Friday, August 23, 2013

274: Eat, Fast, and Live Longer

For a year now I've been 272. Most of the time. I dipped to 259 (once), stayed 264 for several weeks, but I seem settled at 272. The absence of long term, sustained loss is frustrating.

Until I remember I was in the 290's when I began. Twenty pounds down is significant--especially when that involved reversing a gain pattern. I had to halt, reverse and lose. So I celebrate those twenty gone.

And I yearn for twenty more.

So I'm trying something different. During one of my pre-surgery sleepless times, I watched a show on PBS hosted by Michael Mosley "The Truth About Exercise" http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01cywtq which led me to another show hosted by him: "Eat, Fast and Live Longer" http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01lxyzc. (In case my links don't work, just google Michael Mosley and you'll get a bunch of references.)

In brief and without giving any of the heaps of scientific research that supports it, you fast for 2 days of every week. In some places it's called 'alternate day fasting.' The days don't have to be back to back, and you actually eat 500 calories on those days. The idea is to go for 12 hours without food.. So, 200 calories for breakfast at 7:00 a.m, then 300 calories for dinner at 7:00 p.m. Or 500 calories at dinner after a day of fasting (which is what I'm doing today merely because I have a dinner planned with friends and want all my calories to use for it). The other five days? Eat normally. Like I said, there's more in depth stuff to read...I'm just giving an overview.

That's what I'm doing. Not sure if you know it, but members of my church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (or Mormons)) fast the first Sunday of each month. So I figure on that day I get a two-fer. Yay for me!

Anyway, I'm fasting today. I had 10 pumpkin seeds on the way to work after physical therapy, ate 8 almonds 20 minutes ago, and have had 88 ounces of water. I'm heading for some beef bouillon in a bit. It's been a busy day and my normal lunch buddies aren't around so I didn't have to decline a lunch invitation. It hasn't been that bad, really. And I get to eat tomorrow. I can do almost anything for one day. That's the simple beauty of it.

I'm planning to Medifast on my non-fast days.

1 comment:

  1. The fasting diet is intriguing . . . I have noticed on Fast Sundays that I am lighter the following day, even if I ate a humungous dinner at the end of my fast. I'm excited for you to be trying something new and anxious to hear how they go. You can do it, Bonnie! Go, Bonnie, go!

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