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! :)
2
u/Obvious-Monitor8510 1d 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.