Going to attempt a 48 hour fast to achieve Ketonix baseline

(Jay AM) #1

I’m not sure if I should archive my little experiment here or make my own progress post including this. Maybe I’ll do both. I’m planning on starting this tonight but, we’ll see. The experiment could be derailed by my odd work/sleep schedules.

The plan:

*Start with an initial 24 hour clean up fast (hopefully wiping out any excess whatever and just letting the ketones flow free)

*Continue with another 24 hour fast where I use a Ketonix breath meter each hour (except during sleep) to get a baseline.

*Take three measurements at one time for each of the hourly measures to form the average.

*Redo baseline maybe monthly? Maybe as part of a ZornFast?

The why:

I am not sure if people buy the Ketonix and skip the manual and then get annoyed when it doesn’t work or what. So, I’m going to document the use of it as described by the manual (and one more part from a study that involves holding the breath to be exhaled first.) I have done practice runs with good results in how it feels and measures. Once finished with my fasting baseline, I can use that in the future for how things change. I may do another baseline measure where I eat the exact same food for a few days straight to get a food baseline too.

Do you have anything you suggest be added to my experiment? Or burning ketonix questions you’d like me to answer as I do the experiment?

(Jay AM) #2

Well, today is day one. I’m almost at 15 hours. I’m not really hungry as this is within my usual fast. I did make some ketoade (almost full tbs Himalayan salt, watermelon koolaid flavor pack, stevia.) in a 40 oz bottle for the day if I want it. Also have ice water on deck. I find I’m thinking of the McDonald’s down the road but, this is more about planning for the day thoughts. I keep having to remind myself that I’m fasting today. My beagle (Simon) helped by eating about 5 oz of my snack cheese when it fell out of the cabinet without me noticing. He’s not feeling bad yet. Included in this post is a beagle relaxing after thieving cheese.

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(Doug) #3

Simon looks quite peaceful. :slightly_smiling_face::+1:

Good luck, Jay. Some people get bothersomely hungry around the 18 hour mark, and it’s also common for the second day to be the hardest. One very prevalent thing is for fasting to get easier with practice.

That’s the deal - when I get hungry or am thinking about foof while fasting, I tell myself, “NOT EATING TODAY.”

Helps, at least for a little while.

#4

I’m awaiting your results. I haven’t used my ketonix consistently for a couple years. The last few times I tried were near hour 40 of 64 hour fast. I was green once and blue the last couple tries. Wondering if it’s broken.

–J from mobile

(Jay AM) #5

He has no regrets.

I think as long as I don’t feel physically bad, I can make it. In the past on SAD going to keto, I had a lot of the signs of hypoglycemia and had to stop and re evaluate what I was doing. I was barely able to summon enough energy to wake up and was dizzy and nauseated. It was a whole roller coaster and I went back to SAD just to try again more successfully later.

But, now, I can usually do 16/8 easily. Today is special because I have to sleep twice today due to work scheduling and it’s easier to fast asleep. So, 8ish hours to go before the first 24 is up. I think the focus on testing will be a big help in the second 24 hours.

(Jay AM) #6

I think the issue with the ketonix is that it’s measuring acetone which only shows up once acetoacetate has been broken down. And, we don’t break that down until it needs to be used. I don’t know what version you have, does it show the acetone ppm?

It’s such a highly individual thing and that’s why I’m creating this baseline. It says you can adjust the bottom and top values based on a baseline specific to you. I need to look for some more BrAce (breath acetone) studies and make sure I’m doing everything right.

(Jay AM) #7

The magic of salt. One thing I’ve struggled with on keto is electrolytes. I find that adding the salts containing potassium causes edema. So, I’m back with my trusty pink salt. I wasn’t super thirsty today but, I ate some salt anyways and then drank some of my ketoade. I have this odd feeling in my neck like I’m about to experience a hypoglycemia headache but, as I sit here after the salt, it’s started to ease up. I’m sort of hungry now physically but, really, nothing food related sounds great. Onwards and forward…to bed and then back to work. Getting close to the second 24.

(Tubeman) #8

Curious to see what your results are! I haven’t used it on any fasts as long as that, but during my 24 hour fasts, I found it interesting that my breath ketones sometimes went down after a while. It’s weird…I’ll be getting higher and higher readings for a good bit of time, then almost nothing some time later.

Will have to look at the instructions again since it’s been a while. Though I don’t test too much anymore, considering how many times I’ve tested, I feel like I’ve at least got my money’s worth!

(Jay AM) #9

I’m at a little over 25 hours now. Already did my first test. I swished some salt water to clean my mouth first and then did 3 successive tests and saved that. First value hit 5.4 ppm. The data will be more useful once I’m done testing.

On the fasting front, this is now my official longest fast. Previously I hit 23 hours without trying to. Feeling alright. My neck is stiff but, that could be as much from bad sleep and posture as fasting. My lack of gallbladder has shown up in a run to the bathroom with excess bile. That continuing, migraines, or excess nausea would end this experiment early since I can’t have job interference. I’m reading elsewhere that bile production can increase in fasting for a few days before decreasing. I am craving a cheeseburger with some ketchup. Also some chicken broth with salt and cream. But, I was craving that before the fast so I’m good.

(Dan Dan) #10

Kinda the whole point you know being in ketosis :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

Here is a presentation from the inventor of the ketonix :grinning:

“May the Force (fat adaption) be with you”

IF/EF Keto WOE is Self-Discovery :wink:

Good luck and much success in your journey in IF/EF Keto WOE :grin:

(Jay AM) #11

Well, I’m ending the experiment early. I am almost 34 hours in and they have all been a struggle after the initial 24. I haven’t hit any fasting good feelings and I actually feel sort of drunk instead. I have zero focus, no energy, can’t stay warm in 75° F, what feels like the start of a migraine, and a stiff neck. Plus the bile dumping syndrome that I did expect from not having a gallbladder. I did supplement with potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, and b vitamins. The calcium and b are part of my regular supplements.

Maybe I’m one of the people that gets fat adapted later. Or, this type of fasting isn’t always compatible with my job. It doesn’t help that my sleep has been broken up for the last couple of days and I did some work today that was more challenging than usual like driving in a blizzard in the dark.

I haven’t decided how to break the fast quite yet. I have a few fast food options. McDonald’s breakfast is my regular go to. I also have a Panda Express, Starbucks, and Sbarros. I’m not really breaking the fast out of hunger but, because I can’t do my job like this.

Edit to add: I chose Denny’s and got some eggs, bacon, sausage, zucchini, and squash and plan to just slowly pick at things for a bit.

(Tubeman) #12

Good try! Fasting can be difficult. I’ve only started experimenting with it after a year of keto eating, and mostly 24 hr fasts. Hunger doesn’t stop me from fasting, but when my concentration ebbs and my energy flags, I feel that’s usually a good sign that the body just needs calories.

(Jay AM) #13

Yeah, I’m going to refocus on eating cleaner keto (sans a majority of sweeteners and treats) and start over basically from this fast. I feel like I have keto flu even though I know my electrolytes are good. But, ending a fast is the price to pay to keep warm, I’ll take it.

For those following for info on the ketonix, I’ll probably try another non fasted baseline. Two of my highest readings were late into the fasting but, one of the normal readings was right at the end of fasting. It definitely gave my lungs an uncomfortable workout.