Few people have yet to experience the glory that is eating one meal a day.
- No, eating one meal per day won’t make you fat.
- It won’t make you lose all your muscle.
- And it won’t screw your metabolism into the ground.
But it does allow you to feast like a fucking king every single night while eating your favorite foods.
And no, this isn’t a scam and there isn’t even any secret “guru” magic behind it.
It’s really just common sense.
But fitness and common sense is a lost art these days.
If you follow it, eating once per day JUST WORKS.
And if you’ve struggled with more traditional diets that make you eat 3-6 meals per day, then this may be the most stupidly simple way for you to successfully lose weight, ever!
If you’ve dreamed of eating 24 ounce steaks, with a mountain fries and ice cream, EVERY SINGLE night while still losing fat and building muscle then read on.
Eating one meal per day in a nutshell
The basic idea behind eating one meal per day is simple.
Every day, you eat one big ass meal (preferably at night). The basic idea is to get the majority of your calories in a single meal.
And during the day, you don’t eat anything.
However during the day you can eat 1-2 pieces of fruit or some protein after you workout.
This allows you to eat much more, feel fuller, and better adhere to your diet.
Remember, eating one meal a day is NOT magic
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When I first started eating one meal per day, I had this weird belief that eating once per day gave me the power to lose more weight than traditional diets.
While this might seem like the case, nothing could be further from the truth.
It might be nice to believe that eating once per day causes all these different hormones to change in my body that helps me to burn “more” body fat.
But that’s just not the case.
And insulin levels – everyone always brings up fucking insulin levels.
Don’t worry about your damn insulin levels.
Just focus on creating a calorie deficit – that’s the only way to lose weight and always will be.
Eating once per day just happens to be a great way to create a deficit that many people can actually stick with.
For example, let’s say you need to eat 2000 calories per day to lose weight.
Diet #1 has you eating 3 meals and 2 snacks.
Diet #2 has you eating one meal.
In the end of the day, calories are exactly the same.
You’re just splitting your calories up a lot more in Diet #1.
That’s it. There is no magic. Just simple math.
5 reasons why you should eat one meal per day
I originally came across the idea of eating one meal per day from the Warrior Diet back around 2008.
At that time I was brainwashed by all the “eat 6 meals per day or die” BS and the Warrior Diet was my first foray into intermittent fasting.
Hell, even Terry Crews does intermittent fasting.
I’m not saying it works for everyone, but if you love to feast every single day, have more energy, and potentially be 200x more productive during the day, then maybe this something you should give a shot.
Here are 5 reasons I recommend eating once per day:
Reason #1: Increased energy
How many times have you eaten lunch only to feel super tired 2 hours later? It sucks.
We’re all told lunch is supposed to give us this magic boost of energy, and maybe it does for some people, but I’ve found that most people just fall into a 2 pm slump where they eat lunch and their productivity shoots down the drain.
When you fast throughout the entire day, you experience this amazing surge of energy that lasts the entire day.
Reason #2: Never feel deprived when dieting
One of the many reasons people fail at diets is because they don’t get this sense of satisfaction with what they’re eating and how much they’re eating.
When you follow the conventional 6 meals per day model, you have survived on a couple of hundred calories every few hours.
At the end of the day, you just never feel satisfied.
You feel like something is missing…
Ironically, eating once per day solves this problem for most people.
The act of fasting throughout the day is a very powerful appetite suppressant, so when you have your massive feast at the end of the day, you practically feel “stuffed” every night.
Reason #3: More time & more productivity
Imagine how much more work you could get done if you didn’t have to worry about eating during the day.
No more worrying about that mid-morning snack, no more stopping at subway during lunch, and no more 2 pm energy slumps.
All this time you save can now be used to do more productive things that truly matter (like looking at pictures of cats online).
Reason #4: EVERYTHING tastes better
Fast the entire day, then eat a grape.
Just one grape.
I guarantee that grape will be the best tasting grape you’ve ever had in your entire fucking life.
Look, I don’t know the scientific reason for why food tastes so much better after a fast, and frankly, I don’t care.
But some of the best meals in my life have been after a long fast.
Reason #5: Because eating cake every night is awesome
Do you know what’s awesome? Cake.
Do you know what’s not awesome? Not eating cake.
