In the first part of January 2021, I weighed 218.6 pounds. A year later, on January 1, 2022, I weighed 195.8 pounds. A loss of 22.8 pounds in one year and no sign of stopping yet! At least until I get closer to my ideal weight and reduce my A1c to below prediabetic levels.
So, 22.8 pounds of weight loss, and amazingly I have had no problems with diet fatigue or crushing food gravings. Hungry? Yes, but not that bad. When starting a fasting period, I often have a growling stomach for a day or two, but it gets easier and easier as the days go by. I thought fasting would be challenging, but I am always surprised how soon I slip back into the fasting lifestyle.
Why is my fasting and diet lifestyle so different from any other diets I have tried over the last 40 years? Because it addresses the one critical factor we must all understand for diet success. That essential fact is that food, calories, fat grams, and proteins, while important, are not the key to weight loss. The simple truth is that understanding and controlling your insulin levels is the foundation of a successful diet.
While fasting is not always easy, it is always doable.
The bottom line is that by fasting while eating the foods I love, I am avoiding many of the problems that have led to my weight loss failures over the past 40 years. I reduced proteins such as meats, but only slightly. I am still eating a wide variety of foods, including desserts like chocolates and ice cream, from time to time and losing weight all the same.
Remember, fasting is not a radical “get thin, fast plan.” It is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. When it comes to weight loss, slow and steady wins the race.
For a detailed review of my weight loss journey from November 2020 to November 2021, please refer to:
In PART 1 and PART 2 of “WHY NOVEMBER IS A GREAT TIME TO START A NEW DIET AND FASTING LIFESTYLE.” These posts reviewed the first 10 months of my fasting and diet adventure. You can find these articles on my website under the BLOG tab at: https://lovethisdiet.com/blog/.
This brings us up to November of 2021 and the holiday season. The holidays are always tricky for anyone working on a weight loss plan. I gained 0.2 pounds in November and 1.7 pounds in December. As I have said before, minor weight gains are no problem. By January 1 of 2022, I had lost the 2 pounds, and I am ready for the new year.
The new year is always a great time to make new resolutions. To promise yourself that this year will be a year of weight loss and back on the path to a healthy lifestyle. Don’t wait any longer. Start now!
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Food for Thought – What Not to Eat. Consider eating 80% whole, fresh foods and 20% fun foods. Avoid corn sweeteners, agave sweeteners, stevia, and other artificial sweeteners. Eat more from the frig and less from cans and boxes.
Trouble Shooting – Extending your fast past 14 hours. Several people have told me they can fast for 14 hours without trouble but find it hard to push past this time, and I had a similar problem when I first started my fasting lifestyle. The solution is to give yourself some help during these critical hours. For example, at 14 hours, if you don’t think you can make it, try a small amount of warm bone broth or a small handful of mixed nuts. With this small boost, you may find that lasting 18 hours can be doable.
