Bella enters the rabbit hole

Bella_Ortiz · June 17, 2020, 5:48am

I am a 40 year old wife and mother of 3 with a full-time(+) job while continuing my education. I began my first ever fast 6/15 and do not have a specific end date because that is how I roll. I am doing this for various reasons and I have spent many hours researching fasting over the past few months. I steered away from social media during this time so I could make an informed decision and not be tempted to do it for the wrong reasons. Once I was mentally prepared, that was when I turned to Facebook, then YouTube and that was how I found this forum!

I will be doing my best to keep an open mind throughout this fast. So far, it has been mind over matter and the struggle of being the sole chef of the house has been real. I am excited to see where this journey takes me. Not to mention my mischievous curiosity about the non-drug induced onset of euphoria hehe!

Looking forward to sharing experiences with fasting newbies and being schooled by the veterans.

Compdude · June 17, 2020, 6:07am

Welcome to our fasting community!

Technical note: to keep future entries on this single thread, click on reply in the lower right hand corner.

schmidtsmia · June 17, 2020, 8:48am

Welcome! I am new here, too. I also began this water fast on the 16th. I am now on day 3 of a 21 day water fast, so you are NOT alone in this journey. I have found, from previous fasts, that the first 5 days are really hard for me, and then the “brat” in my head, that keeps screaming, constantly, that it has to eat NOW, shuts up after five days if I do not give into the nagging. And then ketosis really does happen, and the hunger waves get less and less. My nose gets more and more sensitive as I fast, and I can smell a bakery baking bread from a mile away, LOL. Once I make it past 5 days, and my mind has accepted the reality that “we” are NOT eating right now, the smells of cooking food do not entice me. It really does help to focus on the goals of the fast, if one is feeling weak. Yesterday, I wanted to eat so intensely, yet reminding myself that my right knee, with arthritis was suffering so much, due to the extra weight (60 lbs too much), was the help I needed. I wish you success in achieving all that you wished for, in doing this fast. It is good to have you here.

Bella_Ortiz · June 17, 2020, 4:53pm

Hey Mia, thank you for the support! I am so excited to share this experience with someone who has gone through this before and it seems as though we have the same kryptonite (bread). I admire your focus and dedication and hope that you achieve the healing and goals you are fighting for. As I said before, I have never fasted and do not know my sustainability, however, I will be in it for the long haul. I am in decent enough health with a plethora of fat reserves, so here we GO!!!

It is awesome to be in great company!

schmidtsmia · June 17, 2020, 5:20pm

Yeah, we are in this together. Someone suggested I watch the YT videos of #CarbAddictionDoc, and right now, I am binge-watching his videos. I am learning a lot abut my krptonite…I am only dedicated, because my knee hurts, lol…

Bella_Ortiz · June 18, 2020, 4:32am

As it creeps up to my bedtime and day 4 has already begun, here is my reflection of Days 1~3:

Day 1 was tolerable with little struggle. Day 2, well, that was different…keep reading. Day 3 was less painful, hunger was minimal and energy levels were normal. As far as weight loss goes, I will be weighing in once a week.

Now, back to Day 2. The most prominent discovery was that mornings and evenings were 2 different beasts. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde to be more precise. Prior to fasting, I was only eating here and there, which made my mornings and days easy. However, it was the derailment of my evening routine of randomly consuming alcohol and snacks while cooking dinner that really tested my will and even brought out a side in me that I have never seen before! I GOT HAAANGRY, I don’t know what else it could’ve been! I had no idea that monster was even in me. I felt the onset of these unfamiliar emotions and had to step away and asked my husband to pick up dinner. That was an ugly feeling and I don’t ever want to be whatever “that” was again.

So, not to leave this entry on a sour note, here are the positives…

I have a fantastic support system
I feel more in control of myself
I honestly believe that I can accomplish a lengthy fast!

Goodnight peeps and fast on!!!

