Why Most People Plateau on 16:8 The 16:8 protocol โ€” eating within an 8-hour window, fasting for 16 โ€” is where most people start with intermittent fasting. It works well initially because it naturally reduces calorie intake by eliminating breakfast for most people. But over time, two things happen: the body adapts to the eating window and hunger increases to fill it, and people unconsciously increase meal size to compensate for the restricted eating period. The calorie deficit closes and fat loss stalls. This adaptation typically occurs after 6-12 weeks of consistent 16:8 practice. The bodyโ€ฆ