Crystal’s Journey to 21 Days of Fasting

[Crystal_V]

I am so happy to have found Yasemin and the group fasting experience. While I am not new to fasting, my consistency and reseeding leaves much to be desired. I lost a substantial amount of weight with fasting and kept it off for a year but a tiny voice in my head convinced me to add carbs back into my diet because I’m fasting and it would be ok. It wasn’t. I had been doing keto/carnivore before and adding those carbs back has been a downward spiral ever since. Carb addiction is a real thing and I have had lots of difficulty getting back to a strict keto lifestyle. It is painfully disappointing and I need to get this under control one and for all. My confidence is in the toilet.

Up to this point, my longest fast has been 10 days and I am thinking to myself that I am absolutely crazy for attempting to double that, but my part of my “why” Is discipline. 21 days takes discipline and that is a muscle that I need to work on. My other why is food addiction. I want to be released from the bondage of refined carbohydrates and sweet flavors. The language is severe, I know, but this is how it feels when you know you should say “no” but the brain is telling you otherwise. I am better than this.

I ate today and I am about 5 hours into my fast. I am anxious and scared, but I am also committed. So here’s to day zero

Today’s weight 180.2 ( tomorrow it will be about 182 with food in my stomach)
Height 5’ 1.5”

Wish me luck! I am going to need it

[Stacia]

Good luck Chrystal ! I’m on day 2 and hoping for a long fast too ! We can do it !!!

[m1228]

Good luck, I am on day 1 of a 30 day water fast, I plan to add a few dry fasting days within the 30 and transition to OMAD when I get to the end of my fast.

[schmidtsmia]

Hi, Crystal !
Here is Mary Joy. I totally know the carb addiction, the dropping the weight and regaining it alllll plus more back, I know the scary fear right at the beginning of that prolonged fast, and I know the lowing of the confidence, too. Those first 5 days ARE psychologically and physically hard, the sabotaging is a ticking time bomb and requires our constant vigilance. What helped me, on my first 21 day fast, was binging on fasting videos. And I reminded myself all the time that if I did not get this under control NOW, my health would suffer even more. I would have to get an operation on my knee. I am completely self-employed and most of my money is earned as a yoga instructor. How shall I do that with a effed up knee? And when my carb addiction reared it’s head, in those first few days, I had to remind myself, again and again, like crazy t,hat I had to fast. I treated this part of me that felt out of control, and addicted like a brat. I call it “my inner brat”. Mine shut up, finally, when it understood that I meant business. That was on the 6th day of my first 21 day fast. I had to deal with withdrawls, lack of my usual eating habits (what the fuck do I do with all this time, that I am not preparing, or eating food?) Oh, those first few days were brutal. I really understand the fear. Well, I have decided, as of this last weekend, that I will continue this fast for 30 days, not 21 days, cause I want to really push it. Of course, if my body shows signs that I must stop, then I will stop. I will be fasting with you, these next 3 weeks. You won’t be alone. Mike will be fasting for 40+ days, and others from our group (Christine?) will be doing 21 days, too. Once I got 14 days under my belt,(during that first 21 day fast), those cravings really became managable. It is no biggie, anymore, if my empty tummy wants food. I tell it, later, not now. It OUR choice to fast, and we will eat again. Promise. I was actually 93 kg. at 167 cm. when I started, and I think that is 200+ lbs, at 5’5" tall. I highly suggest NOT to weigh yourself until the fast is over. That is my suggestion. I was addicted to the scale, in the past, and while fasting, in the past, I expected the scale to show a drastic, consistent and dramatic decrease in weight. I could tell you stories how I stopped fasting because the scale did not reflect the difficulty I was having just fasting. I felt fasting was useless. So have your goal always in front of your mind’s eye, and stay away from that evil scale. The addicted part of ourselves will try to use it, to eff us up. See you tonight, your gorgeous, beautiful woman. P.S. You are “only” 5’1"??? That is a typo, right? You seem very tall, and have a bigger than life presence. Bye for now.

[Crystal_V]

Mary Jo, your response has made me tear up and I’m not even sure why. I guess it’s because I am realizing that there are people out there like me who understand this process and get how emotional and challenging it can be. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[schmidtsmia]

Hang in there!!! You are worth the energy it will require…
BTW, I love the YT channel, A Healthy Alternative, because there are literally, tons of interviews with regular folks who have regained their health, and are normal weight through EXTENDED fasting. We are NOT alone!!!

[Crystal_V]

I watch that channel too. I plan on listening to one of those interviews today as I take a long walk.
Oh and btw, I really am 5’1! A real shorty

[Crystal_V]

Day 2…My timer just hit day 2. It’s uneventful at this time because it’s so early on I guess. I had some tummy grumbles earlier in the day, but plain sparkling water and black coffee calmed it right down.

I am definitely feeling very anxious about this fast because it has been a while since I let myself get past day 3. I wish I could sleep through it! This may sound funny but I have been so stressed out about staying busy during the fast that busywork is stressing me out. I Just need to Netflix and chill for a bit.