fasting and sleep

totaloblivia
totaloblivia Posts: 1,164 Member
edited November 29 in Social Groups
I got back to fasting on Tuesday after about a month off for Christmas which I failed epically by eating all round me: put on 14lbs so working at getting them back off by fasting 36 hours twice a week. It works great of course!

My question to my knowledgeable MFP colleagues is: how do you counteract the hyper-alertness of fasting when you need to sleep? I can generally count on (a) being quite cold by the time I go to bed after about 26-28 hours of fasting - that's not such a problem, I just pile on the blankets but (b) being mentally hyper alert so I can't sleep very well. I don't feel bad at the time, but I really pay the next day when I'm eating again, but am exhausted.

Any tips on getting a good night's sleep when fasting?

Replies

  • slimzandra
    slimzandra Posts: 955 Member
    Great question - inquiring minds need to know.. (a) and (b) ditto for me as well.
    I went to bed early last night (for me early is around 9:45pm) so I wouldn't eat after dinner, and ended up having trouble falling asleep and then I was up at 2am, 3:30am, 4:40am and 6am until I finally gave up, got up and had breakfast. Odd thing is I'm not tired now, but probably will be tonight.
  • mcpostelle
    mcpostelle Posts: 418 Member
    I read very complicated stuff and also drink Kava tea which knocks me out.I also purposely lower my body temperature so that I am more tired. Otherwise I just make the most of it. I also will meditate in bed while lying down and sometimes will drift into dream land.
  • totaloblivia
    totaloblivia Posts: 1,164 Member
    Maybe I will not pile on the blankets if lower temperature will help. Glad to hear I'm not alone though! Thanks @slimzandra and @mcpostelle fasting today was great. Hoping for a good loss tomorrow morning!

    I was reading that dehydration during fasting can lead to heart palpitations because the heart has to work harder to pump slightly lower volume of blood around....hopefully a calmer heart will help. Never heard of kava tea...will look it up.
  • DittoDan
    DittoDan Posts: 1,850 Member
    I have trouble sleeping as well, but, once I started eating fermented foods, I don't get cold when I fast.

    Dan
  • totaloblivia
    totaloblivia Posts: 1,164 Member
    I wonder why that is @dittodan ? How much fermented food would you need to eat for this effect do you think?
  • KnitOrMiss
    KnitOrMiss Posts: 10,103 Member
    Fermented foods have a natural thermogenic response. 4-8 oz of kombucha can trigger this, as a few TBSP of sauerkraut, so I would imagine that it doesn't take a very large amount regularly, @totaloblivia
  • totaloblivia
    totaloblivia Posts: 1,164 Member
    It's weird that this response would last beyond digestion ie when you are fasting! Thanks folks.
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