Intermittent Carb Fasting

Intermittent fasting - alternate-day fasting - has proved more sustainable for me than a diet that is uniformly restrictive. At least, I'm having much more success (I'm over 25+ down) using intermittent fasting than I was doing Weight Watchers Points Plus program. Here's an article talking about intermittent CARB fasting. I think this could work well for a lot of people.

I can do anything for a day!

One of the main reasons intermittent fasting is working for me is, I have just about enough willpower to do any diet for one day. My internal dialog goes:

Me: Ooh! Enchiladas!

Better self: Yeah, but you're doing that intermittent fasting thing. And it's working, remember?

Me: Oh, right. But I can have enchiladas tomorrow, if I want. For breakfast! Right?

Better self: Right!

Appetite Suppressant Effects of Fasting and Carb Limitation

Another reason I think the authors of this article are onto something is that both fasting and carb limiting both have a built-in appetite suppressing effect, at least for me. Indulging in carbs makes me crave more carbs.

Staying away from carbs is really hard for the first day, easier the second, and becomes easier still the longer I do it. Conversely, when I indulge in carbs one day, the next day it's REALLY hard to stick the day out.

Combining these Diets?

Now I'm wondering whether, on my "on days" - eating days - I should limit carbs. My guess is, it'll speed my weight loss AND make the fasting days easier to bear.

Speaking of Bear

My family will attest that I get pretty grumpy on my fasting days, especially in the evenings. My dear brother warned me about this effect, and he's right. I console myself with a phrase from the excellent book series Hunger Games; Katniss refers to hungry days as "Hollow Days" - so I tell myself I'm just having a Hollow Day like my heroine Katniss, and that tomorrow I can have whatever I want.

Suffer Not One Exception (SNOE)

This excellent phrase is from William James - and Caroline Myss is the guru who pointed out its importance to me. The phrase describes the slippery slope that made Weight Watchers so damned difficult for me to follow.

I don't like following rules, even those I set for myself. So I cheat, a little - but every cheat opens the door for more cheating.

One of the reasons intermittent or alternate-day fasting is working so well for me is, the line between cheating and not cheating is clear. You're either not eating, or you're eating. Binary. On the carbs fasting - what do we consider a carb that "counts"? I'm really interested in hearing from other intermittent fasters, and other dieters in general. How's that working for you!?

Comments

[Queen of Points]

It's really clear the alternate-day fasting diet is working for you in a *big way*. My concern with it is about how sustainable it is.

I did Atkins a while back. It was perfect for me. I love meat, I love fat, and I can manage without veggies. I missed fruit, but it seemed a small price to pay. I lost 50 lbs pretty quickly.

The problem came when I stopped. I no longer needed to lose more weight, so I added carbs back into my daily diet. Problem is, my high protein, high fat habits were embedded, and I didn't change them. As a result, I gained well over 100 lbs back. I got bigger than I'd ever been.

Weight Watchers PointsPlus continues to work for me. It was hard for a while, but it's now getting easier. It's simply *how I eat* now. I've developed new habits. More importantly, I've developed new cravings.

I would never have believed I would no longer crave a Sourdough Jack Burger, or fried fish, or double cheese double meat pizza. But I don't. They're still appealing, for sure, but I don't *crave* them. And now, when I occasionally take a bite of someone else's, I'm appalled at the nasty coating of fat my mouth has.

I have no doubt I could go back to all sorts of bad habits in a heartbeat. But sticking out the Weight Watchers Points Plus plan has paid off, and it feels like something I can live with *forever*.

I worry that you can't live with this diet forever, but it's working so well for you that maybe it can. I'm behind you all the way :)

[Queen of Points]

Another thing I have to add...

I knew one of the keys to being successful on Weight Watchers this time around was *variety*.

I've always been a foodie. But my exploration in the interest of finding variety has made me more of a foodie than ever. As I write this, I'm watching "Top Chef" and perusing my new "America's Top Chef" cookbooks.

Makes me happy :)

[Firecat Sue]

Queen of Points, you are definitely rocking Weight Watchers. Key to success for you I believe is your ability and willingness to cook.

I agree that sustainability is key. I'm 6 months in on this intermittent fasting thing - I believe I can sustain it, but time will tell. Getting into a more healthy, Weight Watcher-esque groove at this point would be a great way to speed my weight loss and ensure that I'm building healthy eating habits.

We're doing it! That's amazing!

[Epodcaster]

I can see why this is working for you. It's a game. As you mentioned, "I can do anything for a day." I used that same line of thinking when I completed my first 1/2 marathon using Jeff Galloway's 5/1 method. Run 5 minutes/Walk 1 minute for 13.1 miles.

When I hit the wall during miles 7-9 I would tell myself, "It's only 5 minutes". Doing that, I was able to get through to the very end.

I'm glad to see you've found something that has been both sustainable and successful. Cheers!