if question

kevin mckay · 12-30-2006, 04:36 PM

Hi,

I have been doing if for around 3 months consistently 7 days a week only eating between noon and 6pm and have seen good results in body comp, blood sugar, and hunger suppression. My question is, is it ideal to be consistent with if or inconsistent, for instance 7 days a week, 5, or every other day? I have not found any hard data regarding this.

Thanks

Neal Winkler · 12-31-2006, 08:42 AM

There is no hard data.

You could keep doing it the way you do, or you could do it somewhat randomly, that would perhaps be a little more hunter gatherly.

For example, you could mix in days where you eat lightly but non-IF, followed by a day where you eat heavy and non-IF, followed by a day where you eat lightly but IF, and a day where you IF but eat heavily, then a day where you don't eat at all.

So, there are four different eating stategies:

1.) IF and eat few calories
2.) IF and eat a lot of calories
3.) Eat a few calories in a non-IF fashion
4.) Eat a lot of calories in a non-IF fashion

(1) is where your hunt for the day was poor but you did bring back something. (2) is where your hunt was very successful. (3) is where your hunt was so successful from the previous day that you have leftovers but you didn't feel like hunting today. (4) is where your hunt was so successful from the previous day that you had a ton of food left.

Just make sure you follow a light eating day with a heavy eating day.

Joyce Behrendt · 12-31-2006, 06:07 PM

There is a doctor who is treating patients with a 19-hour daily fast - The Fast-5 Diet. So he is probably collecting some anecdotal data.

He has written a book which is now available for a free download.

http://www.fast-5.com/index.html

I suppose you are the best judge as to what is right for you based on your goals. I think many of us end up doing an intermittent style just because life events and holidays, which include eating, get in the way.

Robb Wolf · 01-03-2007, 07:13 PM

Joyce-
Thanks for the link! Good stuff.

Scott Kustes · 01-06-2007, 08:10 AM

Interesting Fast-5 article. Well laid out for explanation to the layman. The only thing I take exception to is his "no food is off limits" thing...I suppose that's an appeal to the broad masses, but I find that eating healthful foods is a much better way of fasting and makes it easier.

Jeremy Jones · 01-10-2007, 03:14 PM

yeah, if I eat crap - I have a hard time making it through my next interval.