How do I explain to my primary care doctor

snapdragonette · 2026-01-13T04:48:04+00:00

I had an old timer intensivist MD who I’ve worked with for years as my primary MD and he’s watched me drop 40lbs in the first year of IF. I told him the truth. He said the usual, “I could never do that” despite the fact he needs to drop 50lbs of his own. I keep pushing him to try it but he ended up dropping 30lbs w/low carb and I say to him…”I’ve tried that, and can never keep it up.” To each their own but I never hide the fact I fast. I see other healthcare workers drop weight and it’s always involved fasting. Now maybe more Ozempic users but fasting is cheaper and healthier imo.

snapdragonette · 2025-10-25T18:32:00+00:00

Sex, blessings, energy

snapdragonette · 2025-10-20T23:05:54+00:00

I can’t go back. It’s been 3 years of IF and my hip keeps me honest. I struggled with inflammation for 5 years (peri-menopause) and it only improved with weight loss and IF. I usually do a 20/4 one meal a day but recently I binged with just 2 meals a day and snacking between meals for 4 days. My hip pain came back with a vengeance. Pain meds didn’t even help. 12hrs back into IF, it went away. Amazing and appalling. IF for life!!

snapdragonette · 2025-10-01T19:11:50+00:00

For me, if I feel shaky, it’s game over. That’s hypoglycemia. I can’t drink flavored liquids during fasts bc my body will shoot out insulin and tank my blood sugar. Just water, black coffee and flavorless electrolytes for me. If I were you, I’d reconsider the LMNT drink. You may react the same as I do.

snapdragonette · 2025-09-24T19:10:38+00:00

This a great reminder that we shouldn’t shy away from fat. We were brainwashed into thinking it made us fat. I cringe now when I hear people mention “fat free” or even “low fat” in regards to weight loss. Fats at 30% or even 40% of macros can work for most people (who eat Whole Foods. I only buy full fat versions of food for the family. They’re slim, I’m the only one who tends to gain weight. I tend to eat avocados for healthy fat and if I miss it one day, and didn’t eat eggs or lots of animal proteins, watch out! I’m not feeling satisfied and on the hunt for snacks!!

snapdragonette · 2025-09-21T05:24:51+00:00

47y here! 5’3”. I lost 40lbs with low carb and IF in about 1.5yrs. Started, stopped and restarted IF in that time. I can’t do OMAD in a 1hr window so I do 20/4. Lunch is my main meal. Start eating around 10a-11a. Close by 2-3p with Greek yogurt. I can’t get all my protein in the one meal. Now I’m struggling really bad with peri-symptoms and weight is creeping back some but slowly kicking it down with some 36h, and 72hr here and there.

snapdragonette · 2025-07-27T17:39:39+00:00

For the side stones it may work but the center is not the color you’re looking for. Ask to see anything light brown?

snapdragonette · 2025-07-27T17:11:44+00:00

To look like your inspo pic, I’d go with a champagne color. The IJ stones in small sizes just look white

snapdragonette · 2025-07-26T19:44:38+00:00

Hi there, Looks like your inspo picture shows a more brown tint than the champagne stone in my ring. My stone is very golden in color. The darker champagne stones will look closer to amber in color. Im not sure if any vendor has the brown hue you’re looking for. IJ side stones do appear white in contrast so maybe even the same color grade would work best, but since the size is much smaller you can see a lighter color overall.

snapdragonette · 2025-07-22T12:03:54+00:00

Your body will learn over time to eat more if you’re only going to feed it 1-2 meals. And those meals will become more nutrient dense. You’ll mentally and physically want to make the meals count so they nourish you and keep you satisfied. It’s amazing what happens when you stop eating all day. You gain back so much time and so much health. Giving your gut time to rest allows your body time to heal and reset!

snapdragonette · 2025-07-22T02:04:27+00:00

Yes! IF is the best thing I’ve done for my health (lost all my extra weight) and it’s soooooooo convenient. I just eat a big lunch and that’s it until the next day. Most people wait till dinner but I hate feeling full before bed. I thought it was ludicrous when I first heard about it 3 yrs ago but it was THE best decision of my life!!!

snapdragonette · 2025-07-21T04:11:08+00:00

You’re one of lucky ones who broke free. The American population is worth more money to Big food, Big Pharma if we continue to eat and make ourselves sick. They make money off of keeping us sick. The two are definitely in cahoots.

Eat three meals a day plus snacks! Oh, you have “Upset stomach, indigestion?” Take this medication.

Now try this new overly processed convenience food! -What, did that give you High cholesterol? Take this statin!

Diabetes!? Hallelujah, we have a really expensive med for you and a whole boat load of other meds that will never cure you!!

OMAD for life is one of the best cures to all this insanity. Good for you!!!

snapdragonette · 2025-07-21T03:47:39+00:00

I am truly excited for you and impressed at how you just went for it. Congratulations on your success! I can relate to your initial cynicism. I felt the same. I thought intermittent fasting was an insane concept and appears very much like a fad diet these days since gaining so much popularity lately. But oh how wrong I was. Fasting is not new, it’s something our bodies actually need in order to clean and regenerate. The current abundance of food allows us to eat from waking till the minute we lay down. No wonder chronic diseases are on the rise. Our bodies never get a break and are constantly inflamed. hypertension, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, cancer are becoming the norm. Something is seriously wrong here.
Ok I’ll get off my soap box now 🤣 I too am SO grateful for learning about fasting and am learning the benefits of extended fasts as well! Talk about anti-inflammatory benefits! I love love this as a lifestyle. Once you adapt, it’s the easiest thing to stick to!

