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?

Thanks @Sunflowers84 and @LittlePearl hope you are both doing ok. I'm just at 24hrs - started fast early yesterday. Really would like to eat but not because of hunger but as you say because it's something to look forward to. Will be glad to get to tomorrow. Feeling cold and keep going to the loo.

Hello fasters, hope you've all made it to your goal today.

I was thinking of carrying on until this evening but a friend has just invited me for lunch so scrapping that plan! Still, another 36+ hours done so I'm happy with that. Are you still aiming for 48 hours @fastingaway ?

Still going @LittlePearl - just over 40 hours in. Planning on taking a few hours at a time and will definitely break if I don't feel good. Lunch sounds good and that's what I love about fasting is the flexibility. I'm very much in the camp of making fasting work around your lifestyle.

Hope everyone else has broken or going strong.

Hello @LittlePearl @Sunflowers84 @fastingaway I have pushed past the finishing line at 37 hours. Might try to extend it a bit longer. Work is crazy busy so keeping me distracted.

@LittlePearl you have earned your lunch with your friend. Such a pleasant way to break fast.

We've discussed working out fasted and the benefits of that before. Does anybody have a view around eating protein after working out within a 1-2hr window ie to make the most of the anabolic window? Should we be planning to break fasts shortly after workouts?

@blueshoes and @Sunflowers84 how are you both doing? @LittlePearl hope the lunch was good.

Back in my weightlifting, protein drink days it was a big deal to get back from the gym and eat/drink some protein. You even see people buying and drinking UPF protein drinks from the gym vending machine.
However, I have heard more (on podcasts) that there isn’t such a rush. The tear-and-repair of weightlifting is much more of a stimulus for muscle growth than protein (for people with access to a Western diet). Apologies for not having a reference to hand.

I’m pootling about on 16-18hour TRE here, just glad to be eating proper meals again 🙃. Completely off the sugar-free bandwagon though on my return to work today. Still Diet Coke-free though which is the longest period since October I think. And really not tempted.

So according to Stacy Sims it is important for women to fuel after (and before) the workout but less so for men, who have multiple hours window.
Personally I can't face eating quickly after workout so I don't. I do think a small protein smoothie before my workout has helped.
I am quite into a fast on a rest day now and think this is working well. I am not sure I'll do more than 24 though I did find 34 v tough

I really need to look at her work. I think I just had my fingers burned with Mindy Pelz and am loathe to read someone who disagrees with everything I’m currently following. (Am aware that this is a ridiculous and unscientific position!).

I know what you mean ... i wish they'd all bloody agree !

Right, I’m going to dip my toes in with this, because I love the Zoe podcast. I must have listened to her when this episode came out.

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/zoe-science-nutrition/id1611216298?i=1000648346859

Thanks @Peae that's helpful. I am going to try and find some more reading around this. I'm with you on Mindy Pelz. Would be interested to hear what you think of that podcast. I need to listen to the Zoe podcasts in general and interested to see how the advice there fits in with fasting. There is a very large fasting study that is being done between Zoe and Gin Stephens I think. I tried to join it but it had already closed by the time I found out about it.

Glad that you are on the mend and well done on ditching the Diet Coke and TRE.

I managed to get to 48. A few observations - it was a lot easier than I was expecting. The hardest bit was last night at 20-22 hrs. TFM podcasts say that not only do we move to fat burning around then but also hormonally a lot is happening then hence we find it tougher. After that it's been straightforward and I felt good. Got a weird taste in my mouth around hour 45 and got very cold in the last hour. Will attempt another 36-48 fast on Thursday and then assess at the end of the week which protocol suits me better.

What hours did you do @fastingaway ? Congratulations!

I did 48 hours starting just before 7pm on Sunday evening and broke it earlier this evening. Starting the fast earlier on Sunday was helpful - so I didn't have that long after work today. I broke with half an avocado and then we were out for dinner.

Well done @fastingaway I hope you enjoyed your dinner.

I agree about it being easier once you get past the first evening (20 - 24 hour mark). Psychologically I find it easier to keep going when I know I will be eating later in the day, so (for me) that second 24 hours is better than the first.

It always surprises me how my appetite seems to reset overnight, so regardless of how hungry I was the night before once I wake in the morning it just feels normal, I can usually keep going until at least midday before I start feeling peckish.

Incredible @fastingaway you must be really pleased !

I agree with those observations too@LittlePearl . Thank you for your timings @fastingaway !

Thank you everybody. I too agree with those @LittlePearl. Looking forward to an eating day today with 2-3 good meals.

Who is planning on fasting tomorrow?

I'll be fasting but just my eating window rather than an extended one - probably 20 hours or so.

@LittlePearl I have the same experience that the first 24 hours is the hardest psychologically (if not physically) and the appetite resets overnight the next day.

One observation and this is no judgment on people who go down the route of injectibles. Think of the money we save on food by fasting as opposed to spending hundreds a month on drugs.😁

I was thinking about this very thing this morning!

Honestly, I would have injections if it wasn't for my terror of being sick so absolutely no judgement whatsoever......but it's nice to think of the money you've saved by not going down that route.

Just catching up with posts from the last couple of days.

I broke my fast yesterday at around 38 hours.

I'm planning on fasting again from this evening until Friday morning. Currently planning on continuing the routine of fasting on Mondays and Thursdays.

I'm also interested in trying to figure out what is best re: exercise, fasting, protein etc. I keep getting so confused by so many different thoughts on this!

Well done on your fast @Sunflowers84 .

@blueshoes it's an interesting perspective - we genuinely are having to shop less with all this fasting. I had another perspective the other day. My weight loss with this approach is very slow or seems it especially when you compare to some on the calories in calories out approach. It was getting me down a few days ago but then I know plenty of people who despite initial weight loss have to keep coming back to it. So holding on to the hope that with fasting it's more sustainable - I think you still have to eat well forever and throw in occasional fasts but not at the extent of these therapeutic ones. I'm a bit far from maintenance stage so will be one to consider then.

And of course the health benefits of fasting are really the end goal