Cake makes everything in life better but with traditional dieting, you aren’t allowed to eat cake, which sucks.
Everyone needs more cake in their life (scientifically proven), so why not have a slice…or two, every night.
When you only eat one meal per day, you can afford to have some cake every night since your calorie budget is so much bigger.
Is coffee, water, tea, or diet soda okay during the fast?
Yes, as long as it’s zero calories, it’s fine.
Coffee and tea is actually a great appetite suppressant.
Eat 1-2 pieces of fruit during the day
While it’s totally fine if you can go the full day without eating anything, a lot of people do get hunger pangs no matter how much experience they have with intermittent fasting.
In this case, you can have 1-2 pieces of fruit throughout the day. This shouldn’t add up to any more than 200 calories plus you won’t feel a huge drain in energy compared to eating something high in carbs like a granola bar or a sandwich.
I recommend 2 large apples due to the large fiber and water content to keep you full
Supplement with some whey protein after you workout
If you train hard with weights 3-4 times per week while fasting (and you should) and follow the 1 meal per day diet then you should consume some 100% whey protein powder after working out so you don’t go half the day without any protein in your system.
I’m not really anal about the post-workout “window of opportunity,” but it’s best to get some protein in within 2-3 hours after your workout.
Why 100% whey protein? Because it has the most complete amino acid profile which is great for muscle growth and recovery.
As for which protein powder is best? Try Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Gold Standard.
The one meal per day approach might not work great for muscle building
You can absolutely build quality, lean muscle by eating once per day.
BUT…some people need A LOT of calories to put on muscle and if you’re supposed to eat 4000 calories per day, it’s going to be pretty hard for some to get that in one meal.
So unless you have a huge appetite, I would probably be better off splitting it up into 3-6 meals.
For more info on gaining weight and building muscle, check out these posts:
Eating one meal per day vs. other intermittent fasting protocols
Eating once per day is just one version of intermittent fasting.
And there are dozens of other fasting/feasting protocols out there that play with different fasting and eating windows.
But after looking at all of them, you’ll notice that the majority of them have the same underlying concept – fast for an extended period of time and get the majority of your calories in a small eating window.
Let’s look at some of the other intermittent fasting systems and how they compare to eating once per day.
One meal per day vs. 16/8 Leangains
If you follow Leangains, this means you’ll be fasting for 16 hours per day and eating for the other 8 hours.
During the 8-hour eating window, you’ll typically be eating 2-3 main meals.
There really isn’t a big difference between a Leangains style fast and eating once per day. The main difference is in the eating window and that all boils down to personal preference.
One meal per day vs. Eat Stop Eat
Eating once per day and Eat Stop Eat are not the same thing.
Many people confuse the two since they both involve 24-hour fasts.
Here’s the difference:
Eating once per day – Fast for 24 hours, under eat during the day, and get your entire daily calorie intake in one meal, every day.
Eat Stop Eat – Completely fast for 24 hours 1-2 times per week (no calories at all), eat a “normal sized” meal at the end of the 24 hour fast.
The problem some people might face is defining what “normal sized” means. It’s basically telling you to not eat until you’re stuffed and make sensible food choices.
But if you want to get more technical, your meal after an ESE style fast should be no more than 40% of your daily calorie intake.
Read my Eat Stop Eat review here.
ESE forces you to create a massive calorie deficit on your fasting days while the one meal per day approach simply changes up your meal frequency but you still get the same amount of calories every day.
One meal per day vs. 2 meals per day
Nothing different here besides meal frequency. If you want to eat 2 meals per day, that’s fine, just make sure your overall calories are the same by the end of the day.
Can you mix and match different diet & fasting approaches
Absolutely!
I am all about diet flexibility.
If you want to follow the one meal per day approach one day and do 2-3 meals per day the next, that’s totally fine.
For example, you can structure your diet to look something like this:
- Monday: 1 meal
- Tuesday: 2 meals
- Wednesday: Eat Stop Eat
- Thursday: 1 meal
- Friday: 1 meal
- Saturday: 4 meals
- Sunday: 1 meal
Remember, a calorie deficit is the most important thing to create when dieting.
So just because you’re following a one meal per day diet doesn’t mean you literally have to eat one meal per day, EVERY SINGLE DAY.
