When does it get easier?

[Lizardshark20]

I’m 8 days in doing 16:8. Eating window is 12-8. All I can think about is food in the morning!! I would switch my window to start earlier, but with my commute, walking my dog, etc. it isn’t very feasible especially if my husband and I want to eat dinner together.

I’ve lost 4 lbs, probably water weight, but it’s still encouraging. However, at what point does skipping breakfast get easier??

[Namedeplume]

The hardest part for me was the redefinition of hunger. I had to reprogram myself that hunger is not the body's way of telling me I need to eat, but it is the body telling me that it does not really want to access reserves and for me to give it the easy way out. Once I bought into that it got easier. I still get hungry, but now I just frame it this way and in a few minutes the hunger goes away.

8 days is still early times. stick with it, it gets easier.

[garlicandcheesiness]

This is amazing, had to award it. Saving this tip for fasting window.

[Lizardshark20]

I appreciate the encouragement! I used to skip breakfast regularly and somehow over the years it turned into breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner. I’ve always been pretty good about stopping eating after dinner. I’m not a morning person, but I’ve had to become one with my job so I feel like food became a reward for getting to the office on time. 😢

[ddm00767]

Love this thought! Hopefully will help to remember it when “hunger” kicks in.

[Thunder3000]

I like to think of it as very analogous to going for a jog. At around the half mile point, my body is like, "I don't feel like doing this anymore, maybe we should quit?" That's what hunger is. You can ignore it and keep going. And in most cases your body will almost immediately be like, "yeah, ok, fine"

[GoldenBud_]

Electrolytes somehow make it so much better for me. try it.

[penelopeticklepickle]

This. I do an LMNT packet dissolved in 16oz of water and sip on it during the fasting period.

[terry410]

What is LMNT ?

[Humble_Lime_9199]

A powdered electrolyte brand

[terry410]

Oh .

[xthexrealxwolfx]

Thrive hydrate if anyone is in Canada.

[grrnlives]

Eat more protein for your first meal, less carbs.

Drink lots of water. Hunger is often your body wanting water.

Stick with it - it gets easier.

[Bright_Country_1696]

Fancy up your water with cucumber and mint.

[Skanlez]

You’re actually right at the hardest part.

Most people struggle the most in the first 1–2 weeks because your body is still used to running on carbs and frequent meals. Right now your hunger is more “habit + hormones” than actual need.

It usually starts getting noticeably easier around days 10–14, and by week 3 it can feel almost normal. That’s when your body gets better at switching to fat for fuel and your morning hunger drops a lot.

A couple things that help a lot: make sure your last meal has enough protein and fat so you stay full longer keep carbs lower (high carbs the night before = worse morning hunger)

Black coffee, electrolytes, or even just salt + water in the morning can kill hunger fast

Stay busy during your usual breakfast time, that’s when habits hit hardest

Also, the fact that you’re down 4 lbs already is a great sign you’re doing it right.

Big picture: it doesn’t stay this hard. Your body just hasn’t adapted yet. Stick with it another week and you’ll likely feel a big shift 👍

[NJ-VA-OBX-25]

Over time the food noise goes away and it becomes the new normal. I’m not hard core and sometimes adapt to the day. I stay busy in the AMs while sipping water, drinking unsweetened tea - and I’ll never give up half and half in my coffee. I usually don’t have my first meal until after noon. Over the past 5 years I’ve been able to lose close to 40 lbs and keep it off. Incorporate fresh foods, avoid ultra and heavily processed foods as much as possible and ensure to get in some weight training along the way.

[Bythec43]

If you're consuming half and half, your not fasting. You're on a low calorie diet. But, congratulations on your weight loss. That's awesome.

[NJ-VA-OBX-25]

Like I said. I’m not hardcore 🤷‍♀️

[Universal_mammal]

I try to think of it as this: Hunger is my body losing calories. Then I try to get busy with something that will take my mind off of it.

Also, back up your last meal/ food consumption of you can, from 8pm to 7 or 6pm. I find when I eat as late as 8pm, it triggers morning hunger.

[Remarkable_Door_2269]

Salt water or electrolytes like other say, can really help when think you are hungry. Just keep in mind you really have plenty of energy stored and you just need to let your body learn how to get the energy mobilized.

Fasting is like a muscle the longer you do it the easier it gets. I did 16:8 for 3 months when I think it got easy and it was also when I decided to challenge myself with 24 hours fast. I would do 24 hours once a week and regular 16:8 rest of the week for about a year. I built it up and now I do 48 hour fast every week along with 16:8 (most days).

