This is an invitation to join a virtual group fast starting on or near Sunday, 6th of September.
The purpose is for us to give each other support and encouragement.
We all decide for ourselves if fasting is safe and healthy for us, but once you have established that, please use this discussion to achieve your goal. If you aren't sure what is safe and healthy for you, ask some questions and we can help you decide, or direct you to your GP.
Post your fasting plan here, then while you are fasting, updates on how you are feeling. Ask for help or advice or share hints on what helps you. Let us know how you did at the end, and maybe share a picture (in a separate discussion) of your fast-breaking meal.
I like to start my fasts after my last meal on a Sunday. Others prefer to fast over the weekends starting Friday. It's all good. Use this thread to support any elongated (for you!) fast you are doing around the beginning of September.
Bank Holiday Weekend fast can be here, too.
Good luck and good health.
Subtle_badger
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Subtle_badger
16Kg IF 72hrs
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I missed the August fast due to a tiny, but slow to heal burn and I wanted my immune system strong in case of infection. It was a good decision, as it hasn't quite healed yet, but it's past the point of infection. In case you are worried, it is the same size as an insect bite on the same arm.
My plan (from last month) :
Water fast starting after a late lunch on Sunday.
Minimum: 36 hours (breakfast Tuesday)
Goal: 60 hours. (breakfast Wednesday)
Stretch goal: 72 (dinner Wednesday)
Maximum (eat, even if I don't want to!): 84 hours. (breakfast Thursday)
Hoping to join you with this longer fast, but will see how I'm feeling closer to the time.
I'm fasting around 17 - 18 hours each day at the moment, and in the first week of 3 weeks for a stint of restricted calories... (but I won't mention the F***800)...
My plan will be:
Start Sunday early evening, water fast for 24 hours minimum, and take it from there.
Stretch goal and maximum is 36 hours, so brunch Tuesday morning.
On previous monthly fasts, everyone else had broken their fast before mid-week, so I was thinking of starting my fast earlier - but if you, Subtle_badger , hope to fast till at least Wendesday that will be great.
...so I will fast 72 hours from after early lunch on Sunday to before late lunch on Wednesday.
That is cut and pasted from August. I haven't really mentally committed to it yet. I will let you know well in advance of the weekend what I actually believe I will do.
But I think I will strive for the 72 hours; be glad to keep you company. Maybe Pink4eva will join us, though it may be to close to her last fast to do that long.
Please do not launch into a fast, especially as a type 2, and even more so if you are using insulin. Check with your medical team and Do A Lot of reading around (check out Dr David Unwin, a GP who has done wonders with his type 2 patients in his north of England practice) first. There are some You Tube videos from him and the charity he helped to start the PHE (Public Health Collaboration). Dr Michael Mosley also wrote about the 8 Week Blood Sugar Diet book (there is also the BSD forum, google it) which might help you.
Fasting is really only a period of time in which you do not eat. If you don’t eat between meals that is technically fasting. Not eating overnight from last meal to breakfast or lunch is also fasting. Generally the more you do, the longer you can fast. Many people eat 16/8 = 16hrs not eating and an 8hr window in which to eat, generally 2 meals but it all depends on personal circumstances. I don’t know how you generally eat but going low carb seems to be the way to go for your condition. Best wishes.
If you are being treated for diabetes, do not make any dietary change except in conjunction with your team. Any change to your eating needs to be matched with changes to your medication. Not doing that could result in hypoglycaemia or even coma. If you are currently eating 3 meals plus snacks, then even a simple IF routine may not be safe without changing your drugs.
That being said, it seems there is real benefit to fasting and low carb for diabetes, so it is worth pursuing.
Dr. Jason Fung has done many videos - but this one is good in that it briefly states the basics. I would comment that it is not just sugar that is the problem, but all carbohydrate, especially refined carbohydrate.
Hmm this one’s difficult as we are away for the weekend and Monday is a bank holiday. It maybe that I only manage my usual eating pattern of 20/4 but I’m OK with that. It’s usually followed by a 24hr on Weds/Thurs.
You’re right - as usual 😀. It’s definitely not happening this weekend. I will be ready for a 24hr after tomorrow’s dinner. Good food has and is being consumed (not to mention some, read too much, rather good rose).
