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.

Looking at those sites it seems I already eat loads of low carb veggies since I signed up to a local veg scheme (endless cabbages!! ). I've already been reducing grains for a while by adding in more veggies (e.g. stir fry with a side of veg and a small serving of rice). Next I think I'll try to lose the bread at lunch time. Thanks for the warm welcome and help .

You can get low carb bread from Seriously Low-Carb Food and from The Low-Carb Food Co. but they're expensive so really only for special occasions. Asda used to sell Schneider Brot Protein Bread, which is low carb but more like rye bread than wheat bread, but I haven't seen it in there lately. Also the first two low carb breads are highly processed with some weird ingredients such as vital wheat gluten and psyllium husk powder so they're good from a carb point of view but not great from a real food perspective. I like the Seriously Low Carb Large Rolls but I buy them and freeze them right away then eke them out for ages. They're huge so you can make a giant burger or bacon butty or sandwich.

@StuntNun I know you weren't a fan but I found the SLC brownies much nicer when I added a couple of dashes of cream and mixed it to form a chocolate mousse.

After a bit of a break from fasting I'm going to aim for 24 hours tomorrow. I know I'm going to struggle as I've had more carbs than was sensible today

Sounds good Oneborn. I think I would rather have a nice regular brownie and take the carb hit than a just-okay low carb brownie though. I used to make brownies to take into work but not for a few years now for some reason!

I didn't much like the SLC bread - it was a bit insubstantial... I've not tried the rolls though.

I do like the Schneider Brot Rye bread though. My local Asda had it until 3 weeks ago.... [eek !! now what?]

I seem to be in an inadvertent 24h fast / OMAD
Was out early this morning for a few hours, returned and had a big lunch, was out this afternoon, then have been busy since then. I was on a call when dh ate his dinner, and I just don't feel the need. So, next stop tomorrow lunchtime.

What are everyone's fasting plans this week? I'm starting an extended fast after dinner tonight, hoping for at least 48 hours.

24h yesterday. Then dinner with friends (two households can meet here). Didn't mention being LC. Hoped I could navigate the meal. But it was pasta, sauce with flour and breaded meat with one type of veg. Never mind. They're good friends and we'd not seen them yet this year.

Gain today and swollen fingers.

24h fast and a fasted run tonight.

Hoping for three 24h fasts this week Mon-Wed and then we're 🤞on holiday from Thu. Haven't decided yet what I'll do about food. May keep to OMAD and lapse the LC?

Aiming for 24hours today, but if I can push through tonight then going to see if I can make 36- 40 hours for tomorrow I am hopeful because feel utterly exhausted right now! And once I've finished my jobs this morning might head home for a nap!

I've almost bought those rolls many times but I know that once they're in my house I will end up just eating them all in 1 day and then I'll be all annoyed with myself.

I've lost 2lb this week so am very happy and credit the 2 fasts from last week totally for that.

I'm undecided about today - we ate at 6pm last night and that seems a very long way away today...I might put it off until tomorrow.

That's why I put them straight in the freezer Poorbuthappy! If you're not feeling the fasting love today then why not join me in my fast from dinner tonight?

Have reached 23 hours and have decided to go through with 40hr fast
Not going to lie, feel pretty rubbish right now, but no hunger at all. I did need a small cup of tea earlier with a little bit of milk to see me through, and had a nap. Just making dinner for my daughter then think I am going to head to bed!

It's DHs birthday tomorrow so I'll probably just do 16:8 and then aim for longer from Tuesday evening.
I don't rate the SLC bread either. I've had 2 rolls made with the SLC loaf mix today though and they're pretty good. It's frustrating that they want you to use all the mix and then claim the baked rolls can't be frozen.
Best wishes for the fasts everyone
Where are you off to @VenetoResident?

@MasterOfOne - good luck. I sometimes wake in the night hungry if I've not eaten enough dinner. Does that happen to you?

@poorbuthappy - well done on losing 2lb!

@Oneborneverydecade - the U.K. Really looking forward to seeing my parents for the first time in well over a year. Only for a weekend but we have to fit in a quarantine on return before school restarts.

24h fast done today. Salmon and cauliflower for dinner. I've run out of microwave bags though so the cauli was a bit raw. Had some strawberries and cream too so I'm nice and full now. I found my pre-dinner run hard - not sure if that was the after effects of yesterday's carbs?

@VenetoResident if I'm eating at friends' houses and don't want to say that I'm low carb (because it can be headache for people trying to cook and cater for various allergies and preferences), I usually just say in advance that I'm not keen on pasta. That avoids the pasta bake scenario. I find that rice, or potato are usually easier to navigate, and a small amount doesn't affect me as much as pasta does.

Thanks @VenetoResident sadly I didn't make it though the night. Made it to about 26 hours and I just needed some food, I felt really unwell with it :(

I dont feel too bad. Today is a new day. Going to keep it to 20hrs (maybe I have been pushing to fast?) And have a lovely dinner of roast chicken with carrots and broccoli planned!

