Should I try a Fat Fast? (I'm tiny and have been for a while)

fasting
(Maya Kherani) #1

I’ve been Keto for 35 days now, and feeling really great. I’m a professional opera singer and was struggling with vocal problems from horrible acid reflux before. Being Keto has completely gotten rid of my reflux and vocal fatigue! YAY!

BUT… after listening to a lot of the 2 Keto podcast episodes, I’m wondering if I should try a fast, or a fat fast for the longevity and overall health benefits (like autophagy).

I’m 5’2" and 100 lbs. I’ve never needed to lose weight, though I lost 6 lbs of water weight in the first couple weeks of Keto. Now, my weight has stabilized, and I do a lot of exercise in the week (opera singing, weight lifting, playing tennis… etc.). My muscle mass has definitely increased.

TL;DR: As a very skinny person with no metabolic disorders, is there a point to doing a fast (or a fat fast)? What benefits would there be? I don’t want to suffer a metabolic slow-down.

Thanks in advance! My first post! I’ve loved reading the forums :slight_smile:

(Michael - When reality fails to meet expectations, the problem is not reality.) #2

Short answer: no.

Longer answer: you’ve been keto for a month. A lot of things happen to your body and metabolism when you go keto. I suggest you give yourself several months to get adapted and then you can consider other options. You describe yourself as a healthy person with no problems. There is no reason to jump into the deep end of the pool right now and lots of reasons to learn to swim first in the shallow end.

(Susan) #3

This is terrific advice, and I love the wording, Michael.

Welcome to the forum and to Keto, Maya =). I am glad that Keto is improving your health and your opera singing and the acid reflux, this is awesome.

(Maya Kherani) #4

Thanks for the input! “No” was my gut instinct as well and glad to get your experienced take :slight_smile:

(Maya Kherani) #5

Thanks @Momof5! Glad to be here! :partying_face:

(Bob M) #6

Personally, I would go for body re-composition than fasting at your weight. See what higher or lower protein does for you. See what higher or low fat, fewer or more meals, etc., do for you.

There is some evidence that fasting is good. Some people believe fasting lessens the chance of cancer, for instance. However, that’s a long time of fasting, and at your weight, might be be unrealistic. The first book I read on fasting was written by a younger man who was thin, and he had no problems doing long fasts of 7+ days, but he was also a bit “crazy” (would fly to Europe and fast most of the time there…who does that?).

I’d say keep eating for a while, a few months, and then dip into fasting with a 36 hour fast. I started fasting after about 18 months of low carb, but back then (3.5 years ago), fasting was “new”.