grrlAthlete

I just finished reading the book and found it very informative. I am definitely going to try this. For me personally, there are days that I am less hungry and don't feel the need to eat. Sometimes I force myself to eat and often it isn't the healthiest choices. I like the idea of when I am hungry, I will eat and enjoy the foods that are satisfying. I am going to try fasting 1-2 days per week and see if I can get these last 10-15 pounds lost.
Thanks for the great deal on the book! I will combine it with the 6-minute circuit program.
Jen

Hi Jen,

I'm glad you like the book. I will be on the forums to help you while you try out Eat Stop Eat. And, like I said in my email, you can email me directly anytime you need help with the plan.

Brad

Hi Brad
Read your book yesterday and it makes perfect sense. I was eating my breakfast this morning and kept thinking "I'm not even hungry" but I kept on eating. I have one question for you - Should you be working out on the days you fast?
Thanks
Linda

Hi Linda,

Brad and I have been following this style of eating since last november and we both have put in mutliple workouts on a fasting day...these include the 6 minute circuits workouts coupled with playing hockey, conditioning training camp, standard type weight training workouts and more conditioning style workouts.

So the answer is yes of course you can workout on fasting days, and we know that even 2 workouts on the fast day are very manageable.

As a matter of fact we both have found we have some of our best workouts on that day.

The only caveat would be long duration steady state workouts lasting 90 minutes or longer; For example running for 90 mins, in this case I would have a gatorade type drink on hand just in case.

Otherwise all other workouts usually have some rest periods mixed in (like rest between sets etc...) and should be no problem.

The running workout should also be ok depending on distance and how you normally react to running after a prolonged period without food. I have discussed this with a few runners and it seems that the tolerance to run while fasting is very much an individual thing. Some people will knock off 5-10 k no problem, and others will feel like they need a bit of something to eat that day or immediately after...its something you will have to assess and chart for yourself. But there is no physiological reason that its not possible.

I hope this answers your question.

John

Hi

Well I received the email last night about the new book & overcame my skepticism (about buying another weight loss book) and read the whole thing last night & this morning have started fasting.

When I mentioned some of these concepts to my husband, he demonstrated how truly indoctrinated we have become with regards to eating because he too mentioned the"muscle wasting", "slowing down of metabolism" and other things you mentioned as common misconceptions about fasting.

The funny thing is, most mornings I'm not hungry until lunch time, but today having decided that it was as good a day as any to start the fasting, I'm hungry- or at least my understanding of hungry, & my head is hurting a little. And I'm uncertain about blood sugar levels & whether the head hurting is a side effect of plummeting blood sugar levels. When I was attending uni (20 years ago) I would eat breakfast at home, but my head would be hurting by the end of the first lecture at 10am & so I would go to the cafeteria for a coffee & a donut - it made me feel better. Mind you, at that time I weighed my ideal weight (I was in my late teens) & I had no issues with weight gain. Turn the clock forward 8 years & I start putting on weight & it has continued to trend upwards for the last 12 years no matter what I tried (& I admit, I have never been one for consistent dieting - seemed to much like deprivation to me). I had insulin levels tested over this time & it showed had low blood sugar issues & should be eating every 2-3 hours to keep my insulin levels stable.

Now from what I've read in your book, you say that fasting will decrease insulin levels - do they spike back up again when you start eating?

Really all I want is to get back to my ideal weight of 65kg (143lb) in the simplest & least stressful & enjoyable way possible.

I have recently listened to an audio lecture given by Bruce Lipton entitled "The Wisdom of your Cells" - very interesting. So from this & other info I have read, I got that I have some underlying, unconscious beliefs that sabotage my efforts. I have good intentions every night when I go to bed that I will exercise in the morning, but morning comes & other things get in the way & the thought of exercise seems like torture. I never used to feel like this & it seems the further I get from my goal weight, the less use each individual work out seems. So I want the 30kg weight loss overnight & doing one workout doesn't seem to change anything so why bother. And I never get to doing a few weeks worth of workouts & possibly seeing a change.

And the positive affirmations just aren't cutting it for me - this goal just seems insurmountable to me.

Do you see my problem?

Do you have any words of wisdom?

Thanks

Helena,

You're definately not alone...you said it took 12 years for your weight to creep up...so its no surprise that it is taking a bit longer than 12 hours to get rid of it!

I know all the feelings you are having...We've all felt like its a bit of an impossible goal. I have been fasting since november and I'm steadily dropping weight without ever feeling deprived, and I go out and eat with my friends whenever a social event comes up...I have m&m's at the movies (and popcorn) and I never feel bad about eating...

I am easily at the lowest body fat percentage I have ever been...and this is by far and away the easiest I have ever managed to get here...

I think in our culture with the food choices we are presented with and the amount of truly tasty and fun food there is to have and all of the social pressures to eat we are kidding ourselves if we think we can look at a menu and not choose the 'fun' stuff!

Fasting the way we have outlined in Eat Stop Eat is the only way I have found to consistently keep weight down stay lean, and feel good about food.

Any headaches you might have will most likely pass...If you say you might have low blood sugar I suggest you get that checked out if you are going to follow the fast, and have your doctor monitor you.

I don't think there is a tremedous insulin spike once you start eating again. Try having a mixed meal with protein fat and carbs when you break the fast...that way you know it will be a slower digesting meal.

...and if you do get a headache on the first or second fast I would just take an advil or tylenol...I would guess they won't persist past the first couple fasts.

