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.

Hello all, I've been reading this thread with interest, I do 16:8 and low carb, and thinking about doing longer fasts, but this comment is my challenge:

Especially if I could have a coffee to break up my day a bit

It's not so much food, but drinks that I find really difficult not to have, I really punctuate my work day with tea and coffee to motivate me, and without milk really isn't the same. I do sometimes drink butter coffee but wouldn't really want more than one. Do others find this challenging, and what do you do to cope with it?

Hello @TabbyStar I've weaned myself off of a lifelong milky tea addiction onto black decaf earl grey over the last couple of months. I don't like coffee so that one I didn't need to worry about. Without milk isn't the same but doable?

@TabbyStar could herbal teas be an option? I'm pretty sure most teas are zero calories so if you can find one you like that might work? I don't really drink tea but Twinnings do a buttermint tea which is delicious, like mint tea but softer. Someone on the bootcamp thread suggested adding a tiny bit of salt to black coffee as apparently that gets rid of the bitterness, I've never tried it though.

Thanks for the replies, at the moment nothing without milk is the same, maybe I just need to try harder! I do quite like liquorice and peppermint tea, but not in that I look forward to it. I think it's particularly hard at the moment with everything so boring. It may be that to begin with I just have to pick a non-work day to fast, as I can distract myself better than when I'm just sat in front of my computer. I do put pink salt in my coffee, though I don't really notice the difference, it's the "thinness" of it that I do notice.

I was planning on a 23 hours fast today - dh was taking lunch to his very elderly parents and I was having the day on my own. Now dh's plans have changed (because of the weather) so we've got excess food, food already planned and ready for tomorrow, and dh is currently cooking bacon, which is just cruel.

I think I might change my plans too and fast on Monday instead when I'm out of the house for work and not tempted by dh's toast.

Morning all.

Sorry been so hectic and not checked in.

But 2 week weigh in today for Fast800.

11.5lbs down. (7.5 week 1 and 4lb week2)

Really happy with that loss and so motivated to keep on going.

Hope you're all well.

Will be breaking my fast late today as have a house viewing at lunchtime.

Seeing how I feel I might make it a 23 hour one and have a larger dinner (But still low carb) as at my parents for dinner.

800 calories for one meal seems so decadent to me now.

(Were in a support bubble with them)

Well done @Fagey that's amazing!

I don't blame you for caving on the bacon venus!

I managed 42.5 hours in the end so I'm really pleased with that. Just had a low carb version of eggs royale which was delicious but really filling.

That's great Marmalade how do you feel now?

Great loss @Fagey well done

@StuntNun I feel good thank you, although I probably shouldn't have had something quite so rich as I had to make a speedy trip to the loo not long afterwards!

Since COVID & not commuting 5 days a week, eating breakfast at 7am (lunch 12, dinner 6.30), my diet has naturally evolved to the following:
Up at 7.30 no commute!
Coffee flat white 8.00
Breakfast 11am, usually porridge/nut based
No lunch
Dinner 5/6

My training/alcohol has stopped since having COVID so I'm guessing once I start running again my food intake will need to increase. Apart from breathlessness I'm feeling great.

@MarmaladeTeepee I think you need to read a bit more about autophagy because it is not such a clear tool for health. In many cases, autophagy promotes cancer cells, and provides the nutriment for cancer cells when there aren't many nutrients around.

Autophagy can be good for you or not, and it is not very wise to assume it will only be good.
"The role of autophagy in cancer is complex, and its function may vary according to several biological factors, including tumor type, progression stage and genetic landscape, along with oncogene activation and tumor suppressor inactivation 26,28. Thus, autophagy can be related either to the prevention of tumorigenesis or to the enabling of cancer cell adaptation, proliferation, survival and metastasis 29,3"

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22534666/
jeccr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13046-019-1275-z

Because you seemed so enthusiastic about autophagy, I wanted to give a warning to anyone jumping at autophagy, especially if they already have cancer.

Spend some time on pubmed, and for the fans of Peter Attia, listen to peterattiamd.com/eileenwhite/ especially from the 40-ish minute

Eileen White is studying autophagy and her takeaway is :

How can cancer cells, especially those stuck in the core of a tumor with limited access to oxygen, growth factors, and nutrients, survive the assaults of treatment? One response is that they turn to autophagy, chewing up old organelles and proteins, and creating what they need to survive, says Eileen White, PhD. The associate director for basic science at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick, NJ, White studies how autophagy contributes to cancer metabolism and whether blocking it might make treatment more effective.

Thanks @Cormoran I've only ever heard good things about autophagy I didn't realise there was a flip side. I'll have a read of those articles

Hello

Is it generally a bad idea to try a longer fast after eating a bigger then normal meal? Or will it make no difference?

I don't think it makes any difference Oneborn. I wouldn't eat a big meal because you're planning to fast though.

Thank you

Who else is in for an extended fast starting today after dinner? I'm aiming for a 36 hours so I plan to eat again at 11 a.m. on Wednesday. If you fancy trying a 24-hour fast then that would be from dinner today until dinner on Tuesday - so only skipping two meals. I suggest being guided by how you feel. If you're starving at 23 hours in then eat! If you still feel fine at 24 hours then you could try going a little longer. In my experience every fast is different and it gets easier every time. I always make sure I have plenty to drink during an extended fast - lots of water with electrolytes and herbal teas. Coffee (regular or decaf) helps suppress appetite so can help you keep going through a meal time when hunger levels naturally rise temporarily.

Definitely up for the 24 hour fast @StuntNun starting from after dinner tonight. I was planning on doing it anyway so virtual company will be nice 😊

Do you use a fasting app catwithflowers? I use the Life app which I find motivating.

Ooh I haven't heard of that @StuntNun I'll have a look thanks.

No, I just try to keep busy, planning my fasting days when I can go for long dog walks, do a workout and so on. I've only done one 48 hour fast so far and it was fine but am planning on doing the longer fast just once a month.

Looking forward to the nicer weather when I'll be so busy in the garden that I won't have time to think about food. We are also supposed to be moving house in March (if the solicitors get a move on 😩 🙏🏻 ) which will be a very busy stressful time!!

@StuntNun - I'm in but will tag along with @catwithflowers as I want to start after tea (dinner? 5pm food ) rather than lunchtime.

Almost fell spectacularly this weekend but managed to get a handle on it. STS this week which is a shock so I need to make sure I at least STS next week too!

I am also looking forward to nicer weather and getting back out in the garden! Oh and not having to deal with a dirty dog multiple times a day.

I'm going to try for 36 hours but starting last night. Every day looks the same for me atm so figured I may as well crack on

I'm with you on the 23hr fast, from after dinner tonight. Actually if we eat at 6pm tonight, and 7pm tomorrow, that would make 24hrs.

I find it hard to fast for longer unless I'm on my own, so I might need to wait for restrictions to lift and for dh to be able to go away to the hills for a night...

Hiya what are the thoughts around no added sugar cordial? I havnt ate since 6.30 last night and was going for a 24hr fast but had such a headache around 10pm so thought I would up the water intake ( not a fan of water on its own!). I had 2 pints But now I'm wondering if I've scuppered my.fast before I've really got into it!

@StuntNun I've downloaded the app you mentioned but I can't see how to sync it to my Fitbit. Did you do this? Any tips?