Time-restricted eating or "Not Eating all Day", aka Intermittent Fasting is not fasting, or extreme, or dangerous... for almost all of us... but I would advise not fasting for more than 24 hours without medical advice, or without having got yourself well into "fat burning mode".
Intermittent Fasting stimulates the metabolism, and calorific restriction suppresses it, so, having lost a pound a week for 35 weeks through IF 20:4 and "eating less" (and LCHF) I think I might change things a bit... and keep my weight constant for a week or so, and then eat nothing from lunch one day till breakfast two days later.
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S11m
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It has seemed a bit more difficult the last few weeks - but that might be normal for the "the last few pounds".
I have felt less energetic the last few weeks, and I think that a longer fast might envigorate me a bit.
Hi S11m, this sounds a long time to me as you'd be running on your reserves and wonder if you'd need to take supplements and or electrolytes? I'd worry about getting light headed if I went this long without food, I'd definitely get medical advice first, so do take care.
And good luck and do let is know how you get on and prepare yourself for this.
Jerry has expressed concerns much better than me. I think it was also that you have mentioned hypoglycemia and postural hypotensive symptoms whilst losing weight and I didn't want you to be fainting in this lovely weather we are having!
I still do not understand why would you have such long fast. If you reached your target weight and the aim is to maintain your weight why are you doing such a long fast?
There are many potential benefits of (intermittent) fasting... and weight-loss is just one of them. Autophagy and stimulation of the metabolism are the other main short term benefits for well people... but (according to most sources) autophagy does not occur much in the first 16 to 20 hours of fasts.
I have been IFing 20:4 for approaching 10 months, and I have lost weight (a pound a week for 36 weeks) and got into "fat-burning mode".
I now find that I am not as energetic as I was a month or two back... and this could be due to the way "eating less" suppresses the metabolism.
This would suggest that I should eat more, and maintain my current weight, even if only short-term.
So... I intend to eat more and maintain my weight for a week or so and then not eat for a day. As I said - weight loss is not the main objective, but I expect that I will lose a pound or so over the week.
I have a six-mile hill walk planned for 6th May. As I am 70 next month, and I was disabled for five years I will eat well for a few days before - and I should have more than enough time to recover from the fast.
The longest anyone has water fasted (with mineral supplements) is 382 days - so I think I will be OK.
I was puzzled, as I thought you were doing the extended fast for weight lost reasons. However, doing it to improve your overall health is understandable. Good luck and let us know how you feel after the fast.
I was thinking I would fast Sunday to Tuesday - but I have a meeting on Monday - and I always succumb to some sandwiches (but avoid the cake).
I worked this out when I was already halfway through my normal 20-hour daily fast.
It is not thought to be a good idea to break a fast with a large meal - or a carbohydrate meal, so I might have some yoghurt for breakfast before lunch... maybe a 46 hour fast.
Some sources say that autophagy is optimal in 48 to 72hour fasts - so I think I will do a 72-hour fast every month or two. Praveen55 : would you take any supplements on a three-day fast?
Still fasting - I will have some yoghurt soon (carbohydrate is not recommended for the fast-breaking meal) and then a carvery for lunch.
I have felt great - and energised the whole time.
Most people fast on days when they plan to do little or nothing - but that is very boring.
Vigorous exercise is not recommended during a fast - the theory is that energy (power) is only available as fast as you can get energy from your fat reserves... so I thought I would go for a short, gentle walk - and went for a 5kmm brisk "hill" walk with no problems.
45 hours... I will go for 70 (three days) next time!
Congratulations. I did my first 48 hour a couple of weeks ago and it was good! My main reason was for inflammation, and I must say it seems to have worked really well! Not a fantastic result weight wise, it averaged out at about normal over two weeks. But did feel good. You sound to have done it very sensibly with preparations and from a good fat burning state. super stuff!
It was a video shared on one of the forums. telling about all the different benefits that fasting is said to have. One was for inflammation. It said it didn't start to work until between 36 and 48 hours of water fasting. And the effects slow down after 72 hours.
So I tried it (had a very painful knee problem) and the first 36 hours were bad! because the anti inflammatory medication I was given MUST be taken with food, so I had to stop them for a couple of days. I went to bed after about 40 hours (still painful) woke up and and got moving about 49 hour in, and it was fantastic! it has returned but has not come back in full force since. HOWEVER I am not saying it was 100% down to the fasting, I have only done it the once, and it could be that my knee was getting better anyway!!
I said I would try one 48 a month, so will have another go in a couple of weeks. it is not exactly a 'clinical' trial, and I don't know anyone else who has tried it. But it was interesting! I look forward to seeing if it works again next time.... or if it was just a fluke,
Thank you very much, Vale57 . That is very useful info. I have heard fasting helps in inflammation but did not know anyone who really experienced the benefit.
As such I am not on medication for inflammation, but I do have some mild inflammation in my fingers - not painful except once when I had to take prescription pain killer. It is not completely healed, one finger is still slightly inflamed at the joint. May be I should also try long fasting.
I wonder if searches will pick up "fasting for inflammation"... what about a tag system, Hidden ? This would have more than justified a post to itself!
I think some people go from eating 24/7 to trying to fast - and they find it hard. (Not that they would die if they got trapped somewhere and could drink but not eat for a week).
I have been IFing 20:4, so not eating one day makes a 44 hour fast. If I needed to lose weight I could do it twice or three times a week, and call it 5:2 or almost ADF.
I will do a three day fast in a month or so.
Are you thinking of doing a three-day fast, or another two-day?
Just 48's once a month. I do the 5:2 and my '2' days are getting to be 24 hour water fasts. Although I wouldn't rule out a three day at some point, if I think there is any advantage to doing it. It said for weight loss there is not much advantage in more than a 24, and that is my main problem.
Sure would! With all the benefits it claims you would think it would be a top priority. However, if you look at it from a sceptical point of view, what is in it for the money people? Not selling products, just people NOT buying food or diet aids for 72 hours. Like the Satatins issue.
My weight did not drop to target last week, and I did not feel hungry yesterday - so I did another 44 hour fast - with no problems... and I got down to target weight. If my son had not been coming for lunch today I would have made it 72 hour.
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