Non-hunger non-illness triggers to breaking a fast

(Splotchy) #1

I can fast 36 hours no problem (evening day 1 to morning day 3). I do this once a week and Keto omad/tmad on other days. However I want to do an extended fast each month, partly because I have a lot more fat to lose and partly because I want autophagy. I only have water, salt and black coffee.

I’ve been surprised at how non-hungry I am, even when others near me are gorging. However after 3-4 days I am desperate to TASTE something - it’s like my mouth is bored of having no flavours in it. So, not hungry, but some weird sort of oral boredom is leading me to break fasts. Possibly the more I do the better I’ll get. But if anyone has ideas to avoid this feeling I’d welcome it!

(Amanda) #2

I use smoked salt from time to time. It might give you something new to work with.

(Robert C) #3

At 3 or 4 days I sometimes start watching eating competitors on YouTube and I also check the specials at Popeyes (but would not go there).

The point is, you are being driven by a part of your brain (the old lizard brain) to find food. It comes in waves and can safely be ignored (unless you also feel sick). I haven’t found a way to avoid it (it used to be an evolutionary imperative so, maybe no way exists).

For me (and the reason I usually stick with 5-day fasts or less) is because I start having real sleep issues (a 3 or 4 hour night - messing up my next day is what usually causes the break). A salt / water / coffee only fast is going to get you into autophagy pretty quickly - so a large percentage of your 3 or 4 day fast will be spent there.

Stringing together 5 4-day fasts in a month will be much easier and just about as effective as a single 20 day fast and you have a much better chance of success. Longer fasts get killed with a single important social engagement - which you can schedule around with successive shorter fasts.

(Splotchy) #4

I wondered about flavouring my water somehow, while avoiding breaking autophagy? I’ve tried green tea (don’t like it much) and was wondering about herbs. Ideas welcome!

#5

You could try sparking flavored water. They make all different unsweened kinds. I like them while extended fasting.

(David Cooke) #6

I am at the beginning of my weekly 24 hour fast and am drinking cold ginger tea mixed with a little apple cider vinegar and a carbonated water (San Pellegrino). Later drinks will contain no more ACV.