Anyone up for supporting each other with 36 hour fasts?

[Peae]

As a midlife / perimenopausal woman these worked brilliantly for me in the summer and I managed to lose my first stone. I'm completely convinced by the health benefits and would like to get back in to them, but can't break through the struggle at the 21hr-ish mark. OMAD is no problem, I just want to hit the 36-hour fast.

Would anyone like to buddy up for some mutual encouragement?

I'm following here because I'd love to do a 36 hour fast but my diet isn't great atm. I have been doing 16:8 / 18:6 but need to cut the carbs a bit more. I'm watching with interest, and hope it goes well for you all.

Good luck!

My fast ended up starting at 7.30. Looking forward to checking in with all of you.

I've fasted for 1.5 days through food poisoning unfortunately and lost 3lb. Wouldn't recommend it though!

Hi @Eddielizzard my diet is nowhere near as good as it could be for this! Wrong time of year for it really.

@November10000 you sound like a bit of an old hand at this :)

I'm heading for bed shortly. From about 4 hours into the fast our bodies will have used up the sugars from our last meal and will start tapping in to the more easily accessible stored energy, glycogen, in our muscles and liver. I've done a 20 minute weights workout this evening in the hope that it speeds this bit up.

I did a fair amount in the past when I was losing my lockdown weight and I'd hit a sticky lb and after a week or two still couldn't shift it. Fasting seems to get me going again and I lose 2lbs with the fast, then put 1 back on when I ate but still have a net 1 lb loss and then would continue to lose again over the next few days.
It's like a reset button that kick starts for me.

Thanks for sharing the science/what is happening in our body @Peae

I'm also off to bed now.

I do a Caroline Girvan weights workout most mornings (quite early!). Any thoughts on whether it's still ok to do that tomorrow? I'm guessing it should be fine as I usually do 16:8 or 18:6 anyway and often don't eat until lunch. Maybe I might need to skip it on Wed morning or do a Pilates instead?

Sorry if I’m too late. I’m not certain of the pros and cons but I would still do the workout. I would avoid doing something that normally makes me ravenous though.

Over 12 hours in to the fast and our bodies are starting to burn body fat for energy (whilst our brains start to use ketones in the absence of readily available glucose).

How is everyone doing? I’m feeling pretty positive and motivated.

17 hours in and I’m starting to feel a bit peckish. Have got errands to run during my lunch break.

From about now most bodies will be burning fat almost exclusively for energy (as well as creating ketones for the brain) .

Sorry, I'll have to bow out today. Got back from doctor's this morning and diagnosed with severe UTI requiring antibiotics to be taken with food. Will try again soon after I stop taking them.

Sorry to hear that @EasternEcho Get well soon.

How's everyone else? I normally eat my first meal of the day sometime between 11am and 1pm. I don't actually feel hungry yet but more missing the 'break'/ritual of a meal.

I would be eating about now, but don’t feel too hungry.

Sorry to hear that @EasternEcho but sometimes you just need to go with the flow, don’t you? Hope they kick in soon.

I've had one black coffee today and lots of hot water (I drink lots of hot water usually).

What are everyone's thoughts on a cup of tea with a splash of milk? I'm not worried about that not necessarily being a 'clean' fast but more worried about whether it might end up making me feel more hungry as my body will recognise a few calories from the milk. Has anyone got any thoughts or experience with this? I also wondered whether some herbal teas are better than others? Again, they don't have calories but could the taste make me feel hungry?!

I always always always have tea with milk and it works absolutely fine and doesn't make me hungrier. In fact it seems to make me feel more contented. I am a 5-7 cups a day person in Autumn/Winter so a bit of a tea addict.
Stay strong and remember the benefits fasting gives to your body.

Thank you @November10000 I'm off to make a cuppa!

The argument against is that it stops your body getting into fat-burning and autophagy, meaning you are just calorie-restricting. The argument for is that they are “stabiliser wheels” that help you learn how to fast.

I’m approaching 21 hours, which I remember being the hardest. My physical hunger is peaking as my body panics and it’s mid-afternoon when I most want to eat for emotional reasons.
However, I’m remembering why I’m going this and feeling like I can at least get through the working day.

Hour 23 (I think - can't see my app), just got home and definitely hungry and low on motivation as this is latest I ever eat.

Successes are obviously getting to hour 23, but avoiding so much temptation at work. Also, feeling very sharp mentally, definitely a lack of brain fog this afternoon. I believe this is a benefit of the brain being powered by ketones.

Am thinking I just need to make it to bedtime and then I'm out of danger.

How's everyone doing and how are you planning on spending the evening?

Googling a bit of motivation and came across this https://dralexisshields.com/guide-to-fasting.

"Fasting is also the quickest way I know of to break through high insulin (traditionally called insulin resistance), breakthrough weight-loss plateaus, get rid of stubborn fat, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and prevent Alzheimer’s disease and other chronic diseases."

You're doing so well! Keep going, it's just a few more hours...

It's really helpful to be doing this together! I'm going to wrap some presents later, maybe have a shower or get an early night.

What's your plan @Peae?

Thank you @Eddielizzard , perfectly timed!

Hey @Sunflowers84 I'mg probably going to do a bit of work as I'm feeling like I have a lot of energy for concentrating and being creative and I feel inspired. I will need to do some food prep for tomorrow too, so I am sensible with how I eat tomorrow. Well, sensible-ish.
I've got some laundry to do, will watch some telly with DP (who is attempting his first 36-hour fast) and am also looking at a bath and an early night.

I might be getting ahead of myself (need to finish this fast first!) but I think I'd be keen to do this regularly. Not sure how often is recommended or what any of you have done before?

I'm fairly short, with only a few pounds to lose, but I've not lost any weight after a month of eating between 1000 and 1200 calories a day. I'm quite active (daily life and do a Caroline Girvan workout most days) and it doesn't seem sensible to drop my daily calories any lower. But I'm thinking that if I made a full 36 hour fast a regular thing, then I could maybe eat at least 1200 calories on the other days and really focus on fuelling my body well on non-fasting days?

Any thoughts from anyone?

The people I follow suggest no calorie counting at all. It damages your metabolism and of course you lose weight, but your body adapts until you are using fewer and fewer calories.

The Fasting Method www.thefastingmethod.com/quick-guide-public/ has some good, accessible guidance.

I've found it ok.
I'm feeling very proud I finally managed it.
Not sure I can do another due to festivities, but I feel very encouraged to do longer than 18 hour fasts over Christmas.

Thanks for that link. It looks really helpful. I will read it in more detail tomorrow. Are you still doing ok? Have you done some food prep?

I'm off to bed soon, but will check in again tomorrow. Thanks so much for starting this thread.

You are welcome.

Luckily DP made my lunch for me, otherwise I’d have probably cracked!

How did you sleep? I had the best night I’ve had in ages (and, zero night sweats - I’m amazed).

Great job you made it! How do you manage to sleep so well on an empty stomach. Had I gone through with it, I would have had to stay up all night. I absolutely cannot fall asleep, or stay asleep on an empty stomach, which basically ruins the next day and leads me to overeat.