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?

If only they were all like this @Sunflowers84. Well done everybody. Wish you all a restful night.

Well done to everyone, I wonder if in part Mondays are psychologically easier as we crave a bit of reset after a weekend? But I'm sure various factors. It's also been a smooth one for me. Just in and going to bed, if things are fine in the morning I'll go til 1pm when I'll first get a break.

Definitely a factor for me @Jollyjoy .

Im reading and hearing more about the benefits of shorter fasts 🙄. Think a good compromise for me at the moment is just one longer Monday fast and TRE the rest of the week. Not even sure 18:6 is necessary though.

Just finished at bang on 40 hours. First time I didn't get a headache and I even managed a (slightly feeble) workout this morning. V pleased with that! I definitely find Mondays the easiest day to fast, it feels right after the weekend. Well done to all other fasters, hope you all got through it okay. Does anyone else find they sleep better on a fasting day? I'm an awful sleeper but the lack of energy when fasting seems to knock me out!

In some ways I find Mondays hard - not my favourite day of the week and not eating makes it harder. But from the point of view of the 'reset' - yes, definitely.

I'm hoping that if I can keep it going for long enough it will become automatic and my fasting muscle will get stronger. I have a feeling that that's gradually happening, actually, which I'm really happy about..

Well done! It sounds as though your body is adjusting which is great.

I slept very well last night but don't always on a fasting day, it's variable. But I'm definitely getting better at going to bed hungry than I used to be, now I'm doing it weekly.

Well done fasters, if you're finishing today. I am hoping to hang on until my evening meal by which time I will be at about 44 hours so happy with that.

Well done, everyone. I broke my fast at around 39 hours.

@Peae What have you been reading/listening to?

So impressed with everyone. I managed 37 hours before I broke fast this morning.

So far, 2 x 36h fasts a week with one day in between of calorie restriction and 2 x normal 😄binge days with one day 16-8 seems to work for me. If I am strict with it, I should continue to lose weight very slowly. But if I fall off the wagon occasionally on non-36h fast days, the 36h fast should be good enough to maintain my weight. I go without food at all on Saturday and Monday 🙁Those days seem to work for me.

It sounds like a lot of 'fasting muscles' getting stronger round here, it's great. I managed through til 1 so did 42 hrs, only second time I've gone beyond 36 so feel good about that. This morning I felt a little lightheaded and queasy but felt better after a drink and some salt. I think I could have pushed closer to 48 but feel I'd like to build up a bit more to that. Maybe next time I'll finish eating a little earlier on the Sunday.

Now to try and manage the mindset that is saying 'what can I eat now?' now that fast is broken! Good luck to everyone still going.

Only just catching up on the thread. I managed to get to 42 hours today and then broke it due to a lunch meeting. I could have gone longer - the busyness at work has been a good distraction. Planning dinner now and an eating day tomorrow before another 36 hr fast on Thursday.

I have found finishing my last meal early the day I start a fast really helps but isn't always practically possible. Sounds like everybody is making good progress and adjusting the fasting to suit them. Well done everybody on the fasting so far this week. Am also interested in hearing about the benefits of shorter fasts.

For weightloss, Megan Ramos’ 36 or 36x2 seems to be unchallenged.

But recently I’ve listened to podcasts on longevity, cancer etc. and the advice is much more modest (I managed to find this in my played history, 12-14 fasts and thrice yearly five-day fat fasting, podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/zoe-science-nutrition/id1611216298?i=1000685158983).

I need some encouragement. I’ve been eating ridiculous amounts of sugar and drinking silly amounts of Coke. Back up to 13st which I promised myself I would never see again. And then I eat more sugar.

Secondly, a fair few of my colleagues are on the injections. Losing in multiples of half stones.

I feel a bit of a failure. Not in a terrible, woe is me way, just in a 3 steps forward, 2 steps backwards, hopeless kind of way.

@Peae thanks for sharing that podcast. I have heard about 72 hour and 5 day fasts once a quarter or so to help with longevity. But will listen to that podcast.

The sugar thing is hard - it has an addictive nature. And such a vicious circle because stopping it is what reduces the cravings. Don't be hard on yourself. Instead of white knuckling it would gradually reducing the quantity be a possibility. So replace one drink with a flavoured water or something else with less sugar, and replace one of the cakes/biscuit with a fruit. And then build from there. You also may have less withdrawal symptoms. Keep with it and keep posting here everyday for accountability.

