I need a shake up, or am I over thinking?

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #1

Ahhhh friends, I have hit a mental block.
I am worried I am not eating enough calories on OMAD.
It’s not really OMAD as much as it is - eat within an hour window from 3pm - 4pm.
I have been doing this for 4-5 weeks now.
The main meal I eat is chicken and lamb salad, with a bunless burger. I’m pretty sure it’s not even 1000 calories.
I’m worried I will be slowing down my metabolism over time. I think I’m getting most of my calories from dabs of cream in my espresso right now.
Lately, i’ve been snacking a bit, I literally feel although satiated, it’s just NOT enough food.
I went to the Brisbane Exhibition yesterday with my family and had a dagwood dog, with a strawberry icecream.
Then this morning I ended up getting a sausage and egg mcmuffin meal with an iced latte… probably 80-90 carbs.
I immediately felt crap, but I also felt good, like I really needed a bunch of shitty calories to pep me up.
I don’t know. I don’t know where I’m at now.
I want to start working out again but i’m scared as i KNOW my calories are too low.
I’m just not bloody hungry but i’m not prepared to fast beyond 48 hours either.
I feel like i’ve eaten 10 meals this month…
Feeling a bit confused and now I’m actually feeling hungry because I ate dumb carbs for breakfast.
Being a SAD eater sucks. I wish I could find balance in my meals at the moment. Anyway, rant over. lol.
Each time I ruin my progress though I learn a lot. Today I learnt that McDonalds is flavourless junk, but I’ll remember that next time I want to pull in again for a hash brown lol.

Anyways,

TLDR; i fear i’m not eating enough on omad and slowing myself down, how do i reset?

(Jane) #2

I have read the studies about metabolism slowing down with reduced calories… etc.

My question is…I have a couple of close friends who lost > 100 lbs after gastric bypass surgery in a very short period of time and they were eating 500 calories/day after surgery and worked their way UP to 800-1000 cal/day and were still dropping weight like crazy.

Was the surgery itself a hack? Or is there more going on here we don’t understand or have studied?

#3

I too mostly do OMAD, mainly because I enjoy it over 2 or 3 meals. I don’t get hungry at work and find not eating actually feels better to me. … But I’ve also heard a lot of mention that doing OMAD can slow metabolism, so I’ve been trying to mix it up from time to time. Either grabbing something at lunch once or twice a week, or simply changing the time I’m eating. I’m also usually eating within a 30 to 60 minute window, no matter when I eat.

Unfortunately I also don’t do a lot of tracking on my daily intake, so can’t speak on that, but hopefully someone will have some useful input if it’s helpful. I mainly just make sure I stay under 15 net carbs daily, and eat till I feel full. But I do usually make sure to use something with the protein, whether burger, steak, fish or chicken by adding a creamy mushroom, or similar sauce. Or simply following it up with something like a 1/4 cup cottage cheese. This seems to fill me up even more, and sometimes not being able to finish the meal.

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #4

I am finding OMAD difficult after a number of weeks.
I am bored of my meal, but i enjoy eating one.
I think I am hurting myself with limited calories.
I think I need to do more extended fasting (i dont want to eat anyway, i enjoy the no food feeling) but REALLY feast upwards of a few thousand calories.
Do you think that would make more sense? I can fast beyond 48 hours these days I just choose not to, but I think not making the switch is actually starting to hurt me.

(TJ Borden) #5

I’d try mixing it up. Megan Ramos has talked about the importance of variety to prevent homeostasis. I often do OMAD, but I’ll also do 16:8 for a few days every once in a while, and sometimes I’ll really mix it up and have an actual breakfast (usually for business meetings).

#6

I also don’t have any issues fasting, and find that I’ve been stopping myself at 3 days, but can definitely go more, so I can relate. I also feel better when fasting too, but try to take that as a sign all is well. But I also don’t want to do it too regularly, for fear of not wanting to lose that feeling, or like you said, become bored with meals.

I’m not sure if this helps any, but one of the things I think keeps me interested in meals, is looking to make different things, and not become too repetitive. I think researching meals, or better, creating them helps to keep me interested. And I do like creating meals and cooking, so I think that helps.

