I sit at a desk and answer telephones for a living. After a decade of this type of work
I've become quite out of shape. I realized I simply don't need all the extra calories I've been consuming for the amount of energy I exert at work. However, I do need enough energy to keep up with my kids and not go insane at home. So finding the balance has been tricky.

I started my diet on January 10th. I NOW ONLY EAT EVERY OTHER DAY. On the days in-between I consume nothing but gum and low-calorie beverages, such as tea, diet soda, and water.

Before you say to yourself, that sounds amazingly dangerous and unhealthy, which was one of my concerns starting out, you'll be surprised to find out that in fact the opposite is true.

Just by Googling "alternate-day fasting" you'll read how eating every other day not only cuts weight, but can also potentially extend your life, reduce the development of cancer, enhance insulin sensitivity and lower the risk of heart disease.

It has been going well so far. It's been almost a month. Because I will only weigh myself on the 10th of every month, I can't tell you exactly how much I've lost yet. But I can tell you I'm already having to pull my belt a couple notches tighter. So I expect I've lost a few pounds at least.

I'm keeping a web-log of my progress and I invite you all to check it out. Leave me feedback about what you think, if you've tried it, considered trying it, or if anybody's
had any success with this method. I look forward to your "feed"back. (Forgive the food pun.)

Jason
http://everyotherdayfast.blogspot.com

Jason...this sounds like a great (temporary) eating plan. It probably does a body good to get used to some bouts of hunger and not eating all the time.

But my oh my, what willpower that would take. I have tried to fast on an occasional day here and there and have never been able to do it. (Hey, if I could go w/o eating, I wouldn't have a weight problem in the first place!) But I DO think it cleanses the body and shrinks the stomache, as well as gets a person out of the habit of eating so much.

Eloise: In an office full of people, I'd feel a little silly getting up and jogging
in place or doing other aerobics. :) But I do manage to go for a brisk walk on one
or two of my breaks, depending whether it's an eating day or not. I've asked the boss
about putting an exercise bike or treadmill in the staff lounge area, but it's not
really practical due to lack of shower facilities, etc. Nobody wants a stinky co-worker.
(My walks are brisk but not so strenuous that I sweat heavily.)

bpollen: I mention giving up smoking on my blog, near the beginning of February, when
it was my one year anniversary of being smoke-free. The fasting diet, like quitting
smoking, does require a great deal of will-power. You have to really be sick of your
current condition and really want to make changes to yourself. My will-power isn't
always rock-solid as you'll read on my blog. I slip up from time to time but I always
get back up and try again, and that, I think, is the key.

lisb: For an explanation about why I like to only weigh myself once a month, see my FAQ
found in the Links section of my blog. Question #12.

joe_mn: I pretty much eat what I feel like on eating days. I try to avoid empty-calorie
junk food but I do allow myself occasional treats. I make substitutions and try to choose
healthier alternatives where available. (Diet soda, artificial sweetener, light sour cream,
side salad instead of fries, that kind of thing.) Blood sugar? I'm not too sure about.
There are some days when I still get head-rushes or feel dizzy (usually in the morning of
an eating day), but not very often. I think this may have more to do with sodium levels
from what I've read.

lonestarlady: Weight Watchers is a very good program. The people I know who do it properly
have great success with it. Good luck to you.

I've followed this regimen for well over a year. It is not, so far as I can determine, going to solve all weight issues. Here's my experience: In the first 2 months I lost 15 pounds. In the next year (plus) I've lost 3-4 pounds. I'm currrently about 20 pounds above my "ideal" weight. At 5'6" I'm 165 pounds; I'd like to be 145 pounds. However, it's still a WINNER in my book.

As regards health issues, check out the link at the prestigious American Journal of Nursing; you'll find the health benefits are significant.

So far as weight maintenance control is concerned, my experience has been wonderful. On the days I don't eat food is not an issue. I'm a busy guy, and I don't worry about missing meals. My problem is that whenever I sit down I never get up satisfied without eating more than what would maintain my weight. So, my last 60+ years have been spent either unhappy because I'm dieting, or unhappy because I'm fat. No more! On the alternate days, I simply eat whatever I want; no restrictions, and I'm satisfied after every meal.

Those of us who are (as I once was, quite some years ago) compulsive eaters and binge uncontrollably (as I once regularly did) will not find a complete solution here; for them I recommend a visit to Overeaters Anonymous (worked for me). OA helped me with the binging ... but the OA program did nothing to stabilize my weight. I've tried most diets; it's always the same for me; yo-yo syndrome is what it's called. This regimen solves the yo-yo syndrome for me.

Anyway: DON'T JUST RESPOND THAT IT'S UNHEALTHY!!! Read the article at the link and then you'll at least be well informed on that issue.

Tony in Rindge, NH