Please notice: I sometimes count calories although I know it is nonsense, I sometimes do IF if I feel like. I sometimes eata bar of chocolate although it is pure sugar, I sometimes eat too much and way beyond feeling full...it just happens andin most cases I knlw the reason why I do so and can 'forgive' myself. There have been times when I could not...
I would say I am not really contracting to what you have already said. So I will just write down what I experienced and what might bother me with IF (and basically pretty much every kind of diet).
IF is sth which seems to be sold as the cure for almost every person who wants to lose weight or has some kind of disease or wants to improve health in general or wants to perform better in the gym or wants to justify an eating disorder. Probably you can insert gluten sensivity, lactose intolerance or vegan or else in here.
Be sceptic if experts (like the one mentioned above who surely makes some points) trying to sell sth.
Example: a few weeks ago a famous chef and his friend (a doctor of course) were on a TV show, telling people how healthy it is to eat butter, whole fat diary and non-processed food. I agree! The doc supported the chef and praised his recipes in the new book...but did they really told new things? No. Just marketing, buy the book. If you are from normal intelligy you knew that. People are warned to pay attention to hidden sugars...maybe they should start getting rid of the obvious?!
Back to IF.
What I don't understand is why some people are so dogmatic about it. I have done it too for several months. Did I lose weight?Was I feeling better? Not that I can remember. What I do remember is that I freaked out when sth interfers with my eating schedule and I have lost my period.
1. IF can be anti-social e.g. if you are a mother or father having dinner with your kids is an important part of the day. What does a teenaged girl think if mum has weird eating habits? I can tell you from my own experience that you are more likely to develop an ED that
2. IF can mess up your hormones - even more likely for women.
One of the considered most important 'fact' is that IF is natural and our ancestors used to eat like that. Food was not available in that quantity and quality. They sometimes were forced to go for longer periods without food. Their bodies were stressed because of that, like ours nowadays. But the difference is that today we have many other aspects in life which put additional stress on our bodies which they did not have in that amount.
3. IF - forced or free choice? If it is your free choice it might be more stressful because tody food is everywhere. You have to decide against eating several times a day - always conflicting thoughts and feeling bound to your diet.
4. Can you still listen to your body?
What to do if hunger occurs during your non-eating window? Is this the start to feel disconnected to your instincts? Especially women tend to put general rules over individual needs.
IF often goes hand in hand with eating real food and avoid additives. Good aspect! Go for it. It often goes hand in hand with low carb and higher protein (another thing that does not work for every snowflake). Where does that protein come from? Meat? Where does your meat come from? Can you effort 'real' meat? If not you might be better off eating pasta (which contains actually just a few, real, ingredients
)
Seasonal, regional.
5. Which food choices do you make? Is it just IF or a combination of IF, LC, LCHF, the Zone or Atkins? What is left to eat with a good feeling? What do you allow yourself? (If you are looking for rules in your life ask a judge!)I don' t eat becauseIam not hungry, not because a diet tellsme not to.
6. Are you developing a disordered eating habit? Are you destroying your metabolism?
If your sleep, your appetite and your digestion are fine, then you are doing sth right - says the Traditional Chinese Medicine. And with this I totally agree. Tired and stressed? You are likely to pick sweet and fatty food. Angry? You want sth to chew! Hormones, emotions...
What makes you eat the food you eat?
Reflect yourself! Be honest.
It can take years to figure out what is best for you. It could be IF or not.
Unfiltered thoughts but perhaps you get an idea of what I was trying to say.