If you want to go out and have brunch on Sunday, then screw it, have 2 meals that day. Don’t be obsessive about this stuff.
Recommended Reading: The 1000 calorie diet
The one meal per day FAQ
I’ve compiled a list of commonly asked questions from readers about eating one meal per day.
Hopefully, this answers all your questions and gets you on the right path.
What kind of foods should you eat?
There isn’t any single food that you should or shouldn’t eat.
If you have specific macro/calorie goals, you still need to hit them. The only difference is you have the luxury of hitting them in a single meal so for those that like to eat a ton of food in one sitting, you’re going to love this way of eating.
But obviously, you need to get a hefty amount of protein, a good amount of carbs, and some fat.
So something like a massive steak, some roasted potatoes, a big ass salad, plus some cookies and ice cream would make for a pretty epic feast.
Recommended reading: “What Are The Best Foods To Eat?” Here’s Your Answer, Now Stop Asking Me
How many calories per day should you eat in my one meal?
I recommend multiplying your bodyweight in pounds by 10-12 to get your daily calorie intake.
Use 10 if you have 50+ pounds to lose or if you’re a woman. Everyone else can start with 12.
This is just an estimate. It’s impossible for any formula to accurately tell you your daily calorie needs.
How many hours should you wait before going to sleep after you have your big meal?
Doesn’t matter. Sleep whenever you want.
What does this do to the metabolism?
Nothing bad. Read this article on metabolism myths for more info.
How long can you eat one meal per day for?
As long as you want. This isn’t a quick fix diet.
Eating once per day is a real, long-term approach to dieting that can work for as long as you want.
Does it matter whether you eat your one meal in the morning or at night?
Nope doesn’t matter at all.
It’s a matter of personal preference. Most people do it at night.
If you eat your one meal for breakfast or lunch, you might feel sluggish and tired the rest of the day since you have so much food in your system.
Could eating one meal per day be bad for you? I keep reading other articles online that say it’s bad for you.
No it’s not.
Most people criticizing eating once per day are just woefully ignorant. Read those articles, and you’ll find it’s just people making assumptions without any real-world data.
Can I eat McDonalds for my one meal?
Sure, but I wouldn’t eat fries and Big Macs every night.
Use some common sense here.
You can still eat the foods you love, but you should still be eating mostly whole, nutritious foods for maximize your health and performance.
I love to drink coffee. Can I drink coffee during the fast?
Yup, coffee is a great appetite suppressant to use while fasting.
Can I add milk and sugar to the coffee?
I would stick with zero calorie sweeteners if possible. A splash of milk is fine, but don’t go overboard.
Is eating one meal per day guaranteed to help you lose weight?
Of course not.
It will only work if you put in the work.
I know the majority of you reading this are looking for some magic fat loss hack but eating one meal per day is not that.
You still need to make sensible food choices and you still need to be consistent like any other diet.
Nothing is guaranteed in life.
I tried this diet and it doesn’t work for me? What do I do?
Impossible to say. Maybe you’re eating too many calories. Maybe you’re not tracking your calories correctly.
It’s usually one of those two problems.
Why do you recommend the main meal to be eaten at night?
Whatever you want but try to make it sensibly healthy.
That means something like grilled meat, a carb source like rice/pasta, some veggies, and maybe some ice cream at the end is great.
Obviously food choices vary from person and culture, but use some common sense.
Can you drink alcohol while doing this?
Having one drink per night is fine.
Everything in moderation.
Should you exercise before or after your meal?
Again, it doesn’t matter.
It’s all up to you. Find what works best with your schedule and lifestyle.
Do you need to count calories while eating one meal per day?
I personally recommend tracking calories when starting out, only because it gives you an unprecedented level of tracking.
If you’re not losing weight, then you know exactly why and you can adjust calories accordingly.
I never want people to become obsessed with tracking calories, but it does give you a level of precision that you can’t get anywhere else.
But as you become more advanced and can recognize/estimate portion sizes more accurately, then you can back off from the calorie counting.
What if you get hungry when fasting?
Here are some tips:
- Drink plenty of water, black coffee, and tea.
- Chew sugarless gum.
- Stay busy and productive. People eat more out of boredom than anything else.
How much water should you drink?