Managed 30 mins on the bike this morning, was very hard to motivate myself onto it as always but glad I did it and got it out of the way!

MasterOfOne well done for recognising that you needed to end your fast and doing so. I do worry about some people on the Facebook fasting groups that seem to get obsessed with the length of the fast. I know of one person who only eats one meal a week and fasts the rest of the time! He has a lot of weight to lose so I can see the appeal but it doesn't seem like a good approach to take. I'm sure it will affect his metabolism and ultimately slow down his weight loss. I think it's extremely important to listen to your body and to learn to tell the difference between the temporary hunger that comes and goes when fasting, and the slow building hunger that means it's time to eat again. And of course as soon as you feel unwell it's time to break your fast.

I'm trying my first dry fast today. I'm not convinced of the benefits but I thought I would give it a go. Usually I drink loads when I'm fasting. I'll see how I go and start drinking water and electrolytes as soon as I get thirsty.

Thanks - I must admit I have a ways to go with my mindset, I was really annoyed last night and felt like I had "failed" in some ways. But this morning gave myself a stern talking to and reminded myself this is a way of life, so there is no failure or success, I just have to try.

I agree with you about FB - some of them are quite militant and a little scary. My friend who introduced me to IF warned me against them. I joined a couple but must admit I rarely interact.

A dry fast? How long will you do that for @StuntNun? And what are the benefits to undertaking one?

Thanks for your advice, guidance and support

The fasting YouTuber Dr Mindy Pelz had mentioned dry fasts a few times. The theory is that they force your body to break down fat to make metabolic water. Since there's a risk of dehydration they're usually only 12-24 hours long. I'm at 16 hours already since I don't eat breakfast and I skipped my usual drink of hot water in the morning. I gave up caffeine last year so I usually have a couple of mugs of hot water with electrolytes instead of tea or coffee first thing. So it's no hardship to skip that and I don't feel thirsty yet. I'll see how I go and break my dry fast with water and electrolytes as soon as I feel I need a drink. Then I'll continue on with my usual water fast for as long as I comfortable. I'm aiming for 96 hours to Friday evening but my period is due so I won't be surprised if my fast ends up much shorter than planned. Last time I tried to fast before my period I only managed 24 hours, although that time I didn't know it was due as I only had a 21-day cycle - thanks peri-menopause I didn't know it meant more periods rather than less periods.

@venusandmars I think next time I'll just say that I'm LC. Sadly if I'd stuck to LC food I'd have only eaten the vegetable option and it would have looked very strange.

I took lots of berries and cream so we had a dessert option I could eat but they didn't offer them. 😢

It's one meal in 3 months on plan. No lasting damage. I've lost all but 100g of the gain today. It's just not what I'd have chosen to go off plan by eating.

But.... to enjoy their company I'd have eaten a bowl of plain pasta!!

@MasterOfOne - 26h is great and there's no point making yourself ill. I feel the same about running. I don't really want to run. But I do want to be fit, toned and able to run. Which isn't going to happen if I don't run!

@StuntNun - if he's got the discipline to only eat one meal a week I wonder how he ended up in a position where he needed to lose weight?! I agree that it's probably not enough. A VLCD that at least ensures you get the vitamins and minerals you need would be better wouldn't it?

I need to get some electrolytes for running when fasted. Any you'd recommend?

I'd not really heard of dry fasting. I have a coffee in bed before going to sleep and DH brings me one in bed before I get up. I may have a coffee problem...

I'm having some weird periods at the moment. Maybe a new Mirena bedding in? It's 4 months old now. Maybe the LC and IF? Also some people reported disturbances after their COVID jab? Who knows?! My mum was having a lot of menopause symptoms when she was 45 so maybe I've not got much longer. But my cousin (daughter of mum's sister) is pg at 43!

I'm doing a 24h fast today. Will probably have the same dinner as yesterday - salmon and veg. Getting peckish now but I've done an hour of yoga and walked 3 miles so I'll deserve my dinner!

I don't know about discipline Veneto I think only eating one meal a week sounds more like an eating disorder.

I managed 20 hours of dry fasting but can't say I've really noticed much difference to water fasting.

I think if I was only eating omaw that meal would take on death row last meal status. I'd want a little bit of everything I love AND everything I'd resisted during the week.

I'm going to try 38hrs from tonight. I'm out for a walk with DD and DM which should help.

Dry fasting sounds bonkers @StuntNun

How is everyone's fast going today? I'm 37 hours in and feeling good. I managed to make the DCs' breakfast without problems but I don't normally eat breakfast myself anyway. I'm going to Tesco later to see whether my theory of thinking about food stopping me wanting to eat holds up.

Morning!

About 15hs into a 20hr fast, have planned out meals for the day, so just about to have a hot tea and get on with some work
Feeling pretty good