Yes, you can count me in for next week. I’m not sure if I’ll go for longer than 24 hours - still a wuss 😂- and I’m definitely keeping black coffee ☕️ on the fasting menu but I’ll be there 😊
Hi S_b, thank you for the invite, I will see how I feel next weekend. I don't want to overdo it. I will try to offer support whether I am fasting or not : )
“Had” to finish the 1/2 avocado and end of the goats cheese at lunchtime (no way was I going to waste it, and no one else would have eaten it) so 20hrs from Monday dinner to 2pm today. Actually that’s not bad really - a normal day!
I have been dabbling with a little bit of IF; the longest I have got to, was 19 hours before eating. I've had anywhere from, 14 to 17 hours on average.
I have not yet tried a 'proper' fast.
I've just bought the book, 'The Complete Guide To Fasting' by Jasin Fung, but I haven't had the chance to read it yet.
I just wanted to ask please...and, I know everyone is different...but is there an average weight loss amount per 24 hour fast? especially for an overweight person (like me, I'm currently 2 to 3 Stone, overweight?)
If it's only a couple of pounds, I'm not sure, that it would give me a big enough incentive, if I'm honest).
Thank you, and, good luck with the fast x
I might try one in October with you all, I need to be more experienced, with my daily fasting, before I try a full longer proper fast.
Let's say your daily calorie requirements are 2000/day, and accept the rough estimate that 1lb of fat is 3500 calories. If you eat nothing for a day, then you might lose a pound every 2 days you fast. Any additional loss would be water weight (your glycogen stores may be depleted in that time), but you will put that back on when you start eating carbs again. If you are already low carb, then you won't lose water. You may also lose the contents of your colon, but that will also come back - and personally, that doesn't seem to happen for me 😯.
Losing more than that is defying the laws of the universe.
That's assuming you are talking about skipping breakfast, lunch and dinner which is actually a 36 hour fast. A 24 hour fast (eg you finish dinner at 6pm one day, and eat dinner at 6pm the next), will lose even less weight.
I don't track my weight much anymore, but my first 62 hour fast (basically 2 full days fasting) I was about 3kg lighter when my weight settled down over the week. This was brilliant, as I was stalled.
Thank you, that information is very helpful indeed.
Yes, I am (normally) very low carb, but not Keto-low. However, due to a few circumstances, I have been off plan, for a week and a bit, have had a few carbs, and, not surprisingly, have gained 2 pounds.
So, today, I have given myself a kick up the arse, and have flicked the restart switch to on.
If I stick to plan, I can lose weight, I just keep coming off track for some reason.
I think I will stick to IF, daily, for now. I have 2 to 3 Stone to lose yet; and maybe when I stall or plateau, I will join in on a long fast (or, do the F ---800).
Thank you for taking the time to answer me, I respect your input, your knowledge, and, your wisdom x
What Subtle_badger says is correct - but, when I was 2-3 stone overweight, walking 50km a week, and burning 3,500 calories a day... I would lose about a pound a day on a fast.
On my first post-covid 72 hour fast I lost 7lb initially, but, when I stabilised I had lost a kg over the month. ...I was losing a pound a week, but now I am at or near my target weight... so sometimes I eat to get back up to my target weight!
I plan...aim, to walk (hike, on hilly, trails) 50 km in a week, hopefully by Christmas; and I would like to be much slimmer by Spring (if I eventually get my act into gear!).
Thank you for your advice...info, that also, is very helpful.
As I am overweight, so currently, I can lose weight, by sticking to plan. However, when I eventually stall, I would definitely like to kick start weight loss again, with an extended fast...24 hours would be my first goal, hoping to manage 30 maybe.
Thanks again.
Good luck S11m, and everyone, with your fast at the weekend ♡
Hi Sb, I have gone 5 days without a binge, I am going to try to fast today and just see how I feel. I last ate at 2000hrs on Saturday. I feel like I need to re-set as still having cravings for sweet things, so hoping this will help.
I have just had an early lunch before starting my fast... I finished lunch before 12:30 today, and I will break my fast with yoghurt at 12:30 on Wednesday... before a low-carb cooked breakfast.
To get into ketosis quicker, I had plenty of broccoli and no potato.
Just wanted to say good luck to everyone that’s starting the fast😊👍I am feeling ok so continuing to fast. I always find that the first 24hrs are the hardest, just going without that first meal. My head feels ok but my stomach is growling like crazy🙂
I’ve just finished dinner so have started my 24-hour fast and I’ve planned a lovely meal for dinner tomorrow night. I hope to go for longer next month after I have several 24-hour fasts under my (now slimmer 😁) belt.
