Parent Fasting with a newborn

(Mark) #1

I just found out that I will become a parent again later this year. Has anyone or know of someone that has any advise on fasting when sleep deprived? I’m debating if I should keep my routine when it comes of, M-F 18/6, then weekends off. Currently I am getting 6-8 hours a night in a row of sleeping, which for everyone who is a parent knows won’t be the case with a newborn. Looking to see how it affects the body good or bad, as I’m an older Dad who wants to try and do everything I can to be there for my children.

Thanks

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #2

Try it, and see how you feel. Your general stress level at first might require food to keep you going, but things should get better in time. (No more than sixteen or seventeen years at most, I imagine. :grin:)

(Windmill Tilter) #3

If 18:6 fasting doesn’t affect your sleep now, it probably won’t bother you later. It’s a pretty minimal change the body adjusts to rapidly.

The only time fasting has ever really affected my sleep is after 48 hours water fasting when epinephrine and norepinephrine is upregulated to maintain resting metabolic rate. When I first started doing an 84hr fast each week my sleep was lousy. After the 3rd or 4th fast though, my body got used to it and now I sleep like a baby.

Like @PaulL said though, the only way to find out is to try and see what works for your body. Everybody is different. Something as simple as eating dinner an hour or two later might make a difference for you.

(Chris) #4

I can’t remember if fasting did this too, but carnivory caused me to need less sleep overall. I’ve been getting up at 3am for the past year and a half plus, sleeping 5 to 6 hours a night tops.

(Hyperbole- best thing in the universe!) #5

Fasting shouldn’t be a punishment, it should be something you do for your own welfare. I agree, try it and see if it works for you when sleep deprived. If not then don’t do it and don’t feel guilty about it.

(Mark) #6

Thanks for the comments so far; I am going to try it and see how it goes and much like this journey adjust as needed.

#7

Congratulations!

Keto seems like a great way to start out.