The reason this is so important to me is that I am convinced I can reverse my COPD diagnosis from a decade ago. I will continue to use IF and reduced carb eating to maintain my weight and to feel great. At this point, this all seems amazingly simple\u2026 thanks to IF!<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n I\u2019m convinced that intermittent fasting<\/a> not only works but keeps working through ups and downs, calamities, occasional slip-ups, and everything life throws at me. I\u2019m breathing exceptionally well, riding my bicycle as much as 50 miles at a stretch, walking hills that used to leave me winded, and feeling fantastic!\u00a0 I started losing some weight before knowing about IF as a model. I lost about 12 pounds in 5 months from my high of 186lb by eating the Whole 30 diet and drastically reducing my alcohol intake (could be the healthiest thing I\u2019ve done, actually!) I was already exercising and eating a low-carb diet. We follow the Whole 30 lifestyle generally.<\/p>\n I have wanted desperately to lose weight for 50 years and have tried every possible method to no avail. However, I had an additional goal this time \u2013 to reverse the COPD diagnosis I got in 2008. Doctors say it can\u2019t be stopped, much less reversed. I said, \u201cYou haven\u2019t met me yet!\u201d<\/p>\n My husband and I were already eating just 2 meals each day and doing lots of cycling and walking \u2013 at least 4 times a week or more. Our walks are usually for 3\u20135 miles, and bike rides \u2013 25 miles at least. Our diet follows the Whole 30 plan, although we do enjoy our wine about once a week now. In truth, we used to have wine every night. No more.<\/p>\n About 3 weeks ago, so close to my goal, I fell and broke my collarbone. This was my biggest challenge because I could no longer do the daily exercise I was used to. I stopped weighing myself for just a week and gained 4 pounds very quickly. Then, I doubled down, counted calories, and weighed myself every day, and things came back into view again.<\/p>\n Now I\u2019m almost fully healed, and I can say I maintained my weight for those 3 weeks. I think that\u2019s a big deal! We also had lots of company during that time.<\/p>\n I was already losing weight when I discovered IF last June, but very slowly. What\u2019s funny is that I felt so good after my colonoscopy in early June I was convinced to try fasting. The app happened to pop up on Facebook, and I clicked to learn more. That was the beginning of a very healthy relationship!<\/p>\n My rate of loss picked up, and I began to change my goals, from 160 to 150 to 140 to 135, and finally to 130 pounds! Quite honestly, it was shocking to me that I hadn\u2019t been introduced to this method before.<\/p>\n How simple. Just narrow your eating window. Really? I\u2019ve never been a snacker, so that part was easy. First, I narrowed it to a 6-hour eating window and ultimately to 4. Now I plan to move back gradually in order to maintain my weight.<\/p>\n Once I have stabilized at my goal, I will add one hour to my eating window and see how that goes.\u00a0 I weigh myself every day in the morning. That way, I am honest and accountable. If I slip up the day before, I can see the result immediately. If I am doing great, I give myself a pat on the back. Over time, the numbers make sense, and they continue to go down.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve never been obsessive about the diet itself, but I do avoid a lot of carbs (grains, wheat), and I never eat sugar\u2026 mostly because I feel much better without them.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n I\u2019m definitely eating fewer calories overall. I\u2019m a very healthy eater but have always just eaten way too much. This limits me to one meal or occasionally two a day.\u00a0 I love the simplicity of the timer. I even tell people who stay with us they are on their own for breakfast and lunch! Keeps things so simple. We generally do a 4 PM to 8 PM eating window.\u00a0 I admit that COVID helped us a lot\u2026 but now we\u2019re habituated. Less eating out, less socializing.<\/p>\n I have always been very active. The biggest change for me is exercising while fasting. I feel like I have superpowers. I can power up the hills that used to truly challenge me. I feel 15 years younger. I\u2019m not kidding.<\/p>\n The old myths are finally falling away, thankfully. \u201cBreakfast is the most important meal.\u201d \u201cNever skip a meal.\u201d \u201cEat 5\u20136 small meals spread out during the day.\u201d \u201cMake sure you eat portions from all food groups.\u201d For some people, these may work. Not for me. My all-new life is such a treat that I can\u2019t wait to tell people their struggle is over.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com\/assets.dofasting.com\/blog\/start-the-quiz-en\")
Tell us what encouraged YOU to take action and start changing your lifestyle (to try intermittent fasting)?<\/h3>\n
How was the intermittent fasting journey at first? Did you have any struggles or setbacks that kept you dissatisfied with your results? How did you feel back then?<\/h3>\n
Tell us (and our readers) how did the DoFasting app<\/a> come into the picture?<\/h3>\n
How did intermittent fasting help YOU perceive the fasting and feasting windows? Maybe you started planning your weekly meals? Started eating foods you had avoided before? Or changed your diet completely?<\/h3>\n
What about exercising? Had you been working out before or just started while doing intermittent fasting?<\/h3>\n
What was one piece of advice that you\u2019ve got from fellow fasters (or wish someone said that to you at the beginning of your intermittent fasting journey)?<\/h3>\n
Anything else?<\/h3>\n