Monday, January 31, 2011

Intermittent Fasting Experiment

So, I've managed to drop 23 pounds in the past 5+ months but I've been STUCK for the past few weeks and I am getting extremely frustrated.  I did a little research and have decided to try intermittent fasting--IF.

The last food I ate was at 10:00 pm last night--a disgusting, cardboard tasting ice cream "product"--I tossed the remainder this morning and it is currently melting in the garbage.  It is noon, so it has been 14 hours without a bite... which isn't all that abnormal as there are days where I skip breakfast (HORRORS!!).



12:00 pm:  I'm trying to stay busy...changed the sheets on the bed, did some 'chore-aerobics', fooled around online...but now it's LUNCHTIME and I'm hungry.  And so is the kitty.  Poor Leo.  He didn't sign up for this.  So...I will give him his noontime treat and then I'm going to run errands.

2:00 pm:  Back home and not quite as hungry as I was two hours ago...hmmm....I'm also not tired and considering a nap, which is often an issue mid-afternoon.  My evolving plan is tp eat after 6:00 pm as that will be the 20-hour mark.

3:30 pm:  I am very cold!!  This makes complete sense as my body has had no fuel.  I have 2 1/2 hours before I can eat and I'm playing a little mind game.  I have 5 half-hour periods to go.

4:30 pm:  I've been reading alot about IF today; Brad Pilon's "Eat Stop Eat" is very intriguing and I'm considering buying...on my budget (or lack of), that's pretty big.



5:30 pm:  I feel a little light-headed but overall pretty good.  I am no hungrier right now that I was yesterday at this time.  I have not been that uncomforatble today.  One thing that I have definitely changed is my television viewing--no cooking shows or shows about food!  One half hour to go...

6:50 pm:  Got busy working on a jigsaw puzzle and decided to push for one more hour--my dinner is in the oven and should be done in 10 minutes so it will be a 21-hour fast.  I am very, very pleased with my day.  My biggest surprise is that I truly was not that hungry...and I was relatively alert.  My understanding is that this gets easier...Tomorrow I will eat normal and then fast again on Wednesday.

Update...

So...I've been sober for a little over five months and I've managed to lose 23 pounds.  I'm still mostly unemployed and frustrated by my seemingly lack of control over my life...patience...patience.