The lady that did several long fast--where are you?
TBeverly49
Posts: 322 Member
There was a lady doing several very long fast, I don't remember her code name, but I was wondering how she is doing to the multiple fasts? I have yet to be successful at even one fast. How do you all approach fasting?
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Replies
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I think you're maybe?? thinking about @sylvettecorprewharris0
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I think @Kitnthecat is still doing fasts0
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Hi there. I'm one lady who fasts. I typically eat one meal per day as my normal routine, with one to two longer fasts per week, of 36 to 48 hours, with a monthly or so 72 hour fast. I slipped up over Christmas however, and allowed myself to eat a bit of sugar and alcohol and a few more carbs and calories, so it's been a bit difficult to resume fasting. I am back to the one meal per day routine now, and plan to have a 48 hour fast this weekend. Also planning another fast of 48 - 72 hours mid work week next week.
I love how I feel when I fast. It gives my body a break from digestion. I feel calm yet energized physically and emotionally and it helps with weight loss. I think that I enjoy and look forward to fasting just as much as to eating.0 -
After reading kitnthecat a few weeks ago i have been following in her footsteps. Big fan of both the egg fast and water fast. As long as I can have my coffee! Which I always do!0
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I believe @DittoDan has a group with fasting tips as well0
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today was supposed to be a fast day (I do one meal a day normally, with a long fast each weekend). Then my toddler asked for some of the bacon out of the fridge (I cook a pack at a time and just put whatever is left in the fridge).... crap. Not a fast day now LOL who can resist?0
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I am fasting today. Just black coffee, water, maybe some tea later. I'm not sure if I will make some bone broth today or just pull a jar of it out of the freezer for "supper". I was flirting with the idea of starting my fast yesterday, but gave in to bacon and eggs scrambled with Swiss cheese. That's OK though. I was full and could not eat another bite. I feel well prepared to fast after fuelling my body with enough protein and fat to sustain me.
I feel good so far, but of course if this were an "eating" day, I would not be eating until supper time anyway. But I have a feeling of excitement and anticipation in getting back to my fasting routine. I plan to eat tomorrow evening after fasting for 48 hours.
I employ various strategies while fasting, and listen to my body. There are times when I can complete a 72 hour water fast with very little hunger or ill effects, but there are other times when I feel the need to take in a few calories of fat in order to prolong the fast. I used to do BPC in the morning when fasting, but no longer do that, although if I am transitioning back to fasting after I ingesting more carbs (like over Christmas), I may add HWC to coffee just to give me some fat calories to combat hunger. I don't worry too much about my own or other people's perceptions about what a constitutes a proper fast. I have many variations I employ. I still give my body a rest while taking in much fewer calories. I actually do better when not allowing myself to consume a very low calorie meal. I find that it is better to not eat at all, because that usually takes away the urge to eat. Hunger disappears, my energy increases, mental clarity increases,and my mood improves. If I do wish to eat something, I might take in about 10g of butter, or put a bit of butter in some of my homemade bone broth.
For me, I don't think it is a good idea to eat 3 smaller meals per day. The most I'll do is two. I find that eating more regularly increases my hunger level, and eating becomes more of a ritual, or entertainment, something to do because of time of day etc. I wish to avoid this. I don't need to eat just to occupy some time, or to soothe myself. I want to eat when my body is actually hungry, and not for comfort, which is what I used to do. I still have some weight to lose, and I feel that fasting is not only a way to reach my weight loss goal, but also a way to maintain weight loss and good health in general.
It does take discipline, which is something I feel the need to embrace after a lifetime of emotional eating. But it also feels like complete freedom to me. Freedom from convention. Where I used to be quite self conscious of my odd eating habits when I first went Paleo years ago, then Keto last year, I am no longer looking for approval from others in this regard. I am proud to be a food rebel. I love this woe. And I love fasting!
I might want to add that I am female, 53 years old, with hypothyroidism. I feel that this might make it more difficult for me to lose weight, or might make me more susceptible to weight gain if I am not careful. I found that Paleo eating resulted in weight loss that was occurring at a much slower rate than I wished for. Keto helps a lot, but fasting helps Keto work better for me too. Keto also makes it much easier to fast. And I am benefitting from the additional weight loss, improved control over eating, mental clarity, stable physical energy and endurance, much more stable emotional well being and moods, and general well being. I think it also boosts my self confidence and allows me to grow in other ways than merely in the quest for good physical health. I feel much more "myself" and know that I am in control, doing my best and hopeful for the future.
Good luck to everyone!0 -
@Kitnthecat that was very well said and I think you made a lot of good points in there to encourage others find "their way". You have a very supportive way of sharing information that I appreciate very much.
I haven't been able to do long fasts without the help of Keto coffee (CO and butter only) to get me through, but I've only tried twice, I think. Both times less than 48 hours. I think it was a good experience and I really should put it to use on a regular basis. I really want to work to get past that first hunger that I would feel and ultimately feed with the co and butter. Just as a personal mission to be able to will myself past it. I personally feel like I need to exercise my will power and that it makes me stronger overall to do so, and I think avoiding it is why I don't fast more often.0 -
Aaww, @Sunny_Bunny_ , thank you! I always enjoy reading your informative posts !
You know, there is no right or wrong way to do Keto, or to fast. We are all different and some strategies might work better for some people, and not for others. But even in a supportive environment like we have here, we can still have moments where we can be either a bit critical of each other's or our own efforts. So, because I know that I have employed so many strategies for weight loss over the years, and the path to good health may not be linear, it serves no purpose to adopt an "all or nothing" mentality that may curtail success. Everything is a learning process, and even if we don't get the desired results the first time we try something new, that doesn't mean that we can't tweak it a bit, try something else and find what works for us. We have not failed.
