Supporting each other on 24+ hour fasts

[LittleLamzyDivey]

As promised, here's the new thread for us long fasters as the old one is nearly full.
Check in when you are able and let us know how you're doing!

@LittleLamzyDiveywell done on the 42hr fast. Im planning on joining you all. About to have one final cup of tea then starting fast till Friday morning.

@Illegally18i missed the question earlier but gathered you were asking about exercising whilst fasting. I built up to this too. Was a leap of faith the first time but anecdotally found that I had better workouts when doing this fasted and also resulted in more movement on the scales (just slightly)

Hello all. Sorry, I’ve only just made it over to this new thread. It sounds like some of you have had some really successful fasts - well done.

I really appreciated on the last thread that we were all able to share thought/questions, so I hope it’s ok if I share some of my current ponderings…

I’ve been confusing myself with being unsure of the best way forward for me with fasting. Thank you to all of you who shared different thoughts with me at the end of the last thread when I wasn’t feeling too well and was also a bit frustrated that after doing two 36 hour fasts a week since Christmas, I hadn’t lost any weight.

I’ve been trying to do some research into what is best for me, given that I’m a healthy weight/BMI but want to lose a few pounds. I then found myself getting confused by Stacy Sims and struggling to work out why her views are different to Ramos/Fung, etc?

I’m still feeling very confused, but might join with those of you fasting tomorrow, while I continue to try to work out what my plan should be!

As usual, I’m very happy to hear any thoughts from anyone (even if we all have different opinions).

Great to have you here @Sunflowers84as was thinking of how you were doing. You were my usual fasting partner on the other thread. And I’ve fallen off it lately too. I hope you are feeling better health wise.

Hello @Sunflowers84! Hope you’re feeling okay. I’ve not heard of Stacy Sims, what does she recommend? I’m going to try a long fast today too so we can buddy up if you’re giving it a go. My first attempt at two in one week! I’ve got a canicross run booked in for this evening though, not sure how that will be on a fast day but luckily my dog is a slow runner so I think all will be fine. We shall see!

Why are we starving ourselves for multiple days?

@TourangaLeila google is your friend here - you can find much better info on a web search than we can give you here. Note, starving and fasting are not the same thing.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/intermittent-fasting-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-work

Here are some intermittent fasting benefits research has revealed so far:

Thinking and memory. Studies discovered that intermittent fasting boosts working memory in animals and verbal memory in adult humans.
Heart health. Intermittent fasting improved blood pressure and resting heart rates as well as other heart-related measurements.
Physical performance. Young men who fasted for 16 hours showed fat loss while maintaining muscle mass. Mice who were fed on alternate days showed better endurance in running.
Type 2 diabetes and obesity. In animal studies, intermittent fasting prevented obesity. And, in six brief studies, obese adult humans lost weight through intermittent fasting. People with type 2 diabetes may benefit: Most of the available research shows that intermittent fasting can help people lose body weight and lower their levels of fasting glucose, fasting insulin and leptin while reducing insulin resistance, decreasing levels of leptin and increasing levels of adiponectin. Certain studies found that some patients practicing intermittent fasting with supervision by their doctors were able to reverse their need for insulin therapy.
Tissue health. In animals, intermittent fasting reduced tissue damage in surgery and improved results.

Hi how’s everyone’s fast going? I’m feeling good at 23hr and had a good hard session at the gym this morning. I’ve definitely eaten a bit worse and exercised less this last week so glad to get back to it today.

Lovely to have you back @Sunflowers84, sorry you’re still in the same dilemma about your plan though. Is it possible to summarise the different views of sims/ramos/fung? I’m still listening to the Pelz audio book and I like her advice about avoiding fasts in the run up to period etc, accords with how I feel. Today is day 3 of my cycle noticed a massive shift in energy and felt able to fast again, when a few days ago I would have been really forcing it. I know people are skeptical about her but I just like her personally when I’ve watched/listened, as well as generally being interested in to tuning into the menstrual cycle, so listening with a critical ear.

Hope everyone who’s fasting (or not), is having a good day.

Thanks for checking in @Jollyjoy. Well done on fasting and exercising. I’m just under 22 hours. I’ve had to pace myself and break it down into 2 hr chunks today as was wavering this morning. Still going strong despite making dinner for DC. Did have a nice black coffee with a touch of cinnamon. Was quite nice.

I did read on the TFM group that Sims tends to focus on athletic women whereas Fung/Ramos tend to focus on diabetic/obese/insulin resistant individuals so different target markets. Not sure that explains all the differences plus there is a bias given it is a TFM group. I wonder in this scenario whether a trial of the Sims approach may be worthwhile for you @Sunflowers84as you have already trialled the fasting. Or a combination of TRE plus protein etc as per way Sims states.

Well done @fastingaway,you’re past the worst by the sounds of it, I’m sure there were various points you could’ve given up by sounds of how you were feeling. The coffee sounds nice, I may try that! I’m a bit grumpy now, trying to pack for a trip tomorrow and would like to relax.

@Flibbertyjibberty @Jollyjoy and @fastingaway Hope you all slept well and are doing ok. My family plans changed yesterday, so
I frustratingly had to break my fast at around 22 hours.

