Donna's January Journey

[donna]

Jan. 1 – First fast day.

The Plan:

• Getting back into the fasting swing with ADF plus a monthly EF.

• Not weighing myself until I can tell a difference in my jeans! I don’t want to depress myself!

• Eating days in Jan. are keto or carnivore or fat fasts.

• Fasting days in Jan. are more intentional about combining prayer.

The fasting is part of a 75 Hard Challenge (for mental toughness) I was inspired to begin after learning of it via nutritionwithjudy.com. There are several other items I am including as part of my daily practice in addition to the eating/fasting plan. I will continue with at least IF and one EF in both Feb and Mar. My 75 Hard Challenge will end on March 15.

[Compdude]

Welcome back, Donna.

Nice to have one of the ones that were successful back in the community.

[donna]

Thanks, @Compdude. I’m glad to see you consistently posting.

Day 2:
Fast went fine yesterday, ended at 43 hours. Dealing with some fatigue. If it doesn’t improve shortly, I’ll use some exogenous ketones I have on hand to help with that.
Stayed on track with my plan.

[donna]

Day 3:
Fast day. Yesterday was keto.

Woke up earlier than usual today, so I went ahead and got out of bed and made a cup of tea and got a head start on my routine. A little bit of hunger which I ignored.

Completed the rest of my plan. Browsing through some keto cookbooks from the library to see if I want to buy any. So far, one out of three is a keeper.

[Compdude]

Start adjusting to less sleep. I’m running on 4 to 5 hours now. Replacing all the dead and senescent cells in my major organs, a refreshed gut biome and a refreshed brain has done wonders.

[donna]

@compdude I welcome less sleep as long as I sleep well. I like the early morning, except for the fact that it’s so DANG EARLY!

I drink kefir on eating days and today am considering going back to adding kombucha and other fermented foods back into my diet as well as probiotic fibers. But I’m doing keto so I don’t want to mess with that, for a while anyway.

Day 4:
Right now I am getting back into the swing of things. Eating keto today after 43 hours fasting and fasting again tomorrow, probably for 2-3 days. Still dealing with some fatigue and weakness, but know it will pass.

[donna]

Day 5:
Fasting. No problem so far. Decided to dry fast as long as I could today. Will probably end that this evening. I’m looking forward to not only autophagy but improved insulin sensitivity, a boost of HGH and stem cell production.

Staying on track with my 75 Hard challenge.

In addition to walking my dog, I did some yoga to stretch.

[Compdude]

@donna Let me know. For myself, I found I had to do a minimum 5 day fast to feel any benefit and now prefer a minimum 7 day.

Btw, Yas’ doesn’t allow talk of dry fasting in this forum. You can still do it for yourself just don’t talk about it around to the other members.

Caution: dry fasting

Hi everyone! I just wanted to do a quick reminder that we don’t do any dry fasting in this group. The main reason for this is that there are really no true benefits added that aren’t already being reaped by regular water fasting in comparison with the added risks involved. One source is from “The Complete Guide To Fasting” by Dr. Jason Fung & Jimmy Moore Page 58 “An absolute fast withholds both food and liquid. […] During that time, no food or drink is consumed during the period […] This ma…

[donna]

Thanks. I figured if it was in my journal, it’s ok. I’m not discussing it elsewhere.

[donna]

Day 6:

Ended my fast at dinnertime (46 1/2 hrs) and then resumed it. I wasn’t going to break it, but wound up needing to make a new keto food for my hubby and decided to go ahead and try it myself.

On track with #75Hard.

[Compdude]

Yep, if it was easy this forum probably wouldn’t be in existence right now.

[donna]

Since I am the usual cook in my house, it can make it a little more difficult. I did OK yesterday, but it was the new recipe that threw me. At any rate, back to fasting again.

[donna]

Day 7:

Fasting today. Tomorrow is our anniversary so we already have dinner plans, but after that, back to fasting.

I’m staying on track with #75Hard and really like checking things off my list!

I’ve realized a tendency I have that I need to find the roots of. It’s a “grasping” tendency-- keeping adding more and more, whether lists of self-improvement goals, books to read, supplements to take, foods to eat, workout programs, etc. In times past I have overeaten because I felt I needed to make sure I got in this or that-- greens, fiber, fruit, fat, you name it. I realize I need to have another perspective. In some ways, fasting and carnivore have helped with that; simplified things for sure. I tend to want to cram more in a day than I can reasonably execute or until I run completely out of energy. I need to make an adjustment or two.

[donna]

Yesterday I started a new fast which I will end Friday at noon. So today is Day 2.

I am focused on keeping my word to myself. How easy it is to make excuses and blow off commitments that don’t involve other people! Now is the time to build self-respect.

[Compdude]

If you’re looking for information and inspiration, check out my Daily Journal on my current fast titled appropriately enough, S2E2 21-Day Water Fast Journal. Besides my personal data I include some science and at least 1 motivational video from a famous person or from a well-known movie.

Just a suggestion.

[donna]

Thanks, Compdude. I’ve been taking a look the past couple of times.

Day 3 of 5
Outside of being a bit cold, I’m doing fine with the fast. So glad to be back on the fasting track!
I can already feel better emotionally because I am doing what I said I would do!

I’ve got a long list of things to do this week, including preparing for a potluck on Fri. I’ve about narrowed down what I am going to bring (all carnivore or keto).

[donna]

Day 4 of 5 – ending Fri at noon

A bit queasy this morning, so I drank my electrolyte water a few times today. I also didn’t have as much energy as I would have liked, but I got a little workout in and crossed a couple of things off my list.

I’m waking up earlier and still flushing a lot of water out so it’s all working. Not getting on the scale yet.

[donna]

I ended my fast today at 139 hours. I stayed keto through a potluck with friends. The hostess brought out cupcakes for my birthday-- so sweet of her–, but I said I would take it home, which I did. Maybe I’ll eat it one day.

I had a doctor appointment today and so now I know where my weight is and my blood pressure. I actually had to change the batteries in my scale and I weighed myself first thing. I have 15 pounds to lose. I think I will be returning to 42-hours fasts on Sun or Mon. Those worked for me in the recent past.

[Compdude]

Congrats on achieving your goal!