48 hour fast... IF 44:4 ... for Inflam... - Fasting and Furious

Fasting and Furious

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48 hour fast... IF 44:4 ... for Inflammation

S11m profile image
S11mVolunteer 70lb IF20
38 Replies

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 profile image
S11m
Volunteer 70lb IF20
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38 Replies
Stoozie profile image
StoozieAdministrator

I hope it goes well :)

Can I just ask though, as you are having such consistent success with your current method, why you are changing it?

Might it make sense to keep the 'big guns' up your sleeve in case of future stalling or other eventualities?

S11m profile image
S11mVolunteer 70lb IF20 in reply toStoozie

I have reached my target weight.

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 👍

S11m profile image
S11mVolunteer 70lb IF20 in reply to

I will make sure that my glycogen reserves are full before I start - and I am well into "fat burning mode" so I expect no problems.

I would not recommend anyone to fast longer than 24 hours without getting well into "fat burning mode".

Stoozie profile image
StoozieAdministrator

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!

Be gentle with yourself :)

S11m profile image
S11mVolunteer 70lb IF20 in reply toStoozie

I might even eat supper the day before - making it on a 38ish hour fast.

I have often fasted for two nights and a day - but only when my appetite has been "cured" with gastroenteritis.

S11m profile image
S11mVolunteer 70lb IF20 in reply toStoozie

I have only had "hypoglycemia and postural hypotensive symptoms" when I have been pounds below my target weight for the week.

Stoozie profile image
StoozieAdministrator in reply toS11m

Yes. Do you not think a long fast might recreate those circumstances?

S11m profile image
S11mVolunteer 70lb IF20 in reply toStoozie

No - not if I maintain for a week first.

S11m profile image
S11mVolunteer 70lb IF20 in reply toStoozie

Doc tells me my blood pressure is 108/70, which would not help the postural hypotension!

cheritorrox profile image
cheritorrox

Having read the comments above I hope you'll be OK - and eat if hungry / body telling you to!

S11m profile image
S11mVolunteer 70lb IF20 in reply tocheritorrox

I tend to feel faint before I feel hungry… but I will be monitoring symptoms.

Praveen55 profile image
Praveen55Star

S11m

You are very brave. Wish you all the best. Take care.

S11m profile image
S11mVolunteer 70lb IF20 in reply toPraveen55

I thought “very brave” was a euphemism for foolish?

Is it not advisable to change IF mode occasionally?

Praveen55 profile image
Praveen55Star in reply toS11m

I have commented positively, S11m . I have never been on fast for more than 20 hrs. I wish to do 3 day fast sometime.

It is perfectly okay to change IF mode occasionally. There are many people who do e.g. 5:2 protocol once every three months or so.

flo72003 profile image
flo72003

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?

S11m profile image
S11mVolunteer 70lb IF20 in reply toflo72003

Hi, flo72003

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.

flo72003 profile image
flo72003

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.

S11m profile image
S11mVolunteer 70lb IF20

So... I will not eat today.

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?

S11m profile image
S11mVolunteer 70lb IF20

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!

Praveen55 profile image
Praveen55Star

S11m

Congratulations! That is a great achievement - 45 hours without food. Enjoy your yoghurt.

I guess for three day fast one may not need supplements other than electrolytes. But I am not sure as I do not have any experience of long fast.

S11m profile image
S11mVolunteer 70lb IF20

Thanks, Praveen55 ... I did have two bananas with my yoghurt... but I was not desperate.

Medicine and nutrition are not exact sciences - but how many hours longer do you live for each three day fast?

Stoozie profile image
StoozieAdministrator

What made you decide to add the carbs to your first meal after the fast in the end?

Congratulations :) sounds like it went well.

S11m profile image
S11mVolunteer 70lb IF20 in reply toStoozie

No logical reason - except that I like ripe bananas and I have plenty of them.

I did avoid the half packet of cereal-free gluten-free muesli I normally eat with breakfast.

Vale57 profile image
Vale57

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!

Praveen55 profile image
Praveen55Star in reply toVale57

Hi Vale57

Could you elaborate more about your inflammation issue and the improvements you experienced after 48 hrs fast.

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Vale57 profile image
Vale57 in reply toPraveen55

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,

Praveen55 profile image
Praveen55Star in reply toVale57

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.

S11m profile image
S11mVolunteer 70lb IF20 in reply toPraveen55

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!

in reply toS11m

Hi S11m there are built in tags, you'll see them at the bottom of your post before you post your post.

S11m profile image
S11mVolunteer 70lb IF20 in reply to

Hi, Hidden .

I can only choose a tag - not add a tag... and we need more tag options e.g. inflammation, longevity, autophagy, immunosuppression

in reply toS11m

Just to leat you know I've put this suggestion to HU so we will see.

S11m profile image
S11mVolunteer 70lb IF20 in reply toPraveen55

I think I had gout about the time I started to lose weight (and IF).

S11m profile image
S11mVolunteer 70lb IF20 in reply toVale57

Hi, Vale57 , thanks for your input.

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?

Vale57 profile image
Vale57

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.

S11m profile image
S11mVolunteer 70lb IF20 in reply toVale57

I think that one gets optimum autophagy in a 72 hour fast, with increased longevity... would it not be nice if we had some relevant research?

Vale57 profile image
Vale57

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.

S11m profile image
S11mVolunteer 70lb IF20

Hi, Vale57 and all.

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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