I began regularly fasting a couple of months ago, but not longer than 96 hours. So with this challenge, that’s my minimum.
I don’t have a lot of weight left to lose, but my plan is to lose that excess, boost my growth hormones for repair and building, and prove to myself that I am in control, not my appetite or desires.
I also intend to continue with a regular fasting schedule of probably twice a week.
Fantastic! Bookmark this journal, and every day come back and update for Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, etc as a reply to your own daily journal post!
Thanks, Yasemin.
Following your template somewhat:
Intro
I had the desire for a flatter stomach in high school even though I was only around 100 lbs and would occasionally have a Carnation Instant Breakfast shake and a small bag of Cheetos for lunch for a week or two. I remember getting Dexatrim and some diet candy bars.
In college I gained the Freshman 15 from overeating carbs. Over the next couple of years I went on crash diets to try to lose but would inevitably return to eating what I wanted. All in all, I was still not fat, but I thought sometimes I should lose some.
My weight struggle really began when I was pregnant with my first child and I was encouraged to eat and so I overate all kinds of things. After I gave birth and was nursing, I still wound up with an extra 25 or so pounds. When I look at those pictures, it’s not bad. When pregnant with my second child, I was hungry all the time, took to drinking protein shakes since the smell of cooking meat made me gag. I gained every more.
So over the years I sometimes did crazy diets because I am impatient. My next real problem came when I hit menopause and the midriff bulge. I wound up with fatigue and often ate hoping it would give me energy. One day a little boy called me fat. At my highest I weighed as much as I did when pregnant.
Over the last several years I had success with HCG, moved on to low-carb, to keto, to carnivore. Wine became something I needed to address if I was going to lose weight. I used wine and carbs to deal with emotions. I’ve been carnivore for a few months now but the chocolate cravings have interfered. I’ve researched a lot and tried many things to combat those. It was easier giving up bread and wine. I also incorporated regular fasting a couple of months ago, usually ADF.
Why
I am tired of my weight being such a perennial concern/struggle. I’m tired of the yo-yo, and I want to be finally DONE with it and move on to other things in my life. My three reasons, as I stated previously, are:
Lose the final few pounds of fat to get rid of the midriff bulge and return to around 112.
Boost my growth hormones to repair bones, build muscle, and autophagy to clear up some excess skin, skin tags, etc.
Prove to myself that I am in control, not my appetite or desires. This also means to return to intuitive eating.
Game plan
Continue with keto once the excess fat is gone and also continue with regular fasting of twice a week (42 hours). I also will allow the occasional starchy carb and some wine but it will be from a position of liberation, not fixation.
I will fast at least 3 1/2 days, perhaps 5 or 7. Will see how I feel. One thing about fasting is it is easy to just not struggle with whether or not to have the chocolate, because I’m not having anything!
How I feel right now
Optimistic that my goal is within reach and I can get this done prior to holidays with family and friends. Looking forward to the compliments! I have a successful plan in place!
How I will feel when I have reached my goal
Proud of myself that I was able to do it, satisfied, empowered, energized, ready to buy new jeans and take on another project.
My affirmation
I am getting there every day. I have succeeded in other areas and I can succeed in this one. I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. I am strong and well able. I am making it happen! I have set my sights on my goal to be reached this year. The new me is strong, energized, slender at 112 pounds, bursting with confidence and able to encourage others to do the same.
Have you looked into Dark Chocolate sweetened with Stevia? Haven’t done it myself since I don’t suffer from chocolate cravings but I keep a bar of Lindt 90% Cocoa Dark Chocolate and several Stevia packets as a “Break in Case of Emergency” at my work desk during my ReFeed period. I saw the trick of combining the Dark Chocolate with Stevia from a YouTube vid and it made sense to me.
Hi Compdude,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, I realize Lindt 78% (or higher) or Lily’s (I have both in my house) is better than Hershey’s, but it’s still chocolate. What I want is to have freedom from it calling my name at all.
Years ago, I was on an eating plan (high protein and fat) and every single craving vanished. I could drive by the Krispy Kreme “hot and now” sign or walk past the food court at lunch time, smell the pizza or the doughnuts, be offered cookies or whatever, and NONE of it affected me at all. That is real freedom. I want fasting to help me see food just as fuel, not anything else.
Day One
So yesterday I made cookies for some neighbors, wound up eating a lot of them myself, then a neighbor invited me in for a glass of wine. So I overate everything.
Today I am on track, started my fast after dinner yesterday. Here we go!
Day Two
Happy to be on my way! I regularly work out, so I will continue with my routine. I took my herbals tinctures this morning and will continue with those to combat any overgrowth of Candida.
