Hi everyone,
Introduction:
I’m relatively new to the consept of water fasting. I’m a 168 cm/5’5 feet female in my mid 20s in Europe. Start Weight 75.5 kg/166.4 lbs. I’ve only had 1 water fast before, and that was a 2 day water fast last week that went pretty well. I willingly after a lot of thinking and reflection, broke the fast by consuming 900 calories that day in total (this was before I had learned about the refeeding syndrome and was still doing research).
Current Fast:
I started a new fast on the LIFE app as soon as it had been 24 hours since I consumed my last calorie and spent those 24 hours researching on various forums, reading scientific papers, and peoples experiences overall and making sure I had everything I needed for the next fast and knowing what to not consume, and I am now at day 4, hour 79 of my current water fast. I started on Sunday, November 27th and the end date is Sunday, December 18th. Total amount of hours to do is 504/21 days.
Track of Progress:
I currently do not have a scale since my smart scale actually got stolen by a family member during the summer, but I will be scaling myself weekly at my doctors office during check ups. Other than that I will also keep taking and noting down measurements with my measurement band almost daily and I want to post daily on this forum for journaling purposes and to help others. I will post before, during and after photos at the last day of the fast. I’ll post other photos in the duration of the fast of sleep stats, resting heart rate progress, work outs, and so on, I track those through my FitBit app and smart watch. I’ll include both American inches, lbs, Ounches, and so on as well as cm, kg, liters for everything I post.
How Long?:
I plan to go on for 21 days in total at least and originally set out for 7 days, then 14 but now 21 as I feel great and I want to push myself, maybe 30 if possible if everything keeps going well until day 21, I will decide on that once I’m on day 21. I have a strong will power so I don’t see anything hindering me from finishing the 21 days, I will only stop if warning signs arise such as strong headaches, nausea, dizzyness, etc. I stopped my birth control over 1 week ago and I’ve noticed that all my hunger feelings disappeared once I got off of them, they have a side effect of feeling hungry often.
What Will I Consume?:
The only thing I’ll be consuming is 2 to 3 liters/64 to 80 ounces ish of normal water (depending on hydration levels and activity level of the specific day), multi vitamins and multi mineral pills, along with salt that contains potassium and magnesium which I’ll mix with some water. I’m not a fan of tea, coffee, carbonated things nor soda so I will not have any other liquid cravings. I am not taking any medicines. After day 2 I have not felt any hunger or food cravings either so I feel pretty good right now. The only thing I struggled giving up on is Extra sugar free gum and I was bummed to find out that it’s a no no for water fasting since I usually chew it 2-4 times a day, but I’ve now gotten used to giving up on it surprisingly so I’m not experiencing any gum cravings anymore.
Why am I Doing a Water Fast?:
I’m doing this for several health benefits and I’m also open to spirtual enlightment from it if that does occur. But the main reasons is that I have been wheelchair bound for 1 year and just learned how to walk again this summer. I suffer with chronic pain and some arthritis and heard that this might help improve it along with the weight loss that comes with water fasting long term, if done properly and safely. I feel that the pain I experience has improved so far and so that is quite motivating to keep going. I also want to lose the last pounds I have left to get back to what I used to be pre-wheelchair as that ultimately will help me walk even better. I felt a lot more mental clarity as well in these past 4 days and that I have much more energy and motivation in general, so improving myself mentally is also another big factor.
Day 1:
During day 1 I definantly felt hungry often. Currently live alone so I cleared away any food that I had in my apartment to avoid temptations and easy access. I also felt quite grumpy and easily irritated during work appointments I had during the day. Despite of this, I had a lot of energy. I did a 1 hour work out at the gym consisting of 15 mins in-door cycling and various weight lifting machine routines along with foot balance work outs. I’ve stuck to this routine since the summer togheter with doctors. Felt dehydrated and tierd after the work out, but strangely not hungry anymore. Drank a bottle of water during the hour of working out, had another one an hour after getting home mixed with salt, and then 3 more during the rest of the day. Kept thinking what should I eat for dinner and evening? And then reminided myself I’m on a fast and put those thoughs away. Craved tomato soup most of the evening. Slept only 4 hours and 30 minutes.
Day 2:
Felt better mood wise, started feeling clarity and very awake. Hanged out with some friends who I discussed the fast with. They tried to tempt and test me for fun and tease by eating salads and talking about my favourite food, chicken. Them eating and snacking around me didn’t bother me nor did it make me want food, but all the talking about chicken definantly made me want to go buy a bunch and cook some, but I resisted and we focused on other topics eventually and they made it clear that they support my desicion. Feelings of hunger went away on this day. Slept 9 hours. Noticed that I felt cold when waking up, notably feet and hands, but also cold overall.
Day 3:
Have no cravings so far today and I’m still not feeling hungry. Relatively calm easy day and focused on meditation, reflection, relaxing, getting in tune with myself. A day of organizing and deciding to drop several bad habits and to stay on track with that and the fast. Turned my phone off and kept alone for most of the day to get better in touch with my inner self and detatch from distractions. Slept another 9 hours.
Day 4:
It’s still early into day 4, hour 79, currently so just woke up. I plan to work out for 1 hour later, have some work appointments, might go for a walk as well. Will take it easy after finishing all the things I have to do and I’ll update this more. I’ll also be able to use a scale today.
Feel free to post any questions here for me, I’ll reply pretty quickly.