What do you do to keep busy while fasting?

(Jane Srygley) #1

Do you manage fasting days/times differently than feeding days/times? Do you feel the need to distract yourself from thoughts of food or do you just go about your business normally?

Before starting this WOE, I was eating up to 10x/day, so the bulk of my time I was focused on food to one degree or another. I’m trying to find ways to spend my downtime at work that doesn’t involve keto recipe videos… how to spend my time at home that doesn’t involve food planning and prep… and just generally curious about how others spend their fasting time.

(John) #2

I generally fast on a work-day, so it is very easy for me to just work. I drink coffee, water, and tea when I feel a need to keep my mouth occupied.

(Robert C) #3

One trick I use is a “kitchen is closed” policy.

It isn’t a strict time, just finish dinner and a good wash-up and declare to myself that the “kitchen is closed”.
Going back in for food would be a similar feeling to going to a restaurant after it is closed and knocking on the window hoping they’ll reopen for me.
Kitchen reopens for next day’s lunch or dinner depending on the TRF scheme.

For EF - the trick there is to run out of food. If you are whole food only Keto this basically means you plan the emptying of your refrigerator as you start your fast. Simply throw away anything still in there (frozen meats would give you time to think and are obvious keepers). You’ll find most things will expire anyway for long fasts.

The point of both schemes is to get food off your mind and allow you to let other things in. What you want to avoid is “I won’t think of food, I won’t think of food…”. That sets you up for failure.

(John) #4

When I get home in the evening is the toughest time. I rely heavily on decaf coffee and flavored herbal teas when willpower alone ain’t cutting it.

(KCKO, KCFO 🥥) #5

I download books to my kindle or iphone to read. I catch up on keto science stuff I listen to podcasts both keto/lchf related and finance oriented. I research stocks I might want to add/sell, I take longer walks. I rearrange closets and work on clearing more out of our basement. I do trip planning. I have recently unearthed a small loom and have started relearning how to use that as well. I do yoga, dance, and look for new music for both those activities.

You’ll be amazed at how many other things can replace all that food prep, eating and cleaning up. I find it very freeing.

(Cancer Fighting Ketovore :)) #6

I normally only eat at supper so when I do a 72-hour fast I just go about my day normally. I have other people to feed (4 children & a husband), so I just keep on with my routines. During the day its not much of a bother because I’m already used to not eating. I do have to keep food around for the kiddos though.

(Marianne) #7

I do feel the need to distract myself when fasting, but usually only around dinner time. That seems to be the only trigger for me. If it is inside weather and during the day, believe it or not, I like to clean. I am no clean freak, but I find it very satisfying.

Another thing I enjoy is getting on the computer. Hours go by like minutes when you are researching things, on Youtube, reading articles or on a forum. I watched old Journey in-concert videos the other day. Spent more than an hour doing that. Steve Perry had the most incredible voice - and gorgeous man - especially when his hair was long!!!

I just ordered a paint-by-number set and would like to try that. Again, I can see myself doing that for hours without realizing it. Have thought about getting a jigsaw puzzle, too. If you have a cat, forget it! :smile_cat:

(Windmill Tilter) #9

You get can get used to cooking while fasting pretty quickly. I cook breakfast and dinner (non-keto) for my kids (ages 5-9) pretty much every day. My brain just developed an “off-switch” where regardless of what I’m cooking, I just don’t regard it as food. The more fasts I did, the easier it got. Once I could bake bread without issue at dinnertime while fasting, I knew I was pretty much set.

My bi-weekly fasts were only 84hrs, so I was never that far from a meal. After my fast, I’d feast with zero restraint for two days, and then I’d start the next 84hr fast. I still felt something like hunger (mostly at dinner time), but it was like “ghost hunger”; nothing like the visceral, ravenous hunger I experience during feasting days.

It took me a few fasts before it became effortless. I think the body needs a bit of practice to get really good at burning it’s own bodyfat.

(Jim Letourneau) #10

As simple as fasting is, it does create a food void. I think it is normal to start thinking about the next meal. I know I appreciate and savor my fast breaking meals even if I am not very hungry when I eat them.

I will confess to occasionally obsessing about keto recipes and how to perfectly cook my next rib eye or what chaffle recipe to make while fasting. Food prep also crosses my mind and usually I can make something and not be tempted to eat it which speaks to the power of keto. For example, right now I have a bag of garlic from Costco. Most of that that will need roasting…

My fasting time can be hyper-productive and food prep/research is just one of many things that I’ll do while fasting. Other activities include Marie Kondo style organizing, cleaning, trip planning/research, reading, crossword puzzles, list making, journaling, walking, shopping, self care etc.

My wife notices a huge difference in my behaviour while I’m fasting. A good analogy would be the swirl of activity that happens before a vacation. Normally I’m happy to let things slide a little. Before a vacation, I start making lists and really get after things. When I’m fasting, I have that same energy level and focus.
All kinds of projects pop up and I get to dedicate time and focus on them. I’ll also listen to keto podcasts and read these forums for encouragement.

(Jim Letourneau) #11

I forgot to mention organizing and culling digital photos. That’s a big pile of work that is always looming.

(Jane Srygley) #12

I fast every Sunday and do all my weekly food prep while I’m fasting! I really like it actually because I am more focused. When I’m cooking and not fasting, I tend to nibble on this or that, but Sunday mornings, I just do what I need to do and I’m done. It actually feels really good.

That is an ENORMOUS looming project of mine!!!