IF is absolutely wrong if your leptin resistant and have a huge problem with insulin resistance or eat a diet in foods that cause insulinogenic responses. I have said it on here numerous times.......CONTEXT matters for IF. IF is not for everyone.

If I never do IF am I missing most of the boat here? Not at all. I have the very same issue and just can't make IF work for me so I dropped it. No big deal. Some do. Some do not. You can still be very successful without the IF.

And speaking of success...I feel hugely unsuccessful at this point, even though there are stretches of days when I am 100% on it, and I've maintained the weight loss I first managed when starting Primal/Paleo last year. You lost weight and have kept it off and are still in the game trying to do better each day? THAT is the definition of success in my book. Do you have any idea how many people never make it as far as you have?? When you are ready you will take it to the next level. IF is no miracle cure for twisted thinking. Check in with you head and figure out what's holding you back. Stop being your own worst enemy. Take the time to figure out what's inside your head that needs reprogramming. But in the mean time, you've done great work. Try to remember that part.

I'll tell you what we will do. Hijack you to a deserted island and we will bring to you a basket of paleo food almost every day...except that on Tuesday and Friday no boat will arrive. You will then intermittent fast. On fasting days, think desert island.

You have to eat enough fat to be satisfied through your fasting time. You have to have athe deserted island mentality....especially with food all around you.

Regarding your sugar one day hit. I hope you are aware that any sugar you take in feeds any latent cancer you have in your body. Also all carbs are nothing more than sugar molecules strung together to look like a carb. When it breaks down in your gut, it converts directly to various sugars...and feeds cancer. A truly ketogenic diet with zero carbs may be the best way to strengthen your immune system.

A very low carb, high fat, very moderate protein eating plan will sustain you very well. Many of us eat 75-80% fat, 15-20% protein, less than 5% carbs.

Intermittent fasting as well as high intensity interval training does wonders for the body.

Lastly supplementing with Vit D3 increases the immune system and wards off diseases by activating killer T cells to go find an invading organism and kill it.

Think desert island and you will do well. Hang in there.

IF is a tool that some people find useful and one that can harm others if used improperly. I'm IF'ing right now on a Leangains style 16/8 window to lean out for summer. It works well IF ALL YOUR DUCKS ARE IN A ROW. i did it for a few months last fall and it was good until it wasn't. that's when we get to situations when you shouldn't be IF'ing. If you have any types of adrenal fatigue, elevated cortisol, or any other number of conditions that put undue stress on the body that goes past being hormetic, you should not be IF'ing. Before i started IF'ing this go around, i made sure that my sleep was in order, my external stress was minimal and my diet was well-rounded. Magnesium citrate has also helped being that insomnia came into play the first time around. Covering all of these bases seemed to have made quite a difference in the experience IF'ing this time around.

I agree with Dr. K - however there is some overlap between the benefits of IF and protein restriction with regard to cellular autophagy, which would be particularly important for someone in your position. Perhaps protein restriction would work for you?

I will post some links later (am currently using my phone).