The rumors are true... food does taste especially delicious after going without for sometime. You're acutely aware of all of the depth of its flavor, it's an entirely different experience. I know this isn't particularly unexpected, but why not celebrate getting to rejoin the world in which food is eaten rather than dreamed about and abstained from :D
I broke it with avocado, salad, and blueberries earlier. I recently had some mushrooms and tiny bit of steak. My stomach was a little upset, but not that devastatingly painful...it subsided in 5-10 minutes.
I weigh in at 194 pounds right now. By tomorrow night I'll probably be 195 or more with more fluid retention and eating quite a bit. So as I expected I'll safely be at least 5 pounds down diet changes permitting.
Most Importantly, I Feel Recharged & Stronger.
The stress I was having prior isn't bothering me nearly as much, my energy levels are much higher, thoughts are clearer, I'm happier, and all together appreciable more motivated and engaged. I look healthier, especially my skin is particularly clean and clear. A lot to be excited about.
I didn't get as much done as I would of liked....probably because I'm still a big newbie and it wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be to multitask all of the time. That said, saying I'm glad I did it would be a criminal understatement.
The biggest take away this time for me is how easy and perfect my sleep was without food as part of the equation...night and day difference. So I'm done with eating past sunset, not interested in dreary mental fog mornings and inconsistent sleep anymore. I'll allow myself the odd celebration or night out, but that's it for now on.
What Happens Now?
I'm looking to build some strength and overall making serious exercise a first order priority in life. I'll be doing the 5×5 Novice Strength Training Program by KETOGAINS for at least the next 6 months. The only change (as I've said before) is doing insanity max 30 cardio workouts on off days to mix it up.
Thank you to those who tuned in. In the weeks ahead I look forward to more community organized fasting we can do to all live healthier more productive lives. I hope I provided some useful information and insight into this process through the blog, and that it encourages you to try fasting (whether its daily intermittent or extended).
My advice for those that are inspired is to give your body time to make it easy to do. Significantly reduce your carbohydrate intake and only drink water would be a good first step. Obviously I recommend keto, and there is even vegetarian/vegan ketoers out there if that is a concern. Once you are better adapted to fat burning is when it becomes particularly easy to start with intermittent fasting. After doing that for a bit is when you will be best prepared to handle fasting over 24 hours.
Of course any diet works, you could be a fruit disciple or bamboo panda and go right into a fast, but a high fat low carb diet will be the easiest. Not only for the fast, but for maintaining a healthy strong body.
I recommend fasting as a lifestyle because, frankly, for hundreds of thousands of years (as far as humans have existed until recent time in well off first world countries) it has been an integral part of how we stay healthy. We feast and fast, and in that fasting state is when our body recycles the junk through autophagy (and probably other processes we don't understand) and rejuvenates itself. We aren't build like a cow - we suffer the consequences when we graze all day.
You'll quickly find the benefits are obvious and life changing. You won't be able to stop thanking yourself for giving it a try. I can't encourage it enough, I promise it isn't mysticism or hyperbole, give it ago and please ask away if you have questions or concerns.
Thanks again those who joined and encouraged me, it made it a lot less lonely and a ton more fun and manageable!
Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish
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Extended Reading
Dr. Jason Fung
- Fasting Blog
- Book - Complete Fasting Guide
- Book - Obesity Code
- Youtube Video - Why Fasting Doesn't Cause Muscle Loss
- Interview - 160 Quesitons Answered
Dr. Valter Longo
Dr. Rhonda Patrick
Communities & Resources
Zero -Fasting App
Subreddit for Fasting
Fasting Archive
Feasts used to be celebrations; eating for entertainment on a special occasion. now americans feast every day and it's not healthy.
avoiding a certain food for an amount of time makes u miss it, possibly crave it, then appreciate it much more when you taste it again :)
I’ve always heard of people explaining how good the food they first eat to break a fast is tastes. Good to know there are more stories to back those up!
I myself have looked into fasting a few times. For now I am not going try even a short term one. I rather focus on other issues I have. I expect over time maybe 50-80lbs lost that I might start to test out fasting and see if I can use it to help maintain myself.
That is great you provide research at the bottom so others can look into it if they are interested. Have a great week!
thanks you as well.
I highly rec looking into the resources when you get the chance. I will say if you are struggling with insulin sensitivity it is worth considering doing one sooner rather than later to make the long process of fat loss that much easier.
So after my 2 day water fast, i have started intermittent fasting with a 6 hour eating window from 2pm to 8pm... is that still intermittent fasting or do i have to go at least one day a week with no food at all? Anyway it's been a little over a week since i started this Intermittent fasting journey, and i feel great! i am actually being more productive, eating 2 small meals instead of 3 big ones...