December IF/EF chat - all welcome!

(Dawn) #61

Amen, pick your spots. I have a wonderful, loving, caring ENABLING husband. Just last night around 10pm, he asked me if I wanted Taco Bell. How dense can this man be? But he knows that taco bell used to make me really really happy. He also knows that those chicken roll up thingies are back and those are my favorite. Spouses can inadvertently sabotage you big time. Bless their sweet hearts

(Dawn) #62

@ourtown Nott fasting was probably the best decision you made because you were likely not mentally OR physiologically ready to do it just yet. Don’t be disappointed. Be proud that you didn’t force it and you made a solid decision to start at a time that was better for you.

(Doug) #63

:smile::smile: Made me LOL, Dawn. (Hey, I like Taco Bell too - maybe it’s getting that salt fix? But in the grand scheme of things, wow, what a dietary disaster it can be.)

#64

I’m considering doing some EF in the springtime, more for the health benefits than further weight loss.

(Dawn) #65

Happy Anniversary. And congrats on your hubby joining you.

(Dawn) #66

Yes, I remember that podcast. He said that the new fat cells have never known diabetes or insulin resistance. They are new to the party and very happy “ninja like” fat cells that are really good at their jobs. It takes a while to get them to release anything.

#67

My husband and I wrapped up our 3-day fast yesterday evening pretty much as planned. For once I actually went a little longer than planned. It is “tech week” for my kids’ play, and I am the pianist, so I have to come to rehearsals, and they go til 9 PM. I knew I could not break my fast before rehearsal (I always get gut issues after a longer fast) so it was almost 10 by the time I ate anything, I had spent some of the afternoon prepping the food I was going to have for dinner, and if not for that I might have just pushed into the next morning. But I was really looking forward to it, especially after smelling the pizza they had for the kids at rehearsal.

Two days of keto, then a 36-42 hour fast Wednesday night into Friday morning is the plan.

We think we will do our next longer fast more or less in conjunction with the Zorn fast, though we have a Christmas party during the afternoon on the first day of it, so we will start after that. We both enjoyed some nice weight loss on this fast, and it helped me get my blood sugar back down (it was creeping up a bit, I had been experimenting with lowering the Symlin dose and I probably need to bump it back up).

Edit to add: We both noticed that even though we ate food we liked last night, it wasn’t as great as we thought it would be. I think we may be ready to do an even more extended fast, sometime after we finish the functional medicine program we’re doing maybe.

(Doug) #68

Helewisa, yes - we have to eat sometime. We all draw our own bottom line - I had never gone longer than six days with a diet, and usually on the third or fourth day I’d give up. It’s been almost 8 months for me now with a good bit of keto and some fasting; meaningful progress in weight loss, blood glucose control, etc. As imperfect as I am, I hope to get better at keto, just as one improves at fasting over time and with practice.

Your fast was so firmly in your mind - love it! Determination is a good part of all this. Habit, boredom, external pressures, family, friends and all sorts of things - walking by the cookies and fudge table - can have us eating before we know it.

I wonder what “real hunger” feels like. How long has it been since I felt it? I’ve felt real thirst - like hiking in the hot and dry, run out of water and then find you’ve taken a wrong turn and have another half-day before you can get back.

Hunger, though - even when younger and metabolically healthy, was it just a dip in blood sugar? How old was I before I’d even gone 24 hours without eating? Being fat-adapted (and I’m assuming I am) seems to mean you never really go low on blood sugar.

Day-by-day and hour-by-hour, the mood changes while fasting. There is the background good feeling that we are improving ourselves, but for me there is also a constant perception of “lack.” I had 50 years of eating to satiety and well beyond, often. A part of my brain is still wondering what in the heck is going on.

(Dawn) #69

OK, just got a nice motivator to really keep going with my current fast. Dropped my 6YO boy off at school. While we were in the car talking, he told me that I was “bigger than the ocean and that I couldn’t fit in the ocean”. I carefully explained to him how BIG and VAST the ocean actually is. He said and I quote “Yeah, but you’re bigger, bye mommy I love you”.

