Fasting I want to try but

(Kellie) #1

Is it okay to fast if you are hungry? I always want to try fasting . I wake up at 6am and I don’t want to eat till lunch at 12 but I’m hungry and my stomach is rumbling at about 9 or 10 is it okay to irgnore the hunger and push on through cuz my body will esentially feast of my fat or what ? I’m confused on how it’s healthy to ignore your hunger in fasting on keto , I guess cuz we are told to always eat when hungery but I’m not sure if it’s different on keto

(Chris) #2

Yes, it’s normal to fast when hungry. It actually helps me ascertain what actual hunger is vs. sugar cravings. Much moreso than diet alone did.

(Kellie) #3

On the weekends it’s easier I go a long time without food but during the week at work it’s like a whole different story lol maybe I’m bored ??? I’m not sure

(Chris) #4

Usually. Food is cultural and habitual.

#5

I’m the same way. I think it’s just habit plus the “trigger” of watching everyone else around me go eat.

(LeeAnn Brooks) #6

I think you should listen to your body. You’re more likely to eat carby foods if you let hunger get too great.

However, I would try drinking water, tea or coffee and adding some salt first and see if the hunger doesn’t go away. It can come in waves. So if drinking something and the hunger goes away, then don’t eat. But if it continues or comes right back in 10-20 minutes, I think you need to eat. IMHO.

(Empress of the Unexpected) #7

I started about the same time as you. My stomach rumbles around nine or ten - so I eat. And then I am good until around four. Water does help. I’m at thirteen weeks and finally able to not need a snack between the two meals (usually).

#8

When I’m doing OMAD I find I get hungry at pretty much the exact same time each day which just screams habitual to me. Sometimes I just go with it & eat & other times I try & push it a bit further in order to work my fasting muscle. So long as you don’t end up chronically calorie restricting I think it’s worth experimenting.

(Eli) #9

Just finished a 3 day fast and yes it is totally normal to have these feelings and too just ignore them. All it means is that your not fully Fat Adapted yet so your body still wants food for part of its energy. Just ignore the hunger, it usually goes away after 5 or 10 minutes. Only stop the fast if something is obviously wrong.

#10

Have you ever had surgery or even a minor procedure like a colonoscopy? Doctors fast patients all the time.

Hunger is transient. Mind over matter…

(Kellie) #11

Iv been on keto like 3 months now when will be I be fat adapted

(Eli) #12

Yeah you should definitely be fat adapted by now… although some take a long time to reach fat adaption so maybe not. Do you get hunger pains around the same time everyday? It may just be habitual and your body is used to getting food at a certain time and complains when it’s not fed.

#13

I was going to fast from yesterday until tomorrow, but I actually woke up hungry. So, I changed my mind and decided I’d try another time. My most recent fast (last Friday-Sunday) was so pleasant and easy and natural. That’s how I want it to be. A little struggle in the middle or end is fine, but if you’re hungry early on? Maybe not the best time.

That’s just my view. I understand the philosophy of sticking it out.

(Alec) #14

Kellie
My opinion:

  1. If you want to fast this is a good start. Motivation is critical.
  2. If you haven’t fasted before, then I would recommend you build your fasting muscle by going until at least lunchtime first without eating and see how you go. After doing that a few times, then go til later in the afternoon, and see how you go. Then try to go a whole day with no food.
  3. This does mean pushing through hunger and ignoring/managing it. Normal hunger is perfectly ok to ignore. It is actually quite fun to test yourself with this. Make it a game.
  4. When you deliberately fast this is somewhat different from normal keto eating regime where we do say eat when hungry. Fasting is different from keto as a strategy, although they are related and use similar pathways such as controlling insulin.
  5. 3 months in you should be somewhat fat adapted, so I say go for it, and see how long you can go for during the day without gnawing your own leg off! :rofl:
  6. If at any time you feel ill, dizzy, or you get a bad headache, then end the fast. Don’t push through these things. But do expect to get hungry, and know that hunger comes and goes, you won’t just get increasing hunger.
  7. The feeling of an empty stomach is actually really great. Warning: you may get addicted to it!!:scream:
  8. If you get hungry, eat salt, it really works!
  9. Keep your electrolytes up during fasting. Very important.
  10. Go gently on yourself. There is always another day to try another fast. Listening to your body and learning the difference between a craving (ignore), normal hunger (ignore), or feeling ill through lack of food (do not ignore) is the game here. By doing fasting you will learn how all these things feel, and you will be able to differentiate them.

KCFO!