I heard the 2 keto dudes say on their podcast that you shouldn’t fast when first starting keto. Anyone have any science on why not and the possible issues? I couldn’t find anything
Fasting to get into ketosis
Rian
#2
If you are already in ketosis the first few days of your fast will be a lot smoother. If you aren’t in ketosis the first few days will likely be absolute hell. But it’s safe and definitely possible, it’s just not ideal. Even just a day or two of zero carb before a fast would likely help you a lot.
PaulL
(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?)
#3
Only that fasting is much easier after you become fat-adapted. Trying to fast as a sugar burner can be done, but it’s not a pleasant experience. Why set yourself up for misery and/or failure?
Get through the adaptation phase while you’re still able to eat, then you may find yourself fasting intermittently without even trying, and from there to a longer-term fast is a very small step.
Bellyman
(Brian)
#5
samille, you need to give your body a chance to get accustomed to running on ketones before you expect it to do it efficiently. It’s much less stressful that way.
Jason_Fletcher
(Jason Fletcher)
#6
It comes from your body dealing with a energy shortage. When you are insulin resistant and have high insulin it will increase your body’s demand for higher amounts of glucose. When your body can not get enough glucose to function it will attempt to lower your BMR. If you are fat adapted it will lower your insulin and you will be able to get your energy from ketones and fat and will be able to get glucose demand met from GNG so there will not be a shortage of energy. This will prevent lowering of BMR. This also will help prevent brain fog and massive cravings for carbs along with feelings of being lethargic. The pathways to use ketones and fats efficiently can take about 3 months to develop. Your current metabolic functions and life style including exercise and sleep and stress levels can determining how effectively your body will be able to adapt. Once adapted the feelings of brain fog and massive cravings for carbs along with feelings of being lethargic will have a smaller impact on you when you begin to fast. Most people fast to increase insulin sensitivity and fasting will do that fat adapted or not. The real difference in fasting fat adapted or not comes down to will power needed to push on. Plus some people just do not have the desire to eat keto and would rather lower insulin by fasting. If you plan to eat keto then I would just adapt first this will make it easier to fast if you choose to do so.