Thanks @fastingaway Yes, I think this is where I’ve found myself confused about which ‘group’ I fit in best. I don’t think of myself as ‘athletic’ (I do a Caroline Girvan weights workout 5 days per week, some Pilates and walk at least 20,000 steps a day). But I’m also not obese, diabetic, etc (healthy weight, but short so would like to lose a few pounds). Plus, I’m really interested in all the additional health benefits of fasting.

I am currently wondering whether to stop doing two 36 hour fasts per week (as I had been doing since Christmas). But instead to maybe do one 36 hour fast (likely Sun eve to Tues) and make Monday a rest day for exercise, except walking. Then the rest of the week to follow more of the Stacy Sims approach (no long fasts and prioritise protein). Does anyone think that could be a good way forward or do you think I’m muddling things too much?

You definitely sound athletic to me @Sunflowers84 !! I think that sounds like a sensible plan to try. 22 hrs certainly still a good fast.

Im at 39hrs and just having some electrolytes as have a Pilates class so plan to do that then break in a few hrs. If feeling well I might go closer to teatime. Hope everyone else fasting enjoys their first meal. I’m away this weekend for a family event so plenty eating ahead, going to try to stick to a bit of tre if I can as my loss has slowed with this last week. I won’t be able to fast on Mon but plan to do wed or Thu again next week and back to mon the week after.

I think that sounds a good way forward @Sunflowers84- hybrid approach. I’d be interested to see how it works for you. I do think with all of these things you have to adapt it to what works for you - and somewhat trial and error. Wish you luck with this. And well done on the 22 hours - that’s a solid fast.

im also contemplating one 36 hr fast plus a few shorter fasts. Not sure I can manage 2 these days despite doing them fairly solidly for a few months. I also do need to up my protein in general as I think I eat very little.

after skipping a fast last week I did find this fast harder. I had salt but maybe not enough. Am also contemplating taking magnesium through the day rather than waiting till bedtime.

@Jollyjoyand @Flibbertyjibberty hope the night passed well.

@Jollyjoywell done on a great fast and a fasted Pilates session.

i think you mentioned your electrolytes before - did you end up using powder or tablets. How do you find these? I was looking at them but was put off by the large quantity you have to take.

Managed to just below 42 hours today

Lost 2 stones on IF , losing 2 more and I have just discovered this thread .

Welcome @Accbabymom1994 - great results. what approach have you taken with IF?

Hi , so when I started I just started chewing my food and mindful eating then started 12.-12 then 14-10 then 16-8 , then 18-6 and then it was 20-4 lost 2 stones last year then ended up putting on 10 pounds in the winter and now since March I've lost 8 pounds, I'm currently doing 19-5 , but I try and extend to 20 hours.

Oh yh , it was Ramadan so I was doing 23 hrs fasts and that's how I lost 8 pounds

That sounds like a good gradual build up. And huge respect for the discipline to do the fasting during Ramadan. Do you do 20 hours every day or vary it up. It’s good to mix it up occasionally or even change the eating hours on different days to make sure the body doesn’t get used to it. Good luck with the fasting.

Thank you and well done to you too! It was these ones I got - https://www.nutri-align.com/products/fasting-electrolytes-powder?variant=50553522061578

They contain magnesium so could help you get more of throat throughout the day? I like taking it in hot water and then I feel like I’m having some soup or something! Haven’t found it massively reduced my constipation around fasting though so probably I need more magnesium.

My goal is 18 hours everyday but if I can extend to 20 I do try.

Hello fasters new and old! Hope everyone has had a good week. Mine has been okay but I ate a load of chocolate after dinner last night and slept sooooo badly. Need to work on keeping food a bit more consistent next week, I’m good at being healthy most of the time but then I crack and go wild. And feel gross because of it!

I’ve had a google of Stacy sims (which led me to Mindy Pelz) and I had to stop reading because it stresses me out that there is so much conflicting information! It does look like both are generalising to ‘all’ women and it’s theoretical. I have been working out fasted for years because I exercise first thing and hate breakfast and my muscle mass is okay (in fact, my scales tell me it’s excellent - maybe I just can’t see it because my body fat is quite high). I ran a half marathon last weekend fully fasted. I felt fine. If you think what she says might work for you then give it a go and see what happens. You’ve got nothing to lose. But don’t do it just because she says so - she also doesn’t mention clean fasting so not even sure if that’s a consideration. If people are fasting ‘dirty’ (which pelz also seems to approve of) then in theory it’s really based on people following a low calorie diet, not fasting.

My favourite is Gin Stephens because she keeps it simple! Fast clean, do TRE of 20/4 or 19/5 or ADF for weight loss. And try to eat healthy food not UPFs. So easy to follow! And the whole Pelz thing sounds so complicated it blows my
mind. It’s hard to know what to do when there are people saying different things though. Again I think it’s a case of trying different protocols and seeing what feels right for you.

Should have said on last post that the fasting clean thing is important for the Sims stuff because if the people she studied were not fasting clean then they were probably using glycogen as an energy source rather than body fat. Which will make a difference to the workout and how hard it is to do fasted!