Compdude · June 18, 2020, 4:58am

The body will pull whatever dirty tricks it has up its sleeve to get back to homeostasis. It resists any change it deems unhealthy no matter what we think.

schmidtsmia · June 18, 2020, 10:30am

I hear you. I am now on day 4, and I feel weak at the moment…drinking water, and trying to motivate my body to do housework…don’t want to move from this chair. And it is only 12 noon…

schmidtsmia · June 18, 2020, 10:35am

Oh, I know the hungry/angry crazy feeling. You were on day 4, and cooking (!!!) for others. Wow. I am impressed. I do not have to cook for a family, and can only imagine that the smells and sights, and the old habits of cooking and sipping wine just got to you. BUT, you did not cave in and eat. Well done.

Bella_Ortiz · June 18, 2020, 7:03pm

@Compdude Thank you for that reminder!

I run marathons and I can’t help but to compare this fasting journey to training as it “feels” similar both mentally and physically. One quote I remember hearing really took me a long way was “Pain is weakness leaving the body” and it seems relevant here. Once again, thank you for your support.

Bella_Ortiz · June 18, 2020, 7:07pm

I really hope that Day 5 has some treat up it’s sleeve for you! You soooo deserve it!
P.S. the housework isn’t going anywhere…just close the door and walk away until you have the energy to do so!

Bella_Ortiz · June 18, 2020, 7:09pm

I think that the wine was harder to avoid than the food lol
Thank you for your support!!!

Compdude · June 18, 2020, 7:40pm

I’m looking at finding a solid authoritative book on Endurance Sports Nutrition since long distance runners accomplish complete glycogen store depletion in a single run what it takes the rest of us mere mortals 3 days to accomplish.

I’m trying to decide between:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/1450432158/ref=pe_2313360_499151310_em_1p_0_lm

OR

What do you think? OR do you have a better recommendation?

Thanks in advance!

Bella_Ortiz · June 18, 2020, 8:49pm

Sorry, I would love to help you, but believe it or not, I do not like to read Books. Never could get into it. Running has been a huge part of my life since adolescence and I actually have 2 BQ races coming up here in the Fall and Spring. (one of the reasons why I am fasting now)

I did, however, take a look at the authors of these books and I must say, great choices! I will definitely ask around my running circle to see if there are any recommendations!

schmidtsmia · June 18, 2020, 9:09pm

Thank you for your kind words. G’Night, I am off to enter day 5!

Compdude · June 18, 2020, 9:16pm

I’d appreciate it!

donna · June 18, 2020, 9:23pm

@Compdude Have you looked at Ben Greenfield? He’s a bio hacker and athlete.

@Bella_Ortiz Remember the old Snickers commercial with the Marcia from the Brady Bunch? She calmed down after she got her sugar buzz. “Hangry” is a real thing when your blood sugar gets low. That’s why I tell folks it’s a good idea to deal with the sugar, wine, and grains before trying a long fast because those are the very things that will call your name!

Anytime you tell your appetite (or desire for a food or drink) no, you are getting stronger. Hang in there!

Compdude · June 18, 2020, 11:25pm

@donna Thanks. I’ll check him out.

schmidtsmia · June 19, 2020, 7:47am

Wow, I am learning so much from this forum. You guys are so great, and informed. I had such a down day yesterday, as I realised I used carbs to soothe my inner feelings of self-doubt, and pain. I was so nervous and unhappy yesterday, and I could feel all these emotions that I normally literally “stuffed” down with carbs. And, well, I am fasting, and no food…I had to sit with the pain, and what helped me, is to say, “nope, we ain’t eating, so deal with the pain…” And I then smiled at myself in the mirror, consciously NOT making the usual nasty, inner thoughts of hate toward myself. I pretended I was dealing with the “little” me,who is a scared, immature version of myself, who just needed a hug, and it worked. It really did help. So, again thank you!

Compdude · June 19, 2020, 2:47pm

@donna Interesting guy. But I think his books won’t be as focused as the other two. One of the authors had a web article up and I was impressed by the detail on the body’s processes. Also I’m always a bit leery of “celebrity” authors, they tend to cherry pick the science. Prejudiced I know, probably from my time in the entertainment industry.