I also assume that when you are fasting you are not having this then - so you know you can do it.

I meant keep posting if it would help x

Thank you 🙏. I need to plan. Plan sugar-alternatives like Apple and nut butter. And wean myself off the Coke.

Again 😭.

So sorry to hear you are struggling @Peae. Can you identify if there are particular times of the day where you are having the sugar?Is there a reason for this (hunger, emotional, something else)?

I agree with what @fastingaway has said. Some other thoughts (feel free to ignore if not helpful) - do you plan your meals/snacks? Also, do you think you're eating enough protein and fibre? That can sometimes help.

Do keep posting here. Maybe even post here before you have the sugar? Sometimes just pausing can help you to make a more in control decision. Sometimes that decision might be that you are not actually hungry or that some other food will be more satisfying/nourishing. But sometimes the decision will be that you are choosing to have the piece of cake (and that is absolutely fine!).

@Peae are there some good alternatives that could hit that spot? I find stewed fruit with a dash of cream a really tasty dessert with no added sugar as an example?
Or could you bake some homemade things that are low sugar? I saw Zoe suggesting a recipe of dark chocolate mousse made with olive oil! Not tried it but could.be interesting.

It's hard though and I say this having g just tucked into a choccie bikkie myself !

I feel for you @Peae as I have a sweet tooth. Do you have particular triggers? And do you have to have Coke in the house for other people?

I periodically look at the WLI threads and am sorely tempted. Although I am not obese I have underlying health conditions and would probably qualify but at the moment I want to give other approaches a good chance. Also I have terrible emetophobia which makes me very fearful of the side effects. But it you think that would be a better route for you I am certain no one here would condemn you. I think they are brilliant for people who have repeatedly struggled to lose weight and keep it off.

I don’t have any great advice sadly, but I really do sympathise. Like others say, keep posting here if it helps.

@Peae that was me until new year, lots of sugar and Coke Zero all day long! The only way I can stay away from the coke is to just not have it in the house. Just do not buy it. I've replaced it with tea (without milk when fasting!). Have you tried that? I tell myself it's better for my gut microbiome to remind myself of why I need to keep at it. Same with the sugar really, try not to have it in the house. Once you've had a few days without it you will crave it a lot less. It's a mental battle but seeing as you're a faster you must be good at getting through that, mind over matter and all that!

Thanks everyone.

I use both, but especially the coke, as a crutch. It’s mostly at work, but even on a weekend I think, “just one can’t hurt” and that’s it, I’m back to three cans a day. Life without Coke just seems bleak. I know this sounds pathetic.
(The only other thing I drink is water. What’s the point in replacing Coke with other bad stuff like cordial? I am not tempted by good drinks like tea or coffee 🤢).

I need to do what I’ve always done every single time. Knuckle down and get through the withdrawals.
I’m holding off the Coke until mid morning today and have packed up some fruit to replace the afternoon chocolate bar.

Is anyone starting a fast today?

Sorry you're feeling like this @Peae, I think we'd all struggle to get back in the zone after a holiday. I'm only in the zone after 6 months no zone!

I hear how you feel about cordial etc but I wonder if you like that if it would be a good step in the process. Sugar is addictive yes but coke also has other addictive chemicals (I'm assuming it's Diet Coke? Full fat maybe not so bad). So choosing a cordial that has nothing but fruit and sugar feels like a step between coke and water? I drank that aqua Libra during that fast yesterday and it was making me think I will try making my own version of that, iced sparkling water with fresh mint, cucumber and squeeze of lime, things like that could feel like a treat? Maybe not easy at work tho...

iced sparkling water with fresh mint, cucumber and squeeze of lime

Sounds amazing, I think that would hit the spot! I’m going to try it. Thank you!

So far, so good today. 1 can of Diet Coke and no sugar.

If you're drinking three cans a day I'd cut it down gradually - max two this week, one next week and so on. Three to zero would be tough! I say this as a fellow coke lover

@Peae I really feel you on the diet coke addiction, I'm exactly the same and have now cute down to (mostly) 1 can per day but it is hard work! I am fasting today if you need some moral support? I'm going out tonight to a hobby which I always find much easier to distract from the evening meal situation

The sparkling water with mint lemon sounds really nice. I like drinking sparkling water on fasting days too - probably in my head that it makes me feel better but the change in texture (?) with the bubbles feels like a treat. I treat myself to a large bottle of San Pellegrino. You got this @Peae and we will keep cheering you.