Discussion
I used to fast when I was a teenager but I've not fasted in recent years. After noticing a small weight gain attested to home stay I decided to try a 24 hour fast last Wednesday. I found the first 24 hours fairly easy so I extended it by another 24 hours, breaking the fast on Friday afternoon. I still maintained a light calorie intake until yesterday evening when I ate a decent sized meal. I noticed many benefits to the fast - my abdomen was flat again and the mental clarity was notable. Concluded I could benefit from further fasting so I've commenced another 24 hour fast today which I will most likely extend by 24 hours.
I've done 4 water only fasts this year, a 48, two 72's and a 132. The 72 seems about perfect to me, Hunger is gone by the third day and you really start to feel good.
The 132 (five and a half days) was done as an experiment just before I had tests for my autoimmune condition, I just wanted to see if a long fast impacted the numbers. It did, there was an improvement but I couldn't in all honesty recommend it, although it would largely depend on what else you're doing at the time.
My work is physical and I ran the fast from early Sunday evening till the following Saturday morning, so right through my working week. The weekdays weren't actually too bad but by the Saturday morning I was distinctly odd. In fact it was pretty unpleasant until a couple of hours after eating again.
If you are younger and healthier or have a desk job it may be a lot easier.
As I say, 72 is probably the sweet spot, a lot of really good info about it online, look for the proper Dr based YouTube vids, not the ones by shouty nutters and you'll be fine.
The 132 (five and a half days) was done as an experiment just before I had tests for my autoimmune condition, I just wanted to see if a long fast impacted the numbers. It did, there was an improvement but I couldn't in all honesty recommend it, although it would largely depend on what else you're doing at the time.
My work is physical and I ran the fast from early Sunday evening till the following Saturday morning, so right through my working week. The weekdays weren't actually too bad but by the Saturday morning I was distinctly odd. In fact it was pretty unpleasant until a couple of hours after eating again.
If you are younger and healthier or have a desk job it may be a lot easier.
As I say, 72 is probably the sweet spot, a lot of really good info about it online, look for the proper Dr based YouTube vids, not the ones by shouty nutters and you'll be fine.
Radec said:
Why though, seems like your fasting has turned into starving yourself for a few days at a time.
It can't be good for you.
36 hour fasts are ok according to the NHS:It can't be good for you.
https://www.nhs.uk/news/obesity/alternate-day-fast...
I've done 24 hour fasts without any issues.
If you genuinely want to lose weight then the normal professional advice for the most sustainable way to do so is to incur a calorie deficit of about 300 calories per day. Any more than that and people just give up after a couple of days. For this reason, I really don't understand the point in fasting.
I done a 60hour fast last month. Not for the weight loss benefits, More as a mental challenge.
First 24 was the hardest. Next 24 were easy, I genuinely didn’t think or crave food, even 12 hours after that, when I planned to break the fast, I wasn’t desperate but stuck to the plan.
Benefits; mental clarity, I felt really switched on after a day or so fasting. Felt light and sharp and alert.
Drawbacks; I wouldn’t liked to have lifted weights or played sport during the fast - I didn’t feel powerful at all. I didn’t sleep great, not through hunger/stomach rumbling but I woke up a lot more often each evening, if only for a minute before I drifted off again. My breath was bad after a while.
I’d like to do a 100hr fast at some point.
First 24 was the hardest. Next 24 were easy, I genuinely didn’t think or crave food, even 12 hours after that, when I planned to break the fast, I wasn’t desperate but stuck to the plan.
Benefits; mental clarity, I felt really switched on after a day or so fasting. Felt light and sharp and alert.
Drawbacks; I wouldn’t liked to have lifted weights or played sport during the fast - I didn’t feel powerful at all. I didn’t sleep great, not through hunger/stomach rumbling but I woke up a lot more often each evening, if only for a minute before I drifted off again. My breath was bad after a while.
I’d like to do a 100hr fast at some point.
I’m just about to start my usual daily fast. 16 hours eating whatever I like, cram in some biscuits and tea before bed and then a full 8 hours fasting. I feel pretty rough in the morning until I’m about halfway through my stack of pancakes, eggs and maple syrup, but it’s worth it for the mental wellness and knowing I’ve always got my modelling career to fall back on.
Being doing this for nigh on thirty years now. It’s not for everyone but if you’ve got strong willpower I can highly recommend it.
Being doing this for nigh on thirty years now. It’s not for everyone but if you’ve got strong willpower I can highly recommend it.
Thanks for the encouragement but I broke the fast at just under 45 hours. Ended up feeling mildly head achy and overly irritated so it was the right thing to do. Feel washed out now and I'm on the achy side. Still, 45 hours wasn't a bad effort, respect to anyone that manages over 48 hours because that's not easy.
Can I suggest if you are doing longer than 48 hours, you might like to look up the recipe for the UK version of "Snake Juice".
This is a mix of normal and low-sodium salt (potassium basically) which will stop you running low on electrolytes and feeling like s
te (and potentially getting cramps, heart trouble etc).
I've done 8 days. Easier after day 2 or 3 when ketosis properly kicks in. Lost a fair bit of weight, didn't put it back on.
PS If you avoid carbs when breaking your fast, you will find you can start again very easily.
This is a mix of normal and low-sodium salt (potassium basically) which will stop you running low on electrolytes and feeling like s
te (and potentially getting cramps, heart trouble etc).I've done 8 days. Easier after day 2 or 3 when ketosis properly kicks in. Lost a fair bit of weight, didn't put it back on.
PS If you avoid carbs when breaking your fast, you will find you can start again very easily.
Edited by budgie smuggler on Monday 11th May 16:24
I tried snake juice and found it revolting! I would not be able to keep that down.
I use these:
They have minerals but zero calories. They suggest one for a workout but I have 4 in a pint of water once a day, it gets me nearer to the daily recommended amount and it tastes more bearable, I find 1 in water to be a bit insipid.
Good call budgie, electrolytes are essential, my first 72 I didn't bother and got a lot of aches and pains and some nausea. Once I started using them all that stopped.
I use these:
They have minerals but zero calories. They suggest one for a workout but I have 4 in a pint of water once a day, it gets me nearer to the daily recommended amount and it tastes more bearable, I find 1 in water to be a bit insipid.
Good call budgie, electrolytes are essential, my first 72 I didn't bother and got a lot of aches and pains and some nausea. Once I started using them all that stopped.
br d said:
I tried snake juice and found it revolting! I would not be able to keep that down.
I use these:
They have minerals but zero calories. They suggest one for a workout but I have 4 in a pint of water once a day, it gets me nearer to the daily recommended amount and it tastes more bearable, I find 1 in water to be a bit insipid.
Good call budgie, electrolytes are essential, my first 72 I didn't bother and got a lot of aches and pains and some nausea. Once I started using them all that stopped.
Yes those are a good call, but not cheap!I use these:
They have minerals but zero calories. They suggest one for a workout but I have 4 in a pint of water once a day, it gets me nearer to the daily recommended amount and it tastes more bearable, I find 1 in water to be a bit insipid.
Good call budgie, electrolytes are essential, my first 72 I didn't bother and got a lot of aches and pains and some nausea. Once I started using them all that stopped.
You can improve snake juice by diluting it or, tbh if I was struggling i'd just add a small amount of squash. It barely coloured the water, just enough to take the edge off the taste.
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