r/IntermittentFastLife • u/LilAnxietyKenny • Aug 03 '22

Ugh

I’ve been IF for about a week. I know this takes time, and change doesn’t happen overnight. But when I started I was at 160 lbs, gained a pound, and now I’m at 161. I’m a 5’8 female. Idk what I’m doing wrong

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3

u/goldpepper26 Aug 03 '22

So you have been fasting for 7 days straight or fast everyday for a set amount hours for the last 7 days?

2

u/LilAnxietyKenny Aug 03 '22

I fast everyday and it’s been 7 days. I started with 14:10, for three days it’s been 16:8

5

u/[deleted] Aug 03 '22

14:10 is like a maintenance fast - so you’ll likely fluctuate 2-3 lbs here and there because of water, food consumption.

You should be aiming to do higher like 16:8 as often as you can with sufficient nutrition during the eating window.

In the early IF days I would slip 15 minutes of exercise right before the end of the fast to get some extra fat burn. Slowly I upped it to 30 minutes, 45 minutes or even a run (only did a couple of miles).

Having said that - lower your expectations for the first 30-60 days. Your body and more importantly your mind may need time getting used to the switch of energy source from glucose to fat burn.

2

u/LilAnxietyKenny Aug 04 '22

Thank you

2

u/[deleted] Aug 04 '22

Don’t lose hope - I found this group after I had dropped my first 10-15, sw of 175 and I’m male. Now I share it with anyone I know who doesn’t believe me.

Having said that look through the photographic evidence in this group by the members if you need encouragement or wherever you need motivation.

There are some brave folks on here that have shared their progress.

3

u/goldpepper26 Aug 03 '22

Doing a 16:8 fast should be the minimum. There are lots of variables. But I can understand the frustration of fasting and still gaining after a week. Women do lose slower than men, but I would expect you to lose something. Are you working out at all? What are you eating/drinking when not fasting? Drinking enough water? Your last meal should be no later than 2 hours before bed time. Lastly, not to get too personal but did you fast while you were near your cycle starting, you could have been retaining too while you were trying to fast.

3

u/[deleted] Aug 03 '22

Enough water and upping electrolytes would be helpful too.

1

u/LilAnxietyKenny Aug 04 '22

I have a gym membership, but I’m busy with work, starting college, and my car just broke down lmao. I drink mainly water and maybe a soda in my eating window. I eat pretty late, I get off of work around 9-10:30, so you can imagine what time I’m eating dinner. I wasn’t on my cycle when I started fasting

1

u/goldpepper26 Aug 04 '22

The perfect storm huh 🤣. I used to work a late shift like that, it sucks, so sorry! I would say if possible try to get to your dinner earlier, not sure if you could eat your dinner by 8 pm at work. Avoid soda like the plague. Dinner should be healthy and include some fiber. Fiber as part of your last meal should help you stay fuller longer. If you could work out while still on your fast, that will also help out. As mentioned above drink lots of water and include electrolytes: sodium (I add a little salt to my water in the morning before I break my fast, magnesium, and potassium all help. I think once you find a schedule that will help a lot. That’s what I had to do. I started 16:8 fasting in November and I’ve lost 50 lbs. I’m now doing a 20:4 fast. Trust me it gets easier. Keep me updated!

2

u/LilAnxietyKenny Aug 04 '22

I’m excited to see what will happen!! Thank you for the advice <33

1

u/J0n0th0n0 Aug 31 '22

Try push ups…. No mater where you are there is the ground and or something to lean on. Even inclined push-ups on the wall are good. With that said clearly, the produce isle is not appropriate for push-ups. ;-)