PS predictive text keeps putting in 24-hour “farts” 😆😆😆😆, apologies if I miss any of them 😉
Thanks for checking in 👍 I’m just starting to have that hollow feeling with a couple of hours to go. The coffee and salt water worked really well at keeping me occupied up to now. I’m about to finish work and walk the dog before preparing dinner and that will be it 😀 it did feel better this time round. I will need to work on actions to get through an evening without eating if I’m to extend my next fast. Do you have any suggestions that could help? You’ve been great with your comments - thank you 🌷
Well done! You’ve done really well. 👍🏻😊 The walk will possibly take the edge off your appetite too! And you can look forward to dinner!
As for suggestions - I still feel like a beginner so am hesitant to offer them but so far I think the following things have helped me....choosing a time to fast when I’m busy (not so much physically but mentally/work etc) helps as it’s a good distraction...fluids is an obvious one, having bouillon for my “dinner” in the evening helps as I feel like it’s something, and I really look forward to my coffee with cream at 22 hours, I have green tea with salt when I wake up in the morning too (I think I read it on here)...I also love the fact that with 24 hours and no food my kitchen remains spotlessly tidy 😂😂
I also don’t push it - I gave up one week because I had slept badly all week and was absolutely starving - it just felt like I was putting my body under too much stress...which make me think of an other idea - to make it relaxing why not use your free evening to give yourself a pamper session? Sorry I’ve waffled on for ages - hope some of it helps and you enjoy your walk! 😊
Thanks. No waffling noticed at all 😁Once again, you’ve come up with some excellent ideas so thank you 😊I do try the keeping busy approach and I’ve had less anxiety about missing meals this time around. The biggest step to a longer fast will likely be convincing my OH that this isn’t me being obsessive 🙄I always feel much better - like a reset button has been pushed - after a fast. Good luck with yours 🍀
Or lie to him (that's always good relationship advice 🤨) and tell him you are doing one-meal-a-day, and that meal is lunch at work.
It's really hard for loved ones to understand fasting. My brother is doing it in an undisciplined way (just not eating rather than planned fasts) and I found myself warning him about refeeding syndrome. Not sure why I didn't just cheer him on.
I know what you mean. I’m hoping that when I mention how well I’m doing on these fasts and not hungry at all that he’ll be ok with it. My workplace is an office in the garden and I eat lunch with OH so being a weeny bit sneaky might be tough 😀
If you are dirty fasting - drinking broth and cream in coffee - then combine the two: a tablespoon of cream in chicken broth makes the most delightful cream of chicken soup, yet it's no more food than I would have had in two different drinks over the course of my day.
I have little more that 24 hours to go to complete my 72 - hour fast - how are you all doing?
I have done several 72-hour fasts, and know I can do it... so I try to maximise the benefit... and had no potatoes with my pre-fast lunch: I think it is maximising the benefit, but I have been short of energy.
Fasting raises your metabolic rate, and my resting pulse rate is up, as usual.
My fast is going OK, thanks for asking. But just OK. Feeling a little down at the moment. Will stick it out for the 60 hours, but that's going to be it.
Hi guys, glad to hear you are holding on in there. I am at 64hrs, so fasted sone 2000hrs on Saturday. I agree that it’s better to not put too much pressure on yourself for the duration of fast, I think it’s better to just leave it open ended and go with the flow. I just had a lovely coffee with cream at a local Costa, it also had the benefit of having a laxative effect, which was an added bonus🙂I am also having sea salt and ACV in my water.
My body doesn't respond like that to fasting, my performance is the same whether I eat or not. I have not tried to do anything so far today, just not feeling it. That's to do with other things going on in my life, so will have breakfast tomorrow for the pleasure of eating - see if that cheers me up a bit.
Yeah. It was about 50 hours. My heart wasn't in it. Maybe scheduled fasts aren't for me. I was keen to do one last weekend, but postponed it due to the group plans.
I have completed my 72-hour fast... and had 500ml of full-fat natural yoghurt at 12:30 (Having finished an early lunch by 12:30 on Sunday.).
I have not felt hungry - I feel I could have continued for a few more days, but I lacked energy, and, and I had palpitations at night. I was unsteady on my feet sometimes... but I get postural hypotension - so that is "what passes for normal".
Have you all completed your fasts now?
How are you feeling? (You may not feel the benefit for a few days.)
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Badges to encourage Fasting, what would you the members like please?
IF, not for everyone, but definitely for me!