Intermittent Fasting

My calories have been out of control most days for a few weeks (800-1000 instead of my goal of 600-700) and today I'm going to try intermittent fasting to see if it helps reign me in. I successfully lost weight with keto + intermittent fasting before surgery, so I know it will take a few hard days before it starts to become the new normal. Posting for accountability. Does anyone else IF?

I realize you are not asking for opinions but I am concerned at 4 months out you are already considering fasting when the volume of food (not calories but volume) should be very small. You need to think in terms of your current situation and not 'before'. Please, make sure you achieve all your daily protein, vitamin and liquid goals so your stomach works for you. If volume is what's causing the issue then you may want to start weighing and measuring your food, eat only what's allowed for that meal, and use something like MFP to track calories.

Looking at your previous post about drinking close to eating - if you are doing that you may want to try waiting 30 mins afterward and see if that does make a difference with satiety for you.

good luck.

Thank you for your reply. To clarify, I do not drink soon after eating - I am just interested in researching whether there is any real basis to applying that rule to VSG. I also do weigh and track my food, just not as much as I should. I will make sure to still get all of my calories and fluids in, just in a shorter time period.

Are you still losing weight at 800-1000 calories? If you are, why stay at 600-700? Many people increase calories at around four months out to that level intentionally. Many doctors even recommend it.

I think IF is a great tool for maintenance, I use it myself on occasion. I won't argue with you using it. But is 800-1000 really "out of control?"

Good points! I am still losing weight, but it seems like a good idea to maximize the weight lost in the first 6 months since people say it gets harder after that. The feeling of being out of control is more about not having the will power to stick to my goal and being disappointed at myself for that.

From what I understand, it really just gets harder because hunger returns for some and resolve fades. 800-1000 calories is just fine so long as you are getting your protein and moving your body. I've read good things about intermittent fasting, but I don't think it's something you want to do after vsg right now.

Hmm. My surgeon's goals for patients during the losing phase is 800-1000 calories a day. To me, you are doing what you're supposed to do. Where are you getting the 600-700 calorie goal?

At 30 pounds from your goal, the weight isn't going to come off as fast as at the beginning. And at 4 months out with only 30 pounds to go, why do you think you aren't making the most of the first 6 months? And to that point, I don't think I hear people talking about the first 6 months, I hear people say maximize the first year. In which case, the chances of you not losing 30 pounds in the next 8 months are nil on 800-1000 calories.

I would give this some more thought...

My program had me on 600 cal/day until 4 months. Then Up to 800 as long as it is coming from protein. I'm 7 months now and told not to go up to 1000. This is not meant as a criticism just to point out that my plan is in line with the original post. 800-1000 seems high for someone not quite at 4 months yet.

Same as AZloser. I was told to work very slowly to 800 calories at 6 months. At 4 months I was eating around 600 calories per day. Then the next goal was 1,000-1,200 calories by one year or maintenance.

I'm eating around 800-900 calories at 6 months and trying to transition to maintenance but I actually find that getting to 1,000 calories and eating only proteins is pretty challenging!

Why are your calories out of control? I.e., what is causing you to eat more than your goal? I would work on addressing that instead of just adding in an arbitrary intake rule to your life.