Monthly Group Fast: April Fools Fast

[Subtle_badger]

We try to hold a group fast on or around the first Sunday of the month. Next Sunday, Easter, is the fourth; the first Sunday of April. As someone who was raised Catholic, I am conscious that this is the last last week of Lent, Holy Week, traditionally a time of prayer, reflection, fasting and mortification. Coincidentally, Ramadan begins a week and a day later, also a time of fasting. Not so coincidentally, passover began yesterday - which does not involve fasting, but does involve denying yourself certain foods.

Depending on your beliefs or cultural background, this might be a good time to bring together ancient and modern fasting practices.

The regular monthly fast is simple. Anyone doing an extended fast shares it here for support from fellow fasters. We will cheer you on, and tell you to stop if we are worried it's not healthy. (But don't rely on us for health advice, of course!)

We must 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.

The purpose of the group fast is for us to give each other support and encouragement.

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 of your fast-breaking meal.

I often 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.

Don't hesitate to start your own discussion/thread if that helps your goals. We are all supporting each other, and so should do whatever we need to be successful.

Remember, while it seems likely that fasting strengthens the immune system in the long term, stress can lower your immunity in the short term. You may be more vulnerable to infections during and immediately after fasting. Consider your personal risk of exposure to coronavirus when planning a fast.

I would not advise fasting on the days following the day you are vaccinated. I had my second shot on Friday, and woke up feeling quite rough this morning. When I finally coaxed myself out of bed around 2pm, I cooked myself a late breakfast and felt better immediately after eating.

Who's in?

[Subtle_badger 16Kg IF 72hrs]

My plan: attempting my longest fast, ~84 hours starting after my last meal on the 31/3 and ending on Easter Sunday. I am working until about 8pm on Wednesday, so last meal is going to be very late.

I will attempt to fast clean, but won't be super strict. Dirty fasts count!

I am going to enjoy a traditional Easter treat on Sunday, I haven't decided if it will be pannetone, hot cross buns or maybe a chocolate egg. After that, I will be back to low carb eating.

[S11m Volunteer 70lb IF20]

I had a big reaction to my first vaccination mid-January (after, I think long CoViD for two months) so I was not expecting a big reaction this time... I started my fast Friday morning and had my second vaccination Friday evening. As you say, this might not have been a good idea - but I have had almost no symptoms.I have been feeling great - 72 hours in - and I have not had a dip in my strength and fitness as I have had previously on 100-hour fasts. It seems that it is good to listen to your body and not push it too much - fasting the same length (every month) until it is no problem.

Perhaps it is harder for the over-seventies? - I am 72 next month - and I am recovering from heart failure.

I started my fast... with a normal Muesli/yoghurt/cream/banana/orange breakfast followed an hour later with a no-carb lunch (broccoli and cheese), starting my fast at 12:30.

I will end my fast on Tuesday at 16:30, with 600ml of yoghurt, followed an hour or two later with broccoli and cheese. This extends some of the benefits of the fast into the sixth day.

I read somewhere that it is good to consume two teaspoons of pink Himalayan salt every day when you are fasting - I tried it for a couple of days - and it went straight through me - so I am now back on one (heaped) teaspoon a day, in my green tea.

[Subtle_badger 16Kg IF 72hrs in reply to S11m]

Very impressive. Did you get Pfizer? I believe that you have a stronger reaction to the vaccine if you have had covid previously.

I had no reaction to my first dose, and to be fair, the day after I had my second dose I walked 10 miles! The second day I couldn't get out of bed in the morning, but maybe if I had taken it quietly on Saturday, I would have been fine on Sunday. But my point is that if you have a reaction, food may help, so fasting may put you in a dilemma, not wanting to break the fast even though doing so may help.

How are you going today?

[S11m Volunteer 70lb IF20 in reply to Subtle_badger]

When I think I had long COVID, I felt rough and cut a fast short… but some say that fasting can help healing and recovery from some conditions.

I felt a bit unenergetic yesterday and this morning… sometimes I think:

“Why don’t I keep going and make it 120 hours" - but I think 100 hours is plenty at the moment.

I had AstraZeneca.

[Subtle_badger 16Kg IF 72hrs in reply to S11m]

covid.joinzoe.com/post/vacc...

[S11m Volunteer 70lb IF20 in reply to Subtle_badger]

So, as I thought, anti-body tests tell us nothing?

[Subtle_badger 16Kg IF 72hrs in reply to S11m]

I think the point is we don't really know what the tests mean yet.

I have no reason to believe I have had CV19, but I participated in a study so I did an at-home lateral flow antibody test 20 days after my first vaccination. The strong Ig G line convinced me that my vaccination had taken. I wouldn't have been worried about a negative (though a little miffed) because I understood that false negatives are not rare.

FWIW, I am a participant in the Join Zoe study, so my vaccination and subsequent positive test is part of the data they are interpreting.

[S11m Volunteer 70lb IF20]

I have completed my 100-hour fast with no problems - I felt slightly hypoglycaemic at one or two points, but my strength did not decrease: I do pull-ups as part of my morning routine, and, as usual, I was able to do ten up to the full height.For next time, I am thinking about water-fasting for 70 or 80 hours, but extending the autophagy fast to 120 hours - but I will make another post about that.

[Subtle_badger 16Kg IF 72hrs in reply to S11m]

Well done, impressive as usual. Thanks for the update.

[Subtle_badger 16Kg IF 72hrs]

Kicked mine off at about 10.30 last night after a very long day. Ate pork out of the slow cooker and made an impromptu salad with lettuce leaves, a whole cucumber and a blue cheese dressing.

Had some broth today, mostly because I think it won't be good by tomorrow.

Planning to go until Sunday morning.