Do any of you do extended fasting? Water or liquid fasting?

[QuimReaper]

I've been dabbling and wondered if anyone else is?

I have just finished a 65 hour water fast. I found it ok... I did have a black coffee once a day. Got me into ketosis, going to do a 36 hour fast once a week and a longer one once a month. It was easier than I thought it would be.

I've just started. I plan to do three lots of 36 hour fasts a week. Then I'll eat two meals between noon and 6pm on the days I don't fast. I'm currently coming to the end of my first fast. Really don't feel bad or even that hungry. I've found some examples of fasting from a Facebook group linked to the obesity code. I need to lose around 10 pounds in the next 3 weeks. Which I think is achievable. More would be great. But if it's sustainable I'll carry on.

Sounds good, it’s not too bad is it? I am intermittent fasting (16:8) but will incorporate longer fasts. Good luck x

Gosh, 3 times a week Godolph, I'm sure you'll see amazing results! Is it just for weight loss?

Tooty I did 48hrs the week before last, and 72hrs last week. I struggled on the 72hrs, I don't think I'd want to do it regularly, it just worked out that I could, so I thought I'd try it. On both occasions I've had two cups of tea each morning (I can't start my day without it!) and a couple of times miso soup or rooibos in the evenings, so not a complete water fast, but no solids. Actually, on both occasions I "started" the fast from when I had a really small amount of food on Monday: on the first occasion it was just some cottage cheese at 9pm on Monday evening, and last week it was something similarly snacky at 3pm, so I really had an extra 21hrs or so added to each fast. For some reason I tend to be a bit peckish on Mondays - I guess my stomach's still in active mode from the weekend - but I'm not falling into that trap again today.

In spite of struggling, I did find it surprisingly easy though. How did you find it in terms of energy and productivity? I've got quite a light schedule at the moment which is why I'm able to experiment, but I fear my mental faculties do suffer.

Sorry God just seen you said it is for weight loss. Can't even blame that one on fasting, just me being a dope

I'm just trying to kick an extra few annoying pounds I've been lugging around for ages, but I seem to be able to manage 48-60hr fasts quite easily, so if I find it gets easier, I may incorporate them to overcome unavoidable gains, after holidays etc. The first fast was just after a holiday, and I was really chuffed with how effective it was: 12 days' indulgence + 4 days of being careful, and I had a net gain of only 300g, which was incredible - I'd be expecting at least 1.5kg normally.

I fasted from Sunday evening (7pm) to Wednesday lunchtime, by then I was feeling a bit light headed.
I was fine in work, but did go to bed early on Monday and Tuesday, not because I was particularly tired but to remove myself from temptation!

I felt very proud of myself ... it also helps to increase my willpower when dieting, knowing I can fast for 2 days helps me cope with cravings.

Tooty Did you find it affected your sleep? I felt quite tired, but then had really wacky dreams, and quite restless sleep. Apparently it's pretty common. I agree, psychologically it's helpful in terms of cravings!

I had a very restless night before I broke my fast. Kudos for doing 72 hours! I am not sure if I could do that. Have you made bones broth?

I didn't Tooty, I stuck to tea and miso soup, but if I do more than 48hrs again I think I'll definitely incorporate that. I got some electrolyte pills during my first 48hrs, which seemed to help, although it could have been psychological - did you use anything like that?

I had another rotten night's sleep last night I was completely asleep until my husband woke me up, but then I couldn't get back to sleep for ages, and when I did I slept really light and fitfully and had strange dreams. It stands to reason that fasting would result in stressed sleep, I wonder if it gets better with time.

I just finished my fourth 36 hour fast. If anything I sleep better fasted although that could have been the bike ride I did yesterday.

Haven't weighed myself yet and have my period so it's not likely to be great. I'm a big fan of Dr Fung and according to him women lose weight slowly initially on this way of eating but it speeds up. If I can stick to it then I will because it's a doddle of a diet. Food bill should go down too.

Godolph well done! Are you finding it becoming steadily easier? I had terrific results last week. I'm not really fasting this week, although may manage 36hrs from Wednesday evening to Friday morning. It really is the sleep for me: I had a couple of nights last week where I was laying awake for absolutely ages, and it seems like if I get woken up in the night during fasting I wake up with my nerves really jangling. It's really odd.

Also I get so so cold! I know that's to be expected but the weather isn't cold at all!

Also meant to say, interesting about that Dr Fung theory - any idea why that should be? Would be nice to think it's true when it's usually the reverse...

It's definitely getting easier. On fasting days I do get hungry but it's at meal times and it passed. I don't get hungrier and hungrier either. Then on days I eat I am finding I can wait longer. So I think I'll try doing a 48 hour fast at some point.

I don't know why Dr Fung says that about women but he says studies show that men will initially lose more on the same fasting regime as women but then it slows while for women it improves and by 8 weeks results tend to be similar for men and women.

I think for me it's a do able way of dieting. Not eating at all means I know it will work and removes the internal battle over what to have.