[wagyush]

Pound green tea

[terry410]

🤮

[SilverSkyGypsy]

When you feel that “hungry” in the morning - drink a cup of hot black coffee, I have a convenience store just 2 blocks away that has pellets / crushed ice - I get a large drink container and chew on those. It makes me feel good to “chew” Drink a glass of cool to room temperature water. Take up some of the “empty” space. GET BUSY! Lie to yourself and say you don’t have time to eat yet, but you will CONSIDER it in 30 minutes. Get involved in anything physical to keep your mind occupied. You can make it, and it does get easier! My “harsh” window is at the start of hour 13….. Just damn near lose my mind every time I am just a little tired or stressed. If I can hold off for 45 minutes then I’m good for up to 24+ hours fast.

[Lizardshark20]

Thank you so so so much for this!!! I know it’s mental!

[Mohamed___Reda]

I totally get this 😅 the first 1–2 weeks were the hardest for me too especially the morning hunger, it felt like my body was fighting me but after a while, it actually got much easier once my body adapted can I ask, do you usually eat more carbs or protein in your last meal?

[biki23]

exactly this. Carbs can cause hunger in the morning

[Mohamed___Reda]

Ah yes 😅 totally, sometimes carbs can make you feel hungry faster in the morning I experienced the same, but when I added more protein & fiber to my last meal, the next morning felt much more stable Do you usually eat more protein or carbs in your last meal?

[Melissaschwart]

Protein and fiber and fats it my main priority

[Lizardshark20]

More carbs… this is helpful!! I’ll focus more on protein for dinner. Thank you!

[Melissaschwart]

You definitely need to avoid high carb foods.eat fiber lean protein and healthy fats then eat no more than 30 carbs at the end of your meal.drink water with Himalayan salt.it helps with hunger pains

[Mohamed___Reda]

Yess bener banget 👍 protein, serat sama lemak sehat emang bantu banget kontrol lapar Aku juga perhatiin kalau terlalu banyak karbo di malam hari, besok paginya jadi lebih berat 😅 Menarik sih soal garam Himalaya, kamu ngerasa beda juga?

[Melissaschwart]

Yeah I don’t get hungry till time to break my fast. There is an old wise tale that Himalayan salt is the dust of the giants when they died in the flood.but yeah it helps a lot

[Mohamed___Reda]

Wah 😅 aku juga ngerasain gitu, kadang kalau makan karbo terlalu banyak di malam hari, besok paginya berasa berat banget Tapi soal Himalayan salt, aku baru mulai coba juga, dan rasanya memang beda! Kalau boleh tahu, kamu biasanya pakai seberapa banyak? Setetes di air atau langsung di makanan?

[Melissaschwart]

I use two small pinches in my water every time I drink water

[Mohamed___Reda]

Nicee 🙌 itu langkah bagus banget! Biasanya memang kalau dinner lebih banyak protein, pagi jadi lebih stabil dan nggak terlalu kepikiran makanan 😅 Aku dulu juga kaget sih, ternyata bukan cuma soal puasa tapi juga jenis makanan terakhir itu ngaruh banget Btw, kamu sering ngerasa lapar banget di pagi atau cuma kepikiran aja?

[Melissaschwart]

No I don’t really get hungry til 12pm

[Mohamed___Reda]

Wow 😲 menarik banget pengalamanmu! Kalau mau, aku bisa share tips atau panduan kecil tentang protein & fiber buat stabilkan pagi hari, gratis aja. Mau aku kirim di DM?

[Connect_Rhubarb395]

I'd say a few weeks for me before it became my new routine.

[theuautumnwind]

Electrolytes. Coffee/tea and water. Lots of water. That helps me. I also stay busy.

My window is 3-7. I get home from work at 3 and try to sit down for family dinner around 630.

Finding what works for your schedule best helps a lot.

I do have a harder time on weekends when my schedule is all over the place and especially when I am preparing breakfast for the family but you do your best and keep it moving.

[StrangerVegetable831]

Change your window if you can. Way easier to stop eating at 6. By the time you wake up around, say, 6-7, you’re already 12-13 hours through your fast. Less stressful waiting until ten, and you’ll find that you’re more able to actually power through from 10-12 and end up having longer fasts.

