It’s Day 37, and I’m still going strong with intermittent fasting (IF). After my first 28 day start, I have stuck perfectly to my five-hour windows, right? Insert fake toothy grin. Translation: I’ve not been perfect at it. Shocking, I know.
For the most part, I have stuck to five-hour windows, but there have been a couple days that crept up to seven or eight hours. On the flip side, there have been some days that have come in under “budget” at three or four hours. Overall, I’ve been consistent, and it feels good. Oh, and when I am in my fasting windows, I’ve 100% kept to clean fasts, meaning water only. And for that, I’m giving a sincere smile.
Weight loss
Do I continue to lose weight? Yes. I’ve lost 7 pounds since beginning IF just over seven weeks ago. That’s a steady approach to weight loss at one pound per week. I’m happy with that.
Heaviest weight December 2023: 272.2
Weight when starting GLP-1 shot on December 25, 2024: 264.0
Weight when starting IF on July 31, 2025: 232.0
Current weight: 225.0
Total weight loss: 47.2
Finish your plate
Who besides me was taught to clean their plates because that’s what good boys and girls do? After all, there are starving children in Africa, and by cleaning your plate, you’re…well, what exactly does cleaning your plate have to do with those children on the other side of the globe? I know. I know. It was meant to teach us to be grateful. I’m not sure kids grasp that though. I’m sure I’ve passed on the tradition with my own niece by instilling that same message to her. Sorry, Trin!
Inadvertently, it taught us to eat what’s in front of us, regardless of hunger or satiety. Your body is full? Too bad. Finish eating your mixed veggies with waxy lima beans. Those were the bane of my childhood. Maybe that was a bad example because I would have rather gone hungry those nights than finish those little green atrocities.
You get the point though. It’s hard to retrain our brains. When we’re so accustomed to finishing what’s in front of us, we feel guilty when we don’t. And to avoid guilt, we push through and eat past the point of satiety or fullness. Animals in the wild don’t do this. Babies don’t do this. They eat until full, and then they stop. And guess what? We don’t see obese wolves barely ambulating or lions who can’t chase their prey anymore because they had too many zebras the night before. They listen to their bodies.
I did just that last Saturday at lunch with a friend. The sandwich I ordered was huge. It came with a side of pesto pasta salad. I finished the pasta salad and half the sandwich, and I was done. No more force feeding myself until I felt sick just for the sake of not feeling guilty at the prospect of leaving food unfinished. Win!
Listen to your body
I believe God designed our bodies with such intelligence that we can learn to listen to them. Our bodies will tell us when they’re full or hungry. Truly hungry, not just a desire to please our palates. After all, babies do this. How do they do this? Following God’s design.
This doesn’t come overnight after years of listening to other influences, whether what our elders taught us or consuming too much ultra processed food, which isn’t actually fulfilling our nutritional needs, thus keeping us hungry for actual nutritious meals. It takes practice and intentionality. Start becoming aware of what you’re eating, how much and why.
Ask God to help you. He will.
Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow, you’re only a day away
I leave for Alaska tomorrow, and I’m beyond excited. We booked this trip two years ago, and I’m so thrilled for my husband and dad to see Alaska. It’ll be my second time there, but I can hardly wait! Wildlife, glaciers, mountains, and more!
Will I intermittent fast? For two whole weeks? I sure hope to. I’m already used to not eating breakfast, so that won’t change. I hope to stick to mainly one meal a day and a snack. My goal is to not gain any weight on the trip. I will be ecstatic if I come back at the same weight. If I lose weight, I’ll be over the moon! There might be one or two days where I’ll extend my five hour window to a longer one, depending on the day. For the most part, though, I plan to stick to my five hours. It works well. And when I eat, I will enjoy my food. I look forward to the cruise dinners. Like someone in my fasting community told me today, meals don’t have to be part of making good memories.
Until then, happy fasting!