This has been such an amazing journey of self discovery for me. I've long used fasting as a way to give my body, mind and spirit a retreat, and while eating carbs found it much more difficult to accomplish. But this woe has made fasting much more doable and meaningful for me.
I can no longer allow myself to be so critical of my own efforts that I abandon my mission. I would encourage others to employ some discipline if needed, but to also be open and forgiving of their own journey.
I have morphed so gradually to this woe that it feels so natural to me. I long used BPC as a meal replacement for breakfast. There's nothing wrong with that. I might still begin an extended fast with BPC especially if I had over indulged in higher carbs immediately prior to a fast. I would still call a day "a fast" where only the calories contained in BPC were consumed. I'm no purist. There are many ways to make this work.
I have to credit @DittoDan for giving me the push I needed to break through my notion that I needed cream in my coffee in order to survive. I previously would do BPC as a way to get the creamy coffee taste I desired, while cutting carbs down more, and reaping the benefits of the boost of energy associated with BPC, especially useful if not planning to eat. But if his water fasting group hadn't challenged me enough to try my coffee black, I wouldn't have been able to expand my fasting repertoire. I now only put HWC in my coffee when I feel I need some calories, and actually drink most of my coffee black. I feel like I have so many options now, just in coffee alone! But that experience also broadened my sense of self control and self esteem so much. I feel so forgiving of myself and so empowered at the same time. And of course, I would encourage everyone else to be open to all possibilities of fasting. Thanks Dan.
I will also incorporate a bit of Kombucha at times when fasting. One serving has about 7 g carbs, so the purists wouldn't like that. But especially if I am feeling that I might get sick with a cold or whatever, I will have a fasting day that includes broth and Kombucha, to try to improve my immune system through my gut.
I think for me that one of the biggest advantages in this is to break down my own barriers as to what constitutes good nutrition and factors in individual goals of wellness in every sense of the word. I feel so enlightened and so sure that we can all find our way, but our ways of doing this might differ slightly.
Encouraging each other is also very important and one of the reasons that this forum on MFP is so wonderful. I have reaped so much benefit from the support of others and it is my absolute pleasure and honour to help others too !0 -
I've just recently started doing some intermittent fasting and it's going pretty well. I think it will take some practice and getting used to. I feel very "different" when I don't eat for long periods. Not bad, just different. I've been doing the 16/8 method. Basically, I eat dinner and then fast for at lease 16 hours before eating again. I've been able to work it into my daily routine. In my work I often have to eat out at lunch and it is on those days that I fast. I just skip breakfast on those days. In general, I've taken to only eating twice per day. Big breakfast then nothing until dinner. Soon I intend to occasionally reduce to one meal per day. I will eat a large steak once per week and then fast until the following evening. If find when I eat a steak that I'm quite satisfied for a couple of days.0
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I purchased unsalted grass fed butter today. All ready for my first bullet proof coffee tomorrow and my first fast day. It will be interesting to see how long that fast lasts. 16 oct to 16 jan is 3 months exactly with no coffee. Tomorrow will be my first..... so If my typing gets all crazy tomorrow you will know I have gone manic thanks to the caffiene hit.0
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SamandaIndia wrote: »I purchased unsalted grass fed butter today. All ready for my first bullet proof coffee tomorrow and my first fast day. It will be interesting to see how long that fast lasts. 16 oct to 16 jan is 3 months exactly with no coffee. Tomorrow will be my first..... so If my typing gets all crazy tomorrow you will know I have gone manic thanks to the caffiene hit.
Don't forget to get some extra salt during a fast. A little more than you even do on a regular low carb day.0 -
I use unsalted butter in my coffee, but might eat some salted butter during a fast. I did have some salted homemade bone broth today, will have more soon.0
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I use salted because I love salt
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@Sunny_Bunny_ you are a wealth of appreciated great tips. Thanks! Loved my morning coffee. Buzzing and not hungry.0
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SamandaIndia wrote: »@Sunny_Bunny_ you are a wealth of appreciated great tips. Thanks! Loved my morning coffee. Buzzing and not hungry.
Awwww, Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed your Keto coffee too!
Have a great fast!0 -
I've found that the fat in my coffee makes the caffeine jitters a little less pronounced. Not gone completely, but more like if I had the same amount of black tea.0
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Hello everyone. I am on Day 2 of my first extended fast of 2016. It has now been about 42 hours since I have eaten. I have had black coffee the past two mornings, lots of water, some herbal tea, and some homemade chicken/turkey bone broth yesterday for "supper". I did have about 5 g butter last night too, since my broth was unusually fat free for some reason. I like a bit of fat in it. It helps keep me feeling satisfied.
I feel great, very alert, lots of energy. Fasting does not prevent me from performing my regular activities. I will do my household chores today as usual, and try to get a walk in.
I will eat today at supper time, at hour 48, yet something tells me that I could very easily fast for a longer period of time. But I work tomorrow, so tend to want to eat supper the night before a Monday morning, lol.
But feeling as enthused as I am right now, I will definitely plan a 48 to 72 hour fast for mid work week this week. I will listen to my body however, so if I feel unwell or hungry, I will eat, so I am completely flexible as to the duration of my next fast. I will be happy anywhere from 36 to 72 hours, so will just play it by ear.
I am planning to make chicken curry with a Thai curry sauce made with full fat coconut milk, and vegetables sauteed in butter. I find that having a special meal to look forward to helps me to stay focused on my plans. But I do find sometimes that when it actually comes time to eat, I may not even be hungry at that point.
I find fasting to be an excellent way to eliminate cravings and hunger. It's really not scary or difficult at all. I will not die or suffer by going without food. There is always food nearby if I need some. That is a most comforting thought. But the best feeling is to be able to avoid food, when it used to be something that I would overeat. This totally has taught me to view food as fuel. 0