I’ve been LCHF / IF for a couple of years now. I do 18/6 everyday and 24 most weeks and the occasional 36hr.

How do you all cope with the “what the fuck are you doing / you’ve got an eating disorder / that can’t be healthy” comments?!?!

mooncup I haven't had any of those as I've managed to conceal it from everyone! I just say I'm 5:2ing, which seems to be much more socially acceptable.

God I know what you mean about it being easier to eat nothing, it's psychologically easier for me than restricting. I think I'll definitely persist with at least one 36hr fast a week, and see how I go

I’ve done Prolon (research based fast-mimicking diet over 5 days). A bit wary of water fasting but it would be a lot cheaper...

Lumene 5 days is a bloody long time! I know there are people who go for weeks at a time, but I honestly don't know how they do it.

Godolph just thinking about the men / women thing, I suppose it's probably evolutionary: in terms of the survival of the species, men are comparatively disposable, and play the hunter/gatherer role, so when entering a period of scarcity they'd keep their energy up - possibly even get an excess spurt of it - so they could go out hunting, whereas women might have evolved to conserve their energy in case of pregnancy. It'd only be a short-term measure, probably achieved by some hormonal process, which would explain why their weight loss "catches up" with them after the first initial conservation period.

I wonder if, anecdotally, the people who say they feel "bright eyed and full of beans" when they fast tend to be male, and those who say they feel lethargic and cold and sleepy tend to be female. Would make sense if I'm right about the evolutionary side.

I have an eating disorder which I am constantly trying to keep in check and the behaviour you're all talking about sounds like me when I have a relapse?!! How is this normal for people to discuss so blithely as an acceptable 'diet'??

Mooncup sorry I hadn't seen your post but surely that just proves the point - you are keeping the behaviour secret and a person with an ED agrees with the doubters? Doesn't sound like a healthy relationship with food to me I'm afraid.

Definitely wouldn’t advise anyone with an eating disorder to get involved with fasting.

It’s a really interesting point as to where it becomes an ED

I would say prior to my way of eating I was more eating disordered than I am now. I used to calorie count all the goddamn time. Now I don’t give a shit about calories, I eat very intuitively....it’s just that because of what I eat and being fat adapted I can go long stretches without eating (in a conventional sense)

I lost some weight initially eating this way but for over 18 months no change either way in my weight. It feels like my body is functioning really really well, I’ve loads of energy etc. But because of snack culture and ED narratives, I find people are really unaccepting of fasting. The research is very clear that it’s really really really good for you

Geoff sorry to hear you've suffered with an eating disorder. I've never suffered with that, but I can see how this would ring alarm bells for you. Fasting is having a bit of a "moment" right now with the new research into the health benefits (autophagy etc.) so you might see lots about it on the internet; as Lumene says, I would steer clear in case it affects your recovery.

QuimReaper if you're feeling a bit rough when fasting it sounds as if you're not fat adapted yet. Dr Fung's argument for fasting is that the body would not have a food deprived human become lethargic because then they wouldn't get out there and find food. On a calorie restricted diet say 1200 calories a day your metabolism will tank so that it matches the input. Then you might feel lethargic and cold because your body is burning less fuel. But when you fast your metabolism doesn't need to do that because most of us have plenty of fat to burn. But if you're not fat adapted then you can feel a bit rubbish when your body switches between sugar and fat.

I haven't really discussed fasting with anyone other than my husband so I've not had any comments but its not a secret. In fact when I do eat I eat a normal meal and am generous with cream and cheese. Fasting means I can enjoy the food I do eat and it's probably not obvious I'm on a diet. I'm sure I will get comments at work but I think probably more in that I'll be seen as amazing at going without food. I think there really is an issue in society about constantly eating.

Obviously someone who is underweight shouldn't fast. But fasting is not an eating disorder as its practiced by millions as part of religion.

There is evidence that fasting has other health benefits besides weight loss such as potentially reducing your risk of cancer and possibly your risk of dementia. For me it frees up time and I hope I'll see weight loss. I'm on week two and on my 6th 36 hour fast and I'm not wasting away. I don't expect it's going to drop off any quicker than your standard diet. It's just it's working for me and I'm fine with that.

I have recently done a 5 day fast, which took quite some willpower. I am trying to get some food intolerances and a fermenting gut under control under supervision from a functional medical doctor.

I lost 4 kilos and have been reintroducing food slowly. Unfortunately, it was not the miracle cure I was hoping for as I have mouth ulcers and stomach pain once I started eating again, despite having 2 days of bone broth, vegetable juices and then no complex carbs for the next 2 days.

Back to the drawing board.... From a weight loss perspective though, it was amazing an I can't believe I haven't done this before!! Hunger just wasn't a concept in my head for those days and I had some salt to balance electrolytes. I was tired and went to bed early but did some excercie (cycling) and took detoxing baths which almost completely wiped me out. I will do it again though... nice to drop 4 kilos without too much effort.