Fasting prior to keto giving me worries

(Paul) #1

Hi all
Being diagnosed with high blood pressure, diabetes and overweight a bit, I have finally decided to go Keto as opposed to WFPB diet. I need to keep my carbs so low to reverse my insulin resistance.

And started my water fast 4 days ago.

Second day was grim, but at the moment now, 4 days feel fine apart from when I try to do any work (manual) I feel dizzy and start to sweat.
Now here’s the concern. Prior to fasting my BP (Blood Pressure) was about 145/88, now when I have just come out of the workshop it went down to 95/65, pr 74. After 15 minutes its now 109/62 pr 66.

These BP’s seem a mile off what they were a few days ago, is this a cause for concern maybe?
Also I dont seem to have much energy at all. Any expert help here please?

Thanks

(Allie) #2

Why are you fasting before keto rather than just starting keto?

(Paul) #3

I think it will lose me weight quicker than straight into keto and I want to get my fatty liver emptied quickly and reset the clocks so to speak.

I had a drink habit in that every night after work, 6/8 scotches, that would then kick in my craving for carbs and it all went round in a nasty circle. Haven’t now had a drink for a week.
I also think as a result of my diabetes over a number of years I may well have cardio vascular disease, complimentary from the medical profession et al giving us wrong advice on nutrition…
So I decided to go cold turkey and dump the lot rather than drag it out.
Mixed bag of reasons I think.
Also, I am still confused as to setting up keto dietary requirements. I am not good with macros measuring and stuff.
I should also mention I have heavy metal toxicity and that is well known to create dysfunction in mineral transport and makes it difficult to lose weight.

Although I am pleased that I have gone from 185lb to 176. this week.

I was originally 200Lb before my last fast last year. No problems with that one.

(Allie) #4

There’s really no need to start keto with a fast, it’ll be difficult for anyone who’s not used to it. As for macros, no real need to worry about them at first either - just track all the carbs you take in and keep them below 20g, and make sure you get enough sodium too.

You’re doing great, just take it gently and don’t expect to be able to get things perfect straightaway as it’s a learning process.

(Ellen ) #5

You sound dehydrated. You should start adding keto food back into your plan. B/P is getting to low, oxygen isn’t getting to your organs.

(Paul) #6

Hi Ely

Thank you for your reply. I may be dehydrated I don’t know, I sure do drink a lot of fluids during the day, but don’t measure them and so its difficult to assess the quantity.

That’s a very good point about oxygen, I hadn’t thought of that at all. Just checked it with an oximeter and shows 98 with a 54 bpm pulse so that would seem ok.

Shame I didn’t check it when my BP was low. I did wonder about potassium levels.

I will measure my fluid intake over a day.

(Ellen ) #7

I’m a nurse and am just a little worried about the downward trend of your B/P. Please start adding some keto food to your day. You’ll feel so much better. Keto has been a great lifestyle for me and it’s only been 4 weeks. Good Luck Paul. You’re going to love this experience, just start eating.

(Paul) #8

Hi Shortstuff

Thanks for the reply.
I understand I can go into a keto diet straight away, but to be brutally honest, I am sick and tired of carrying my bulging gut around for years, the drinking and carb binging…thats enough as they say.

I also wanted to invoke autophagy for a while to clear up the rubbish cells, etc, and possible the vascular junk. I am not sure about that however, just a guess. I can invoke that however if I eat anything.

I am afraid its typical of me, win or bust. I am happy to plough on with the fast, I really want to get to 160Lbs, ish.

Do I understand correctly then that a keto diet will bring just as fast a weight loss as fasting?

(Boston_guy) #9

Getting enough salt?

(Paul) #10

Hi dub

Just thought about that, Had a teaspoon of pink salt with a glass of vit C. I think ideally I would prefer the LOW salt we get in the UK, half NaCl, and half K salt.

Will see that goes.
Thanks for the tip.

(Boston_guy) #11

Dr. Steven Phinney says 4-5 grams of sodium (not salt) per day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dj-bvuSwE0

(Paul) #12

Thats interesting didn’t know that. Wat form does it take and why cant you use salt?