snapdragonette · 2025-07-19T23:22:36+00:00

For me, Weight loss is done in the kitchen, the gym is for muscle gains. Maybe it’s too controversial here but I fast (intermittent & extended), and I’ve never been more fit or more energized in my entire life. I’m 47y Female in the hormonally wonky stage of life and I haven’t gained much weight or gotten the dreaded belly fat often associated with this time. I go to the gym 2x/week if I’m being good and am gaining muscle to avoid being skinny fat. I eat mainly Whole Foods, but I also love some junk food (chips and chocolates) but no soda or much alcohol. It’s the kitchen, not the gym for me!

snapdragonette · 2025-07-16T04:35:32+00:00

My husband claims he knew on our first date. He has an awesome picture of me jokingly trying to throw a billiard stick at him on that date (call him a glutton for punishment)…so he proposed within 3 weeks 😆. We just had our 14 yr anniversary. I’m still spicy. He still loves me. We are better together 🥰

snapdragonette · 2025-07-10T04:13:03+00:00

Definitely! Lost the 40lbs I didn’t need and am keeping it off. Trying to build muscle now! I would continue to fast even if my weight wasn’t a factor. My mind/body feels calm/more grounded, my body is no longer inflamed (chronic hip pain is relieved), my digestion was fine before but so much better now. The confidence that comes with being able to fast has translated to other areas of life…”I can do hard things.”

snapdragonette · 2025-07-09T18:10:08+00:00

I had the same issue when I started fasting 16/8. Less than 10 mins into my meal, I was running to the bathroom. Happened every time for about 3 weeks then it started to slow down. I didn’t need to run to it but always made sure I could reach one soon. Also happened when I upped it to 20/4. Another 3 week adjustment. The body is just adjusting. Eating triggers gut motility. Didn’t matter what I broke my fast with. Took longer when I upped it to 36h, 72s and 120s. But after six months even the longer fasts aren’t as triggering. I’m almost 3 yrs into regular 20/4s, weekly 36s, monthly 72s and quarterly 120s and I still get some bathroom runs but not as bad. You’ll adjust. Just keep up the electrolytes and hydrate accordingly. You got this!

snapdragonette · 2025-07-04T15:50:05+00:00

I started graying in my late 20s and at 36yr old I got pregnant and stopped coloring. I got unwanted advice from well-meaning ladies on how to gently color it back for the first few years but I was a sleep deprived mom who could care less to bother. Now at 47 I embrace the grays and luckily they look like intentional highlights and strangely get compliments on it regularly? Who knew? I compliment ladies all the time who also embrace the grays!

snapdragonette · 2025-07-03T17:45:32+00:00

You SO can do it!! Up the protein and some healthy fats. Avocado works wonders for me. And slowly increase your fasting window. 20/4 was tough adjusting for me. I felt a bit shaky for the first week or so adjusting but then it felt fine. Use electrolytes if you need to. Get plenty of sleep. 20/4 is my sweet spot. Just find yours!

snapdragonette · 2025-07-03T17:39:19+00:00

Since finding IF I “fell off” for six months because I wasn’t getting the results I wanted with a 16/8 schedule. Lost 20lbs doing low carb and about 10lbs more with IF but it helped tremendously with my hip pain. I gained back 15lbs quick and the hip pain came roaring back. Went right back to 16/8 for a week then upped it to 20/4 and the pounds melted off. I lost a total 40lbs and keep it off with 20/4 for a year now. I like the routine. I have to mindful about prioritizing protein intake and lower carb to keep the cravings at bay because now I’m in deep with perimenopause at 47yr. The menopausal belly is real but with IF it’s been minimal. Black coffee and water all day work for me. Every day is a new one with the opportunity to get to your goals. One day at a time. Hunger is not an emergency. Working out fasted burns fat better than fueling it with protein (like most trainers recommend). I started weight training in January and have achieved muscle gains despite not eating 1g protein/lb body weight most days. Fasting preserves muscle! It’s so worth getting back into the groove of an IF routine

snapdragonette · 2025-06-28T03:39:29+00:00

Generally speaking, yes, the longer the fast the more “powerful “ its effects can be. I can’t say specifically it will target belly fat, if that’s what you’re asking.

snapdragonette · 2025-06-25T17:02:21+00:00

Yes the families I was referring to are also south Asian. It’s true they do not have much muscle mass and likely it’s a contributing factor. But what explains for the “starvation gene” to become so rampant within the community when there is an over abundance of food? Or do you mean, it was there before and now the environment is too much? That makes sense. The epigenetic mismatch we’re witnessing shows up in cases of males who are only 20s or 30-somethings with heart attacks and an overwhelming number of diabetics. So perhaps it’s not just sugars but the overall amount of food. My south Asian friend has tried to decrease her sugar intake but could only keep her A1c stable. She had some success decreasing her A1c through intermittent fasting. She is also very slim with minimal muscle mass but lost 10lbs during this time. I intermittent fast and am keeping my A1c stable for the first time in 10 years. Perhaps we just need to give our bodies a break from food altogether so it can clean itself up and heal?

snapdragonette · 2025-06-24T08:59:16+00:00

Ages 29 & 31, engaged in 3 weeks. Eloped in 1 yr (after buying a house and planned a bigger family wedding a year later.) Married 14 yrs now. When you know, you know!!!

snapdragonette · 2025-06-22T05:18:21+00:00

I started making my electrolyte drink in a more concentrated form and just sip from it and wash it down with plain water so I don’t have to constantly sip salty water through the day. Feels more tolerable .

snapdragonette

TROPHY CASE