I was touched when I saw @xtony1314 mention that he only eats one meal a day. I started adjusting my physique through fasting in 2017, and now, eight years have passed. I went from my heaviest weight of 170 pounds to around 140 pounds. I believe the weight adjustment is secondary; the important part is the exercise of willpower.
Hunger is the most instinctive feeling for humans. Many friends around me ask how I can stick to it for so long. The truth is, I've gotten used to being hungry. In the beginning, I didn't eat lunch because I was sitting all day, and it was hard to digest after eating lunch. I had to eat a hearty breakfast, but even so, I would still be so hungry by around 3 PM that I couldn't concentrate.
At that time, the chipmunk kindergarten finished early, and I could eat a lot when I got home around five or six. However, I would still feel hungry around 11 PM, uncontrollably wanting to eat, which turned into suffering without losing weight. I endured this painful situation for about six months, managing to maintain my weight but not able to lose any. It was then that I learned about the concept of intermittent fasting.
After researching intermittent fasting, my approach shifted from not eating lunch every day to a 5+2 method, which means eating for five days and fasting for two days each week. This process was the most challenging. I had previously struggled to not eat lunch, and it took me six months to barely manage not to feel hungry by noon, but I had to eat breakfast and dinner, and I would still have late-night snacks.
When I first switched to the 5+2 method, I had countless moments where I felt I couldn't hold on. I truly understood what "hunger" felt like, but I still held myself to strict standards. My two fasting days didn't mean skipping three meals that day; instead, it meant not eating anything from the previous day's dinner until breakfast on the third day, which is about 36 hours of fasting.
This was a complete fast, with nothing consumed except "plain water." During the five eating days, I ate everything without restrictions. This period was actually when my body was in the best condition, and I was the most productive in writing. I relied on writing to distract myself from hunger.
Then came the pandemic, and I got sick for a while. To boost my immunity, I resumed eating but reduced it to one meal a day. Initially, it was lunch, but later it became dinner, and I have continued this until today.
Of course, during this process, I set many personal rules for myself. For example, when I'm normally at home, I can't drink more than one bottle of cola a day, and I don't eat or drink anything after dinner, with no snacks at all. (Recently, I've been a bit indulgent when going out, but I plan to stick to my rules after returning home.)
Changes I noticed after intermittent fasting:
My craving for sleep has significantly decreased. It used to be normal for me to sleep 15 hours on holidays, but now I can naturally wake up after five hours. I usually go to bed around 5 AM and wake up around 10 AM, and I don't feel tired when I wake up; I can get up immediately.
My mental focus has greatly improved. Comparing my state before and after fasting, as well as when I returned to normal eating, I often experienced "carb fog" during normal meals, feeling sleepy after sitting for a while or unable to concentrate. In contrast, even if I feel a bit hungry while fasting, my mental state is very good.
My physical condition has improved. Although many friends see me getting sick often, I actually don't get sick very frequently aside from diarrhea. I've had a persistent cough for a long time, which I had even before adjusting my diet, but it doesn't affect me much. I rarely have other physical ailments, especially since I don't exercise much; my weight and physical condition are maintained through fasting.
I believe the exercise of willpower is very important. Many friends ask me how I can continuously write without interruption. Of course, my interests and hobbies are the most important, but it's also the result of years of battling hunger. If I can endure hunger, writing a bit is nothing.
I have more disposable awake time, which many friends overlook. Reducing the number of meals can directly save me over an hour a day, and because of the carb fog after meals and reduced activity time, I save at least two hours. With those two hours, I can do much more.
In summary, I personally really like and have been sticking to intermittent fasting, but it may not be suitable for everyone. I suggest that those interested can do some research and try it out.
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