Rookie fasting - I'm at 48 hours & a headache has set in. Help?

(Jennifer ) #1

Hi All,

I’ve been doing a steady 18:6 - 23:1 IF schedule for quite while. A little longer fasting seemed like the next obvious step once my partner & I plateaued. I’m 180 with about 30-40 pounds of “energy” left, she has maybe a little more.

We’re about 48 hours in (only water, and coffee supplemented with lite salt), and both of us have some not-fun headaches going on. I supplemented some lite-salt and took my magnesium vitamin. It seems to be subsiding. She is as work so unfortunately left to finish her shift before she can take anything.

Are there any things I should try other than electrolyte supplementation? I can guarantee I am not dehydrated. 100% positive about that. Sorry if this has been posted a million times before…I did a couple searches and didn’t find anything specific to our situation.

(TJ Borden) #2

48 hours is a solid fast. As funny as it sounds, the “fasting muscle” is a real thing. Try a couple more 48 hour fasts in the future, then try doing one a little longer. Don’t push it, outside of occasional hunger, you shouldn’t be uncomfortable durning a fast. If you are, stop.

#3

Just plain salt helps too. A few crystals straight on the tongue or adding it to your fasting fluids. Lite salt has potassium - and in order to get enough sodium, you can end up taking in too much potassium. I personally love to dab a few crystals of pink himalayan salt on my tongue especially when fasting.
I can’t find the reference but recall at least 3000-5000mg/day for keto (standard recommendation is approx 2400mg). Other forum folks please chime in on this.

(Jennifer ) #4

Yup - we cranked the grinder off of it last night and have been partaking. It was pretty savage frankly. She about ripped it off like I used to rip off candy bar wrappers. I’m thinking you’re 100% right…we’ve been adding salt but definitely not enough to get up to that range. I was concerned about causing explodey-pants. How much is too much at once, do you reckon?

(Jennifer ) #5

Luckily I’m feeling a ton better after getting some more salt in me (and taking my magnesium vitamin). She’s stuck at work feeling poopy. But I agree - overall our goal is listen to what our body says. If she still feels crappy after some salt, I think it’s time to eat something.

Do you think we’re anywhere near a weight where some fat-supplementation would be beneficial?

(TJ Borden) #6

That could be, but it still might just be a practice thing. I have a friend that is less than 10% body fat and does 96 hour fasts regularly but can’t go past that.

I’m no expert on that aspect because I still have…plenty of energy left. :smile:

(Joe) #7

Well done 48 hours is awesome and I found it a good mark for me. I would agree with eating and trying again next week. If you feel you can go longer next week go for it! Its kinda l like running sometimes you just need fuel to continue.

(Jennifer ) #8

Thanks for validation! low key really enjoying the pat on the back :sweat_smile:

I’m definitely struggling between “Jennifer you know you’re fine, you’re just uncomfortable, don’t be a wuss”, and “don’t try to be a hero Jennifer, just eat and take up the torch again next week.”

(Jay AM) #9

How do you mean? In every day? During fasting?

Fasting shouldn’t be an effort in suffering. That’s not what it’s for. Your body surprisingly doesn’t care about the number 48. It does care about, “Hey, we’re not getting enough energy in here and we’ve been making you think about food every waking moment and in your dreams for a whole long time now!”

(Alec) #10

Jenn, experienced faster here. it doesn’t matter, you could do either: give up now and try again later, or push through it. Don’t think that one fast is the be all and end all. There is always another one to do, and you can do that one better. You will get better at fasting. I often got a headache when I first started fasting, your body is just getting used to no food.

Salt and water should help, but no guarantee. Most Important Thing: don’t get discouraged, just keep going with fasting. It is likely the best thing you can possibly do for your health.

(Jennifer ) #11

Yeah I hear what you’re saying…read what you’re typing…you know lol

It’s a totally new experience so I’m definitely just trying to take it all in and make somewhat-rational decisions! We called it tonight and ate, because we both got a little foggy brained. It’ll be interesting to see how our next experience compares.

Disregard the fat question - I found my answer via google. I was thinking of something unrelated.

(Alec) #12

Jenn
48hrs is a good fast. Loads of benefits. I don’t know how long you were targeting, but it’s a great start. Start planning for the next longer one… good luck!
Cheers
Alec

(Jennifer ) #13

No real target…Honestly just seeing how long we could go without our bodies putting up too much of a fuss. We got a little foggy-brained last night so we ate. Back at it again next week! :muscle:t2:

#14

Found something!

image
AB1B6048-A35E-4CF5-9FD8-5294BC934848.jpeg900×960 109 KB

(Raj Seth) #15

Keep at it - without necessarily pursuing any specific # day target.

I have done 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1.5 day fasts. I have fasted 40 of the last 109 days. I have plenty of n=1 experience fasting.

I started with a 36 hour, heavily supplemented with broth - I think I had a cup in my hand the entire day. I was so nervous about being fasted!
Then a 3 day a week later, with less broth.
Then a 6 day the week later, with water, coffee (w halfnhalf) only.

As your body gets used to it, you can ramp it up. I ramped it up to a week long. I was going to do a 2 week fast starting last week - but broke it after 5 days. I had an epiphany. Longer fasts may give you bragging rights and all, but, IMHO, they don’t add much value beyond that.

So, now I am only going to do 3.5 day fasts every 7-10 days. That is my travel schedule - so I fast on travel, and feast at home - EZ! For me, the 3.5 day fast is now so easy, I dont have to plan anything - its on autopilot!

I do not foresee doing any longer fasts. I have proven to myself that my body is the master of my appetite and no longer slave to the carbage signals of the SAD. Done and done!

You will find your own sweet spot. The rhythm that works for the two of you. Zen!

(Jennifer ) #16

Saved. Thanks this is great.

(Jennifer ) #17

What kind of broth do you use? Do you make your own?

(Raj Seth) #18

Yeah. I roll my own - but it’s trivial. Bones brown boil - done

(Jennifer ) #19

This may be a stupid question, but in the absence of bone broth, how does chicken or beef broth compare as a substitute?

(Raj Seth) #20

Commercial broths/bouillons tend to often have sugar added. Other than that - broth is broth
Sure bone broth may have more collagen and other bone-y stuff, but for making fasting easier - imho it’s all about the liquid and the salt!