16 hour daily fast?

[GLC1968]

It doesn't seem to matter how I eat, I have food constantly on my mind. Low fat, high carb. High fat, low carb. Lots of little meals. Longer space between meals. Big breakfast. Small breakfast. Meh. It doesn't seem to matter much, if at all. At least when I am moving about I am less likely to think about food.

I used to be the same way until I figured how to filter out all the noise and truly listen to my body. A lot of that noise (for me) was coming from sugar and from the scale and I've finally learned how to deal with both. Now I eat when I am hungry (which is typically between 2 and 4 times per day depending on my activity level), I don't think about food except when I want to (like when shopping for or preparing food), I sleep sounder, my skin is clearer, my body recovers faster and I feel absolutely amazing.

For the most part, I've stopped trying to convince anyone that my way of eating the best, but over the past two weeks, I've been super squeaky clean again (my nutrition...not my body! ) and I'm feeling so freaking fantastic that I can't help but want to share.

The best suggestion I can make is to read "It Starts With Food". It's not about caveman or fueling for crossfit or weight loss or a 'quick fix diet' or any claims that it will cure all ills. It just talks about how everything you feel, your entire body, every aspect of your performance from mental to physical to psychological...it all starts with what you eat. And this book does a great job of explaining exactly why they make the suggestions they do and then HOW to find out what works best for you and your particular body.

It sounds hokey, but it truly changed my life for the better.

[goldfinch]

I've read a lot and experimented a lot. I've kept a diary. I've been thoughtful. I've cut sugars. I've added them back in. Not much matters, however I do think it is worse if I eat very refined quick acting sweets, like ice cream or candy. But even if I don't I am hungry. I am just a person who has an appetite that won't be satisfied. It has been this way for years. I don't have an off switch. So, I count calories.

[Crankin]

I have never been much of a sweet eater. Or junk food. I do love bread, but have totally lost my taste for most white flour products, and barely eat any bread at all. I have to agree with Goldfinch. I have never seen much of a difference in the way I feel or in the amount of my hunger with any changes in my diet. I have definitely added good fats and protein to replace most of the carbs and I still get cravings for having at least one measly piece of Ezekial bread a day. Truth is, I enjoy eating and cooking and while I am very open to trying new ways of eating, I feel super deprived at times, especially when it involves going out to dinner, which I do a lot, and I seem to spend most of my time pre-planning what I can or cannot eat. I guess I have accepted this is the way it is, if I want to be thin, but it's wearing me down. I generally keep this to myself, and just smile when people (like at work) tell me how "good" I am.