At a minimum, enough to stay hydrated.
Also, if you’re pissing green, then you probably need to drink more water (and see a doctor).
The “8 glasses per day” recommendation is pretty solid.
I will say that drinking more water can help ward off hunger pangs.
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Have you tried the one meal per day diet? Let me know what you’re experience was in the comments.
Hi Keith, My post is a couple down from the top. The weight loss plateau. Any suggestions.
Could someone explain to me why when breaking your fast by eating a meal you can eat a desert, however a sugar filled fizzy drink while having your meal is not allowed. I drink water and tea throughout the day however would like a non diet fizzy drink while eating.
Surely a dessert has more calories then a can of Coke?
I never said it’s not allowed, work it into your daily calories and don’t go too crazy and you’ll be fine.
Hey
New to this diet and can’t wait to shed some unwanted weight. Would anyone in the group like to share the total weight loss and the time taken to achieve it please. I know weight loss varies, but would love a comparison.
whn i started dis,it was very hard but am now ok with it each day nd i ve lost 15 kg already in 3 weeks nd a day .love it .it really works.thnx
This is day 3. Love the concept of eating anything I want once a day, but struggling during the day, feel weak and a bit light headed, which is ok as I was off work this week. I eat my two portions of fruit during the day, which has really helped. Not sure how I will manage on Monday when I go back to work.
How long did it take to get used to eating once? Any tips for me?
Yes you can eat anything you want, but be considerate to your body and eat what it needs. If you only eat some junk food and dont fuel your body properly in the 1 meal then yes you probably will be feeling fatigued the next day. I usually do 20 hour fast every day and break my fast with the juice of 2 lemons. Also make sure you are drinking plenty of water throughout your fast!
Hi Keith. Good to read your article with a few suggestions. I have been doing i meal per day since 2012. I am 178 cm height indian with 68 Kg weight. I started this meal plan after i reached a weight of 107 Kg and was having BP problems. I started one meal per day, using specifications from my ayurveda trainer ‘one meal per day before the sunset’. I have read the warrior diet but i am still not very convinced with the suggestion that one can go to bed with meals. According to me and the journals on nutrition that i have read, i feel that this diet will work best if one takes his meal 4-5 hours before bedtime.
Best wishes
Sorry what are BP problems?
“GOOGLE’ it like your friend LC states Keith!
Blood Pressure…DUHHH!
HEALTH 101..and YOUR a COACH???
Google is not proof.
What is wrong with you… just get out of here. I have been doing the 1 meal per day for over a month now and have gotten shredded. As long as you eat healthy and get all your essential vitamins nutrients and macros you will be fine. Plus once you get into the fasted state, have some coffee, its fucking amazing. I do 18-22 hour fasts daily. Plus fasting heals the body because your body isn’t always having to worry about digesting throughout the day. Get out of here Karen.
Huh? You are the one that brought up Google in the first place, I was just stating that it seems like you are pretty damn good at using Google from your “copy and paste” skills above
Karen ,you may be educated but we are informed, there is no one size fits all, self experience is the best ,what works for me an makes me healthy may kill you! And for the record we are not mice, so shut the fuck up and go to a Paul Bragg site because we don’t want to hear how educated you are or worried about all of us we will be responsible for ourselves,You must be from the same village as Hillary I think it’s Clittonia where the towns motto states / It takes a village to raise a well educated idiot
Just curious…do you have a medical degree on this or are you a certified health coach??
no and no.
Then how are you QUALIFIED to make these statements about this ‘Crazy Diet?’ just curious?
Just because you’re certified doesn’t mean you know your shit. Being certified simply means you memorized some textbook info.
I qualify myself through my own results, the thousands of people who have used this diet with massive success, and the fact that I actually back up what I say with the actual science.
Dr. Oz is a real doctor and is as “qualified” on paper as it gets but is a complete scam artist fuck face when it comes to anything fitness related.
Wow Keith..that says it all! Your way with words pretty much ‘sums’ up what you’re all about, and anyone with a half a brain that would agree to your advice should take a second look at this program. Staying clear of anything you’re promoting is my advice! I NEVER even mentioned Dr Oz. PEOPLE..do yourselves a favor and do a ‘due diligence checklist’ and google ‘the negative effects of eating one meal per day’. I have a friend that is doing this and he is a total mess. Can’t even function. I know SO many scientists, professional doctors and nutritionists that would HIGHLY debate this young man. Don’t HARM yourself with this CRAZY diet! Sorry Keith, I rest my case.
