June, 15, 2020. I just found this forum and am so happy I did! I am on my second day of a water fast and am trying to find ways to distract my feelings of needing to eat something. I decided to water fast as I have slipped into old eating/coping patterns over these past few months gaining back 25+ ( I am in denial and have not gotten on the scale after I reached the 25 pound weight gain). I turned 50 last year and had decided I would gift my 50 year old self with the Honolulu Marathon. A friend and I started training a year before the marathon as I have never been a runner. I lost 67 pounds and then my left knee began giving me issues so started bike riding as well to give me knees a rest. My friend and our husbands went to Honolulu December 2019 where my friend and I completed the “Start to Park” 10K part of the Honolulu Marathon. I did not check completing the Honolulu Marathon off my bucket list but was thrilled that I was able to start with all of the runners and complete a 10K. I also discovered how much I loved biking. I began putting weight back on after we returned from Honolulu, losing energy and my joints began aching more and more. When Spring came, I got back on my bike to get moving again. I fell off my bike the first day I got out on the trails requiring surgery to repair my thumb which dislocated ripping a ligament. Surgery was March 13th, right when all of this COVID stuff started happening. I had to wear a cast for 8 weeks and could not ride my bike. I basically went into a bit of depression falling to food for comfort. I have been eating more healthy the past few weeks and have done up to a 7 day water fast in the past. My whole body feels so much better, especially my joints, after only a day of fasting. I knew it was time to be the person I know I am: healthy, adventurous and life loving. Thank you for providing a space to keep track of my thoughts during this journey back to the future me. I think journaling will really help me reflect and heal as the days go by.
Dana’s Journal
Welcome to our fasting community!
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Thank you for that “tip” for us newbies here. I appreciate it.
Welcome! I am new, too, to this group, but am a (sigh) remittial faster. I have tried soooo long to do an extended fast, to kick-start my journey to a lighter body/mind. And I too, got into comfort eating during the lock-down. And now my body is even more bigger (sigh again…) I am on day 3 now of an extended fast, and am doing this to lessen the weight on my arthritic right knee. I know that fasting helps the body heal faster from injuries. You are an athlete, and you have proven to yourself that you have the discipline to achieve your goals. I use to run, and actually loved it. I am now a walker, and fell down, while hiking and injured my right knee, in April. I, too, was out of commission and hopefully can avoid surgery to the knee. That is why I am fasting. I wish us all success in reaching our goals.
Thank you for the welcome, sharing your story and show of support @schmidtsmia. It is comforting to know that we are not alone in our life journeys. You made me smile when you referred to me as an athelete, I try to keep my body moving but have neverever considered myself an athlete! You and I seem be on similar pathways, findig our way to healthIer bodies and never giving up along the way (just taking breaks. .) I am also on day 3 of an extended water fast with the goal of reducing inflammation as well as lose weight. I went to bed last night with ny tummy growling and a slight headache and woke up this morning feelin a bit better. I am hoping by tommorrow, I will feel even better. We got this. No. Our bodies and souls deserve this! I really need to lose 60 more pounds to at my reccommended weight. How long are you planning to fast?
Hello, you did a 10K! You ARE an athlete! I want to do the present fast (I am now on day 3) for at least 21 days. I signed up for a weekend yoga retreat, on the 2nd weekend in July, and so I might stop fasting beforehand, which would be 21 days. If I am on a roll, then I will keep fasting, even if they have great food at these retreats. I would like to drop these 60 lbs., ASAP, for the health of my hurting knee. BUT, if I decide I want to eat at this retreat, I will stop at 21 days and then either start shorter, regular fasts, when I return from the Weekend, or go back and do another 21-28 days. These first 5 days really are the hardest…once those days are done, I just coast…Those first 5 days can be rough. So, I will stick around, on this forum, for some time, LOL.
Yay! We can check in with each other if that’s ok with you. I want todo 21 days as well. The longest i have done is 7 days a couple of years ago. I have off of work until July 13th so i thought this is the perfect time to focus on myself. I have read that your body will tell you when to start eating again if you listen? I have enough fat stored to go longer than 21 days so plan to see how i feel at that point. Kuddos to you for loving yourself. Love that you have thought ahead and signed up for a yoga retreat to further your self care i have never been to a retreat like that and woud love to hear about it when the time comes. Enjoy day 3 of this journey Mia!
Yes, let us check up on each other. I have to drop, for my health 60 lbs., so I will be fasting…A LOT, lol!!! I also plan on changing my diet. Extended fasts are great to stop the bad habit cycles. I have made the mistake, in the past, of going back to carbs and gluten, and I want to experiment for the next year, in order to heal the Hashimoto’s , with gluten free and keto. I am now binge-watching on YT, the videos of #CarbAddictionDoc. I am learning a lot from his videos. And I promise to let you know about my yoga retreat. It will be at the seaside, which will be lovely.
