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 used to take protein powder when I was seriously lifting. Now I try to avoid UPF, so not sure what’s best.

I normally avoid listing food on here because I don’t think it’s helpful on a fasting thread(!). But I might look for a “what I’m eating today” thread.

I’d also love a thread to continue with all of you. I learn so much from all of you and I like the way that we are all supportive of each other and willing to learn from each other (and also that everyone seems open to reviewing what is/isn’t working). I’m happy for a new thread to be general healthy eating.

Having said that, is anyone fasting tomorrow? I’d still really value the mutual support when fasting (is that ok @Peae and others who are not continuing with fasting?). I’m planning a 36 hour fast from now until Tuesday morning. Is anyone with me?

@Peae I’m more than happy for our thread to include what we are eating. I don’t know what others think, but even if it was on my fasting day, I’d be fine with others listing what they are eating.

I would love to continue cheerleading fasters! It’s my long term goal for the health benefits other than weightloss.

Good luck for tomorrow @Sunflowers84 . What time do you hope to finish on Tuesday?

Thanks, @Peae My initial aim is always 36 hours, which will be around 8am on Tuesday. However, usually when I get to 36 hours, I find I’m not hungry and can carry on longer. Sometimes I eat mid-morning on the day after my fast and sometimes I go until lunchtime (occasionally longer). However, I’m questioning whether I’m eating enough on non-fasting days (especially as I’m quite active), so I want to be mindful of that. Having said that, it’s hard to fully understand this, as I’m still not losing the few pounds I’d like to lose.

@Sunflowers84im fasting from tonight to Tuesday too. Been out for a meal tonight so feeling stuffed. But one more cup of tea then kitchen closed.

@Peaei am also happy to hear about meal ideas. Always looking for ideas and especially vegetarian sources of protein. I am not vegetarian but may have days where I don’t eat meat.

Hi all, thanks @Peaefor the thoughts about the thread. I’d be happy for it to be more general too, and if need be in future we could have a separate fasting thread if it seemed beneficial. I’d like to keep using the thread to give and receive support about fasts, so if that’s cool with those not in that space I’m happy. Also fine with food being discussed while I’m fasting. I’m veggie generally, although have restarted eating oily fish in the last few months after having some massive cravings which I haven’t had in 15yrs, definitely must be low in something.

I can’t fast tomorrow because going away overnight with my mum. Did omad today til dinner at 6 and plan to do a longer one wed or Thu, to balance out all the eating I expect to be doing! Going to practice moderation if I can though.

@Jollyjoy I hope you’re having a lovely time away.

How are you doing @fastingaway? I’m currently feeling really hungry. It’s unusual for me to feel this hungry on a fasting day (it’s often more the mental battle at this time of day).

Well done today's fasters - keep going!

I don't think anyone could take offence if a separate 36hr fasting support thread is set up :)

@Sunflowers84another busy work day that means I am distracted but as with you a mental challenge - want some tea and nice food as comfort. Not hungry at all. But will persevere and try and remember all the benefits to my body. We got this Sunflower.

Sorry @Sunflowers84i read your message in a hurry and didnt register properly that you were feeling hungry rather than a mental battle. How was your night? Ironically I couldn’t sleep for quite a while and started feeling hungry. The meal before the fast was very carby and I am sure contributed to that.

No problem @fastingaway - it’s usually the mental battle that I struggle with. I’m at 38 hours and not hungry now, but I think I might break my fast soon as I won’t have time to eat again for a few hours.

Sorry to hear you felt hungry during the night. I often wear my Fitbit during the night. I wear it more for steps etc and don’t usually pay much attention to sleep, but I just looked and there is a definite pattern that my ‘sleep score’ is much, much higher on fasting days. Hope you enjoy/enjoyed your first meal.

I did my first 5:2 day of the week yesterday. Aiming to do the next one tomorrow or Thursday. 🥳

I'm at 17 hours of my first 36 hour fast. Seems like a long way to go... Am hungry (though that may be psychosomatic) but have a fairly busy afternoon so hope I can ignore it.
Wish me luck, guys 😁

Oooh well done, this is a big occasion, how are you doing now? You’ll be at 23-24 by now, often tricky for many of us around dinner time with not having that to look forward to, as well as often getting very cold! Hope you are ok. Once dinner time is passed then you can just try to stay cosy and get an early night and you’re done!

I plan to fast Thurs so will join you if it’s then. Well done, that’s a big occasion too. What did you eat on your first day?

I had 3 course dinner last night, lunch and pudding today as well as cooked breakfast in the morning. I had a new low on scales yesterday morning so really don’t want to set back too much…

Boiled egg mid morning and then a M&S 350 calorie ready meal in the evening. Will probably have another low cal ready meal (healthy!) but swap the egg for soup.

I do like how alert and awake I feel on fasting days.

You're absolutely right, @Jollyjoy - 24 hours in 20 min (not that anyone's counting 😂). It's nearly 8pm here so I can reasonably head off to bed in 2 hours or so. I'm not hungry, per se, but would dearly love to eat. On the positive side, this is the first time I've done a long-ish fast and not been shaky and weak by this point. Perhaps my insulin resistance is improving after mostly eating keto for years? It's always driven me crazy that I've got 40 lbs of energy my body could use but instead it refuses to go into fat burning mode and stubbornly holds out for glucose...
Well done on the new low 💥 and I'll be thinking of you on your fast tomorrow.

I agree @Butchyrestingfaceon the alert and awake, also I feel so efficient! Like physically as well as I’m not spending as much time in my day making, eating and especially thinking about food.

@LittleLamzyDiveythats great that you’re doing well and that you can get to bed soon. Drift off to sleep happily knowing your body is still working away munching that fat etc…

Well done @Butchyrestingface

@LittleLamzyDiveyIt sounds like you’re having a really successful first 36 hour fast. Well done! Hope you sleep well and enjoy breaking your fast tomorrow.

@Sunflowers84well done on your fast too and the improved sleep is a great NSV.

@LittleLamzyDiveywell done on the first overnight fast. Hope you are fast asleep and don’t see this message till the morning. I love that awake and alert feeling. It doesn’t happen as often for me recently or I have got desensitised. More likely that I haven’t been fasting as consistently.

well done @Butchyrestingface on the first 5:2 of the week.

i am not really going to manage another overnight fast this week but may consider a mini or adapted fast on Friday.

Has anybody read up about the fasting mimicking diet by Valter Longo/ Prolon. The research behind it says that you can get most of the benefits of fasting without fully stopping eating - there is a careful set of macros (low carbs and low protein) to follow. I’ve heard Dr Fung talk about it and he adapts his 3-5 day fasts by including things like steamed broccoli etc. I got chat gpt to make me up an example meal plan and it was interesting. Going to read more about it but wondering if this can be another tool I can use when regular fasting is a struggle. Last couple of weeks have been a struggle with social plans and crazy work hours so I am considering whether I do something different those days. Not too different from the 500-800 calorie days too (like the 5:2) just restricting certain foods.

Morning @Sunflowers84 and @fastingaway - 35 hours. Feeling slightly lightheaded but not hungry. Have stuff to do this morning so am planning 42 hours.
So... as I'm enjoying connecting with fellow masters so much, I'm willing to start a new thread when this one's full. I guarantee I won't be nearly as good as @Peae but at least we'll still have our supportive thread.

Morning all, I'm going for a 24 hr today as off to an all day conference for work so hopefully that will distract me from eating!

Good luck @Whyherewego

I made it 41.5 hours so am pretty happy with that. 2 meals (late lunch and dinner) and starting my second long fast tomorrow.