Frustrated Faster

(Jen ) #1

Hey all.

I had to fast a while back because of a stomach issue- 37 hours with just broth & salt. I lost a bunch of inches & 3 lbs.

This past weekend I chose to go off plan for one meal as it was my birthday. I think my carbs were around 50g for the day- that was Sunday.

I was looking into different fasts because I wanted to get my body back into ketosis (not adapted yet). I chose a fat fast. I weighed myself this morning (third day) and I have lost ZERO weight. I didn’t do any measurements but no difference in how my clothes fit.

Now I’m frustrated, research I did shows you can fat fast for 3-5 days (I’m on Day 3 today). I’m eating between 1000-1500 cals/day, low protein, zero carbs for 2 days.

Wondering if I should switch to IF/OMAD/regular fast?

Anyone have any ideas? Help, please!

(Michael ) #2

I don’t understand. You’re fasting with 1500 calories a day?

#3

Following…

(Jen ) #4

Yes, the fat fast calls for 1000-1500 calls a day of basically pure fat.

I’m also getting crankier by the moment, lol.

Methinks a fat fast was a bad idea. There are 3 criteria for a fat fast (based on my research):
-jumpstarting ketosis
-plateau
-an indulgence day recovery.

I was hoping for a great indulgence day recovery but now I’m just confused… There are testimonials of people who have lost between 3-15 lbs. I haven’t lost anything, I think my body may think I’m starving.

(VLC.MD) #5

You’ll be surprised how well you do on a year of Keto.

#6

Couple of days doesn’t tell us much. KCKO

(Andrew) #7

Cranky means you are getting close to ketosis. Your brain is just mad it has no carbs. Your liver will wake up soon and do it’s job.

(Jen ) #8

@fatpants I’ve been in ketosis for 6 weeks. My one indulgent meal didn’t even bump me out. That’s why I’m so perplexed.

(Marie Dantoni) #9

Well, I’m at 65 hours in my fast.
Day 1, up 3.8 lbs
Day2 down 2 lbs
Day 3 down 1 more
I have been on 90 calories worth of bone broth on each day so far.
So am I frustrated ? Nope. Its just the stupid, stupid, stupid scale…no worries.

(Andrew) #10

You’re fasting to get into ketosis but you’ve been in ketosis for 6 weeks?? I don’t follow your first post at all then.

#11

If your body is not in Ketosis and not fat adapted, then what you are doing adds little/no value towards loosing weight. You need allow your body to be in ketosis, one way is a 48 fast as the stomach and liver will burn through there stores after 18 to 36 hours. Then your body would be partially fat adapted, fully fat adapted after three or four days of fasting - then start your food based diet and you’ll have far better results if you can keep your consumption < 800 kcal per day, as your body is then in starvation mode.

#12

I think you’re making this too complicated.
When you’re fasting, don’t eat.
When you’re eating, eat LC, HF, MP.
Repeat.

Weight should drop. If it doesn’t, fast more and eat less until it does.

(Donna ) #13

I agree with @4dml, do a regular fast, then your body can use up your own fat, rather than the fat you are ingesting.

If you need training wheels, do a BP coffee in the morning. On day 3, you may find that you can drop that and just do black coffee.

Not saying you said it anywhere here, but this brings to mind the old way of thinking “what can I eat to lose weight?” I think Fung said it in a video: Don’t eat.

(Mike W.) #14

Definitely get fully fat adapted before fasting. Your body is starving right now…

(Tim W) #15

Fasting is a complicated/advanced protocol that can be confusing.

My wife and I have been using IF/long term fasting/nutritional ketosis for almost two years so we’ve had a variety of experiences, including GAINING weight halfway through a water/black coffee only fast. The weight gain was probably due to changes in sodium/water retention (she sees this more often due to hormonal changes from menstruation).

Bottom line, you are fixating on this too much. Cortisol will impact your results when you are stressing results (especially weight) this much. I’d suggest working on nutritional ketosis first, THEN, start increasing the gap between meals (Intermittent fasting) based on hunger levels.

Then, once you push your IF windows to longer durations, consider a water/black coffee only fast, maybe with medical supervision.

Simplify your protocol and keep calm, keto on!

(Mel Soule) #16

Stick with the tape measure. Dimensions of waist, chest, hips, thighs, calves, biceps, forearms and neck. Inches or centimeters. Your choice. Centimeters more precise. Add them all together. Do this before and after your fast. Some will go up, some down. Net net. The total usually drops, even when the scale does not. Keep it simple and keto on.

(Jen ) #17

Thank you all for your advice- I fat-fasted for four days. I stopped weighing myself (except for Thursday’s-today is my 7th week w/ this WOE).

Either the fat fast really did work (doubtful and I was MISERABLE) OR I’m becoming fat adapted. I have lost 6 lbs since last week. The inches are falling off. I don’t have back rolls anymore. Love handles are gone.

I’ve also noticed I’m not really very hungry… I think it’s finally working! Haven’t tested ketones for a couple of weeks- ran out of Ketostix, but I can tell by my breath, lol.

Bottom line: I was a much more pleasant person when I was fasting w/ broth and salt than I was when I fat fasted. Tried something new, felt crappy, I’m now going to implement IF probably daily because I’m just not hungry; this coming from the chick who (only eight weeks ago) “purged my pantry” by eating all of the chocolate in the house. Lol.

Thanks again for the continued support!

(Mel Soule) #18

Well done, very well done. Jen, I have become a total believer in the tape measure.

Been at this since2/18/2017 and the tape total has never plateaued. Not once. The scale? You bet. Several times.

All of that time have maintained 18/6 intermittent fasting everyday, except for 3 of @Brenda Zonfasts in Oct, Nov and Dec last week. They averaged 3.5 days fat supplemented about 600 cals.

I tell all of my coaching clients to sell their scales and go buy a $2.00 tape measure at Walmart. Record the readings, add 'em up and keep them in a notebook. Then if your tempted to get on the scale do it after you record a new set of measurements. So far it’s working for them the same way. Lotsa psychic income comes from this not to mention when your old pants fall off. Butter Bob was my inspiration for this and bless his heart, he is right. You’ve got this KCKO

(Jen ) #19

Yes!!! I always measure before I weigh and the inches do not plateau! I really want to throw the damned scale away BUT I do have a little bit of heart failure so I weigh in weekly BUT I have not had to take my diuretics since I started this WOE. This is huge because we are taught a.) Salt is the enemy and you will go into heart failure if you have too much. (WRONG by my calculations as my salt has increased fourfold since Keto) and b.) do what your doctor says and don’t ask questions. Soooo in my job I question docs all the time on my patients but never for myself! So I started a very controlled and safe n=1 and HA! to my cardiologist. Lol- he’s a great guy even though he thinks I’m killing myself. The lab work doesn’t lie though! That got long but anyways I promised to weigh in once a week for the first six months I’m on Keto and then the scale goes to Goodwill or the dumpster- I haven’t decided yet…

(Mel Soule) #20

ROFLMAO. Lord I love your spirit. I truly do. Happy New Year, it will be our best ever.