Hopefully others with more knowledge can suggest some better ideas that might help, but I will watch this thread, since I do feel similarly to some you have mentioned.

#7

What I tried to say with a whole lot more words! :slight_smile: … But yes, I’m trying to do just this as well. Mixing it up, to hopefully prevent this. Keep it changing enough so it doesn’t get repetitive, or boring.

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #8

Alright, a new question…

Technically I have eaten two meals for the last two days including lunch at 3pm today
If I were to begin extended fasting, should I keep my feasting to a day or a window?
And do you eat as much as you can in that feasting time? Regardless of calories?
I will start with 2 day fasts, feasting on the third day.
I think this is what I need to do now.
Can anyone provide advice, or think this is not a good idea?

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #9

Yes. It reduces insulin resistance, though I’m not sure exactly what the mechanism is.

(Nathan Toben) #10

To each their own but one thing I’m wondering is this.

Your primary concern in this thread, it seems like you are considering the effects of undereating long term.

And your most current post suggests that a possible solution that might appeal to you is to eat even less or less frequently.

Even if you do really feast on the third day, overall, do you think that there is a chance that it could come out to a net decrease in total nutrition consumption?

I totally get the being bored by the one meal routine and if its the only time of day to get in all the calories, with keto, that can be a huge challenge for people with functional satiety signals.

Who knows, maybe 48-hr fasts could be the reset you seek. Personally, I actually have been wanting to complete a single 48-hr fast but it is hard for me as I am training for a race, or maybe I don’t have what it takes ;). Often times, the right answer for me is the simplest.

One mantra I have to keep me right-sized is: when in doubt, diffuse.

So if I were you, and didn’t act like a dumb-dumb the way I often do, I would take the path that decreases stress. I would get in calories early in the day, and keep up momentum with a delicious midday meal so that I am not fighting against the numbers when dinner rolls around.

At first it would feel counter-intuitive to me and stomach-stretching, but as people who have made sacrifices in the short term for long term health, we are well aware that there is always an adaption phase when switching up routine.

I realize I am writing a lot, obviously this is me processing my own situation through this topic somewhat so thank you for the opportunity and I hope I haven’t come across as overly advicey, cheers

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #11

No, you make a very good point, thank you for responding.
One of the issues I have is food choices, I am just not hungry, which is why I am bored of that OMAD.
But yeah, it makes less sense to fast for longer and eat less food doesn’t it?
Argh.

(Nathan Toben) #12

Yeah at my work, they don’t give us an official break so I have to inhale food from somewhere close by if I don’t pack it. Sometimes its just 6 boiled eggs salted and a shot of olive oil. That does not a happy meal make. I struggle with providing myself with deliciousness big time.

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #13

I have ‘flexible’ lunch time so I can take as long as I want, within reason.
I typically go out to buy my lunch, then eat it over an hour at my desk.
Except I can’t have seafood cause some idiot in my office has that big of an intolerance you can’t even open a can of tuna without him wanting to choke and die at his desk, haha.

(Jane) #14

Oh, please. How did he manage to make it to adulthood? Energy vampire alert!!!

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #15

Yeah imagine being told to eat your tuna outside because you might kill old mate.
I asked him how the hell he does his shopping? He said he shops online and avoids food courts.
I’d rather die.

(Jane) #16

Sorry but insensitive me would be laughing my ass off and telling him to “get over himself”
and “grow a pair”

:rofl:

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #17

Its that bad we have ‘seafood days’
Cant eat it Monday - Wednesday in the office, which really pisses off the Networking team. Lol. Imagine that.

Anwyay fuck him, i’m going to sit in the sun with my tuna!

(Terence Dean) #18

Bwahaha! Katie you are the best!!! :rofl: Do you want mayo with that?

I nearly choked on my apple when I read this…lol!!! Oops I let slip…ok someone call the fucking Keto police… I’ll confess this time…:rofl:

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #19

Give me ALL THE MAYO.

(I came for the weight loss and stayed for my sanity... ) #20

I would say listen to your body, it will tell you when your metabolism is starting to slow down. (less energy, feeling cold) if that is not the case I wouldn’t worry too much…

and if you want to start to work out again, just do it, maybe that is just what you need to increase your hunger… fasting always gets harder when I work out…