Reader shares benefits of trying intermittent fasting

Dear Annie: I have discovered something that your readers might find helpful, and if you agree, I hope that youwill printmy letter. For the past 20 years, I have wanted to lose the same 10 pounds. In fact, I have lost them dozens of times and then regained them after going offwhatever diet I tried. And I have tried themall! Lowfat and high carbohydrateworkswell, as does high fat and lowcarbohydrate. The problem with either diet is that I findmyself missing too many different foods and eventuallygooff it. When Iwas following a lowfat diet, I craved hamburgers and fries all the time. When I was eating a low-carbdiet, I instead craved ice creamand cookies.

I exercise a lot to maintain myfitness andamin good shape overall, but, as I say, I have struggled with those extra 10 pounds for many years.

Finally, I found a solution that I find easy to live with and reallyworks. My daughter toldme about it; I tried it anddid not feel uncomfortableat all, andgradually seven of those 10 pounds have comeoff. I wanted to share this withyour readers. The “diet” is called intermittent fasting.

As a practicalmatter, what thismeans forme is that I doallmy eatingduring an eight-hour time period and then don’t eat again for the next 16 hours. I eatwhatever I used to eat— no limitations at all— and as long as I do allmy eating in eight hours, I keep losing weight. If I feel like a hamburger and fries, I eat them. If Iwant ice cream and cookies, same thing. But I try to practicemoderation and not go overboard theway I used towhen Iwould come off a starvation diet. Most days, I eatmybreakfast at 11 a.m. andmake sure to finish dinner before 7 p.m. But ifIhave tohavean earlier breakfast, then I eat an earlier dinner, and if I start eating later in the day, thenImight eat dinner a little later.

I don’t knowwhy thisworks, but it really does, and I feel muchbetter without those handful of pounds onmy body. I love your columnand wanted to sharemy experiences with your readers.

Eating and Satisfied Dear Eating and Satisfied: It sounds like you have found a meal plan that really works for you. My guess is that you are consuming fewer calories during each 24-hour period. Iamprintingyour letter in order to share your success with others. As always, however, myadvice to all readers is that before tryinganew meal plan, be sure tocheck with your physician tomake sure it is right for you. Thank you for your kindwords! Keep up thegood work.

Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators. com. To find out more about Annie Lane and read features by other Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.