Extended fasting, anyone?

[Bearyhumcrack]

I like to fast for 48-72 hours most weeks. Works well for me and then I minimise carbs the rest of the time (weekends not so much).

I'm almost at the end of my longest ever fast of 156hours (14 to go) and I've lost about 10lb. Based on my last long fast, I expect 3-4lb of that to go back on once I have refed but half a stone or so should be in the bin!

Curious if there's anyone else on here who's a faster?

Stumbled across this thread through Google!

keen on getting started. Where are you guys? Still managing okay?

I read above someone drinking oxo cubes, how much water do you add?

I do a tsp of marmite & hot water. Lovely and lots of electrolytes and B vitamins.

hi @LibbyL92 there's a great subreddit reddit.com/r/fasting which is a great place to get loads of information and support. I tend to spend a lot of time on there for inspo. For electrolytes you can get powder on ebay (without sucrose / sweetners), depending on how long you are fasting you will need electrolytes. Miso Soup sachets are also a good way to get them back into your body and taste good although I wouldn't rely on that alone although depending on your fast length it may be enough for you. Start off with shorter fasts and work up to longer - you don't want to shock your body. Dr Jason Fung (book called the Obesity code and loads of videos on youtube) is a great starter for info and a proper consultant. Watch a few of his videos. I've just lost a stone in less than a month doing OMAD then working up to 36hr fasts a few times a week with some normal eating days in between not really watching what I eat. I'd like to do a few longer fasts in time just not quite got there yet. It gets easy so after a few your body isn't hungry and is used to it. I've also noticed things like an old verruca disappearing and a cyst on my eyelid going - autophagy is a good benefit.

Yum! I love marmite will try this, thank you! :)

Hiya!

perfect, thank you for the tips. Will take a look at Jason Fungs YouTube as well.

I started on Monday doing 16:8 (followed with high fat low carb meals) yesterday I did a 22 hour fast and today a 20.

I weighed myself today and already 7lbs down. So so chuffed. And I already feel a lot less bloated.

back to 16:8 tomorrow as I’m working and I find it more tricker to drop a meal whilst working, but I do hope to build up to that.

@LibbyL92 we are fasting together over on this thread if you want to join us... :)

www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/4728058-anyone-ready-to-do-omad-join-forces?

Thanks!! I’ll be there

@LibbyL92 I would stay clear of Jason Fung. It is well known that he is scientifically inaccurate. His videos are certainly very entertaining but equally inaccurate.

Oh really? Thanks for letting me know :)

I’ll find another YouTube chan!

Here www.redpenreviews.org/reviews/the-obesity-code-unlocking-the-secrets-of-weight-loss/ a bunch of scientists review popular nutrition and diet books. Jason Find has a scientific accuracy of 31% meaning 69% is BS.
Also, his main weapon is insulin and how insulin makes you fat. Absolutely nonsense , and interesting how the only ever drug that works for obesity , Ozempic, increases insulin levels, not only in phase 1 but in phase 2 as well. This completely shatters Fung's very famous fridge-freezer analogy of insulin .(insulin makes you supposedly store fat, well no, insulin pathways are activated when carbs or proteins come in )

You want some good quality YouTube, look for Kevin Hall or Christopher Gardner from Standford. Gardner is extremely entertaining as well. Just love the guy. Who pays the salary is usually a good indicator of scientific accuracy. A university or Youtube ads. The National Institute of Health (NIH) or a subscription-based website you founded (Janson Fung founded the Dietdoctors) If you earn from your gospel, defend it fiercely and aggressively, a bit of caution is recommended. You are never going to earn big $$$$ by saying what people don't want to hear: eat your veg.

@matchatea what is it he says that's erroneous? The fasting is still good yes? (Just about to embark on a 36 hour clean fast so I'm hoping this is a good idea 😄

Just read the piece, thanks

@summersanchez I personally find fasting the most effortless way to lose weight and it has numerous health benefits! when you fast you're not releasing ghrelin, the hunger hormone in the same way as when you eat. For me any type of eating releases more ghrelin making it hard to stop. So not eating cancels this out, not to mention the other benefits of fasting (autophagy etc).

So don't write off fasting! It works for tons people and is sustainable and importantly EASY, allowing time to eat what you want as well rather than CICO or other more difficult diets that can be painful and difficult.

Having looked at the link above, they still give the diet a "healthful" rating of 75% and suggests it will help you lose weight so don't write it off. Fung's advice has really helped me and so many others in what I see as the easiest way to lose weight (having tried millions).

Thanks yellowsuncat
I'm definitely fasting today but as I have some tedious work to finish it's extra hard

@summersanchez well done! I find black coffee, sparkling water or green tea really great for when you get a hunger pang.

The way I find works with fasting is to slowly build up, start at a shorter fast then build up e.g. 18hrs, then 20hrs, and so on. Once your body is used to longer fasts it will get much easier to do longer, regular fasts. Jumping straight into a 36hr could be super difficult for some people if they've not done it.

I now do at least one or two 36hrs per week and it is so easy after a month or two - second nature and the hunger gets a lot less difficult to deal with.

Also it's usually easier to do on a busy day where you've got lots to occupy you, so doing it on a tedious work day could be harder. I try to schedule it on a day when I have a varied day and less inclined towards eating (which I tend to do when bored and stressed).

I'm sure you know all of this though!

Here's some fasting inspo if it helps, always find the before and after pix super inspiring!!

www.reddit.com/r/fasting/top/?t=all

yellowsuncat that's all really helpful thank you
Yeah
Maybe 36 is a stretch for my first one. I'll see how I get on when the kids get home. 😬

Oops
20 hours

@summersanchez 20hrs is an achievement in and of itself! you'll get there, building up is key!!

Thank you
I'm really going to keep trying to extend it

Yes I am - but I started extended fasting when on chemo because it really lessens the side effects. Google Valter Longo/chemo/fasting if interested.

Anyway what you will discover is that if you can do 24 hours you can do several days because you will not feel any more hunger than you do at 24 hours. What make people dizzy and miserable is lack of electrolytes so you can overcome that by stirring 1/2 teaspoon of LoSalt (or similar) into a large glass of water.

Thanks bluesash wishing you well.
Currently at 39 hours

45 hours
I wonder how long I'll last next time
Going to do a
Short fast tomorrow

I'm back having failed spectacularly several times. Aiming for 36 hours to start with which is 9am tomorrow.

Good luck tattychicken

Thank you @summersanchez !! Am at 22 hours now and entering the danger zone. Evenings too often involve wine/cheese/nibbles so doing my best to swerve all that. 🤞