Now can any of you explain to me why I had a second kid? Why didn’t I just stop with my sweet precious little girl (now 13YO) who adores me and would never compare me to the ocean? I’ll show his little butt. I am going to complete this fast, I am going to reach my goal weight and this summer, I am going to jump in the ocean wearing one of those cute old lady bathing suits with the skirt. I told my husband this story expecting a little sympathy and he laughed for 20 minutes. Both of them can go jump in the ocean. LOL!!! I love my family. #notbiggerthantheocean

#70

My 5YO loves to tell me I have a big tummy. Well compared to them I imagine we do seem a lot bigger. Kids say the darndest things.

(Liz ) #71

Just about 43 hours into my ~70 hour fast. It’s always a bit startling how ultra keen my sense of smell becomes when I EF. Last night my husband was brushing his teeth down the hall & I could smell the toothpaste! Crazy. This is a superpower I do not want lol :rofl:

#72

Warrior fast today. I have another “gig” tonight, will probably do a meat meal after, which should extend the fast to appx. 24-26 hours.

(Fallili) #73

Great thread, and I really enjoy reading people’s stories. Fast-paced modern life can be so busy, and while I don’t fast regularly, there is usually at least one three-dayer per month, gives the body time to stop, breathe, cleanse itself.

(Rick) #74

I finally made it back to the forum after a 2 week ‘hiatus’. Needless to say, I have much reading to do! I am finally back on an EF, at hour 46 and going. I will keep it going for at least until 120 hours, maybe more.

On day 1 I gave myself a nasty shock, stood on the scale and to my shock saw a 10 LB INCREASE in one day!! Needless to say I was in disbelief as I had only had one meal plus water and tea. How does one deal with THAT?? I managed to drop 8 of that overnight with bathroom trips, but that was a scary experience. I didn’t think one could put on 10 pounds by just drinking water!! Anyway as of this morning I’m back to my original weight and going down. Wow what a ride…

(KCKO, KCFO 🥥) #75

A gallon of water weighs 8 lbs.

(Rick) #76

True!! But what was crazy about the whole deal is that I did not change my water intake nor my elimination rate from previous days. No change at all, that’s what stunned me. Color me confused on this one!

(Robin Lea Fritche) #77

I’ve done a week before, and another time I did five days (I had a social thing; otherwise in would have gone longer). I think the thought of it is scarier than actually doing it. I’m so busy that it’s not terribly hard to skip eating. :wink:

(Robin Lea Fritche) #78

Thanks!! I’m over the two day mark now… I’m not gonna say how many I’ve got left since I haven’t decided! I’m dipping my finger into some pink salt (that I just ground up) as I write this. :wink:

(Dawn) #79

I really can’t tell you what day I am on. I believe it is either day 14 or 15…maybe 13? Anyhoo, not worried about the days. Purely focused on weight. I am sooooo close to my goal. 2 more days should deliver what i need. However, I don’t feel great. I went through my first 14 day fast back in November with no problems. BUt this one is tough which means I may not have prepared well. I am determined to stick it out though. Still able to do my walks, still no hunger, no headaches or pains. Just low energy and a little blah. Also i am about sick of my breath smelling like fish feces. They can’t make enough gum and mints!! Despite not feeling my best, I am so proud of myself. NO more fasts over 7 days for the rest of the year. I may tackle again in January. But I may not.

#80

Doug, this is exactly how it is for me and surely others here as well. I think of the alcoholic and know that my desire to eat and go past satiety is much like having that extra six drinks! Whew, to take it all one day at a time is what I have got to hang onto or fall off the wagon for God knows how long. I manage much better minute by minute than when I think ahead to the parties, holidays and beyond, or even to what I’ll be having to break a fast. I am THAT sick!

Real hunger is something I have experienced and I am able to identify it even now, but obviously, the love of food and eating is what gets to me.

As for doing a service to our health and hoping for the benefits, I’m keeping my goals in mind as best and in hopes that one day, this keto life will become easy for me and that I no longer grasp for willpower to get me through a festive occasion. Can you imagine that?

Until then, I’m back to fasting for today, probably through until Friday evening I suppose. Blast that insulin! Now, where’s my salt…