Low-carb healthy fat living. Intermittent fasting. What’s your why?

HI - I'd love to learn from this forum about IF results and A1C successes and do's and dont's! My goal is not to lose weight but to help reduce an A1C that is creeping up due to genetic predisposition to Diabetes. My pcp does this and recommended it to me. I am 3 weeks into IF and wow - what a life change! I fast for 22hrs and eat between 5p-7p, M-F and fast for 16hr on weekends. Meals are lots of veggies, lean protein and low-sugar berries mostly. Nuts and Basil seeds added when possible. I am gluten and dairy free due to allergies. It is amazing how much I don't miss food and how much better I feel. My energy is up and I walk the dog 3 miles/day and go to gym for strength training 2/wk. No more naps!! And my iced coffee intake has been halved to one glass a day since I don't need the energy boost. I have learned how to make my own vitamin water and have a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of pelligrino water, black coffee or herbal tea for liquids during the fast.

Question for this group: Does anyone follow Dr Gundry's low lectin diet? If so, what are your results, impressions? Thank you everyone for sharing!

Hi @esb13, I started using intermittent fasting primarily to help lose some weight and maintain the weight loss but also to keep my A1C in check as I've always been in the pre-diabetic category most of my adult life. I shared a video by Dr. Jason Fung - Intermittent Fasting - Busting the Myths Lecture in a post earlier in this discussion here that might be helpful - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/872676/.

I use the Zero app to keep track of my fasts and mostly do the 16, 18 or 20 hour fasts. When my weight creeps up a few pounds I go with the 20 hour fast and try to eat fewer carbs.

I guess I am the lone ranger. I am trying to gain weight. I am about 96 lbs and want to get back to at least 100. Trying to avoid foods that cause inflammation in the hope that the neuropathy will get better. I was tested for diabetes, among other things, negative. A dietician said I should try to eat 2000 calories per day but that is so hard if you cut sugars, and most carbs. Vegetables are fine and so is lean protein but how do you reach the 2000 mark with that?

I am just starting intermittent fasting and would love to be in a weekly support group on zoom.

Welcome @dayson, We don't have any online Zoom support groups for intermittent fasting but there are a lot of us here on Connect which is a world wide forum. I get that it's not the same as a live support group but hopefully we can get you started on your journey and we can help others along the way. I shared my journey with intermittent fasting earlier in the discussion here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/336050/.

Have you started intermittent fasting? What is challenging for you?

I’m in the same situation. I lost 10 pounds in 3 months on IF and I didn’t want or need to lose any! Trying to find a way to increase calories in my eating window (3 hours). Unfortunately I am gluten and dairy sensitive so it’s tough to find a way to get calories in. My pcp wants me to have 100gr of protein/day too. Welcome
learning from others!!

I am glad that I am not alone. I count calories every day in my aim to reach the goal of 2000 that a dietician set for me. I think most of my weight loss was from muscle--I know as we get older we do lose muscle. I am now trying to restore muscles by physical therapy and working out here at home. The food is a real conundrum for me. In the past I filled up on sweet desserts like ice cream and cookies and cakes. Now I try to avoid sugar--at least products with added sugar. So it becomes harder to reach the 2000 mark. I do not have the gluten sensitivity but am trying to limit carbs as they turn to sugar. Truthfully, I feel less emaciated. Perhaps some of all this weight loss is stress related--so many doctors and so many tests. I wish you luck in your quest. Let me know what has worked for you.

Hi all. I'm new to the forum, and have been enjoying reading others experiences with intermittent fasting. I'm an 80yo Aussie who has had trouble with my weight since giving up a heavy smoking habit in 1992.
I've always been an active person, having been an athlete in my youth, and serving time in the army. The trouble is that up until about 3 years ago, I also had a heavy drinking habit. Copious amounts of Rum and Coca Cola nearly every day, was not in the interest of healthy weight loss. An occasional glass of red wine is all the alcohol I consume now.
I was diagnosed with a AAA in 2015, (now at 4.6cm), and 2 years ago I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. (Now under control with medication).
I've tried many different diets, taking long walks and spending 1 hour, 3 times per week at a gym with a Vietnam Vets rehab group, but the weight just would not shift.
3 weeks ago, after a BMI reading of 38.4, I decided it was time to get serious about losing some weight. I threw all my bread and pasta in the bin and decided to try the 16/8 fasting diet.
I now wish I had done that years ago. In 3 weeks I have lost 2kgs. My morning blood sugar reading has dropped 2 points, and I'm already finding more motivation in getting on with daily activities.
I now have my last meal for the day at around 5pm. Resisting the mid evening craving for a snack was difficult for the first few days, but now I just drink a glass of water. Breakfast at around 9am, consists of a small piece of grilled lamb or pork steak, along with 1 egg and a tomato. Lunch is a bowl of pea protein mixed with water, a dessertspoon of chia seeds, a cup of frozen berries, and 2 tablespoons of low fat Greek yogurt. Dinner is 200grams of either chicken or turkey mince, mixed with some steamed vegetables. I buy packets of frozen mixed vegetables, and throw in a couple of handfuls of fresh baby spinach.
Ok, so this is working for me at present, and I realise there is the possibility that the weight loss could plateau before I reach my target of 90kgs. I was 107kgs when I started.
I'm wondering if i'm going about this the right way. Any further advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.......Scotty.

You go Scotty! I’m also 82 and just started on intermittent fasting. I’m fasting 18-20 hours every other day. I did give away my bread but still have pasta on my shelves. I don’t have a regimented diet but am trying to avoid carbs
Praying we both are blessed with success Sann

So many doctors and so many tests. I relate