Day 1
It’s here, the first day of my 3rd annual extended fast.
I’m excited for this one, it is much needed after an enjoyable Festive period. It’s still morning and the babies have come to my room in their PJs to snuggle and watch on their iPads.
I am not weighing myself and don’t know when I will. My goal is to get back into the smaller clothes in my closet so I shall fast until that happens.
Another lockdown here so no more gym classes 
although for the first 5 days I’ve learned that anything more than walking and some light yoga tend to affect longevity. I’ll take the beasties for a little walk later, it’s sunny outside!
3rd Annual Post Holidays fast
3 Likes
Well that ended up being a false start…My youngest was sad I would be fasting on his birthday (today), he understands more now that he is 6, and so I made all the excuses under the sun and decided to start the fast on 1st January (tomorrow) instead…a lot of additional damage can be done in 4 extra days, no point crying over it, I just have to knuckle down and get on it tomorrow.
Meantime, I watched Yasmin’s latest YT video and wrote a list of my top 10 excuses in my journal this morning. I’ve slowly been getting mentally ready, journaling, taking walks with the boys and writing my master plan for 2021.
It looks like we’ll be in lockdown until Easter here although schools are still open, this will allow me to fast longer since I will not have to be in the office/gym/driving which can cause me break the fast because of stress or because I over-did it in the gym. Except for a phone call on 6th January, I’m on holiday until 11th January.
Will check in again at the end of tomorrow (day 1).
Happy new year to those reading this, may 2021 bring us health, love, gratitude, consistency and strength.
3 Likes
Day 1
Well we made it.
The day started with journaling, writing out my plans for the year, the quarter, and the month. I did a crossword puzzle whilst I drank my morning coffee and tried to stay away from screens (the news, emails, etc) to help minimise stress. (Something I’ll be trying this month).
A few hunger pangs and a persistent headache today but otherwise I felt OK. The fast was on my mind a lot initially but I decided to not over think it. The time will pass just the same this month and I would rather it passes with me focussing on my plans for the year. It will require consistency daily, at least initially.
We took a family stroll after which I did some back, neck and shoulder stretches. My husband was in charge of dinner and although it smelled lovely, I used the time to start on an embroidery pattern; it’s my first attempt but it is nice to keep busy when fasting.
4 Likes
Day 2
Meh. Heavy nausea inducing Cramps. Onset of a winter lurgy. Plus side, it may snow. Going to go watch Yearly Departed on Amazon and carry on with my embroidery to pass the time.
3 Likes
Had a nice day today. A few hunger pangs but nothing majorly distracting. Persistent headache and hellish cramps much better today.
Went for a nice walk with the family, did some stretches and then had another game night.
One of my objectives this year is to spend less time online. In the mornings, After the boys were sorted, I had got into the habit of grabbing a coffee and heading back to bed to look at emails, YT videos, read the news, various commentary about the news and Instagram. It just made me feel anxious. All the time. I am instead getting dressed (into sloppy loungewear, a step up from PJs with nowhere to go) making my bed, grabbing a coffee, doing a crossword and journaling for the first hour. In the evening, I have my screen off an hour before going to sleep and instead of passing out to a show, I’m reading again. I fell out of love with reading about 3 years ago before then, I read a book a week. It’s nice to enjoy reading again. It’s calming.
By the time my hour in the morning is over, I don’t feel the need to look at my phone. I am excited to finish the stack of books piled high on my bedside cabinet.
1 Like
What a b*stard of a day. Cramps so bad I need to throw up twice (what the hell is going on? I never had this struggle in my teens and for the last year or so, my cramps are hellish!). It’s just been announced that schools are closed. Back to home-schooling from tomorrow.
Close to a full on mental break down. The last lockdown in March saw me trying to work whilst home schooling and it was an unadulterated shot storm. Every day for 4 months. There was no peace anywhere. I had thought it would be amazing, but both boys rebelled against home learning and I struggled and so much with the constant tension, I was referred to counselling.
What can I do differently? Clients were dickish sending emails and then Teams messages immediately after (only to tell me they had sent me an email!). Perhaps I stop using Teams until the boys are back at school? Maybe I take the pedal off the gas at work for a bit? I’ve just taken on another client for my consultancy (kick off meeting on 6th) plus I have a full time job. Maybe I start running in the mornings again? Something positive to start the day with and reduce stress?
Any guidance and ideas welcome. I’m not OK at all.
2 Likes
I don’t have anything for you. You’ll figure it out and it will probably hurt but you’re amazing and no matter what you are a wonderful person that is obviously dedicated to all aspects of being alive! Sending all the feeling!
1 Like
It’s been a rough few days. The cramps got progressively even worse and the vomiting caused my electrolytes to get out of whack. I re-fed, fasted and re-fed to allow me to continue to take some strong painkillers (needed sleep really). I’m not completely back to normal and my energy is still pretty low, but i feel slightly better than I did.
Truth be told, I wasn’t sure whether to write this because on some level if it feels like I haven’t done as I planned and therefore I have failed. But that is behaviour that serves fear of judgement and not why I joined this forum; I joined for accountability.
Notwithstanding, I still have plenty of time to fast this month and get in 21 days this month. I’ve worked out fasting stickies mixing 3 day (90+ hours) with 2 days (70ish) on a rolling basis to achieve this. It’s not the same as a 21 day fast straight, no. But there may be benefits: i) it may stop hair loss, ii) negate long refeeds, iii) allow me to run during the stress of lockdown with the work/homeschooling cycle.
The unforgiving/sabotaging part of my brain tells me I’m rationalising failure and to delete this. That voice didn’t get me anywhere last year and what if there are others that feel the same?
I have lost this weight before. I KNOW consistency is king, that if I make small efforts consistently, over time, I will get to my goal weight and maintain it. I gained a lot of weight back very quickly after my last 23 day fast in May. At some point late 2019, for some reason, I seem to have lost my ability to see weight loss as a long term journey. Fasting spoiled me and once I saw the rapid results, it encouraged bad behaviour- I was binging, sitting on my backside, inactive, knowing I was able to fast and lose any weight gained, very quickly. That’s not a healthy mind set. That’s using fasting as a destination not a tool on a wellness journey. That’s disordered eating. So I must fix it. Slowly. Consistently.
Tomorrow/Saturday/Sunday are fast days. Monday is the next RF day. Will check in tomorrow. I have a gentle run planned in the morning and an online body pump class whilst the boys eat dinner in the evening (the distraction from the hot meals that late in the day is always needed).
4 Likes
Thank you, Kirsty. I can’t tell you how much your words are appreciated. X
1 Like
I’m chronically ill. There is no such thing as a true water fast for me. Sometimes I have to fight imposter syndrome because I’m on this form but can only IF. We’re not here as a community to tell you how to do thing but to support you! Sounds like you had several rough days but chose to make the best you could with them! We won’t judge you! Keep up the good work! Hope you feel much better soon!
2 Likes