Finding an Unexpected Fast- help!

(Jen ) #1

Hey all,

I’ve been on this WOE for 3.5 weeks. Woke up this AM sick as a dog (not Keto related).

I now find myself in a fasting state- I don’t know if this is okay as I’ve not fat-adapted yet- have been in ketosis since I started. I’m drinking chicken broth and water and without getting too gross, that’s all I can tolerate at the moment.

The only times I have ever fasted are 8 hours before surgical procedures and cholesterol tests.

What do I “need” to do? I’m keeping my electrolytes up and staying as hydrated as possible.

I feel real hunger but I’m too afraid to eat. :confused:

I was reading the fasting forum and I’m so confused.

Help, please?
(I have made zero dietary indiscretions since beginning this WOE- macros are all good- well below 20g carbs and hitting protein/fat okay. Except for today.)

Thanks,
Jen

(Liz ) #2

So sorry you are sick! Sounds like you are doing everything right. I’m well adapted & I still get hungry when I fast, it’s just not unbearable. You should be fine, if uncomfortable. Do you have a specific concern?

(Jen ) #3

Hi Liz!

This is going to help with weight loss and NOT kick me out of ketosis, correct? I’m assuming that my lack of anything substantial is going to fuel the fat fire, so to speak?

(VLC.MD) #4

Fasting results in max Ketogenic Fat burning and highest ketosis.

#5

Hey Jen, so sorry that you’re sick (but the silver lining might be that you get some practice fasting!). Definitely will help, not hurt, re: ketosis and fat-burning but I hope you feel better soon -

(CharleyD) #6

The lack of apetite while fighting off a bug is normal, and makes fasting easy-mode. Don’t feel like you have to eat unless you’re hungry.

Chicken broth is the best Rx.

#7

So sorry you’re sick - hoping it’s just a 24 hour bug and as yucky as this is, it might be a real jump start to your fat adaptation. I think you and I started about the same time (Tuesday will be four weeks) and I’m not sure but I suspect I started becoming fat adapted today. I went until 3:00 p.m. today without needing to eat… I just wasn’t hungry. Then when I finally did eat I went another 6 hours before I felt the need to eat again. That is VERY unusual for me.

Anyway, get some rest… best way to fight off whatever’s ailing you.
Sue

#8

Oh gosh, Jen! I’m not going to be any help here but I sure hope you feel better soon.

(Darlene Horsley) #9

Hope you feel better soon!

(Liz ) #10

Agreeing with all said above, fasting helps you stay in ketosis. You may feel hungry if you are not fully able to access your body fat for energy yet, but being hungry is not harmful & broth/electrolytes are great for that, you won’t slow your metabolism or anything like that.

(Jen ) #11

Thank you all for your input! I still feel lousy today- had a few hunger pangs but hit them with some broth & pink salt on the tongue.

I’m honestly shocked at my lack of hunger. I have dreaded the thought of fasting but this isn’t so bad!

I’ll be even happier if this helps me get closer to fat adaptation.

Kicking back with a giant water bottle, salt, and Netflix.

Thanks again!

Jen

(Jen ) #12

Hey Susan!

Yes, you are two days ahead of me, I’ll be 4 weeks Thursday.

Sounds like you are adapting (I would be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous)- I’m happy for you though!!

Hoping this will kick my body into fat burning mode soon!

(Liz ) #13

Thanks for checking in, hang in there! You have discovered why we are all able to fast like we do, it’s keto magic :smile: and not miserable like you’d think. Next time, when you are well & you fast on purpose you are going to feel like you have a superpower!

(Jen ) #14

Hey gang,

Thank you all again for your well-wishes and support! I wound up fasting for 37 hours and broke my fast last night with an avocado & some cheese (despite my mother bringing over bananas, rice, and toast because she insists that cures all stomach ailments- I asked her nicely to take her carbage home…).

I still can’t believe I did it. Like @LizinLowell said- it’s a Keto superpower!

My mind is sharper, my appetite decreased, and although I didn’t lose much weight (2 pounds), I’m not scared to fast anymore. I’m still hoping this will push me into being fat-adapted sooner as well!

Last night, I remembered something my OB/GYN told me when I was hospitalized during my second pregnancy with a stomach issue (13 years ago). The wise doctor told me that women have more fat stores than men and it is so we can sustain famine whilst being pregnant or nursing- the baby will be fueled by fat stores. I don’t have a scholarly article to back this up, it was just something that randomly popped into my head last night.

Thank you all again, KCKO!

(Liz ) #15

Right on! 2 pounds is a lot, BTW. Dr Fung posits we can probably only mobilize .5 pounds/day of actual fat while fasting. Some of the other scale loss while fasting will be the contents of your digestive track you haven’t replenished.

All this to say I hope you won’t be discouraged if the weight you lost while fasting comes back after starting to eat again. You still gain the benefits of pushing your basal insulin rate down, autophagy scavenging old unneeded proteins, human growth hormone kicking in, and a nice rest for your digestive tract. So wherever you end up on the scale, after fasting you are still ahead of the game!