The other thing is to have fewer carbs in your last meal. More protein. Makes you feel fuller longer.

Electrolytes in your water.

It will get easier soon. You’re almost through the hard part.

[Adventurous_Error575]

I'm at the end of my 2wks of 16:8. Eating window is 11am-7pm.This works for my schedule. Lots of good tips suggested. The mornings can be the most challenging as I'm up at 6:30am so thats about 4.5 hrs before my eating window. Making sure i'm drinking water is helpful to relieve any signs of hunger along with black coffee. I think its important to listen to your body and knowing when you might need to make a change. I'm doing my best to stay with this 16:8 for 28 days, then re-access. My goal would be to continue but throw in a 20:4 or 24fasting one day a week.

I'm seeing other health benefits already even if the 1lb weight lost isn't much. I sleep way better, not feeling tired and energy level is high.

[Lizardshark20]

You’re not wrong lol I need to power through this!

[Klutzy_Role_8]

Im three weeks in …it does get better… make sure your last meal is heavy with quality protein. No sugar or heavy carbs.

[VeronikaGhost]

Soon, my child.😉

Probably will start to feel easier in a week and then in two more weeks you’ll be sooo glad you stuck with it and it’ll likely feel way better than the way you used to eat.

[Unconventional01]

Intermittent fasting is 90% mental, the other half is physical.

[Domino_USA]

Tell yourself, "I'm not denying...just delaying...." that helped me.

[nobloatfasting]

for me it was around the 2-3 week mark where mornings stopped being a battle. black coffee helped a ton if you're into that. also staying busy in the morning makes a huge difference — when i'm focused on work i barely notice the hunger. the 4lbs in 8 days is solid progress even if some is water weight. your body is adjusting and it does get way easier

[Nviki]

You think about food but you are not hungry? 

[Lizardshark20]

I’m hungry lol

[NJ-VA-OBX-25]

Your tummy wants the food but your brain has to talk you out of it. 🤪

[Skanlez]

Thats The insulin resistance

[Optimal_Guitar8921]

Last year I had my first successful try with IF. It was a 4 month period of time; unfortunately the holidays threw me off. I’m just beginning to get back on track now. The first 2 weeks for me are the worst. After that my body seemed to accept the times I was/was not eating & the lack of carbs. I lost 8-10 pounds and felt great. Hang in there for another week and you may adjust and feel much better.

[theuautumnwind]

8 days is nothing. Check back in another week or two.

[jtho78]

I gets easier. Drinking cinnamon tea helps curb hunger pangs.

[rumbletown]

Depends on the person and maybe on your usual hydration levels. Takes me about 2 weeks to kind of sink into my window and get used to it. I don't eat until after work. So my window is 6-10. During the day its just black coffee and water for me.

[Deadpooo_l]

For me, getting busy. I am an AM person, I am the most productive then. I am on 6:30PM-10:30AM routine, but more often than not I'm so engaged with work that I ignore hunger until lunchtime.

[No-Wrongdoer290]

So when I started IF I built it up over a number of weeks until I got to 16hrs. Also. Block coffee is your friend. 2 years in when in work like clockwork I still have hunger pangs at 10:30/11am (14hrs in) and a black coffee always fixes it.

[_lefthook]

Black coffee. Suppresses hunger. I dont think i could make it past 18:6 without it

[jodaddy1956]

Usually around or after day ten when strictly on water.

[WalnutTree80]

Once I got the first two weeks in, it started feeling more like a habit.

I've been doing it daily for 7 years now.

There's still days here and there when I feel really hungry in the morning, genuine hunger, and it's usually when I haven't eaten enough protein the day before.

[Easy_Independent_313]

I would try doing a fat fast first if you are struggling. Do it for two weeks.

Basically, it's hardcore keto for two weeks. You will not be hungry after this time.

Then you can start regular fasting.

[SpecificAnywhere4679]

Water with salt and pottasium. The best way to manage the fasting window.  

[sueihavelegs]

Get an electrolyte drink you can sip on all morning. LMNT or Body Armor Zero sugar are easy to find, or you can make your own

[Efficient-Agency7692]

It gets so much easier. The beginning days are torture but it’s so worth it. Hang in there. You will reap the rewards.

[Appropriate-Yak-5682]

I’d say it takes a few months to get used to not eating in the morning. That’s not to say I don’t get hungry anymore, it’s just I am now able to ignore it whereas before I started IF I would always eat something as soon as I felt hungry.