Time to give up, or....?

(Steven Cook) #1

I’d been keen to try a full 7 day fast using just water, coffee and tea as well as a cup of vegetable bouillon with added Himalayan pink salt on days I go to spin class. (my previous best is 72 hours but have done lots of 18/6 20/4 and OMAD before). I’m currently on day 4 (last meal was Sunday evening) and I’d been doing great up until now, although the worst hunger was 16-18 hours in but this was easily pushed through.

I’d hoped to be experiencing the day 4 “magic” but instead I’m experience hunger once again. I’ve just taken some blood measurements, my ketones are 6.4 mmol/L and blood glucose at 3.6 mmol/L which I think is 64.8 American. My meter is red flagging this glucose reading.

Would appreciate your thoughts on whether this is time to call it quits, I really don’t want to but am cognizant of the advice to listen to your body. Or should I push through?

(Tom Seest) #2

I would say that it depends on your goal for the fast.

You can increase the length of the fast by supplementing with something that doesn’t bump insulin much like MCT Oil or Butter, as your hunger may be due to the absence of access to body fat. Your hunger may just be a lack of electrolytes and upping the salt may help with that. You could also just double the broth and that might help. Just thinking about food can produce an insulin response, and there are no real rules for fasting.

I would not worry about the low Blood Glucose readings or the higher Blood Ketone readings, unless you are feeling hypoglycemic. I’ve been in the 40’s and 50’s for days before, and never felt symptoms.

(Jennifer) #3

You don’t mention your bf%, but I think that matters when fasting. You need a high amount of fat metabolism to fuel your brain. Have you tried adding some fat instead of broth (which has protein in it)? Protein can be broken down into glucose, which could be the reason for the hunger and higher BG readings.

Look into fat fasting - might work better for you?

(Steven Cook) #4

Thanks Tom, that’s the advice I was hoping for! Yeah, been thinking a lot about food and inadvertently seen a few images of food online that have been seriously tempting! Just had a cup of bouillon with added salt and feel a bit better. I have a spin class later so I’ll see how I feel after that. I think I have enough body fat at the moment, I’m currently 168lb (would prefer to be 158lb) and using the visual estimate guide I’d say about 25% body fat.

(Jennifer) #5

@richard did some calculations in one of the protein podcasts that showed how much glucose a pound of fat produces during fat metabolism. As body fat lowers, you get to a point where, your own body fat can not fuel your brain and you need to add fat. Let me see if I can find which podcast it was…

I think it was from the Protein Controversy one from Sept 25, 2016.

(carl) #6

Right episode. Wrong dude. That was @richard

(Jennifer) #7

Oops - corrected! Memory is failing me as I get older… :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

(Steven Cook) #8

Well today has been a real struggle. I was fully intending breaking my fast after I’d been to my spin class, but I’ve come too far and am past the half way point so I decided to have a BP coffee and see how I feel after that. Happy to report I’m feeling much better. I know BP coffee is a strategy that a lot of people use but it’s not one I had wanted to resort to. Hey-ho, let’s see what tomorrow brings… hopefully the day 4 magic will appear on day 5!

#9

That’s terrific. Good luck for tomorrow. I’ll bet that you’re glad that you did not quit! Good luck staying the course!

(Todd Allen) #10

I’ve also been wanting to do longer fasts but only made it to 4 days once and ended sooner a few times. I’ve always stopped when I start to feel crappy, either lethargic, chilled or my Raynaud’s flares up. I’ve been doing water & tea fasts expecting anything of substance might stimulate appetite. But next time I’ll try butter or coconut oil and see if I can go longer.

(Steven Cook) #11

Quick update. After my struggles on day 4 days 5 & 6 were effortless. Never did get that “magic” euphoria feeling of increased energy, alertness and focus that gets talked about, but neither have I experienced any toilet issues so I guess that’s a plus.

I’m well into day 7 now with just over 7 hours to go until the 168 hours are up (it’s close to noon here in the UK as I write). Not sure as yet whether I will break my fast this evening or wait until breakfast time tomorrow, which was my original intention, we’ll see…

(Steven Cook) #12

It’s nice eating again, keto food is delish!