(Boston_guy) #13

“By weight, table salt is approximately 40 percent sodium and 60 percent chloride. About 90 percent of the sodium we eat is in the form of sodium chloride.”

So it does not really matter what sort of salt you have, just be aware of the sodium content.

(Paul) #14

Oki dokey…That’s why I thought I would up my potassium levels and lower the NaCl side of it.

My diabetes was really kicking me, no mattee what tried couldnt get my BS down to non diabetic levels, my dad died of it, his sister died of it and my mum had it, with gangrene in her feet…great genes eh?

I knew I had to sort my life style out, it really was bad…I checked all of Mc Dougals vids and stuff, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Dean Ornish and T. Colin Campbell, bought all the books, China Study…mistake I think…and all the rest.

It just complicated things so much I couldn’t see the wood for the trees. Had me in a spin so to say.
Vegetarianism or high fat???

Anyway I tried HCLF it for 10 days and my blood sugar went through the roof. Felt awful.

Hence why I am here.

Can I also please ask you guys, does anyone subscribe to Dr Fung’s website? Is it worth it or a waste of money?

I got involved with fasting and Keto really from him. I was super impressed with his simple logic on IR.

However, I am seriously starting to believe high fat diets don’t affect the heart and vascular system, that keto is the only way I see to break the insulin resistance cycle. Although even then Mc Dougall and co insists its caused by fat in the cells and a high cab low fat diet is the way to go.

The personal evidence I have is my dawn phenomena with blood sugar appears to be gone, my BS is about 5.4 in the morning and 5.5 ish throughout the day. My morning sugars were always high no matter what I ate at night.

Maybe now my liver is emptying a bit is starting to stabilise.

The other guy I do have confidence in is Ivor Cummins, he seems to speak real sense.

(Boston_guy) #15

Yeah those are all good sources. I really like Doctor Tro- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0IxoldOwBg. Control appetite first. More resources at https://www.doctortro.com/free/. I’m sure Dr. Fung has great info but there’s a wealth of it already for free, and these guys are 99% in agreement.

This recent episode with Paulo was really powerful.

(Jane) #16

Not to discourage you… but all the posts I’ve seen on this board over the last 18 months that are ALL-OR-BUST as in “I’m going to fast until I reach my goal weigh instead of trying keto” have all failed.

I hope you are the exception… but just saying… you are really setting yourself up.

This is NOT a DIET. It is a LIFESTYLE change. For good. Unless you want the diabetes to return. No need to fast for days on end. No urgency or need to fix everything overnight. Just start eating and keeping your carbs under 20. Throw in some fasts as your appetite diminishes.

Because I have never seen anyone here on this board heal their metabolic damage overnight. It takes time. Yes, you can reduce your blood sugar and fatty liver dramatically in a short period of time but there is other internal damage that takes longer to heal. And may stall your weight loss so don’t get hung up on scale numbers.

Good luck - you have chosen the right path - but it doesn’t need to be that extreme and you can get the same benefits while enjoying fatty meats, bacon, cream, etc.

(Paul) #17

Hey Janie

Thanks for the come back, most welcome.

I do fully understand this is a lifestyle, not a “diet” or just a change and I am very happy to embrace it as long as it “is” right.

We have to remember the garbage the Dr’s, medical profession, dietitians, health services as our NHS (which incidentally still spout Mediterranean diet with whole grains, fruits, cereals and low fat… you get my drift). It is this “lot” who have successfully bought me and millions of other sufferers to this poor medical state by us taking their advice without question and enrolled us all into the big pharma money making machine.

In reality of course there was no where else to question their rational, which then became a dogma.

I so take on board what you say about All or Bust, but once I break the 80kg barrier, never achieved by me before, I will feel more confident and happy. I know its all a marathon not a sprint.

I am waiting for my avocado and bacon breakfast, followed by my egg, bacon and sausage tea…

(PSackmann) #18

@Brenda is an educator with the IDM and can give you an idea of what you could expect from Dr. Fung’s website.

(Paul) #19

Dub

Thanks for those great links and pod casts…they are REALLY appreciated. Just downloading them now, and perfect for my daily walk etc.

Brilliant

(Ellen ) #20

Right on…right on!!!