Learnings in my fourth year of IF

It has been almost six months since I moved from London to Dublin, and a lot has changed. Intermittent fasting has been the one constant. The flexibility it provides is remarkable and has helped me adapt to a new environment.

Wins:

Body recomposition: While I’m currently in maintenance, after 3 years and 4 months of living the IF lifestyle, my weight has stabilized (BMI under 24 kg/m²), and body recomposition continues to amaze me. I’m now down to jeans with a 30/32 waistline — it used to be 38 inches back in July 2022. I don’t have a goal weight, but I do have a goal lifestyle.

Farmers’ market discovery: I’ve found a couple of great farmers’ markets in Dublin. I now buy my vegetables, kefir, berries, and eggs there instead of from grocery stores like Tesco or SuperValu. The difference in quality is noticeable, as one would expect. Depending on the season, the variety changes too. It’s interesting how organic tomatoes don’t look as vividly red as the standard grocery-store kind, which tend to look more perfect but less natural. I also found raw, unpasteurized honey from a local beekeeper and learned that Irish raw honey is comparable to Manuka honey in its antimicrobial properties — at a fraction of the cost. Shopping at farmers’ markets has also been a great way to meet people. The Irish are incredibly warm and welcoming.

Misses:

Sleep: For several reasons, my sleep is far from ideal — both in quality and quantity — but I’m working on it. I got an Oura Ring to keep myself accountable and to track my sleep metrics. It’s an excellent tool; I love the dashboard and the symptom radar feature, which acts as an early warning sign for potential sickness. On a side note, I like that EMF exposure from a smart ring is just a fraction of that from a smartwatch.

Tennis and strength training: Alongside improving my sleep, I need to carve out more time for these two habits.

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