Do you care to explain why eating once per day is bad as opposed to just pointing out your one friend? Please share your friends and professionals with me and the actual research, I would love to see it.
Well..here’s a start Keith……
Journal of Cardiac Failure study that found rats subjected to intermittent fasting developed stiffened heart tissue, sapping the organ’s ability to pump blood effectively.
“For the everyday active person, intermittent fasting may present uncomfortable challenges including mood swings, light-headedness, nausea and fatigue.
Here’s advice on how to stay slim, “well-fuelled” and vigorous is simple. Follow a balanced diet of fruit and vegetables, low-fat dairy, whole grains and lean protein. Well-balanced dietary choices will ensure proper nutrient intake and healthy weight maintenance.
Nutritionist Tracie Hyam also advises against a one-meal-a-day diet. Although it can lead to initial weight loss, she says it cannot be sustained and you’ll eventually need to eat more.
When you resume eating normally, you may well regain weight and experience physical discomfort, even internal damage. Potential symptoms include anything from anxiety, mouth ulcers and nausea to constipation. Hyam says sleep quality will also be affected: low calorie intake has been linked with the inability to sleep or maintain deep sleep. Long-term food restriction may also limit social experience and activity surrounding dining.
Cognitive function may also be impaired. Your brain and central nervous system require certain nutrients and calories for optimal function. Without adequate nutrients and energy intake, clarity and focus can be jeopardised.
“Brain fog” often stems from the failure to consume enough nutrients mainly found in healthy fats needed for brain and nerve function, according to Hyam.
Holistic nutritionist and chef Kathy Smart is also critical of the diet. The main drawback is low blood sugar, she says.
Without eating regular meals and snacks, your blood sugar will become unbalanced, sparking a domino effect of hunger for sugar and carbohydrates, because the body will try to self-regulate your blood sugar level. The imbalance can create cravings, irritability and brain fog.
Holistic health coach Tracee Gluhaich adds to the chorus of critics. The fact is people love to eat, which is why we have an obesity problem, says Gluhaich, the author of a health guide titled No Fricken Weigh!
Tell someone they can only eat once a day, and they will feel deprived and fall off the wagon, she warns.
“Diets are a temporary solution to a lifelong problem: they will only work when a commitment is made to a lifestyle change – a marathon versus a sprint,” she says.
Instead, fill your body with a range of tasty foods that will give you energy and make you feel great, she says, citing the likes of papaya, asparagus, cantaloupe, avocado and eggplant.
Plus, make time for “self care”: engage in personal pursuits that heal your body, or your mind, she says. She suggests an Epsom salt bath, nature walks, affirmations, meditation and stretching.
Finally, hydrate well, pursue a purposeful project, she says, and cap all your efforts with proper sleep.
Again people…do your homework..this is a ‘recent’ study from 2015. And as far as giving you my personal contacts Keith..not a very good idea..especially with the ‘foul’ language you use to promote your website. All I can say is that you’re ‘hurting’ people with your information.
Much luck to ANYONE who follows this program for a long period of time. It WILL catch up to you…and NOT in a good way! Enough said!
You “know” many scientists, doctors and nutritionists? You run in an elite circle! 🙂 All joking aside though, it seems like what you do “know” is how to use Google. Google can be used for or against any circumstance, the internet is known for being packed with an abundance of opinions that support all sides of the spectrum.
What I do know is I am a very very active person. If I eat many small meals a day I never feel satisfied. If I eat one very good, nutritious meal a day I feel wonderful. You are assuming that people on the one meal a day diet are not getting enough calories, therefore the heart damage, fatigue, etc. But if you are consuming enough calories to fuel your body, organs, functions…But not so many as to be storing as fat, you are doing fine.
You don’t like the brassness of the author of this article, but you had to have known you’d get some flack for calling him out on not being “certified”. You baited him and then were surprised on getting a reaction? I won’t even get started on what a joke being “certified” in anything is….
Here is my advice for you: Don’t like the article, author and diet? Move on. No one is telling anyone they have to do this diet. Anyone that has half a brain can make an educated choice as to whether this diet is right for them or not.
