Was this 7 day fast a "failure"?

#1

A bit of background: I am a 5’7, 41 yo female. Started keto/IF/EF in September 2017 at 172 lbs with the goal of getting 140 lbs.

Fast forward to now, I am getting close to my goal by doing strict keto, IF, a few 3 day fasts, and two seven-day fasts. The first 7 (or 8) day fast was before the holidays, and it went pretty well. I was hangry and irritable but overall felt fine. The weight loss after refeeding was around 0.7 lbs a day or so.

Last week I did another 7 day fast with the hopes of getting to my goal and starting maintenance. This one was hard. I was COLD the whole time, very very cold. Mornings were fine, I just had my coffee with a touch of cream, even did spin classes several mornings, but by about noon the hunger was there and gnawing at me. Evenings were the hardest, I was freezing and very hungry.

I started this last fast at 144 lbs, and on the last day weighed in at 136. This, of course, was fasting weight, so I was really hoping to end up at or below my goal of 140 after refeeding. Well, after a few days of eating 2 keto meals a day, I ended up around 143 lbs. Did I really lose only 1 lb of fat in 7 days? Did my body slow everything down so much that no fat got released? At 24% body fat, do I not have enough for an extended fast anymore? I would eventually like to get to 135 lbs, but my body is having none of it.

I like the way I look, but I do think I have a bit more to go. I also find that I start gaining weight by eating 2 meals a day. I am just really confused and not sure how to lose or maintain my new weight.

TIA!

(Andrew) #2

Are you eating enough? Seems your body is slowing everything down. I would probably suck up the weight gain at first and eat more for a few weeks. Just keep carbs low and feed window as small as you can. Women surely have more trouble near their set point.

Cream probably screwed you during the fast. Just a guess without knowing your BG numbers. Ihad some “safe” broth and my BG stayed way too high during my last fast.

#3

You think? I have considered it, but I am really scared to undo all the hard work. I did FEAST today because it is my birthday, and we went to an all you can eat Brazilian steakhouse for lunch. I hate a whole cow, several of her babies, and a lamb family of four as well. For dinner I had a keto “cake” my hubby and kids made me, which was made of ghee, coconut, unsweetened cocoa powder, no sweetener of any kind, just fresh raspberries on top (a lot of raspberries, I confess, because the cake was very bitter). I feel stuffed, very uncomfortably so :frowning:

On my eating days, I eat very big meals. I feel full when I finish them, I don’t think I could have them any bigger. Cream in the coffee is something I am guilty of, but I really hate black coffee. Maybe I need to suck it up and train myself to like it.

I am wondering if I should try the every-other-day eating regiment where I eat 2 meals one day, and a 36 hour fast the next day. Does that sound like a good plan? Lunch, dinner, then nothing until the next day, then lunch and dinner the following day, etc… I have not done it that way before, so maybe worth a shot?

(Andrew) #4

I’m with you, I can’t eat for 6hrs after a meal. I don’t think I could do OMAD.

EOD sounds like something to try out.

If you don’t eat carbs (or too much protein) you can’t have enough insulin to put on weight. How much protein are you eating??

Get a BG meter as well. Get a fasting insulin too. (36 hr fast should help a bunch here)

#5

I am strict about carbs, the only carbs I get are from green vegetables. It is possible I have a little too much protein, but I am not sure because I don’t weigh my food or count my macros. I eat lots of salad greens with olive oil or keto mayo, cheese, eggs, fish, steak, chicken, avocado, etc. I try to eat as much fat as possible with everything. And absolutely no sugar, I am religious about it. I do have raspberries occasionally, as well as 86% dark chocolate.

I suppose I could get a BG meter, but I wish I could just measure actual insulin in real time. Sadly, the technology is not there to do that at home.

(Lonnie Hedley) #6

I[quote=“Mamash, post:5, topic:29869”]
the only carbs I get are from green vegetables.
[/quote]

Except for the carbs you’re getting from avocados, eggs, raspberries, and the dark chocolate. Incidental carbs can add up, and you won’t know exactly how much unless you’re tracking. I IF and have EF’d and believe fasting is beneficial. I also track 100% of what I eat so I know what, if anything, might be causing any type of issues. I’m surprised others haven’t suggested tossing the scale and instead taking measurements. The scale doesn’t tell the whole story. Your weight could stay the same, but you could be losing inches. Good luck, I hope you get it figured out!

#7

I hear you, but having failed multiple WeightWatchers attempts, I know tracking is not for me. I know carbs are in everything, and so is protein, but short of eating olive oil and butter all day, I am not sure how to really decrease those. I am already very strictly keto foods only and no artificial sweeteners either. Anything beyond that (like tracking and weighing my food) is not a lifestyle I can sustain. I know others that can, but I cannot. What I CAN do for life is skip meals, that comes naturally to me. But it looks like even that is not working at the moment. I am feeling very down today, guilty when I eat, hungry when I don’t. I am also scared to toss the scale because this way I may not know I am gaining until the pants are too tight.