Again, I have to point out that the fast was not researched or designed for diabetics or hypoglycemia. If you find it is presenting some complications I urge you to see your physician and get his/her co-operation. The hormone reaction and function in diabetics and hypoglycemia is different than in people without these diagnosed conditions. Our research was focused on individuals that do not have these conditions.

If you are going to follow through with the fasting you can always leave a note here for some support and help. We will always be here to respond and share our stories and support for you.

We are always excited to hear how you are doing with our programs.

John

Hi Linda,

As John said, you can workout during your fasting days. And I agree with John, I have had some of my best workouts on my fasting days. Actually, come to think of it, most of my better workouts have been on my fasting days.

Hope this helps,

Brad

Hi Helena,

I'm not going to say I understand your plight, because everyone is different, but I do sympathize.

Eat Stop Eat was designed to be effective, flexible and sustainable. Work it around your lifestyle. Make the diet work for you, instead of the other way around where we let diets rule our lives for months on end...it might be effective, but it is not flexible and is definitely not sustainable.

I like to view each fast as a mini-accomplishment. It helps make 'dieting' a positive experience. On the days when you don't fast, just eat responsibly, and do your best to not feel guilty about every little peice of food you put in your mouth (Its a hard habit to break, as we have all been taught to feel like criminals everytime we eat something tasty).

With regards to insulin, it will go back up when you start eating (unless you are diabetic, in which case (as John said) you should consult a physician). However, after several fasts, the research suggests that you insulin sensitivity should improve, and it will eventaully stop going up "as high".

John did a great job answering most of your questions, and I'd just like to reinforce what he said...we're here to help..post on the boards if you have questions. If you don't feel like posting, then you can email me directly.

Brad

PS - I really do feel that Eat Stop Eat is the simplest & least stressful approach to weight loss.

Hi Brad
First off, great book! Since I read the book I have this feeling of relief that I don't have to keep eating as much as I was. Strange but true. Something sort of just clicked for me. I have a couple of questions. On the days you are eating, should you eat six small meals or doesn't it really matter. I know John has been following this with great success - how many others have you had doing it and what results have they got? My partner is currently following Jay Ferrrugia's muscle building program and is struggling to eat the amounts suggested, is Eat Stop Eat something you would recommend for someone trying to gain size? That's all for now

kiwi,

Just eat how you would like on your eating days. As far as the Eat Stop Eat program works we aren't really concerned with your eating pattern on your eating days...if 6 meals per day fits in for you then go ahead. If 3 meals fits for you then go ahead...the take home message is that it really doesn't matter. Brads only real recommendation is "eat responsibly"

There is plenty of scientific research to show, 6 meals per day vs 3 meals per day vs 1 meal per day really doesn't matter all that much!

As far as your partner goes: I can say that I am personally as big and strong as I have ever been, but minus about 15lbs of fat.

I haven't lost any strength or muscle on this program. The amount of muscle and strength he wants is almost completely dependant on his trianing program. The amount of food he eats has much less to do with it. I know it is a commonly held belief that guys have to eat massive amounts of food to gain muscle, but that simply isn't true. A review of the scientific research will show you that as little as 6 grams of amino acids on a FASTING day will cause a tremedous anabolic signal. So eating huge amounts of food and protein is most likely not going to produce any better gains.

Let me know if this helps.

John

Man, that was a quick response - what time is it where you are?

6:30pm...what time is it where you are?! Ha! That would be really funny if we posted the time of day every time wrote on this forum!

John

Hi Kiwi,

I'm glad you are enjoying the book and the program. I'm getting a lot of weight loss stories from my original testers (which makes me feel great!). Nothing super "crash diet" dramatic, but a slow steady decrease in weight week after week. In terms of actual numbers most people are between 15 and 20 pounds lost now, but are all still going strong on the program. I will start sharing case studies in another month or two, once people have had time to really give the program some time.

In terms of how often you need to eat, just eat responsibly and eat however you feel best. There is nothing wrong with 6 times a day if that is what you like. If 3 suits you better, then do that.

Regarding your partner, while I'm sure eating lots causes WEIGHT GAIN, it is my personal opinion that it is the workouts that cause MUSCLE GRWOTH. I'm really not sure how much of a caloric surplus is needed, but I am sure that after the small extra amount that may be needed for muscle building, the rest is being used for energy or stored as fat.

I do believe you can gain muscle on Eat Stop Eat...After all even when fasting twice a week, you have 4 days of caloric restriction and 3 days of normal eating...so its very different than classical dieting.

I hope these answers help,

Brad

I read the book a few weeks ago and have been trying to do a fast or two each week. So many things in the book clicked for me that I decided as I was finishing it that I would start right away. I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was. I started fairly late, at 7:30pm, but it worked out okay since I didn't get home from the gym until about 7:30 the next evening. I made a point of brewing a nice tasty cup of coffee for myself in the morning and I didn't even notice that I didn't eat breakfast or lunch. I did drink a lot of water and tea, but it was mostly to fill the psychological need to put something in my mouth. I purposefully kept really busy that day and got a lot done since I was able to work with less interruptions. My mood was good and I didn't have any headaches (I was worried that I would). I also worried that I would feel weak during my workout that evening, but I was okay and had a pretty good workout. A few people have mentioned eating lighter meals when they finish up a fast and I was the same way. I've done 5 fasts in the last 3 weeks and have lost 8 lbs. I've got a lot of weight to lose and this seems to work well for me and my eating/workout habits.

Thanks for the book Brad!
Stephanie

Hi StephFour,

I can't describe to you how happy it makes me when I read posts like yours.

I'm so glad that you found Eat Stop Eat easy, and that you are seeing great results.

Be sure to keep me posted!

Brad