LC…
Actually..yes..I do run with an ‘elite’ group of well-educated people. I’ve had breast cancer and have done enough research on health to last a lifetime because of it.
And OBVIOUSLY, You and Keith have done enough ‘GOOGLING’ on your own. I honestly was NOT surprised of the FLACK or ‘reactions’ I was going to get..I have NO problem with that at all….I just CARE enough about people to give them advice to ‘research’ what they are doing to their bodies that may be harmful to them, and this my friend, is NOT good for anyone’s health. NOT trying to ‘slam’ anyone, guess after my experience, you tend to get a little aggressive about life and health wellness. So again…much luck to anyone wanting to do this..just be prepared for the possible consequences.
I get my information from real life experience, not google 🙂
And everyone has their own health and life experiences that drive their actions. You go your way, I will go mine. But you are only stating an opinion that this is a bad diet, it is not a fact so please don’t present your opinion as such 🙂 And didn’t you state “I rest my case” above? hmmm….
I’m a registered nurse and extremely knowledgeable about fitness and nutrition. Your dire predictions are absolute nonsense. If your one friend is messed up, I guarantee you 100% that more is going on rather than intermittent fasting being the cause. That, in itself, doesn’t even make sense.
Doubtful that anyone is listening to you but in case that one or two are, please don’t. I had intermittent fasting recommended to me by a physician with several fitness and nutritional certifications. She is extremely knowledgeable and well regarded by her peers. I lost 70 lbs. My issue now is that I have gained it all back over the course of a few years and want to try one meal vs. the two I was doing. I think it would work better for me. I gained it back like I’ve done ALL the other “normal” ways so that means nothing.
I’m 56 years old and had a complete physical including a look at my heart and everything was excellent. No stiff tissue here.
Can cause…can cause….can cause….Well you can say that about anything. Have you ever taken meds because they CAN CAUSE all sorts of side effects. It would be silly to feel fatigue and dizziness and continue on with a behavior without some intervention such as a protein drink, sitting down until dizziness subsides, a tiny meal, etc. It’s also not difficult to find someone who disagrees with any individual advocating a different way either.
I’m with LC. Please move on. You are becoming tiresome.
You have yet to show me a single study.
All just other people’s opinions.
I love foul language.
It’s motherfucking beautiful.
Low bloodsugar??? Anyone who is not a diabetic will have a mechanism in place where the liver will turn fat into glucose to keep the bloodglucose levels stable. This is called fat burning by the way. As long as you are not attempting this diet as an anorexic or diabetic, you do not have to fear low blood sugar.
As a matter of fact there is much scientific evidence of fasting having very positive results, reducing inflammation, tumor markers etc. The average person in the wealthy countries of this world have the problem that there is way too much food everywhere. And most adults, especially the older ones have a poor health, due to overeating. This way of eating, done sensibly, will mimic the way most of the thousands of generations before us have lived. Going to periods of food shortage and usually not having access all the time to caloriedense foods. Your passive agressive tone does not make your statements more credible, by the way.
The one meal a day diet absolutely works. If I do this I lose a TON of weight. Starting again now, I fell into the falseness of “many small meals” and gained weight…back to one meal a day now! I look for the weight to fall off FAST. Awesome article!
Currently on day 3 of one meal per day. Love it so far…have more energy. The main thing I realized is just because my stomach growls doesnt mean im actually hungry…its just a reflex. Going to stick with this and maybe make it the norm.
Do you think i could lose a little weight in one week? (I am 110lbs)
Yes of course you’ll lose weight but you can’t expect anything even remotely close to a miracle in just a week.
I really wanna lose some weight for spring break! Help!! Can i lose 5 lbs by eating 800 cals/day?
I don’t recommend that.
