night for dinner i ate ONE shrimp...a little cauliflower risotto and a few bites of zoodles and was overly stuffed. Every meal with Protein is like this. So I am going back to forcing myself to drink shakes to supplement again

I am hoping it gets easier to eat protein.....sooner or later.

If this is the case, then it's truly too early for you to do anything other than mild TRE (time restricted eating). You should only do IF if you have zero issues getting about 90% of your protein down from normal food during a normal eating window. Otherwise, it puts too much stress on your plan. Follow your plan and allow your tool to do its job. IF awaits when you really need it down the road.

Just now, FluffyChix said:

If this is the case, then it's truly too early for you to do anything other than mild TRE (time restricted eating). You should only do IF if you have zero issues getting about 90% of your Protein down from normal food during a normal eating window. Otherwise, it puts too much stress on your plan. Follow your plan and allow your tool to do its job. IF awaits when you really need it down the road.

This is really good advice. I just haven't lost much this month and I was hoping IF would help that. But if I am more diligent w/ my plan (getting protein in, eating regularly...etc) I bet it would be all I need to do.

1 minute ago, CurvyMom said:

This is really good advice. I just haven't lost much this month and I was hoping IF would help that. But if I am more diligent w/ my plan (getting Protein in, eating regularly...etc) I bet it would be all I need to do.

Yeah. It's frustrating when the rate of loss slows down. My advice would be to plan, weigh/measure, log every bite that goes down your piehole in MFP and see if you aren't absently eating more than you should or taking in secret unreported bites that blow your calorie goals. For me to lose I still have to be at 650-850cals. Anything around 800 and beyond I'm either maintaining or gaining depending on how carbalicious it is...

Just now, FluffyChix said:

Yeah. It's frustrating when the rate of loss slows down. My advice would be to plan, weigh/measure, log every bite that goes down your piehole in MFP and see if you aren't absently eating more than you should or taking in secret unreported bites that blow your calorie goals. For me to lose I still have to be at 650-850cals. Anything around 800 and beyond I'm either maintaining or gaining depending on how carbalicious it is...

I think I know my issue but I don't want to admit it LOL carbs are easy to eat (crackers etc- even though i feel nauseous afterwards)- protein is hard to eat....voila- there is the issue. WHen i eat 100% on plan- weight falls off like it should. When I don't- it doesnt move. SIGH but I have to stay in the 600-800 range but that is actually pretty comfortable for me for a daily intake as long as I don't eat things I shouldn't eat anyway. Thanks again!

17 minutes ago, CurvyMom said:

I think I know my issue but I don't want to admit it LOL carbs are easy to eat (crackers etc- even though i feel nauseous afterwards)- Protein is hard to eat....voila- there is the issue. WHen i eat 100% on plan- weight falls off like it should. When I don't- it doesnt move. SIGH but I have to stay in the 600-800 range but that is actually pretty comfortable for me for a daily intake as long as I don't eat things I shouldn't eat anyway. Thanks again!

*sigh. So the bad part about this "lie of omission" is that you get us all up on your side trying to figure things out on your behalf. By doing that, you guys set us up and waste our precious time and energy by leaving out a CRUCIAL little tidbit of the equation. GAH! Makes me so frustrated. I was taken more than a few times this past 2 weeks by newbies!

You KNOWWWW your issue. Embarrassment be damned! Be real! Be real with yourself! Be real with your support network (us)!

You CANNOT GAME THE SYSTEM! This is not magic bean surgery and a rhino will never be a unicorn! No one can game the system. Do not try to use your tool incorrectly. Don't use a screw driver to hammer in a nail! Use your tool properly and your tool with behave with proper and expected results.

Sorry...but this is a major pet peeve.

Bottom line. You don't need IF now. You need to get your food in proper order and quit eating slider, high reward, fattening crap like crackers. Protein is SUPPOSED to be difficult to eat right now. That's why they have you eating it first--to get as much in as you can while keeping and feeling like you want to keep your food volume down so your cals stay low and you lose weight quickly.

