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

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 started IF a week ago. It is easier than I supposed. However I made the mistake of going to the grocery store during my fast. And preparing food to eat ( not eating it) before my fast was over. Two things I won’t do again

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.

I started IF a week ago. It is easier than I supposed. However I made the mistake of going to the grocery store during my fast. And preparing food to eat ( not eating it) before my fast was over. Two things I won’t do again

Good idea Dayson. A general rule on any diet is...
'Never go to a supermarket when you are hungry'.
many times i've gone shopping for a few items I needed, then left with a full trolley.

how is it going for you. I am beginning my third 18-20 hour fast . I made my meal for tomorrow so I wouldn't have to cook when I was hungry and its ready to be eaten. I need some ideas for what to DO during my fast. It certainly gives me more time. sann

I've only been on the 16/8 diet for 3 weeks, so I think others that have been on it for a longer term would be able to give you a better insight into how it is going for them.
As for me personally. I seem to be doing great. As mentioned in my initial post, I stopped eating bread and pasta, and cut back on unhealthy carbs. I've increased my protein with a bit more fish, chicken or lean meat at my evening meal, which I have around 5pm. I found I was getting a bit hungry around 9pm, the extra protein at dinner has helped with the mid evening cravings.
I now rise at around 6.00am, take my medication, drink at least 600ml of water. I then have a mug of black coffee, no sugar, (I gave up adding sugar to anything as a 15yo). Then, weather permitting, I go for a 30 minute brisk walk.
As a single guy, and a bit lazy in the kitchen, I make up around 10-15 meals in one go. Put them in zip lock bags, then freeze them. Each morning I take one out to let it thaw for the day, and heat it up for my evening meal. As I mentioned earlier, to quell the mid evening hunger pangs, I now add an egg or small piece of extra meat for added protein. A glass of water at about 9pm will see me through until I go to bed between 10 and 11pm.
I don't eat sweets or any other form of desserts. If I feel like an afternoon snack, I thaw out a cup of frozen berries, then add a couple of desert spoons of low fat Greek yogurt. That's it.
Until I started the IF diet, my morning glucose test was between 8 & 9.5. This morning it was 6.9, Yippee!! If I can keep at it, i'm sure my doctor will reduce my diabetes medication. Hopefully, i'll be able to reduce my blood pressure meds too. I'm currently on 3 types of medication for BP. At 2pm today my bp was 131/74. Usually, at this time of day it is around 180/90. Losing the lbs will have helped with that.
So that is my regime. It may, or may not work for you, but i'm sure you get the idea. I'm feeling so good about myself at present I can't see me changing anything, any time soon. Of course, there will be occasions when friends will invite me to their home or a restaurant for a meal. I wouldn't expect them to cater specifically to my diet or eating time for me, but i'll start again the next day. I'm sure the occasional lapse won't affect me too much.
I hope this helps my friend. Good luck.....Scotty.

Was so tired that I ate out tonight after fasting and had baked potato with all the sides and pork chop and strawberry pie. Ruined my fast. It tasted so good. But will have to Start over tomorrow Sann