Day 3. I am working out with a personal trainer and started the 24-hour diet Friday. My trainer is CSCS and SPT certified. He said this diet is fine as long as I get at least 1,200 calories a day and try to eat veggies and protein. I was counting calories and working out for a couple of months with no results. I noticed I drink even more water now (80 ounces or more a day). I make sure I get all five servings of veggies in one meal with protein. I have always eaten healthfully. I feel much less bloated, and after two days, I don’t feel light headed. One five calorie bouillon cube in a cup of boiling water and a cooked apple seem to be all I need before the big meal! I wanted lots of fresh chocolate chip cookies all day, but ended up eating only two because my veggies filled me up. I have lost two lbs. as of today. I gained about 20 lbs in two years and want to lose it. Tiny meals do not work for me. I believe this to be a healthy way for some people to lose weight. Thanks Keith! Ignore then haters…
i love the haters. Makes my life worth living 🙂
I know a lot of people who has done this diet with success. My question is can you drink alcohol on this diet at all and if so how much?
Same with any diet.
Have a few drinks per week. Don’t get stupid wasted every night.
If you have your meal at night, don’t drink during the day since you’ll likely be fasted which means you’ll get drunk 10x faster.
Keith,
I am a 5′ 10″, 63- year old male and early last year I weighed 220#. My doctor had advised the year before that I lose 15#, due to my lipids, liver functions, cholesterol, blood pressure, etc., all of which were borderline or worse. So I had tried for a year to lose weight, watched my meals a bit, hit the gym, and even got a personal trainer 3 days a week. I did lose about 20 pounds and felt pretty good, looked a bit buffer. But then, I had trouble keeping up… I had a couple of workout injuries that knocked me off track, but more than anything, I found the working out totally increased my appetite. So I’d never get much below 200# or so, even at peak working out, because I was eating a ton. For whatever it’s worth, I am a Whole Foods shopper and tend to eat lots of salmon, veggies, etc., but I find that eating too much, even if “healthy” foods, you still put on weight. Of course, as soon as I slacked off at the gym, for whatever reason, my weight ballooned back up to 220# in a hurry. Then my 36-year old son, a few inches taller and considerably heavier, had entered a Biggest Loser-style contest at his work and won (out of 17 entrants). He lost the greatest percentage of body weight (18%, I think) by intermittent fasting, and won a $1,000 1st place prize. It sounded crazy to me, but he said it was so easy. So last May, I decided to give it a shot. I have a very calm, sedentary job (my business) writing professional resumes and business plans at a computer all day, so I figured I could do this. I stocked my office with a bunch of herb teas of all flavors and types. I have one of those water coolers with cold & hot water, so making a hot tea is a breeze. Each day, I drink lots of herb tea. Each evening, usually about 5:00 p.m. or so, I whip up a big salad and generally cook a big piece of fish or veggies. An hour or so later, I may have a piece of fruit or some prunes, or whatever. Then, no more food until the next evening. I do allow myself 2 meals per day on the weekends (when I’m more active, yard work, day trips, etc.) and also if there is company visiting or if I’m on a trip. No gym work, but I do walk about 4 miles 3-5 days per week. To make this long story short, the weight dropped off at the rate of about a half pound per day. So in a month, I had lost 15#, and I ended up losing a total of 60# within 4 months or so, which appears to be a “plateau” I’m staying at. In mid-May, I will be on this diet for one year. I love it. I currently weigh 160# and feel wonderful. This is the easiest diet I’ve ever done. When I went to my doctor for the annual checkup, he marveled at my transformation. He said my blood tests showed ALL of my indicators reverted back into a very healthy level. I don’t think I could do this if I had a very active job. And possibly being 60+ years old makes it easier than for a younger person. My son has put about half of his weight back on because he hasn’t stuck with it 100%. Not surprising, when you consider he just had a baby 6 months ago and his work is super-intense. Anyway, I love Intermittent Fasting. It may have saved my life.
Great story, Grant. Glad you made the fasting work for you.
I started eating only an evening meal in 1992 due to an intense work schedule. I got used to having coffee, skipping breakfast and lunch. Even after my work settled down (after 7 years), my body was totally used to the schedule. Been doing it since 1992. I am now 58 years old, on zero medications and have never had much of an illness. Works for me.
Just started this diet recently. it works better than anything else i’ve tried, wow! i initially got hungry fasting, but i was eating as much as 1800 calories a day and had a huge binge eating problem. fasting all day is definitely an appetite suppressant, especially with coffee…for the first time in years i can look at a ton of snacks in a vending machine and feel no pull to them. when eating my meal i instinctively go for healthy, well portioned things. a plain piece of chicken has never tasted so good!