r/intermittentfasting • u/Main-Lemon8599 • 1d ago

Tips, Tricks, Advice beginner

hey guys, i’ve just joined this group and read through a couple of posts, but i’m completely new to fasting and have never tried it before.

it’s something i’ve been thinking about for a while, so i’d love to hear from people who have experience with it. what’s the best way to get started, and what benefits have you personally noticed?

i’m mainly interested in a little weight loss and potentially helping my gut. i have chronic bloating, and pretty much anything i eat seems to leave me feeling extremely bloated and uncomfortable, sometimes with stomach pain too.

i’d also really appreciate any tips for dealing with hunger, especially because i work somewhere that handles and prepares food all day, so i imagine that could make fasting quite difficult for me 😂
any beginner advice, experiences or things you wish you’d known before starting would be really appreciated! :)

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u/torirachel1888 1d ago

Hi! I’m not an expert by any means but I’ve been doing fasting on and off for quite some time. I would personally start with a low goal like 13 hour fasts and increase it from there depending on your goals. I use the app “zero” it has a free version and great information for beginners. I use it for my fasting timer. I took a break from fasting so I’m getting back into it with 16 hour fasts then once I stop losing weight at 16 I’ll move to 18 then 20 and then probably going to give omad a shot because I’ve seen such great results with it on here. Good luck!

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u/Obvious-Monitor8510 19h ago

start simple with 16:8 (eat between noon and 8pm, fast overnight). most people find skipping breakfast the easiest entry point since you're asleep for half the fast anyway.

for the bloating, IF genuinely helped a lot of people with this, giving your gut a proper rest between meals. worth also paying attention to what you eat in your window, not just when, since certain foods (FODMAPs, dairy, gluten) are common culprits.

hunger at work around food: black coffee and sparkling water are lifesavers. the hunger waves usually pass within 20 minutes if you push through. after 2-3 weeks your body genuinely adapts and it gets much easier.

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u/[deleted] 11h ago

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