I’m curious if anyone has any perspective on Extended Fast length…7 14 21? Then go to feasting? I haven’t seen much out in the science area to suggest a 7 day fast is better than 14 or 14 is better than 7. I ask as I have just embarked on my first 7 day fast with water, coffee (15g butter 10g mct oil), and salt only. I feel fine and am motivated to continue but am also mindful that maybe it would be better to end the fast go back to IF/Keto for a few days, then transition to a 3 day feasting period and jump back into another 7 day fast. Any thoughts from my fellow ketonians? As of the start of Day 7, I’ve lost 12 pounds, have a BG of 61 and Ketones of 3.5.
Experience with Extended Fasts and Feast Cycling?
carolT
#2
Sounds like you’re rocking it. I wouldn’t worry about intentionally cutting it short until you get some serious food cravings, signs of slowing metabolism or just feeling bad in general. How well you handle it depends a lot on the amount (in lbs/kg) of bodyfat you have. If this is your first time on an EF, there’s probably a lot of fat burning and autophagy going on.
WillW
(Will Westenhaver)
#3
Thanks Carol! I’ve done a 5 day fast before and ended it after not feeling well…cold extremities, obsessing on food, etc.
I’m about 25% body fat and at 218 pounds on the scale. My goal is 15% and looking to get my hip to waist ratio below 1. I’m not too concerned with scale weight goals but would love to be around 155-165. I haven’t been there for 8 years.
I’ve just started noticing the cold extremities coming back and my sleep wasn’t stellar last night as I was daydreaming about what food I was going to break my fast with. With that said, I think I will break the fast with some macadamia nuts and wait a few hours for a nice keto dinner. I will formalize the next evolution and report back!
carolT
#4
Good call. Pay attention to the cravings. Mine are almost always for a different food each time.