Edited August 19, 20196 yr by FluffyChix

Just now, FluffyChix said:

*sigh. So the bad part about this "lie of omission" is that you get us all up on your side trying to figure things out on your behalf. By doing that, you guys set us up and waste our precious time and energy by leaving out a CRUCIAL little tidbit of the equation. GAH! Makes me so frustrated. I was taken more than a few times this past 2 weeks by newbies!

You KNOWWWW your issue. Embarrassment be damned! Be real! Be real with yourself! Be real with your support network (us)!

You CANNOT GAME THE SYSTEM! No one can. Do not try to use your tool incorrectly. Don't use a screw driver to hammer in a nail! Use your tool properly and your tool with behave with proper and expected results.

Sorry...but this is a major pet peeve.

Bottom line. You don't need IF now. You need to get your food in proper order and quit eating slider, high reward, fattening crap like crackers. Protein is SUPPOSED to be difficult to eat right now. That's why they have you eating it first--to get as much in as you can while keeping and feeling your want to keep your food volume down.

Yeah ...sorry. I can take my licks . I don't get offended like some. Sorry to waste ur time though. However, it's not like I eat junk all day- not even close. I may have a few crackers once a week or so but I KNOW I shouldn't.

56 minutes ago, Sheribear68 said:

It was the lunch. That was 327 (the cheese was a big culprit, but I Loooooooove cheese).
dinner was 4 ounces lean pork and 1/2 cup wilted collard greens. Verrrrrry easy to get in a dinner for <200 calories with lean pork or chicken

Here's one of my favorite soup versions. Instead of cream of chicken I sometimes use cream of poblano. I also add mexican spices to it. I can't do Alex's soups cuz of the soy in them. So I basically make my own version of it.

I call this my Mexican Green Soup with Shrimp. Great topped with cilantro.

Here it is if you use a little Fairlife milk in place of about 12oz of water. Makes about 2 cups of soup with lots of delish broth that's creamy but still brothy.

On 08/19/2019 at 10:21, CurvyMom said:

I think I know my issue but I don't want to admit it LOL carbs are easy to eat (crackers etc- even though i feel nauseous afterwards)- Protein is hard to eat....voila- there is the issue. WHen i eat 100% on plan- weight falls off like it should. When I don't- it doesnt move. SIGH but I have to stay in the 600-800 range but that is actually pretty comfortable for me for a daily intake as long as I don't eat things I shouldn't eat anyway. Thanks again!

Yeah. I PROMISE that if you make protein your main focus, it will fall off.
Typical meals for me are 3-4 ounces lean meat, a few spoonfuls of veg. Cheese added in as I have room for it— coz like I’ve said before, I lurve me some cheese

On 8/16/2019 at 5:18 AM, FluffyChix said:

What do your meals and eating window look like? Can you post a day or 2 of typical food/schedule? My RD is on board with my IF/EFs but said I really need to have days where I not only fluctuate low on Protein but follow those with days I fluctuate higher in my range. That staying at 50-60 every day is a little on the low side and could cause probs down the road long term.

I've been fasting from 8pm to 12pm. A typical day for me could include a banana and peanut butter for lunch, greek yogurt for snack. Something like 3oz pork loin for dinner with 1/3 cup Brussels sprouts. A protein drink after work out, some almonds for a snack. If I'm really needing a dessert (usually PMS cravings) I'll have a frozen strawberry pop.

Another day I might have whatever meat and veggie is leftover from dinner for lunch but the rest stays about the same. Other snacks I may change out are cheese or hummus.

Should I add in a day or 2 of low protein days? On my non-weight lifting days. Or try a couple of OMADs?

5 hours ago, FluffyChix said:

If this is the case, then it's truly too early for you to do anything other than mild TRE (time restricted eating). You should only do IF if you have zero issues getting about 90% of your Protein down from normal food during a normal eating window. Otherwise, it puts too much stress on your plan. Follow your plan and allow your tool to do its job. IF awaits when you really need it down the road.

Agree with this. Save IF for later. For right now your restriction is in place, so work with that!