*immediately looks sheepish*

Ok. May didn't quite go as I had planned...

Week 1 was perfect - no sugar, tighter diet, reduced calories and really cracking the whip on my daily steps.

Half way through week 2 I sort of lost the plot. I say sort of, because I didn't just throw everything down and walk OFF of the plot, more like I got distracted and started a different story before realising that I was already doing something...

As anyone who reads my blog, or knows me in real life, I have an attention span of approximately 10 seconds (on a good day). On a "bad" day, it can be less than 2 ;)

I'm really not joking.

So when I hit the middle of the week and (for a reason I won't go into here) found myself +3 days into <5 hour sleep a night my attention span plummeted. Along with the "idea" that I wasn't eating sugar.

It wasn't a pre-planned slip up, more of a "oh crap. Ah. Yeah. Well.".

So when I woke up and realised what I'd done, I dusted myself off and decided to follow a different tack for the remaining two weeks, turning my focus onto something that is so ingrained that I don't need to "remember" what I'm up to: an activity streak. 

The remaining two weeks passed without a hitch.

Yay for May!! 

This week has been, overall, completely unreportable. The morning hunger has faded to nothing and I barely notice the fast any more. A couple of days a week are tougher than the rest, usually where there were lower calories the day before, or where I finished the day with a high carb meal but, speaking generally, the pattern has become second nature. It remains (for me) an efficient and logical way to eat.

Let me start by saying: 

Last week it was pointed out to me in a comment that this diet pattern is not recommended for certain groups of people.

I agree wholeheartedly. I am a 30 year old woman, with no existing medical conditions and a healthy heart and bloodwork. I am very fortunate to be in such good health.

I am not a doctor, I cannot advise you either for or against this diet patten - this diary is solely intended to record MY experiences with Intermittent Fasting for people who might be interested in hearing about them.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the standard disclaimer is: Everyone should seek medical approval before commencing any diet or fitness programme.

So.

That's been said now.

This is my third week at 16:8. I'm still aiming at around 1650 calories/day and 40p/30c/30f macros (aiming being the operative word here ;)).

Today I'm looking at my second week of IF, following the 16:8 (ish) eating pattern.

​Background: My daily calorie goal is around 1650 calories, and I aim for a 30c/30f/40p macro split.

10:00am: I'm hungry, but I get the impression that it's more because I habitually wake up and eat than actually needing food.

13:45pm: Dinner will start soon and I'm READY to eat, but it's not urgent....

10:00am: Saturday is a work day which starts late. Today I'm grateful of that as I wake up HUNGRY. Again. I'd hoped that yesterday marked a change in my habitual expectation for food but it doesn't seem to be the case. I have my morning coffee and go about my daily business.

4:15pm: Well. That was unexpected. Once I got past that initial feeling of hunger, I quickly forgot about being hungry and got on with my day, which was pretty busy today! I end up breaking my fast in between a series of chores and lessons, more because I wanted to break the fast than it being a necessity. I don't particularly like having to squeeze a HUGE amount of calories into a really small time frame and under-eating isn't an option for me if I want to survive the next 16 hours without wanting to eat a person. As it is, today is a HANGRY sort of day....

8:30pm: I'm VERY hungry by the time dinner rolls around, having only eaten a small meal to keep the hunger at bay for the past 4 hours. The past two days, both starting late, have been very easy to extend the fasting period past 16 hours.

​Day 1: 
http://www.diaryofapoleaddict.com/blog/intermittent-fasting-day-1-i-told-you-i-need-supervision

Day 2:
http://www.diaryofapoleaddict.com/blog/intermittent-fasting-day-2-what-if-i-lick-this

Day 3:
http://www.diaryofapoleaddict.com/blog/intermittent-fasting-day-3-you-wanna-piece-of-me-punk

Day 4:
http://www.diaryofapoleaddict.com/blog/intermittent-fasting-day-4-its-e-day

Day 5: 
http://www.diaryofapoleaddict.com/blog/intermittent-fasting-day-5-the-hunger-abates

10:00am: Friday is my day off, so I slept in late today. I'm not hungry when I wake, nor do I have any inclination to eat out of habit. I have my morning coffee and start going about the daily tasks that I have to take care of today.

12:00am: Still no signs of the hunger...

2:55pm: I'm feeling rather English as I wait because I'm early for an appointment ( a)I'm NEVER early for anything and b) it feels that a lot of people around these parts share my sentiments on being on time ;) ). I'm still not hungry, but I've packed a BCAA mix ready for my trip to the gym after I'm finished here.

3:25pm: In the gym. I'm still not hungry, rather I am PUMPED. I've had my BCAA mix before coming into the gym and I'm ready to go. It's my first day back to the gym since the flare up and while I'm being careful with my shoulder, I'm also ready to BRING it. I PB with a 160kg leg press, following with a nice set of work on my adductors/abductors and then the bits of my abs that won't recruit my traps. I'm pleasantly surprised that the fasting doesn't seem to have had any effect on my workout, I've worked as hard (possibly harder) than usual and haven't felt fatigued.

4:45pm: Just finishing in the supermarket and now I'm HUNGRY.

5:00pm: After popping to the mall I break my fast with a breakfast bar. I am SO hungry (GYM HUNGRY).

6:30pm: I've eaten a series of small things and am ready to have my dinner!

​8:00pm: PIZZA!!

​Day 1: 
http://www.diaryofapoleaddict.com/blog/intermittent-fasting-day-1-i-told-you-i-need-supervision

Day 2:
http://www.diaryofapoleaddict.com/blog/intermittent-fasting-day-2-what-if-i-lick-this

Day 3:
http://www.diaryofapoleaddict.com/blog/intermittent-fasting-day-3-you-wanna-piece-of-me-punk

Day 4:
http://www.diaryofapoleaddict.com/blog/intermittent-fasting-day-4-its-e-day

7:00am: I might just nibble the end of Furface's tail....I'm sure she won't mind. I've woken up hungry again, but prepare for work quickly so don't have time to think about it.

9:00am: I wasn't particularly hungry during the drive in, but I am again now. Still, my classes are waiting so it probably won't last long.

10:30am: omg I have to go and have this EMG done later. I'm scared....

10:35am: Wow, that wasn't a thought about food...

11:45am: Ooooh, FOOD time in 15 minutes. Fab.

1:10pm: Yum. I have to eat quickly today as I'm leaving early for this exam. Today's meal was Gnocci, it is GORGEOUS. I'm a peculiarity here since I usually eat so slowly and it's a shame I won't get to chew and savour every morsel today.

7:00pm: I haven't thought much about food, what with finding my way to Salerno's clinic, being repeatedly shocked and having needles stuck into my muscles but now food is ready, so am I.... ;)

Day 1: 
http://www.diaryofapoleaddict.com/blog/intermittent-fasting-day-1-i-told-you-i-need-supervision

Day 2:
http://www.diaryofapoleaddict.com/blog/intermittent-fasting-day-2-what-if-i-lick-this

Day 3:
http://www.diaryofapoleaddict.com/blog/intermittent-fasting-day-3-you-wanna-piece-of-me-punk