Post Holiday, Post Vacation Fasting

(Kathy Meyer) #1

I had been regularly doing 3 to 4 day fasts for about 6 months last year (it’s how I lose weight). But I slowed down during the holidays, and then I didn’t do one while on vacation. I stayed Keto, of course, but still gained about 3 pounds (not bad considering how much eating out I did). I have since lost those 3 pounds and started an extended fast about 20 hours ago. I plan on extending this fast at least until Friday.

OK, so no problem, right? Just get back on the horse.

But I just don’t really feel like fasting – I feel like I have to go back to square one and just work my way through it. I really want to eat. Not hungry. Just want to eat.

So the question is, will this get better? I want and need to fast to continue losing weight, and to prevent illness through autophagy. I want it to be easier to take a few weeks off without having to go back through this feeling that I don’t like this.

What are some strategies from you regular fasters? I think it’s all psychological at this point and I just need to talk to myself a little bit.

#2

Not sure I’m following you. How is it that you consider it square one? Looks like you have a formula that works.

#3

Dr. Eric Westman tells his patients, “Eat when hungry, drink when thirsty”.

My main focus for fasting is on autophagy, so I want to stress that the fasting phase only provides 1/2 the benefits where the body scavenges the bad proteins, etc. and dysfunctional parts of the immune system, but it is in the refeeding after the fast that those scavenged cells are finally replaced.

If too much time is spent fasting, or under feeding after a fast, as in calorie restriction, the rebuilding won’t occur optimally, if at all.

Maybe, just maybe, your body is telling you it needs nutrients for the rebuilding…

(Kathy Meyer) #4

Well I had been doing so well before I took time off from fasting – I didn’t feel hungry and I didn’t obsess about eating. I just want to get back to that place without having to go through several more fasts to get there.

Maybe I’ll be fine – we’ll see. I’m just toughing it out right now. Hopefully this first one will be somewhat difficult and then I’ll be back to enjoying fasting again.

Just looking for some support, I guess.

#5

You have our support…even if it us a brief venting to let off steam :wink:

I find a strategy that works for me is that I’m always moving things around, testing new things, like now I’m doing a month-long ZC test. It challenges my body and it does not give it time to fight me back.

(Kathy Meyer) #6

OK, I made it through 72 hours and I was fine – I guess the crisis is over. I was just overthinking it. I broke my fast with a Tablespoon of marscapone cheese and sliced olives. Then I had a slice of butter with salt. Will not eat again until tomorrow. Lost about 3 pounds.