Dave: 60 and counting

[davidjc]

60 years old, not sixty days = not sixty day fast!

Second day in. Yesterday, had one coffee, two glasses of wine and some cigarettes. Not quite what I had planned

However, stayed off the food and just read someone’s post where they said the smoked and drank coffee for two or three days before they lost cravings for them. Now, that’s interesting to me, because I immediately felt I could continue, even though stumbling a little at the beginning. I’m going to go for three days, reducing the coffee, wine and cigs to nothing. On the fourth, will count that as day zero, given that I will be doing ONLY water. Today, have had one coffee and one cig. Don’t feel a lot of hunger. Slight light-headedness. Generally OK.

Thanks for reading.

[davidjc]

Yesterday, down to just the coffee, and today too. Tomorrow, the real fast begins. My plan is fourteen days. Maybe even 21. I did ten days last spring, but couldn’t go further because of other commitments. Let’s see how it goes this time. No know commitments until December.

Wish me luck!

[Yasemin]

You got this Dave!

[davidjc]

Thanks Yasemin, we will see - I checked out your journal. Are you on day 2?

[davidjc]

Day 1 finito. Feeling OK. The worst thing is the boredom of knowing there is just water going down my throat for 14 days. This is the same as my previous fasts (7 and 10 days). Anyone got a technique for dealing with that?

Feeling very little withdrawal from cigs, coffee and alcohol. It’s uncomfortable, but not intolerable. Will try to sleep now. That’s been a problem the three days I transitioned into the fast. THAT must have been the withdrawal, so as I am starting the fast proper today, maybe the lack of steady sleep will be replaced by a full night of it!

[davidjc]

Day two almost finished.

Weight down from 161 pounds to 158. (That’s three days of preparation and two days of real fasting.)

Heart rate down from 73 beats per minute to 55.

Feel OK. Tired today and got plenty of rest. Hunger minimal, but craving for food when I saw it was quite strong. Not tempted though.

Slept better last night - only woke three times - previously it’s been five or six.

[davidjc]

Day 3.
Rough.
Pretty depressed.
Some hunger, but manageable.
Bored with no food.
Went for a walk though for the first time in weeks. Needed to be out in nature. It was soothing.
Hope tomorrow is an improvement. I think it will be.
No temptation to quit, despite the day.

[Compdude]

Part of my daily routine is a daily walk between 1 to 2 miles. It keeps me grounded.

[davidjc]

Yeah, today I feel a lot calmer. Don’t know if it was the walk, or just that it’s day four, but it’s all good.

[davidjc]

Day 4 finished.

Calmer today.

Hunger still around.

Apart from the cleansing of the body, and the weight loss, I started thinking today that fasting is also an exercise in control of desire. So for example, I generally look forward to coffee, food, and this and that, when not fasting, but that has all been put aside for the moment. So I have had to control my desire. The only thing, in terms of input into my body, that I look forward to, is a few glasses of fizzy water every day. All the other water is normal, and I don’t look forward to it. So, if I am looking forward to the fizzy stuff, I am not totally controlling my desires, I suppose This fast, I’ll probably keep with what I am doing, but I think maybe, the next time, I will just do flat water, so there is nothing I can have that I desire. Why try to control desires? Well, for me, it’s so that when I come off the fast, I will more easily be able to control my planned intermittent fasting. Probably a 10/14 ratio. (10 for eating, 14 not).

Anyway, today was the least difficult one so far. The hunger bugs me, but that’s all.

Thanks for reading.

[Compdude]

Yep. Fasting is ultimately an exercise in willpower. Kudos on your progress so far.

[davidjc]

Thanks. Are you doing one? Can’t find your posts.

[davidjc]

Today was the best day yet. I think it’s the fast, but the fact that I have reached a personal decision in my life which gives me hope may also be part of it.

Not much hunger, but still a little, which I don’t understand. Fizzy water?

Bit irritable with people, but less so than on previous days.

Two days to half way!

Told my sister. She 'bout had kittens, like so many people do.

[davidjc]

Day six almost done.

Everything pretty stable.
A little hungry all day.
Sleep improving, though still not getting deep sleep at night. Bothersome.

So, almost half way there, unless I decide to extend to 21, which was always an option. Don’t know yet.

[davidjc]

Day 7 finished.

Halfway there!
Plenty of energy, though still the nagging hunger.
No other bodily problems.
Feel my mind clearing and my thought processes becoming more intelligent. By that I mean that I don’t forgot things so much and I find myself automatically planning things carefully, so that whatever I am going to do succeeds. For example, I was going to go swimming, and my mind was “self organizing” about what I had to take, and in what order I should put stuff in the bag etc. It was pretty cool. Quite the computer we have between our ears.

Also, finally started to start preparing my stuff - I have to move in about six weeks. In other words, my motivation has increased tremendously.

[davidjc]

Day 8 almost over.

Weight isn’t my main thing here, but it is one of them. I am down from 73 kilos/161 pounds a week ago, to 69 kilos/152 pounds today. So about a pound a day.

Generally have energy, but have slowed my pace quite a lot, to preserve it. Not intentionally, but my body likes it that way. Fine by me.

Hit the sauna today for the third time this week. This is my exercise substitute. Sauna use in many ways mimics exercise ( https://www.cosmopolitan.com/health-fitness/news/a36957/can-a-sauna-session-count-as-a-workout/ )

If the sauna idea interests you, Rhonda Patrick is the guru ( https://www.foundmyfitness.com ). Quite technical, but very listenable to – all kinds of health, exercise, food related stuff.

Sleeping better, day by day. Each day the period between falling asleep and waking too early, gets longer and longer. Last night, four hours solid. Then a further two.

Calmer than before, and have a better attitude towards facing my problems. Motivated to actually do something about them rather than just panic. Clarity is good.

Withdrawal from caffeine / nicotine / alcohol all but cleared from system now. No desire for any, although the psychological lure of coffee beckons in the mornings still.

Have become more direct in my speech, friends tell me. Maybe to preserve energy?

That’s it for today - day 14 is around the corner, and right now, going another 7 after that is not so scary. Time will tell.

[Compdude]

I follow Dr Rhonda Patrick also. Others I track are Dr Peter Attia, Dr Benjamin Bikman and Dr Saatchin Panda.

[davidjc]

Will check them out. Thanks.

[davidjc]

Day 9 done and dusted. Pretty low key day. Not plenty of energy, but enough to not feel really tired most of the day. Bit of boredom with no incoming stimulus. Had a stressed out moment earlier and immediately stood up to go to the fridge. Then I realized that food is a crutch for when I am stressed. That’s good to know - I can guard against it in the future. Still not getting a full night’s sleep.

[davidjc]

Day 10 coming to a close. My mind and body seem to have entered a stage of calm. Don’t feel stress from the fast. Always a slight nagging hunger, but I have got used to that. It’s become no big deal really. Actually have no desire to eat at the moment.

Don’t have plenty of energy, but enough to carry on with my life in a reasonably constructive way.

It’s a weird place to be - kinda surreal. I’m engaged, but disengaged and distant at the same time.

Hope this calm stays for the next four days, or 11. I will decide how to go on day 14. If it continues like this, I will do 21. But if not, then I’ll stop.