Feeling Depressed on Fast Days

[RealityHasALiberalBias]

Hi everyone, it's great reading all these inspirational threads on the diet - I'm on my second week now and the pounds are dropping off.

I don't find it difficult to stick to the fasting, in fact I don't feel hungry as such on fast days.

I do feel quite weak though, and like my brain is functioning slowly - sometimes takes me a while to string a sentence together properly!

What is difficult is that the last two fasts I have been in a very low mood - I could easily cry. It's like instant depression that goes away the next day.

Has anyone else experienced this? Will it get easier? I was hoping to get the energy boost and clarity of thought that some people experience, but I seem to have the opposite - exhaustion and temporary depression! It's annoying because I'd like to go swimming on fast days but all I feel like doing is hiding under the duvet or mindlessly watching old sitcoms...

Have a HUGE coffee first thing and go for the swim.
Your body is sulking at you.
You have to teach it the new normal.

If its been used to early morning carbs or sugars for years it will take a few weeks to learn the new house rules

the activity will help massively : blitzing parts of the house is good on FDs too : activity breeds activity

Well I don't actually hide under the duvet - I have a job! That's just how I feel. Can't swim in the morning, that time is for dog walking.

Anyway I feel fine in the mornings, it's the afternoons and evenings that drain me. And evenings are the only time I have for additional exercise.

Not sure about the coffee idea - I find coffee on an empty stomach gives me the shakes and makes me go a bit weird. But then I'm not much of a caffeine fiend, I mostly drink herbal teas.

Hopefully it will pass, because otherwise it's easy to stick to. I'm just worried that if a fast day coincides with me having to do something important at work that requires me not to be on the verge of/actually in tears then I'll be scuppered!

Hmmm. Presumably you are stuck in with kids in the evening ... could you try something like wii yoga with them (and the dog) "assisting" you.

Are there other issues driving you down - might meditation / mindfulness techniques help you to compartmentalise?

Don't actually have kids - I come to mumsnet occasionally for the interesting discussions!

I am prone to depression, though not currently suffering thankfully. I was a bit worried last Thursday on my second fast day at just how depressed I felt, and that it had come out of nowhere. But I was fine on Friday. Then the same thing happened yesterday - it wasn't grumpiness, just felt helplessly sad, exactly like when properly depressed. Again, today I feel fine.

Yesterday was only my third fast so I'll wait a few more weeks and see what happens. I'm more worried about how it'll affect me at work - at least at home I know that I'll feel happier tomorrow, as well as being able to eat again. Also I've informed my partner (who is also fasting) about my experience so he's aware that I might behave weirdly!

No kids. You lucky thing. Maybe.

At least your DH is fasting with you - what if the two of you went out for an evening walk with the dog on fast days. No phones or anything, just time to walk and talk and get fresh air (and tire the dog out).

Are you drinking plenty on fast days - at least 2 pints more than normal ?
Silly thing - do a mood diary to see whether it is the fasting or something else ....
don't forget that as the days are shortening many people with seasonal depression (I swim with a couple) are starting to struggle ... it could be that as well

True it's probably time to start on the vit D again, which I find helps massively with tiredness and bad mood (also general health - don't pick up viruses nearly so much now) in the winter. Was waiting til the clocks went back but it's pretty dark when I'm outside now.

(((((Vitamin D))))) Wonderful stuff.
And yes, the weather is very mild but very grey so your levels will be dropping - and on fast days you are not getting it from food either.
Is there a way you can get out for 15 minutes each lunch time to get some brightness?
And the exercise will help your system to adapt to being empty.

Yes I do try to get out when I can - often have to work through lunch though! Sigh.

Anyway thanks for the advice - I'm sure it'll get better!

HTH : and do join the big thread as there are lots of other non mums on there (a couple of dads and at least one grandad in fact!)

Will do!

I have the same problems actually, and would be very interested in learning about if you find any help with this.
I have been intermittent fasting for 5 weeks. Some fasting days are fine, but on many, I have a real problem with energy levels and feeling depressed. The afternoon and evening is the most problem, also sometimes the morning after until I have breakfast. An hour after breakfast, I'm back to my normal self. I've experimented with how much and when I eat during the day. For example, is it better to skip breakfast and have a bigger lunch, and about 150-180 kcal in the evening, or is it better to to have a slightly smaller lunch, eat snacks of cucumber and then as many calories as I have left in the evening. So far, nothing conclusive. It just seems my body is not good at building up a reserve.

I'll try the D vitamins and lunch walk!