Fasting Stories Wanted!

(carl) #1

Hey all, we’re on the lookout for more fasting stories. We’ve seen some amazing results among you all, but there are probably some of you who had to go back a few steps before you could move forward. THAT’s what we’re after - overcoming obstacles. How did you do it? Please share! If you’re too shy, you can PM @richard and me

(Melissa ) #2

I did a 7 day fast relatively easily when I first started. The following week, I couldn’t even make it through the first day of a 3 day fast. I learned that making sure I had enough fat going into the fast helped me be successful.

(Karen Fricke) #3

Having success with alternate day fasting. Water, plain tea, and salt on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, feast on the other 4 days. Since I don’t eat breakfast, ends up being 40 hour fast 3 days a week. I was even able to do a 50k bike ride 36-40 hrs fasted and felt really good.

(Andrew Anderson) #4

January 1st 2017 I started the ketogenic way of life. I knew I should cut carbs and eat fat and eat less protein. Some misguided googling led me to chasing macros on MFP and worrying about calories. On a dull day at my desk I decided to see if there were any podcasts about Keto and stumbled on 2ketodudes. I joined the Facebook page about 2 weeks before it closed and then joined this forum. I learned lots reading and listening. When I heard about fasting I thought it was pure lunacy. I was drinking the Keto kool-aid but seriously… fasting? Show #58 Switching it Up helped me reconsider. I was just finishing The Obesity Code and decided to track my blood glucose and ketones and look into fasting seriously. My first fast was just over 50hrs. Each week since I’ve tried to work in 24-30hr fasts once or twice a week. I feel like I am sneaking fasts. I have not been brave enough to take on longer fasts. I am shy about social or family stigma. I recognize the benefit but something is holding me back. On a positive note this community is so supportive and my life is changing for the better. I had lost a few inches and 20lbs and stalled and was close to giving up. Since the Switching it Up show and trying fasting I’ve lost another 25! This may not be the fasting story you are looking for, but I am obligated to share how much happier, and healthier I am since stumbling into this universe.

(John Somsky aka KetoGrinder) #5

My first fast was last month’s Zorn Fast. I lasted 90 hours. Overall I felt great. I broke the fast because I was having diarrhea. I had issues with the next 36 and 72 hour fasts. I figured out that I was drinking too much ketoaide. I over did the salt and magnesium. I then did an 89 hour fast and no diarrhea, but I don’t think I got quite enough salt that time. I did an 86 hour fast last week and had no issues. I’m currently about 48 hours into this month’s Zornfast and I appear to have the kinks worked out.

I’m also still on Metformin and on my first fast I tried to eat a handful of spring greens with my meds. It gave me incredible hunger pangs. Since then I’ve discovered I can take my meds without food, and do just water, salt and coffee fasts.

(G. Andrew Duthie) #6

Have done several multi-day extended fasts, some fat-supplemented, others “water-only”.

Biggest hurdle I always seem to run into is nighttime leg cramps towards the end of an extended fast. I always seem to underestimate the amount of increase in electrolytes needed during an extended fast, and by the time I realize it, it’s hard to get enough in to keep the cramps at bay, so I sometimes end up stopping the fast early.

But overall, I’ve had good experiences fasting, including fully-fasted workouts.

(Doug) #7

Started 2 months ago, 5 day fast went really well, felt pretty good. I too take Metformin, and have had no problems on an empty stomach. No broth, salt, electrolytes, bulletproof coffee, etc. - though would not hesitate if I thought I needed them. Drinking black coffee, unsweetened tea, water.

Have done a couple 3-day fasts since, along with quite a few one-days, which is really closer to 36 hours, i.e. supper one evening, then nothing all the next day, and nothing until breakfast or later on the third day. Some days fizzle out - I’ll eat some sardines or tuna in oil, or even outright cheat on the whole fasting/ketogenic deal with a pizza.

All very haphazard and disorganized. I work away from home, “on the road” most of the time, which in theory makes things harder, i.e. less easy access to proper food. Or is that just an excuse? Down 40 lbs. the first 2 months, of which I bet at least 15 were water. Trend is favorable, and it makes it easy to rationalize cheating for whatever reason seems handy.

Struggling with the desire to eat - out of boredom, habit, social environment, etc., and with the reality that “lifestyle changes” really must be made. I will say that ketogenic eating and fasting make good sense to me, and that at least I’m more motivated than ever before.

(Cathy Schroder) #8

I find it easy to do intermittent fasting - eating breakfast and lunch only. I even find a 36 hour fast pretty ok, but I really struggle to do longer this. I have tried a longer fast about four times, but when I start feeling ill I break it. I lasted 55 hours on the current Zorn fast but killed it when a headache I had wouldn’t go away.

Having said that, I am still getting good results 36 hours after breaking the fast, with four meals since, I’ve just taken my blood sugar and ketones an hour after eating bacon and my BGL and blood ketones are 5.8 (104) and 2.6 respectively. I’ve also maintained the 2kg (4.4lbs)that I lost during the fast.

I’m starting to think that doing a 48 hour fast every fortnight might be a better option for my body. But I really would like to experience the benefits of a longer fast.

#9

I’m not sure if this is helpful, but I did a number of 40 hour fasts before trying a 3-day one and then in the last two months have done two 5-day fasts. I wouldn’t mind dropping about 10 lbs but mostly I fast for autophagy and overall health.

My first 5-day fast was with generous amounts of fat in my BPC every morning, and I felt ok but had periods of cold hands and feet. My second (which I’m wrapping up now) was just water and salt and I’ve had pretty steady energy, a general feeling of warmth and have exercised quite a bit. I read Richard’s post about only being able to access a certain percentage of bf and according to the formula I would need to supplement my fasting with quite a bit of fat. But I’m not supplementing, and I assume I’m getting my energy from my own stores.

Before the second fast I feasted! Not sure if that made a difference or it’s just that my body’s more used to fasting now.

I’m very excited to see how this develops over time. I’m planning to continue 40hr fasts once or twice a week, do the monthly Zornfasts for 3 days (and every few of those go for 5 days).

[Also should say that I don’t track my macros so I don’t know if I really qualify as Keto! I was lowish carb and very enthusiastic about fats before finding the podcast and the forum - I love both!! - and have since slipped into something probably pretty close to Keto, but I’m not absolutely sure that I’m below 20g of carbs.]