In August of 2017, I begun a weight loss journey that ended around January of 2019 with the loss of 240 lbs. It has been six years since I stepped back from my weight loss program to learn how to maintain what I had accomplished. Against all odds I have not regained any of the weight lost. The emotional work I needed to do has taken six years but I’m ready to finish this weight loss journey begun exactly 9 years ago this month.
My goal is to lose another 75 lbs. or more. I’m not certain where I should set my ending weight, it will be a matter of what seems right, I’m thinking somewhere between 145lbs. and 165lbs. So onward and downward.
Here is what I’m doing, and it works perfectly. Here are the resources for those who want to do the reading.
How to Make Intermittent Fasting a Lifestyle—and Reap the Benefits of Weight Loss and Better Health, by Dr. Jason Fung, Eve Mayer, Megan Ramos,
Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss; By Dr. Jason Fung
When I begun my journey in 2017, the only book available was the Obesity Code, it is an excellent resource for understanding the value of fasting. Life in the Fasting Lane, really maps out how to set your program up.
My Current Fasting Program:
I began doing 23 hours fast every day. What this looks like is you eat one meal each day, allowing only an hour during the whole day to consume food. The rest of the day you are fasting. So, you are basically not eating for stretches of 23 hours each day. This routine did not work well for me.
The pounds were not moving away at a rate that suited me, so I decided to fast every other day. In real time here is what it looks like, I eat food for two hour every other day, so, I’m fasting from 2pm on Monday until 12 pm on Wednesday. This is a 46 hour fast. I find it painless, and the scales show a nice weight drop of around 2 to 4 lbs. for each fasting period.
A two-mile walk is a nice beginning to my day. I seldom miss it rain or shine. This walk is not about weight loss, as you will find when you read the two books above, it is about mental and physical health. Your body needs to move to be healthy.
Each morning, I consume my teas of the, Weight Support, Brain Food, Mood food and Echinacea formulas. I choose to add a splash of almond milk to my teas including on the days I fast. I also take my psyllium husk fiber each morning fasting or not. The fiber keeps your bowels comfortable. The LBF #1 Capsules (poop pills) are taken sometime around 5pm every day. If my bowels are not working well, I’ll go ahead and use the ascorbic powder to give them a little push.
Drinking all the tea or lemon water I can remember to drink throughout the day will ensure better results the next day. If I find myself dealing with hunger pains I’ll have a nice cup of hot tea with the Digestive tonic, and some more brain formula, with a little almond milk. Sip it and my tummy feels better very quickly.
The Food Program for the days I eat is high protein, fat and fiber. Absolutely no cheep carbs. Nothing with sugar, white flour, or wheat flour, really if it is processed it is not going to work. Wednesday for my meal I had, 4 pieces of toasted Ezekiel bread with olive oil and smashed avocado topped with Seasoned Salt and chopped onions, a nice salad with vegetarian bacon bits, cucumbers, onions, olives, red wine vinegar and olive oil. For dessert a bowl of fresh cherries. I found this satisfying.
On Saturday I enjoyed 3 Chickpea flour patties, green beans, 2 slices of Avocado toast and a bowl of cherries. You can find the recipe for the patties on my blog. One day last week I had a pasta casserole make with chickpea pasta, pasta sauce, Mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, olives, chopped garlic, Tofu sausage, (the only one they make without sugar added). This is good and can be eaten with cooked vegetables or a side salad.
Hopefully you get the idea; good food made well, following the plan of high protein, fats and fiber. Lots of great ideas out there.
I began this program 3 weeks ago, around the end of July and have lost 16 lbs. to date. Read the two books recommended above and come join me for the end of my journey. The fasting approach to weight loss works, since ending my active fasting program in 2019 I have not regained any of the weight lost.
Dara Dietz Blog 