Starting a New Year's Fast!

(G. Andrew Duthie) #39

Do you have any problems with leg cramps? That’s another thing that usually goes along with electrolyte issues.

#40

Thx Terri…still cannot quite wrap my mind around a fast of 20+ days!

(Dana ) #41

What an awesome link! Thanks for sharing. I guess this is why I didn’t have any issue fasting. I’m 184, lean body mass of 131. Not sure but I plugged in 1500 cals and it said 0, at 1750 I needed like 8g of fat to maintain.

#42

Never…but I get lethargic. Weak. Hoping to see some improvement now that the electrolytes balance will be better maintained.

(Robert scott) #43

What is keto aid? I am new to keto (I may have inadvertently been keto a couple of years ago but this is my first time mindfully being keto)

(G. Andrew Duthie) #44

Something along the lines of this:

Easy way to get electrolytes in if you don’t want to take them as a pill. Most of the commercial electrolyte drinks have crap in them you don’t want. So making your own gives you control.

#45

Hi Scatter,
The thing about fasting is that the longer it goes (to a point), the less desire to eat. Really strange. (For me, it’s really in effect by day 12 or so. Still enjoy cooking for my husband.)

Makes me think about the hunger strikers we learned about in school back in the day. They were not suffering from lack of food after all. (My longest water only fast was 35 days.)

#46

Well, I hope I get to the point where I don’t think about food…cuz right now I’m obsessed! A couple hours away from day 6.

Compared to my previous 7 day fasts, I feel really good. The Ketoaide has been a lifesaver! But MAN I wanna eat lol!

If its too personal just ignore the question, but why do you fast for so long?

#47

Follow the link our friend provided. I have fasted both with and without Ketoaide, and lemme tell ya, I will never fast without it again! Keeping the electrolytes balanced makes all the difference.

(Robert scott) #48

Thank you. I use lemon juice In my water at night before bed. Never really thought about carbs in lemon juice

(bambiying2) #49

I’m finishing up a fast today. It’s been 4 days 14 hours since my last food, and I’m about ready to eat again. I’ve lost 9.6 pounds on the fast, and I didn’t have any of that horrible water weight in my boobs leading up to my time of the month. Overall it went pretty well. Yesterday I started having these weird electric shock tingles in my hands, feet and knees that was pretty weird, but no headaches or anything the whole time.

#50

Day 6…so far so good. Going to be tough watching the NFL Playoffs without snacks!

(Patty W) #51

Hi all! I’m a newbie to the forum & this is my 1st post.
I’ve been keto (more or less) since 7/2016; feeling better over all, but plateaued, & committed to dialing things in for 2017. Admitting my carb levels probably need to be closer to 20 gm. (322#, borderline diabetic, last Hgb A1C 5.9). In that spirit, after listening to Jimmie Moore & Jason Fung, decided to start 2017 with a fast. Allowing myself some lemon water, bone broth, & bouillon (besides usual herbal tea, etc); at least 9-10 glasses/day.

Originally planned to do for 3 days, but feeling so good I continued. As of this morning, I’m 6.5 days in. Good energy, mental clarity, sleep. 1st 2 days hunger waves 4-5x/day, but not bad, squelched with water or distraction. Day 3 on, minor hunger waves 1-2x/day–noticed these often correlated with looking at food porn :slight_smile: (looking at keto recipe books to see how I’d break my fast, & menu-planning for ongoing keto). Day 1 & day 4 noticed I felt a little more tired, went to bed early, but full energy next day. Have gone on a few walks this week; was a little timid not to push myself just in case I was more tired, but my pace was as good or better than usual. Did all this during a week off work, which I’m sure helped. My work is high stress, & I’m guessing the increased cortisol might have affected my results. I’m single, so no other spouses/kids to have to cook for. Able to be in my own little cocoon to give myself the best chance for success. I notice a metallic/chemical taste on my tongue as my ketones go up; but past 2 days noticed “yucky” taste & more tongue coating (assume it’s just body clearing toxins, I do a little more oral hygiene & it’s fine). No muscle cramps (took organic bouillon cube with 2 gm sodium daily & my usual supplements [including magnesium])

1/1 am started 322.6#, 1/7 am 311.8#. Day 1-3 AM BG 107-132; Day 4-7 AM BG 65-81 (feeling great, not shaky). I haven’t seen these levels for years! Day 4 I cut my evening dose of metformin from 1000 mg to 500 mg. Blood Ketones (precision xtra): Day 2 0.9 midday. Day 3 1.9 evening. Day 4: 3.0 evening. Day 5: 2.4 AM, 2.4 evening. Day 6: 2.9 AM. Day 7: 4.1 AM.

I feel like I could almost go on another week (& part of me is curious to see what results I’d get), but I’m thinking I will break fast Sun am, as I want to have menu planning/cooking prepared for when I return to work late next week. Suspect I will likely do some form of IF going forward as well, but still considering my options.

Hope my share was useful to other folks…happy to hear other suggestions as well. Happy Keto New Year!

#52

Good on ya Patty! If you are considering doing IF when you get off, I started off with 24 on 24 off.

Found it very easy to follow because I began and ended my fasts at 6pm, so I always ate dinner every night…either began the fast after dinner or ended the fast with dinner. Just a suggestion! Best of luck!

(Lauren Malhoit) #53

Any recommendations on how often you can do extended fasts? I did 3 days last week and I’m traveling this week so I was thinking about fasting again for maybe 3 days. Too much? Does it matter?

#54

Lauren, it depends on your lifestyle. If you did alternate day fasting, you wouldnt eat over the course of the week for roughly the equivalent amount of time as you would with a three day fast. Either is fine.

I will say that the benefits of fasting accrue far more rapidly with an extended fast though…you will reap the benefits best with a three day fast. Not to say that the benefits of food windows and 24 on 24 off arent great, but the autophagic and weight loss effects of the extended fast glean much faster results.

(Lauren Malhoit) #55

Yes, sorry should have clarified. I’m only taking about EF not IF.

(Patty W) #56

Thanx for the suggestion Scatter…hope your enjoying your football :smile:

#57

I think I understood… My point was that if your EF is roughly equivalent in fasting time to an IF that is safely practiced by millions, you should have no worries. 72 hours of fasting per week is 72 hours no matter how the fasting is divided up. Though actually, the EF brings faster and deeper results.

(Patty W) #58

Today I end my fast, 7.5 days in. Final stats: wt 310.2# (down 12.4# from start); AM BG 69, AM ketone 3.8.

Overall, it was not terribly difficult, I would absolutely do it again. I feel good physically & mentally. I can see signs that my body has been cleaning house a bit (certain skin issues have shown improvement). I almost considered continuing another 3-7 days, but decided it was better to end on a good note now, as I can always do more in the future. I kept my environment low-stress on purpose for this week (off work, few social engagements) just in case I would be feeling tired, but knowing what I know now, I don’t think it would be a hardship to do more regular activities during a fasting time. I’m still curious if the stress at work would increase my cortisol, thereby increasing my hunger & pressure to eat. I am enjoying the weight loss & seeing thinner body parts, although I know some weight will inevitably return. It is nice to break through the plateau. I think it is helpful, sort of a “practice run” that will help me envision my life as a thinner person, & more able to believe my body will get there by doing a sensible keto plan with IF. Also, it totally rocked to prove to myself that I can get into serious ketosis, & now have a baseline of what that feels like. It was also a blessing to be reminded that my thoughts & goals shape my actions, & I don’t have to be controlled by hunger/cravings for food.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to buy some bacon! :grin: