Newbie - First fast, 120hrs and still going strong!

(Troy Dunstan) #1

Hi All,

I wasnt sure whether to share here or in Newbies, so I did both, hope thats OK?
Thanks so much to everyone for sharing their questions and experiences on this fantastic forum.
I have been doing Keto since the 23rd of April this year, before that I was eating Paleo since the 23rd of Jan I started at 115kg and was just sick of getting bigger and bigger.
I have always been a major food lover and always thought I lacked self control.

The “Keto way” has changed my life! I am currently on my first fast, I am at 120 hours and will be breaking the fast tomorrow at lunchtime because it’s my wife birthday and we are going out for lunch. The crazy thing is that even though I’m breaking the fast and going to our favourite restaurant with the most amazing, yummy food, I have no desire to break it and wish I could just keep going, I work a physical job and have been working all week and feeling fantastic. I have been having 2 cups of coffee or tea with cream and occasional broth or hot water with tamari.

I have lost 3.6kg since beginning the fast and just can’t believe how amazing I feel.

Since starting Keto 4 weeks ago I have lost a total of 7kgs.
For anyone who is struggling with starting Keto here is a tip from a newbie, I have used Richard and Carls’ “2 Keto Dudes” podcasts for inspiration and part of that has been all of the fantastic scientific information that I have learned which has been great because it has helped me to understand exactly what has been going on with my body throughout the process.

As it stands today, I intend to make “The Keto Way” my way from here on in!
I love having control over food instead of food having control over me, as it has had so far for my whole life!

I am so thankful to @richard and @carl for sharing their journeys and inspiring me and so many people to gain control of their heath through this wonderful way of eating.

(Alec) #2

Troy
Welcome to the forums, we are glad you found us. There are lots of very knowledgable people here, and you will learn a lot!

One bit of advice I have for you as an experienced faster: take it easy and don’t rush things. 5 days is a long fast to start with, especially if you haven’t started with keto. If you are feeling fine, that’s great, but even then, pls be careful when you start eating again. Have a small snack 1-2hrs before your first meal to get your stomach used to digestion again. Don’t just plough straight into a big meal, and be careful with any alcohol (you will be more affected by alcohol than normal).

But good on you and well done for finding fasting so positive. I can tell you it has changed my life. 30kg down with a another 10 to go.

Do have a look around the forums and do some reading, especially the fasting section.
Cheers
Alec

(Troy Dunstan) #3

HI @Alecmcq,

Thanks for the tips.
I wasnt sure exactly what you meant when you said “especially if you haven’t started keto”
Ive been keto for 4 weeks and was Paleo for 3 months or so before that, I believe I’m fully fat adapted.

Cheers Troy

(Alec) #4

Troy
Sorry, I didn’t pick that up. Sounds like you know exactly what you’re doing. Great stuff! Anybody that can feel fine on a 5 day fast sounds fat adapted! :grinning::clap::clap::clap:
Cheers
Alec

(Troy Dunstan) #5

What food do you suggest when having those few mouthfuls a few hours before having a proper meal?

thanks in advance

(Alec) #6

Troy
The below is a quote from Jason fung’s fasting book for these circumstances:

A small bowl of raw vegetables with some olive oil and vinegar drizzled on them
A bowl of vegetable soup
A small amount of meat (for instance, three slices of prosciutto or a slice or two of pork belly)

He also included nuts, but I have heard Jason’s colleague say that this was an editing error and should not have been included.
Cheers
Alec

#7

This is great. However, I had understood from all my reading and listening to Dr Berg and to Thomas DeLauer that if you are getting cream or bone broth you are effectively breaking your fast, because anything that causes an insulin spike however small effectively breaks your fast. I actually use bone broth to break my fast. I use Thomas’ recipe of 1 cup Bone broth, 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper and ginger respectively, and 1 1/2 tablespoons of coconut oil, all blitzed up in the nutribullet so it’s light and fluffy. It has helped my gut because yes, when fasting the gut becomes more fragile in my experience. Now if i use your reasoning that it doesn’t break a fast, then I’m on OMAD for the last week, and I like that thought !! hehehehe… I’m going to go check out those pods! Keep up the good work and Keto on!!

(Robert C) #8

I would like to emphasize @Alecmcq “don’t rush things”.

Great drops on the scale feel good but, it is easy to get most of the initial drop back.

This can be followed by:

The realization that total change is measured long term - always measure weight after several days of eating normally - a 5 day fast is more likely really 1 to 1.2 kg real fat loss.

OR

Insane need to keep that lowest scale weight at the bottom of a multi-day fast (which leads to thinking about too much more fasting too quickly, calorie restriction, “I can fast forever” etc.).

Take it easy - this works.

(Alec) #9

Rob
I think that’s a good lesson for all of us.

I have been on a plateau for the past 3 weeks. But this plateau is with me three quarters of the size I was 9 months ago. Living at this plateau weight is easy. If someone had invited me to be plateaued at this weight nine months ago I would have ripped their hand off!!

I am KCKO because I am utterly convinced that this is temporary, that my body is simply rearranging itself a bit, and normal service (ie regular weekly weight loss) will resume shortly.

In the meantime, I am running the fastest I ever have (well, bar what I did 30 years ago!!), I am feeling fantastic, I have energy to burn (literally), and I am loving cooking wonderful keto recipes.

A short hiatus on the weight loss has been expected, and I have hit it. KCKO is the mantra.
Cheers
Alec