Couple months into Keto and loosing but stalled. I want to try fasting for a day. (not sure one day is enough, but one step a a time). I tried a few weeks ago but felt weird, no sick, just a little light headed and didn’t make it through the day. I’ll call it a partial fast cause I ate next to nothing.
Any suggestions from experienced fasters?
Just work up to it.
Like, skip breakfast and have an early lunch then dinner…
Skip breakfast then have a late lunch then dinner…
Skip breakfast and lunch, have an early dinner…
Not every day, but the days you want to try it.
Hi Jim. Agreed that one step at a time is a good way to take it. How we’ll feel is an individual thing, but for many people it gets easier over time. A little salt on the tongue or under it often helps to stave off hunger. Along with the salt, magnesium and possibly potassium supplements may also be of benefit.
I would agree, and also say that you should listen to your body. There have been a few times when I am fine fasting, and there have been more than that when I just HAVE to eat.
Jim, keep up the good work. It may be that you still have insulin resistance. It might be good to get your fasting insulin checked by your doc (assuming you are not on injected insulin). If your level is above 13, it might be hard to fast (ideal is less than 5 and ideally 3). I agree with the other guys, take it slow and if you really feel like eating go ahead and try the fast again the next day. It is like exercise, start slow an work up. You will get there. Remember that the more you fast the more you will lower the insulin level…that makes fasting easier. Best of luck!
Already loads of great advice here but I think BrianL pegged it, you may be getting hypoglycemic and might want to talk to a medical pro about that before trying to fast long term.
Another tip is to FEAST before the fast, the first couple of fasts might be easier if they come naturally, meaning that you don’t want to eat because you’ve had plenty in the last 24 or so hours. Try a nice large meal with lots of fats, the more liquid they are, the easier they are to consume (melted butter, olive/avocado/coconut/mct oils). You might try really “stocking up” in 2-3 meals and seeing how long it takes you to get hungry again.
Be safe!
If insulin resistance is suspected, then adding some HIIT to whatever exercise you are doing might help.
Another suggestion, which I made elsewhere in another context (and which I admittedly haven’t tried myself yet, but plan to) is supplementing with vitamin B5, aka pantothenic acid, in relatively large doses. An alternative is pantethine (more expensive, but smaller doses might work). It is supposed to help us mobilise our own fat stores better, and should help whenever calories are reduced, including fasting.
There is some science behind it, although I’m not sure if the 2 keto dudes would agree with it.
I might ask them about it some time, but perhaps I’ll wait until I’ve tried it myself.
(I’m in a bit of a stall myself, as it happens, but then social / family pressures have meant not being able to adhere to my personally preferred diet as strictly as I might).