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I've been doing IF for a week or so now. I noticed that at first 20 hours was hard, but now my body can easily blow out over 30 hours without a problem. However, outside of the fact you look really weird to others, when does fasting become an eating disorder? At what point does it go from fasting to full blown anorexia? I've had issues in the past with being anorexic, however I feel like im just giving my body to simply not eat anymore and brushing it under the dieting carpet

I've been doing IF for a week or so now. I noticed that at first 20 hours was hard, but now my body can easily blow out over 30 hours without a problem. However, outside of the fact you look really weird to others, when does fasting become an eating disorder? At what point does it go from fasting to full blown anorexia? I've had issues in the past with being anorexic, however I feel like im just giving my body to simply not eat anymore and brushing it under the dieting carpet

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[–] • 6 pts

i would say when it affects your health, i mean disorder implies something wrong. if your BMI is within health limits its shouldnt be a problem however if you start getting symptoms like light headedness, dizziness definetly not a good thing but im not a doctor

[–] • 2 pts

If it affects your health and you can't stop doing it, then you've got some kind of fixation on it. I think it's a good idea, because your body was made to have food at uncertain times, or unexpected lacks of it for a day. Digestion also uses a lot of energy and organs.

[–] • 1 pt

This. Problem with anorexia isn't the fasting, it is the body dysmorphia that caused the fasting in the first place. If you actually need to lose weight, then it's not anorexia. If you are underweight and malnourished, then fasting is anorexia.

[–] [deleted] • 3 pts

If your BMI is under 20 then it's likely a problem.

[–] • 2 pts

Ive usually assumed under 17.5 is a problem, since the official number is 18

[–] [deleted] • 1 pt

I have IF for decades, as my body never really felt like eating till lunch, anyways. I wouldn't worry about it. Research and educate yourself on fasting so you can get comfortable with it.

[–] • 1 pt

A little fat is good. You should have a little roll of butter-fat around your tummy. You don't want to be able to see your abs -- that means your body fat ratio is too low. Your liver needs a cushion -- don't deprive it of all fat. Everything in moderation. The Golden Mean.

[–] • 2 pts

I guess athletes are starving and unhealthy. Shut up fatty.

[–] • 1 pt

I have been intermittent fast over 5 years now. Mostly just the 24 hour thing, but everyone once in a while a 5 day water fast. I am in perfect health, play sports, etc.

Just make sure that when you eat, you actually eat a proper a meal. Food with meats, avocado, cheese, green veg. All the good stuff, keep away of crap. Enjoy your food. You can afford to eat well once a day if you are not paying for the other two meals.

I like to eat after lunch so around 14:00, which lets me have a couple glasses of red wine before window closes as well.

[–] • 0 pt

There is cultural support for one 36 hour fast per week. Monks in Tibet or some shit. Regardless, that gets you some calorie restriction and a bunch of anti-aging shit in a way that's demonstrably sustainable.

[–] • 0 pt

You can fast all you want as long as you get your daily calories. The point of intermediate fasting is to not eat 12-20 hours, then have a 12-4 hour eating window.

If you're fasting for 30 hours, you skipped a day of calories and that is no longer intermediate fasting, that is normal fasting.

Healthy schedules:

  • Eat normally 6 days a week and pick 1 to fast on.
  • Intermediate fast normally daily and make sure you have an eating window. You should still be having around your 2,000 calories a day.
  • Intermediate fast a few days a week and have normal days the other days of the week. I liked to do fasting on days I didn't workout, then I'd eat normally on days I did my workouts.

Your ideal body is going to take nourishment AND working out. So don't neglect that. Put a little more effort into working out and a little less effort into fasting.

[–] • 0 pt

Fatty cope. Just ignore it and in the future keep your eating habits to yourself if you don't want to hear their stupidity.

[–] • 0 pt

Having had intimate experience in both... don't. For fuck's sake, don't.

I'm a massive advocate of fasting and Time Restricted Eating. It can do a world of good - I've seen the research and the results. But if you have an eating disorder, you're playing with fire. Anorexia is a tricky son of a bitch. Don't open that door. You may control it now. It may control you later.

Anyone here giving advice without a full understanding of what anorexia looks like and how it manifests shouldn't be encouraging you. No offence to anyone, but you don't know what the fuck you're messing with.

You might consider TRE - but even that can be a risk for anyone with a history of anorexia - but I would not open the fasting door. You're asking for a relapse or a date with chronic anorexia.

Some people might be able to swing it, but do you want to take the chance that you might not be one of those people?

Eat well and eat healthy. Exercise (in reasonable amounts). Get outside. There are benefits to fasting, but you can get those same benefits by living an active, well-fed life.

On a side note: fuck anorexia to hell. Fuck it.

[–] • 0 pt (edited )

In all fairness this time around im doing a wet diet. The first round I was doing a dry diet which caused a lot of problems. However, the results were great, I was able to lose around 40 pounds in 2 months. I had to eventually stop the diet because my church effectively banned me from fasting, but also because there was electrolyte imbalances in the body causing cardiac issues. It's weird because even now, im aggressively dieting, but my body still sees a fat me. It's not that I am fat, per the scale I have a BMI of around 23 and dropping, but every part of my body looks like its just pudge waiting to be removed. And Im sure if i lose another 5 pounds, it wont matter too much, but it just seems like all i see is a fat fuck in the mirror

I also noticed that my body is increasing the window of fasting considerably. It used to be I did OMAD, but now its going into one meal every two days. In a way my body is becoming addicted to not eating, part of me feels happy not eating. But like last time, I needed an actual intervention before my body kicked out of it, and even then it wasn't pretty. The thought of eating is just something that makes me guilty, not for others, but for destroying my body. Starvation is like a salvation in a way

[–] • 0 pt

Literally everything you just said raised a red flag.

Losing 5 pounds a week is not great. And it's not a diet, wet or dry. It's suicide.

In the end, you will do what you do, but you're heading into the darkness. That voice that says you should feel guilty... that starvation is salvation... yeah, it's trying to kill you. I mean that as literally as is humanly possible. Fuck that voice.

Your church intervened for a reason.

It's time to talk to someone - and not some random idiot on a forum. Please, go talk to someone.

[–] • 0 pt

What was your anorexia like in the past?

[–] • 1 pt

I was 6'0 and 128 pounds. Had to eventually stop due to cardiac issues, however I was still decreasing in weight. That one was more a dry diet, this time im trying to maintain a wet diet and just not eat instead

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