Ugh, this sucks. I never thought being almost at my goal would feel so crappy emotionally.

(Andrew) #8

Your really doing pretty well considering you started in Sept. You have good problems :slight_smile:

KCKO

(Mandi) #9

I think you are doing great! Look at all you’ve done. No one says you have to track. Eat when hungry, stop when full. Don’t get frustrated, you are doing a terrific job!

(Renee Slaughter) #10

You’ve done a great job so far. What I have noticed here on the forums is this. As some of us (women)get closer to the goal weight they tighten up the keto. Strict macros etc. You may want to consider those hidden carbs that add up. Just a suggestion

(Mike W.) #11

How did you arrive at your goal weight?

(Brian) #12

(I assume you meant “ate”.)

That IS a lot of protein.

I don’t know how typical that is to your protein intake but too much protein can be an issue for some people. A moderate amount is important. But more than you need is not necessarily better.

Just what stood out to me.

All the best as you keto onward!

(Emma Cohn) #13

I’m a 5’5" female and I started out at 145lbs. I dropped down to 130 quickly. Getting below that has been a 6 month struggle. My body is trying to maintain a weight in the healthy range, I’d just like to lose a bit more fat for aesthetic reasons. I have tried to fast but get incredibly cold and hungry at about 20 hours. I try to supplement with a little fat and extra salt but I’m either not doing it right, or I don’t have enough fat to supply the energy demands for the day. :woman_shrugging: I’ve lost a net of 1lb this entire month and I’m pleased because I gained about 6lbs in the middle of the month (shark week). 1lb in a week is still 1lb lost. Weight loss slows so much as you get closer to your ideal weight. Also fat loss and weight loss are not always the same thing. You might have used the fat but are still holding the water. Be patient with your body and it will catch up. You’re already doing a terrific job.

#14

Thank you for the encouragement! I have a bit of a hard time not feeling stuffed after a meal, especially after I fast. It is very easy for me to stop with fatty meat and fish, but harder with nuts, berries, or dark chocolate. Maybe these should be reserved for special occasions only.

True, but the challenge now is to keep it that way :slight_smile:

For me it’s red wine every night, dark chocolate (88% but still has 5g of sugar per serving), nut butter and berries. I only have it once a day, but lately have been wanting to finish off my meal with it every time. Maybe I will limit that to weekends? I am not counting greens as carbs, just eat them to satiety with lots of fat on top.

Keto and IF/EF

Oops! Yes, I meant “ate”. I don’t usually have this much protein, this was just because of my birthday and the all you can eat grill. Usually I have trouble finishing a 6 oz steak, and typically will have 2-3 (sometimes 4) chicken drumsticks, depending on how hungry I am and if I fasted beforehand. The rest is typically green veggies, salad greens, eggs, cheese, all with either olive oil, butter, or ghee. I wonder if I eat “too much” for my size… hmm… that does sound like a lot. Sometimes I will pack my lunch for work, pull it out, and looks like so much food compared to my coworkers. I eat waaaay more than my male boss, who is roughly my size.

That sounds like exactly me. I am almost 5’8, and started and ended at a similar BMI to you (from 25-26 to 21-22?). While this is technically a healthy range, I would like to drop down more for aesthetic reasons. I am very thin boned and carry most of my fat in the highs and stomach (classic pear). In certain strategic clothes I look pretty thin, but in a bathing suit you can tell there is lots more to go. I am wondering if the body does not care about the disproportionate fat distribution and just wants to maintain this amount of fat just in case I decide to go crazy on it and fast for 7 days again :laughing:

I love this forum and all the support! Thanks everyone!

(Emma Cohn) #15

Yes. Sounds like you and I have a very similar shape. I’m carrying most of my fat in my thighs and butt. It was the first place I started to gain fat so It’ll probably the last to go. :roll_eyes: I’ve heard that’s pretty typical for women. Oh well, KCKO! We’ll get there.

(Candy Lind) #16

I know it’s been a while since you started this thread, but thought I would say this. If you haven’t tried any other type of fat in your coffee, you’re cheating yourself. I LOVE butter and coconut oil in my coffee. At least give it a try!

#17

Thanks! I do sometimes put butter in my coffee, but I have not tried coconut oil. I was trying to avoid too much fat since I want to burn my own, but at this stage I might need to add some because I get very cold. I suspect body is slowing down heat production to preserve the remaining fat.

(karen) #18

Ok, this is WAY late, but I just joined, sorry. I had two thoughts for you. 1. I put three drops of stevia in my coffee. I like cream in there very much, but still find it tolerable as long as it’s slightly sweet. 2. I don’t track, but I reviewed a list of how many carbs are in various fruits vegetables, just to get a better idea of which ones to steer toward and which ones to avoid. It’s a lot easier to think oh, carrots, don’t want many of those! rather than getting out the books and charts every time I put something in my mouth.

(Raj Seth) #19

Lindt 90% has 1 carb per square. Yummmmy