Combining fasting with low carb 1

[StuntNun]

This thread is for people who want to combine fasting with a low carbohydrate way of eating such as Low Carb Bootcamp, keto, paleo or primal.

Disclaimer – I am not a health professional – I am relying on my own reading and experience. If you have a relevant health condition then consult your doctor before introducing fasting. For example, people with diabetes or high blood pressure often require medication adjustments if they cut carbs or start fasting. In many conditions, medications must be taken with food which may dictate one or more regular meals per day. If you have had an eating disorder, or tend to be obsessive or controlling about food, then fasting may not be appropriate for you. I’m happy to chat about any of these issues but this thread is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

Why fast?

1. To lose weight
2. For the health benefits (e.g. reducing insulin resistance, triggering cellular repair, lowering inflammation, reducing blood pressure)
3. All of the above!

Types of fasting

1. Intermittent fasting (for example 16:8)
2. Fasting mimicking diet (such as 5:2)
3. Extended fasting (over 24 hours)

I will describe each of these over the next three posts. Most people start out with, or working towards, either 16:8 or 5:2. Before we get started, my top fasting tip is to make sure you have plenty of calorie-free drinks: water, black coffee or tea, green tea or herbal teas. You may need to drink more than usual because you aren’t getting any water from food during your fasting window.

I don't think I actually feel hungry at lunchtime when fasting but I do struggle with the lack of a 'ritual'. Today I faffed about for a few minutes after making lunch for DS and made myself a glass of sparkling water with lemon and salt and a cup of coffee with cinnamon and then sat outside in the sunshine to drink the coffee. It helped and I think I will do something similar at dinner time to trick my brain into thinking I've had a meal.

Can I join.Ive been doing 16:8 for a while but now trying low carb too.

40 hours 2 minutes!!

Felt I could have gone longer too!

Wow! Well done ZiggZagg!

Thanks, feels good, I may do one every other week and 16:8 other days I quite like food too much!

@CrabPuff I'm with you on the unstable floors, I can put on 8lbs in 8 minutes!! And like you, I know I'm doing well by how my clothes fit (or how often I have to hitch up my trousers when they are too loose).

Morning folks - an hour and 20 to go before my 36 hours is up. I was fine til DH started cooking a Chinese for himself last night. I went and got into the bath with a book but the smell wafted right up to tantalise me anyway. I had suggested he have something really good that he can actually cook, while I fast so he doesn’t moan that I’m being boring but it nearly killed me!

I tried to weigh myself again last night - it varies between 13.13 and 15st 1 but most often said 14st 7 which is very depressing as I’ve been doing 5:2 for a few weeks, so Christmas clearly got me good and proper.

BUT! By the time lockdown is over, I WILL be able to get into my first pair of motivational jeans as they can be done up at the moment at the high risk of organ damage.

I am going to have a home made burger in a SLC roll today for lunch and chicken comfort pie (Hemsley and Hemsley) in the evening. And a 22 hour fast on Weds with a 500 cal limit. Unless virtue overtakes me and I can manage without.

Does anyone use psyllium husk? I tend to get a bit constipated on low carb and thought it might help. Not sure how to make it palatable though.

I'm 36 hours in (planning on keeping going until at least 1 but possibly later if I'm still feeling good) but when I stepped on the scales this morning (I'm a daily weigher) I was a pound up from yesterday

I was only 1lb 1/4 down this morning just before breaking a 39 hour fast @prettybird - weird isn't it.
I gained last week after doing a combo of 38 hr fast and 20/4. I wonder if I'm treating myself to compensate for the long fast.
I had heart palpitations this morning - not a good sign!

Morning all. I am vacillating about trying a longer fast! Have bought lunch with me to work, but wondering if I can manage with a cuppa to get my through to dinner? Would likely end up about 22/3 hour fast. Anyone out there to support me! Motivation needed 😊

Give it a go Bestbees. If you have food with you can alway eat earlier if you need to but you'll probably find that once the meal time has passed you're hunger disappears again.

I don't think fasting necessarily correlates directly to weight loss. You do hear about people fasting and their weight going up. Basically weight loss is a poor proxy for fat loss.

Hobbes psyllium husk is good for when you first go low carb but shouldn't be needed in the long term. Drinking plenty of water and making sure you're eating enough fat also help stave off constipation.

Food smells are awful when you're fasting CrabPuff. Funnily enough I can cope fine when I'm the one cooking. It when I get a sudden whiff of something yummy unexpectedly that it really hits me.

@Hobbes8 - I occasionally put a tsp or two of psyllium husk into Greek yogurt. It has to be really well mixed in, possibly add a bit of extra liquid as it soaks up a lot of liquid. I usually eat it with some berries or something, maybe some nuts or seeds, cacao nibs etc. Big drink afterwards, & another big drink within a couple of hours.

Mostly I just try to eat lots of fibrous veg. Especially raw veg. Lot of types. Carrots cauliflower turnip celeriac onion beetroot lettuce kale cabbage tomato beansprouts peppers. I’m having all of those in my dinner this evening. Plus a whole chicken leg, including the skin. And some homemade dressing.

I find that probiotics have been very helpful for improving my gut health in the past. Especially sauerkraut & kefir. Unfortunately I’m on antibiotics at present, long term, so I’m not getting the maximum benefit. I plan to start making my own once I’m done with the ABs. I eat sauerkraut most days TBH.

Thanks @StuntNun you were right. Rumbly tummy around 12.30 but fine now. Will try doing this alternate days I think, or maybe just 2 times a week. Is there much difference though between fasting for 12/14 hours and 20/23 I.e. Not getting to the 24hour mark?

Bestbees it depends. For weight loss or for autophagy?

Both please!

Made it to 46.5 hours before breaking my fast

Had a lamb chop (2 left over from Sunday - dh had the other one) and a load of veg.

Wow well done @prettybird , that's amazing! How do you feel?

Could have gone longer - but I tend to do my Jillian Michaels DVD first thing in the morning and didn't get think it was sensible to do it on a 60 hour fast

I'm planing on doing one every 3-4 weeks. I swear my neckline is looking better already (2nd extended one I've done)

Wow, very good prettybird! I did 37h this time and felt like I could do longer but tbh I really wanted to eat! I'm going to stick with a 24h fast once a week and a longer fast once a month.

Very well done Prettybird! FYI, I do my workouts while fasted but I do find my ability declines after a couple of days fasting - either fewer reps per set or longer recovery time between sets. But it can be done for the first few days at least.

Bestbees for autophagy it's worth trying to get a 24-36 hour fast in. If you want to go for a longer fast then start out using "training wheels" such as bone broth, creamy coffee, or bulletproof coffee to get you used to the longer fast. Once you know you can do it with a crutch then it becomes easier to do it without. Plus every fast builds your "fasting muscle." When I first started intermittent fasting 16:8 I had a cup of tea and a bone broth each morning to get me through to 11 a.m.

I've done the Shred after 36 hours - but thought that 60+ hours would be pushing it

...have my Pilates class on Tuesdays, so I don't do the DVD (currently on the hated Level 4 of Ripped with its horrible burpees ) on the same day. But I did do it yesterday on 14 hours fast (as I do most days when I'm doing 16:8).

Well done @prettybird!

Thanks @StuntNun that's helpful. Will try nothing from tonight's dinner to Friday. Will aim for lunch as usually don't eat in the morning. Will have plenty of bullion drinks and maybe a bulletproof coffee or two to get me through. I am a bit worried a out not being able to sleep on Thursday night. How do people find that when they are fasting?