60 Day Water Fast

[infromsea]

Girlfriend and I are going to try and go full keto together. We’re not going to be super strict when we’re out, but the one thing we ARE going strict on is no gluten. Which helps a lot in terms of dietary choices IMO.

Great job so far, really impressive! Your “path” to fasting/ketosis has been non-traditional for sure but, to each his own!

As far as not eating “strict” keto, I don’t recommend doing it half-assed.

My wife and I tried that and found that we spent more time out of ketosis than in and we get the best overall benefits from nutritional ketosis, it gives us the mental clarity/stamina you’re feeling but also the energy to work-out (I’m addicted to running) and do our “usual life” with ease.

We enjoy fasting but find that it only gives us 1/2 the picture, the mental side, while the physical side suffers, as you’ve seen in your process.

Good luck to you, I wish you the best.

Tim

[avocadosrule]

Awesome - looking forward to all your data and thoughts!

[OldDoug]

I’ll expand on this post as I get ready for my retrospective. Here to share what I’ve learned and answer any questions.

Good stuff, Tim! Wow. I guess the old saying about ‘not doing anything worthwhile by half-measures’ applies here.

[NelleG]

@JorgePasada, interesting info. I don’t know how folks do such long fasts, but am following this thread with interest. I only hope to some day be able to do decent IF. KCKO

[JorgePasada]

Blood glucose and Ketone numbers from today.

Not sure why the glucose is so high. Mabye because I had a weird sleep schedule today? This was like an hour and a half after waking up from a nap.

[details=Click for Glucose Numbers]

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Really annoying when I try and get a picture of the ketone reading. The meter thinks I’m going into ketoacidocis, which is impossible if you have a functioning pancreas, so it sits there flashing like a warning every half second and I have to take a huge photo burst to get the actual number in the picture.

[Brenda]

Well well Tim, when you messaged me about being a fellow Minnesotan etc, you said nothing about fasting! Fasting is a regular part of my routine! See the Zornfasts. I do water fasts, with only water and plain black tea and black coffee. No sweeteners. My longest fast was 10 days, and it was epic as hell. Currently I fast for approximately 3 to 3.5 days, once a month.

June 2017 Zornfast

Yep. There’s gonna be one. Starting June 22. I’m fasting until Sunday June 25. A water fast. This month’s group fast. June 22nd to June 25th I started practicing monthly fasts last February of 2016. I still gain great benefit. Zornfasts are normally the third week of each month. Join if you’d like, we’ll support each other here. I always do a water fast. (water/ black coffee & tea). The definition of a fast is open to your interpretation and needs. Some will need to do a fat fast. There ar…

[djindy]

I was under the impression Ketoacidocis was aroun 10 mmol/L, but 7+ might be closer than anyone I’ve personally heard from getting (maybe someone got 8 once for a short time). Granted, it’s not like I’m someone who has any reason to regularly hear such numbers from people, and a lot of people don’t even measure so precisely.

Actually, last I heard it was also simply uncertain what happens that high up (whether there’s any benefit to going that high, or whether it’s worse than, say, 3-5 range, etc).

That said… are you sure you do have a fully functioning pancreas?

[jamestorie]

Keto acidosis is a combination of extremely high blood glucose and extremely high blood ketones at the same time. This only happens with type 1 diabetics. I believe his ketone level is fine and representative of the extreme fast he is doing. The slightly elevated blood glucose could be from the breakdown of triglycerides or some sort of dawn phenomenon. But, I’m not a doctor, so my advice is worth what you pay for it!

[JorgePasada]

That said… are you sure you do have a fully functioning pancreas?

Given that I’m on zero medications and my blood glucose was 66 the other day, reasonably certain.

A good friend from secondary school is a Type 1 Diabetic who’s actually been writing code in the healthcare industry related to continuous glucose monitoring. We’ve had protracted discussions about this stuff, 99% certain I’m not doing anything dangerous.

[JorgePasada]

This only happens with type 1 diabetics.

Also pretty sure that’s the case.

[JorgePasada]

Well well Tim, when you messaged me about being a fellow Minnesotan etc, you said nothing about fasting!

Figured I’d let the thread speak for itself. The closest thing I have to a ‘before’ picture was actually taken at the REI in Bloomington when I was home visiting family this summer. Didn’t really think I’d be fasting long enough to need a set of before and after pictures.

Currently I fast for approximately 3 to 3.5 days, once a month.

Well I guess I’ve been unintentionally joining you then.

I do water fasts, with only water and plain black tea and black coffee. No sweeteners.

I’m going a bit more extreme with the water/salt thing. Not sure if I’ll do it again when I’m done with this one or not. I do plan to switch to a more sustainable fasting schedule while I’m done though.

Also, not sure if I’m breaking netiquette by ‘bumping’ this thread 3 times in succession like this. Just trying to maintain continuity of replies. Someone feel free to chastise me if I am.

[Brenda]

You’re fine

[Brenda]

No.

Type 2 diabetics can and do get ketoacidosis.
( Those that make almost no insulin of their own.)

[JorgePasada]

Type 2 diabetics can and do get ketoacidosis.
( Those that make almost no insulin of their own.)

Ah, correct. Should have been more specific. What I was getting at is if you have a healthy, functioning pancreas, you’re not in danger of going into ketoacidocis.

[Brenda]

if you have a healthy, functioning pancreas, you’re not in danger of going into ketoacidocis.

Absolutely. Yes.

[JorgePasada]

Ok well, I’m a wee bit upset right now. Because here’s today’s numbers.

[details=Click for Glucose Numbers]

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How worthless of a measurement is that!?!? Give me a number, I’m an adult, I can handle it!

[djindy]

I wonder if that means you’ve gone past the maximum the device is capable of measuring.

[OldDoug]

How worthless of a measurement is that!?!? Give me a number, I’m an adult, I can handle it!

Tim, have to laugh - so true and infuriating. Do I hear a bunch of buzzers, whistles, horns and sirens going off?

[JorgePasada]

I wonder if that means you’ve gone past the maximum the device is capable of measuring.

I think I hit the limit of what they chose to display. Pretty sure anything over 10 is dangerous for people without a functioning pancreas, so they just cut it off.

Tim, have to laugh - so true and infuriating. Do I hear a bunch of buzzers, whistles, horns and sirens going off?

Just called Abbot and a real live person actually answered the phone. Actually listened to me rant, took the serial number of my meter and said he’d pass along my feedback. Also informed me that anything over 8.0 is just going to display ‘HI’.

I understand that I’m not the target market for this device, and that they’re looking out for the safety of their main customer base, but why not just display the actual number with a warning and alternate the two?

[Rian]

I ordered a precision xtra and they accidentally sent me two. I live in Seattle also, if you want it you can have it. Pretty sure the precision xtra is more accurate than the Nova but not 100% on that.