So how do you know when to eat?

(Norma Laming) #1

I have been doing a semi-fast since last Saturday evening, which is when I last ate a proper meal.since then I have had a couple of cups of coffee a day with cream and a mini chocolate bar, flavoured with xylitol: about 195 cal, 28 g of fat and about 3 g of protein plus the cream in th coffe. I am sort of feeling that I could go on indefinitely, which is very strange for me. It is a bit chilly here in England so I’m drinking warm water with salt and I’m quite happy for that and finding it delicious.

When I tried to fast the year before last I found it an absolutely appalling experience. Just having these little bits of fat to keep me going has completely transformed my understanding of fasting. Ok, I know it’s not real fasting, but it seems to me to be really rather better than Valter Longo’s fasting mimicking diet.

So, the question is when does one start eating and for how long and, indeed, why would you?

I’m not overweight. I do have rheumatoid arthritis and I know that fasting is supposed to be good for that. I’m 58 and I want to fast for autophagy and health. I don’t really feel any of the things some people report like extra energy or euphoria; I just don’t feel hungry at all. When I do slightly feel like eating I really can’t be bothered to cook or to sit down and actually eat food. In fact I really don’t want to eat. On Sunday I’m out going out with friends to a meal so I know that I really will have to eat then and I think I will enjoy it. But could probably go back to fasting after that because I will make very sure that’s what I eat is ketogenic.

I was anorexic in my teenage years but I don’t think I will be like that now because I’m too interested in nutrition and health.
On ketosis you don’t really feel hungry anyway and although I have had the tiniest stomach rumble today I have the feeling that you getbwhen you are looking forward to a meal in about four or five hours time; which is to say, mildly hungry, perhaps, but not really bothered.

What do you do when you don’t feel hungry?

(Dawn) #2

I Typically decide to eat based on one of the following categories:

  1. Whatever date I predetermined when I started the fast. Typically at least 5 days or
  2. When I have reached one of my weight goals or
  3. If I don’t feel well or
  4. If I have a special occasion where eating will be socially required or preferred or
  5. All of the above

Other than that, I don’t eat. Most of my fasts are determine primarily on a predetermined date. I feel it is important to have an idea of what you are trying to accomplish during your fast. For example do you want to lose weight or are you trying to achieve autophagy, fight a disease, reverse diabetes or lower insulin levels? Depending on your goal, that can help you determine when to go ahead and eat. =0)

If you don’t feel hungry and you still haven’t met your goals, then don’ t eat. But if you feel unwell, eat. If you’ve reached your goals, eat. If you are just tired of fasting, eat.

(Norma Laming) #3

Thanks. I have been trying fasting for autophagy, to lose around 8lbs and out of sheer curiosity. When I posted this I didn’t feel fantastic but I just didn’t feel that I wanted to eat at all!

(Sophie) #4

So how are you feeling now a month later? Have you continued with your AF (Arbitrary Fasting)? How is the weight loss going? The atophagy, have you noticed any difference in your skin? Inquiring minds, and nosy me wanna know. :upside_down_face:

(Norma Laming) #5

Well I’m doing ok, thanks. I love the Arbitrary Fasting description! No signs of improved skin. I am more interested in the health aspects of autophagy. I’m not sure about doing extended fasting but I’m happy missing meals, especially if I’m not feeling well.

(CharleyD) #6

At the very least, you’ll want to bring in salt and essential amino acids, and if you get good pastured animal protein, the essential fatty acids that come with.

Fasts work because you can down-regulate non-essential processes to preserve the amino and fatty acids you can’t make on your own, also vitamins, but since it’s easier to eat them than to break down your own muscle to liberate ones you can’t make otherwise, I think that’s what causes you to get a hunger signal that you’ll learn to associate with needing protein before it gets to crisis level.

At least I have :sunglasses: your mileage may vary. My hunger signal today said I needed the sashimi dinner plate with extra salmon for lunch today. Pretty darn clear about that!

(CharleyD) #7

Oh and to wrap things up with a bow, the reason feasting before a fast makes fasts easier is because you should be bringing in plenty of the essential amino and fatty acids to play with during the fast.

(Bunny) #8

I use a glucose meter; when it hits 70; that’s when I eat. I only eat once a day or maintain around -70+ glucose blood level/reading during an intermittent fast!

That way, I know if it (hunger signal {ghrelin; a hormone} from stomach & glucose level) is psychological or endogenic!

IMPORTANT CAVEAT: please DO NOT DO THIS unless you check with your Doctor/Physician? My metabolism has adapted to this over a period of time, it is not something you nose dive into! Additionally, if blood Ketone levels reach the DANGER ZONE (keto acidosis = above 10+ blood ketones) you will most likely experience shortness of breath or find it hard to breath; because your blood will become too acidic (0-14 PH scale alkalinity/acidity)!

#9

I know there are folks who use a scale in determining whether to eat, but I’ve never heard of using a glucometer. Very clever!

(Bunny) #10

EATING-JUST-TO-EAT WILL GET YOU NO-WHERE-FAST:

From birth (imprinting) we learn the very act (psycho-social) of eating is a social construct (monkey see, monkey do, monkeys sit at table and eat excessive carbs and sugars), however, that does not work WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF BURNING FAT OPPOSED TO GAINING FAT; biological science dictates what happens to our body and not connotations of what should happen during the act (breakfast-lunch-dinner-snacking) of this social construct, which science cannot remedy without breaking the no-talk-rule; that will make other monkeys very very angry.

The need for energy in past times from extraneous physical activity under rigorous conditions (e.g. this is clearly illustrated in vintage and ancient samples of clothing {people were really slender and tiny in physique} from certain time periods in museums) brought about the need for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacking; that is not something you do plopped in the luxurious recliner in front of the TV eating whatever, whenever (that is why people are so fat; too much energy coming in and none going out). That is why I need a glucose meter to know when to eat.