I’m late to this discussion but IF strikes fear and dread in me too.
I love to run (although I’m much slower than you, Laura), and I’m convinced it would be more enjoyable if I shifted 5 pounds. A few years ago, I was successful doing that with WeightWatchers. Unfortunately my good habits hadn’t become second nature and the weight crept back.

Agree with my “easy tweaks” being alcohol and running longer once per week. I feel like I need an hour run to really see an impact on weight loss.

For me personally, skipping breakfast is counterproductive, as is prolonged fasting. I’m better off eating a really light dinner, or even skipping dinner, and eating more frequently for the first few hours of the day.

I loved the comment about knowing the foods you like being a profound sort of self-discovery.

I also resonated with pretty much everything in Laura’s original article. Especially the makeup.

I never really made the comparison, but it is very similar to tracking time. In WW, you have a finite number of points to spend however you wish. You can break them into small chunks or use them all at once. You also get a few extra to spend over a week (which is kind of like having extra free time on weekends). WW works very well for feeling good and losing weight when I follow it, just as I accomplish more and feel better about my life when I plan and am using my time thoughtfully!

For people who have light or fair hair like me, doing your eyebrows is definitely a thing. For my brother’s wedding, I went to the bride’s house to get prepared and I wasn’t wearing a stitch of makeup. The reaction after I did my face was dramatic and it was the brows that made the biggest difference. Unless I tint them, I look vaguely like a chemo patient without brows or eyelashes.

I had never tried to skip breakfast before, and now that it’s second nature, I love how light my body feels in the morning without having to digest food right away.

Amen!

I had never tried to skip breakfast before, and now that it’s second nature, I love how light my body feels in the morning without having to digest food right away.

I haven’t eaten breakfast in years. I just tell the kids I’m not hungry yet (its true, but I felt like I HAD to eat, because of all the misguided nutrition advice, and when I heard about IF I embraced my natural inclinations), and its OK to not eat breakfast if you’re not hungry as an adult (but they need to eat, since they are growing and learning at school).They seem fine with it.

I recently talked about this with my BFF. She was concerned about this as well. I don’t find it to be an issue. I think it can be a great teaching moment. I don’t do IF but I do have cleanse days, typically once a week, where I don’t eat with the family. For dinner I’ll read or just talk with them. Breakfast isn’t an issue for us since we’re always running out the door. I tell them I’m doing it to be healthy. I explain to them I want a healthy body so I can live longer and have more energy to play with them. I never say anything regarding weight. In more recent years, I’ve been making much healthier food choices. I point out what foods are healthier choices and why they are good for our body. I still indulge in wine, ice cream, etc. but less frequently. I, of course, have times where I indulge more than others. I also will say that some things, i.e. the cleansing, is only okay for adults. Kids need extra sleep and calories so they can grow. Mine are 5 & 7.
Side Note: I had asked my kids if they’d rather eat pizza everyday or ice cream and my daughter (5) said Mommy would pick carrots. lol. I loved that. It made me feel like I was setting a good example for them. Of course my daughter still picked ice cream…