Intro: I have been lurking for a bit here (thank you everyone on the board, I have learned a lot!) and am now posting for the first time to start an extended fast (with some fat for coffee most likely) and hope to get some input and encouragement. Since I started keto in mid March of 2017, I have completed a good number of intermittent fasting days, some 24 hour, 48 hour and one 4 day fasting period. Over these past 16 weeks I have lost a bit over 25 lbs and would like to keep going.
Stats: F, early 50âs, 5â8ââ, start 241 lbs Mid March 2017, current 214 lbs, goal 180 lbs (and then reevaluate).
Goals: I have no diagnosis but was feeling increasingly uncomfortable and weight was/is a limiting factor is doing many parts of life. Weight has been a struggle since puberty. I had done low-carb about 15 years ago and this worked before abandoning it and ballooning back up where I stayed fairly steady for the next decade and a bit. I like to become more mobile and active and not limiting myself in doing basic things or feeling more comfortable in daily life. Also, thinking about the future I want to prevent diabetes or metabolic syndrome.
Fasting goal: I am planning on doing 18 days for the simple reason that I have a social engagement away from home soon after. Also my partner is travelling away from home most of that time and I find fasting in the same home while someone is eating difficult. So break fast on July 14th. I am doing this with the idea of experimentation and not about white knuckling it - if I donât feel good etc I will have no problem breaking the fast. I went to see my physician twice in the past two months and she is entirely supportive of this. She said she wishes her diabetic patients would eat the way I do and thinks that the food pyramid is probably screwy!
Besides this entire board I was quite inspired by @ron-coleman during his long fast, keeping track of data and thoughts.
Weight over time: I have kept a book with some weight numbers over time and I graphed it out. Quite interesting to get this birds eye view on things. At 175 lbs as a teen and young adult I was considered very large (and a lot of pressure to change) but by todayâs standards I would be fine! During the time of my last 2 undergrad years I ballooned and the real struggle started.
During the past 16 weeks I have been working on staying in ketosis. Had some meals away, some travel away. The charts based on the past 16 weeks show a clear trend line down but it is also slowing down. It also impresses on me that I just have to keto on and not obsess about the numbers. There are definite swings ups and down and I am trying to think about this for the long run.
Here is a chart I kept with some more details. I purchased a new scale with more doodats:
Tools: heavy cream, coffee, water, fizzy waters, supplements (salt/sodium, magnesium, potassium, apple cider vinegar), glucometer, gluco and keto test strips, psychology! Sticking with supplements will be a challenge. I am curious to see how my body reacts, the psychology of it, and how much weight I can actually shed. During the 4 day fast I actually added weight but Iâm sure there were other variables going on (period etc).
This morning I had my âlast mealâ, eggs, bacon, strawberries and smoked salmon and coffee with cream.
My goal is to write here daily with updates and any meandering thoughts. There will be challenges of all types!
If anyone has any input or questions, I welcome them!
