Panorama BBC shocked me big time......

Dan201

It used to be people saying if you don't eat often enough then your body enters into some kind of starvation mode and keeps whatever it gets. I guess the people behind this fasting idea don't believe that?

MikeTV

No. They should be healthy and nutritious meals. Fruit, vegetables, bit of fish, etc. This is not a body building diet - it's about health, and potentially delaying age-related ailments.

It's important to eat enough. It's not intended to lead you into "starvation mode". Which is why it is important to eat 600 calories on fasting days.

Incidentally, there is more information by Dr Mossley on the web, which answers many questions like these.

MikeTV

Furthermore, this is a very new idea, and so the long term effects are not well understood. Do it at your own risk (if in any doubt, speak to your GP first). The dangers might include reduced muscle and bone mass, amongst other things. It's not recommended for anyone older than about middle-aged. Everyone's results will vary.

BT Bob

I use the myfitnesspal app on my iPhone & iPad - also syncs to Free Calorie Counter, Diet & Exercise Journal | MyFitnessPal.com - very good.

I'm sure your second point is fair. I try to concentrate on veggies rather than fruit - lots of sugar in fruit, less in veggies. Also, Miso soup is a great low-cal, but nutritious filler.

MikeTV

Sounds good. Also be careful of too much salt. Miso soup can be very salty. Excess salt can lead to hypertension.

BT Bob

Good point. I limit myself to one sachet per fast day - also it's MSG-free which is good. One sachet contains around 2g sodium.

The weird thing is, it tastes salty at the time, but I don't find I'm thirsty afterwards - like you do after a Chinese meal, for example.

stoomc

I quite like the sound of the eat stop eat plan (1-2 24 hour fasts a week) may give that a try. I go 16 hours without eating every day already!

MikeTV

Just make sure you get your 600 cals per day on fast days. I used go about 16hrs without food too (in fact still do, when I'm not fasting!) - and it had little effect on my weight. But fasting has affected my weight (after 3 weeks), and hopefully it has other health benefits.

qwerty321

Let's say your fast is from 8pm to 2pm. Is the 600 calories for those two meals?

MikeTV

Sorry, thats not right. In the "Horizon" programme's diet, it's not about the time of day. The diet is about fasting for two days of the week.

On fast days, you should eat 600 calories. And you can eat your calories at any time of the day, and in as many meals as you like, as long as you don't exceed 600 calories per day.

On the other 5 days you eat whatever you like, whenever you like (non-fast days).  Just eat normally on these days.

It doesn't matter which days of the week are your fast days. I've been doing mine on wednesday and thursday.