Day 3 done: Whew. I must say that last evening/night was tough. I really had to find things to distract myself from my growling tummy. Thank goodness for Youtube videos about water fasting, they really helped me through the day. I also did not sleep well as my muscles felt restless… that is the best way I can describe what kept me drifting in/out of sleep all night long. I am thankful that I feel great this morning and my tummy is not demanding attention!! I am thinking that my body is adjusting to this new state of burning fat and my muscles are adapting to this new energy source.
Planning to take a leisurely bike ride today and keep enjoying this journey. I am really enjoying staying out of the kitchen! I have 17 and 19 year old young men (as well as my husband who is a chef) here at home with me and have told them I am not touching the kitchen. They are learning how much I clean up after them (my fault as I like things organized) and how to meal prep if they want something other than cereal, bagels, sandwiches-grab and go stuff. It is entertaining me watching them grow up and figure out the kitchen beyond the basics.
After some research, I ordered a supplement to add to my water specifically pre-mixed for fasting that includes what my body needs to keep my electrolytes in balance in the days to come. I should get it by Saturday (day 6 of my fast) which will be perfect.
Ok. Day 4, feeling great, enjoying life and staying focused!
That’s an interesting supplement that you mentioned, “premixed for fasting”. Do you mind sharing what it is?
@Compdude I found some very informational videos on water fasting and breaking your fast by Dorian Wilson on Youtube that included research backed references as well as the breakdown of what happens during a water fast and when you break your fast. He provided a link to the supplement he uses as so many were asking for it. Look it up and let me know what you think. Here is the link he provided:
Published on Apr 10, 2020
by Dorian Wilson:
After water fasting, its time to eat again! What should you eat to break your fast in order to maximize not just your results, but also your safety?
►Fasting Safe Electrolytes: https://bit.ly/Fasting-Electrolytes
Day 4 and 5 gone…starting day 6!
I ain’t gonna lie, these past few days have been rough… I have been reading other daily journals to keep me focused and am so impressed at the self discipline… some are cooking for their families!! What? I literally have had to leave the house when my family is cooking. I am hoping this will pass soon. I still feel hungry today.
I am realizing how much I have relied on food to comfort me and need to find how to love myself and allow myself to feel instead of stuffing my uncomfortable emotions down with food. I have been feeling so exhausted, emotionally hungry and cramping that I find my self just laying down to get through the day. I have watched some of Jasmin’s videos and love how she is so encouraging. Am waiting for the fasting euphoria she has referred to…
Good bad news: My husband had to close the restaurant he works for again because of the increased number of COVID cases in our area so is on forced vacation for at least the next couple of weeks. Our boys are thrilled as dad is a chef and loves to cook. I am thrilled because we can maybe get out on the river a bit more weather permitting.
My husband is making homemade deep dish pizza and has started the making the dough. Smells so good, I am going to have to find something to do away from the house and watch Jasmin’s video about tips to help get over this…
I got this.
I am worth it.
My body and mind are healing moment by moment.
In my early days of research I came across Dorian Wilson’s YouTube channel. I agree he had the most extensive and educational breakdown of what happens to the body during water fasting. I still subscribe to his channel.
Good to know. I have not done much research prior to this and it is hard to know what to believe as there is so much out there. So many haters too… I just know that in the past, my body feels better fasting. I usually broke my fast at a weak moment and ate whatever causing cramping, nausea, and misery for a few days. This time I am doing it right and Dorian’s video really helped explain to me what is going on on our bodies and how to refeed safely. Any tip are welcome when I am at that point😊
Sure just tag me or post on whatever is my current Daily Journal.
Hi, Infinity!
Today I feel alive again. I went and took my elderly dogs for a long walk and a swim in the local pond, and played with them, and now they are exhausted, and laying in the sun, drowsing…Thank you for your kind thoughts, I appreciate it so much. And how are you doing?
Yes, I like Dorian Wilson’s channel, too. Have you checked out the YT channel “A Healthy Alternative”? I like his interviews, too.
Hallo @schmidtsmia! So glad you are feeling alive again! Day 7 is winding down for me and I am hoping I feel better tomorrow. I took out 11 1/2 year old dog who has bad hips and does a 30 minute mile on her good days for a walk and she had to wait up for me😳. I had to sit and rest twice. Maybe my metabolism is just slowing as I get older and it is taking longer for my body to adjust. I think you are a about a day ahead of me in your fast so you give me hope!
I just watched a healthy alternative video. Thank you for recommending that channel. So many choices out there and so many ways to live your life… I love hearing about different lifestyles so I can pick and choose bits and pieces that work for me.
How is your knee feeling?
Hi, you’ll have days where you’ll need frequent rests on your walks as it takes your body awhile to get used to running on gluconeogenesis (running on fat instead of glucose). Part of the process.