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?

Cross post @Sunflowers84 . They are 6 and 9 and I will be with them all day every day. So trepidation in general, not just fasting related!! I find in school hols where I am usually off with them, that good habits often go out the window so am realising how much I’ll need to plan to help me keep at the gym and eating sensibly. Otherwise I know how easy it is to lose the good habits mojo after an extended break.

@Jollyjoy Set a reminder on my phone - you little beauty, you!!!
I'm still 40 lbs overweight (hit 180 this morning) so am planning to continue the 42's for a few months, anyway. I'm willing to modify when necessary but so far it's going very well and I want to ride the wave for as long as it's still working.

I’m trying to work out whether or not fasting is working for me. Since Christmas I’ve done a weekly 36 hour fast Sun eve until Tuesday morning and most weeks I’ve also done another 36 hour fast Wed eve until Fri. I’ve generally been quite ‘enjoying’ this routine and have enjoyed learning with all of you about the health benefits of fasting. However, I also would like to lose a few pounds, but when my weight averages out after fasting/non fasting days, I’ve not lost any weight.

The reason I’m questioning this, is I’ve once again not felt too well this weekend - migraines, generally run down and just ‘not right’. I’m usually quite active (20,000 steps a day and a Caroline Girvan weights workout most days) but I’ve just felt so wiped out again the last few days. I’m wondering if being already a ‘healthy’ weight means I have less ‘fat stores’ to use when fasting? But it’s tricky as I know I feel/look better around 7 pounds lighter.

Does anyone have any thoughts about what might be best for me? I’ve forgotten - is there anyone else here who is already a ‘healthy’ weight?

I’m quite short and my daily calories to lose weight are quite low, so fasting actually seemed more sustainable but it’s hard to then know how much to eat on non-fasting days as I feel like maybe I’m not fuelling my body enough, but then it also doesn’t make sense why I’m not losing weight.

Sorry for the essay - I don’t talk to anyone in real life about this, so it’s helpful to share my thoughts with all of you.

@Sunflowers84 Are you on the Fasting Method FB group? There's an extraordinary amount of knowledge in the group. I highly recommend.

@Sunflowers84 i reckon the advice would be to do 42 hour fasts instead, but I share your experience of low energy and wondering about metabolism. (However, I am overweight) .

@Sunflowers84i would echo joining the FB page. I find it very informative. What types of food are you eating on your fasting days? I also note that you are very active and body shape must be changing. On the basis of what I see on that group I would say, reduce the fasting to 1 x 36 plus TRE or 2-3 x 24s. But focus during eating times on low carb, high fat and moderate protein. Don’t limit calories - you can eat more calories and still lose weight and change shape depending on what you eat and when you eat it.

also in terms of loss of pounds - is this because you have a weight goal in mind or are you observing yourself and think you need to lose weight. I think I’ve mentioned it before but again you could weigh more but be more slender as shape changes, body fat reduces etc. there are a few good examples of success stories on that page. In maintenance people don’t typically fast 2 x 36.

the other thing of course is that if you do still want to lose more - then take a break and change it up. Maybe stop fasting for a week or two and then restart.

And given you are not feeling well i would stop for a while and see if things improve

Thank you so much for the replies. It’s really helpful to hear all your thoughts.

I came off Facebook a few years ago and would prefer not to rejoin. I’m guessing you can only access the page/group if you have a Facebook account?

@fastingaway Thank you for your questions and thoughts. In answer to some of your questions - the few pounds I want to lose is more based on me just feeling and looking bigger than I’m happy with. I’m quite petite/small framed, thin legs/arms, with every extra pound on my stomach. I’d be completely fine with the number on the scales not changing if I lost some of the tummy fat! Maybe I just need to be patient with body re composition. (I only started weights workouts last year.)

I’ll see how I feel tomorrow about whether or not to do my usual Monday 36 hour fast.

Hey @Sunflowers84, I think you’ve had good advice and I can see why you are questioning it all, must be so frustrating to see little change. I’m not on FB either but interested to learn from those who are.

I wonder if you’ve tried Pilates? Those type of exercises good for the tummy and core. Although I’m a pear so weight comes most easily off my tummy and less so off bum and thighs so once I am closer to a goal weight I’ll probably be saying the same thing about those areas. I’d definitely imagine that you are gaining muscle which would factor in to the lack of change on the scales, but as you say it’s what you feel like rather than the number.

Hope you feel better @Sunflowers84. It is frustrating when we are small framed and those few pounds make a difference. Hope you find what works for you - it seems to be a bit of a trial and error. I read some of the other threads where with 16 or 18 hour fasts people are able to lose weight - if only that worked for me.

(What type of weight lifting are you doing @Sunflowers84?).

Good luck to all of the Monday fasters! I'm going to enjoy a light hotel breakfast and then leftover curry back home. My aim is no grazing on crap in between.

A final plug for the more general support thread,
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5299274-what-steps-are-you-taking-todaytomorrow-and-how-did-it-go?

@sunflowers84I am no fasting expert by any means but I’ve lost 20lbs since Christmas doing one 40-42 hour fast Sunday to Tuesday and TRE (20:4) on the other days. I’ve spent a lot of
time listening to Gim Stephen’s podcasts and reading her books! I’d give them a go if you’re not getting results. What are you doing on your non fast days? The aim is to still keep your insulin low - so ideally no snacking outside meals. If you’re only eating four hours a day that’s actually not too hard. And are you clean fasting? That helps with insulin too. I’ve also been eating fewer carbs. Not zero because I like to run but I’ve cut out pasta, rice and potatoes and am having bread a few times a week (vs twice a day before). Oh and no booze! This might all sound quite hard but I’m 46, in perimenopause and struggled to lose weight for years. This has been the easiest diet I’ve done hands down. I can really recommend 28 fast start day by day to get you through the first month if you want a reset! Two 42-hour hour fasts a week is really good so maybe focus on the eating days and see if you can get them a bit shorter/ healthier?

@Sunflowers84sorry just seen you do two 36-hour fasts, not 42. But very impressive nonetheless! One is enough for me!!

I second 28 Day Fast Start too.

Love this @Flibbertyjibberty- seriously well done to you! I like the encouragement not to snack between meals - I’m prone to that at a certain point in the day, especially in the day or two after a long fast, so I’ll remember your success when I’m tempted tomorrow. I’m just ready for bed after todays fast, has been smooth, hope to go til at least lunch tomorrow.

Well done @Jollyjoyon the fast today. I’m done today too and off to bed now.

Morning all! I've just started a new thread as this one is getting full. And I just realised I haven't linked it. Am off to try and figure it out...
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/fasting_diet/5301498-supporting-each-other-on-24-hour-fasts?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

Two other things I thought of! Try drinking electrolytes if you struggle with headaches when fasting - I get them and this has really helped. Just make sure they are fasting friendly and don’t contain any flavours. And there’s no shame in having what Gin Stephen’s refers to as a down-day meal - 500 cals only and to be eaten in 30 mins; clean fast before and after it though. That officially breaks your fast in two but studies have shown people lose more fat and less muscle with that strategy plus it can help if your struggle with sleep. Good luck to any fasters out there today!