adefwebserver's Journal, 28 Mar 18

wow that's a long time to fast, do you get week and shaky?  

GR8 JOB! 

@xyank Surprisingly no I feel Fine :)  

Fasting is not really a great diet. I'm not trying to be critical, but concerned about long term effects of starving yourself. It's better to do it gradually. Starving yourself will cause muscle loss and make you more prone to sickness and infection. A gradual caloric restriction along with moderate exercise (walking) will show results and not cannibalize muscle. I was doing 1200 calories and walking 45 minutes a day and losing 4 pounds a week. I wasn't starving. Lost 50 pounds in 4 months. Make it gradual and you can sustain it. 

@Pylesw Keep in mind I am taking in a *lot* of calories, just not through solid food (I am taking my vitamins however). Also this is just a 2 day fast. I don't intend to fast away more than 1.5 lbs a week (I will gain half of my 2 lbs weight loss a day after my fast I am sure). The major benefit of a fast is that I don't get to "eat because of my emotions". The truth is that at 49 I really do not need a lot of calories. With my slow metabolism I am not burning the 2500+ calories of my youth. If I eat 1200-1500 calories a day there-will-be-no-weight-loss :( I can see my 8 year weight history on this site to see that this is the truth for me. 

I am also 49 (turn 50 in November), and you're right, your metabolism doesn't burn like it did in your 20s. For me, 1200 calories with no exercise lost me 2 pounds a week. Walking 45 minutes a day accounted for the additional 2 pounds I lost each week. Everyone is different and your mileage may vary. If fasting has been working for you, then fine; just remember that keeping the weight off requires a lifestyle change. It's hard...I love to eat. Constant vigilance and moderation are the key to keeping it off. Best of luck. 

@Pylesw I wish I could only eat 1200 calories a day :( The best I can do is shoot for 1200 and actually do 1500. I have been able to do 5000 steps a day (tracked using my fitness band) for over a year. You can see from my weight history that I have kept between 217-212 for most of the year. At 5'8" I am suppose to be like 180lbs! My fast is only dropping my calories from (1500 a day x 7 = 10,500 a week) to (1500 a day x 7 = 10,500 - 3,000 + 1000 = 8,500 a week). So I am really only cutting out 2000 calories a week. Looking at it this way I am only dropping the calories per week (285 per day) I should have been dropping anyway :) 

@adefwebserver: there was a time in January where I got stuck too. Scale wouldn't budge. If fasting allows you to "break through", go for it. For me, I had to up my activity level to burn those extra calories. couldn't go lower than 1200/day, although on a few days, managed a 1000. Instead, I got out my resistance bands while watching TV and did an hour worth of toning exercise. I was able to push through.