Slightly hungry, but it doesn’t matter. My fasting muscle is continuing to grow. I know the 2nd day is a bit more of a challenge, but it’s certainly doable.
It’s not the hunger that has waylaid me before, but the simple desire to eat. But making the decision and having a plan with a goal is going to make the difference this time. Eyes on the prize!
Day Three
This morning my weight is down to what it was before my carb fest on Sun. So in a way, I feel like I am starting a couple of days behind. So it’s likely that I will continue to 5 days at least.
Fat loss is not my only goal. I am also breaking the hold that temptations have had on me. I am also glad that now autophagy and growth hormones have really kicked in, so I’m wanting to not interfere with that process.
Yesterday a friend whom I haven’t seen in a couple of months told me I looked good, so that was nice. Today I thought about it feels nice to wear a clingy top instead of a baggy one like I have done for so long.
Day Four
Huge, hairy, stressful monkey wrench thrown in my life this morning. I’m staying on task. Did what I could to make other arrangements, did some EFT that helped a bit, and am having a cup of chamomile tea. 
I love this!!! I love your why!
I love your game plan - nice ketp with some moderation, very sustainable!
You are strong, you are capable and you got this!
Thanks, Yasemin.
Day Five
Lowest number on the scale in years! Finally broke the 120 barrier. Aiming for the 112-115 range. It’s been a very long time coming!
I am continuing to fast until Sat, so right at 7 days. I have a dinner to attend Sat night. I’ll have a little bone broth or some kind of snack beforehand. I’ve decided to focus on meat and fat and eat whatever else I feel like, not stuffing myself. Any carbs will not be a full portion. 
Day Six
Scale is down another 0.9 and I’m having no trouble. Of course, watching the scale move (finally!) in the right direction is a huge motivator.
I would like to continue fasting, but tomorrow I have a dinner to attend. 
Oh well.
Q. After eating on Sat, how soon could I presumably begin fasting again? Maybe even eat for two days and then back to ADF or 72-hr???
You can start immediately. I did a 4-day fast. Took a 1 day break and then immediately completed a 7-day fast right after.
Thanks, @Compdude
Day Seven
Was shocked to see the scale drop 1.3 from yesterday. Really did not expect that much, especially since I was awake a couple of hours last night. But it was a pleasant surprise!
I decided to break my fast early this afternoon with kefir, maybe something else prior to heading to my dinner event. I will also eat tomorrow since we planned to grill steaks. I will likely resuming fasting on Mon.
This fast has been fairly easy and brought tremendous results. Although my weight goal is within sight, I need to look into what’s going on with my blood pressure. I also need to keep allowing autophagy and growth hormones to get rid of loose skin and build bone and muscle. I’m crossing things off my list! Thanks, @Yasemin for the support.
Day Eight
Another eating day. Resumed my fast this evening.
I’m wondering if I need to aim for a lower goal weight. I know fat takes up a lot of room and I have some loose skin, but I am going to take it a day at a time and see if a lower GW is actually more accurate for me.
Right now I have to get back to where I was before I intentionally broke my fast. Outside of the company and the event itself, I didn’t particularly enjoy the food that much. Today I did and now that is over. Back to fasting now.
The nice thing with.a Prolonged Fast is the activation of Autophagy, the natural recycling mechanism within each cell. Essentially it takes all the damaged and non-functioning parts of the cell and recycles it into new components. Also with no food coming in, the body will start cannabilizing dead cells. No need for plastic surgery as you see those who undergo drastic weight loss from calorie restrictive diets!
@Compdude Absolutely! That’s one thing I am counting on!
Day One again
Started again last night, so I am restarting the count. Not sure how long I am going for. All of a sudden I have to work to do in the house that has to be done this week, so hopefully it won’t be an issue with me staying on course. I really want to continue with the progress I was seeing last week.
I regained a bit in my two days of eating and I’m not thrilled with having to lose that weight again, bu I’ve gotta keep looking forward to seeing changes before Thanksgiving.
Day Two again
Spent quite a wall painting the ceiling which is quite tiring, but I’m drinking my electrolyte water and tea and plowing through. Oddly, the scale was up a bit today from yesterday even though I fasted and was up for several trips to the bathroom last night. IDK. Maybe from yesterday’s workout. Doesn’t matter because I know it will eventually all work out. “Tomorrow is another day!”
Day Three again
The scale dropped back down to where it was before the weekend when I ate.
I’ve been physically working very hard the past couple of days and have the sore muscles to show for it. I have at least one more heavy work day and my body is talking to me! I’ve had electrolyte water and tea, but I think I am going to refeed shortly at 72 hours in.
Trying to rest now and recover some.
Yes, you need protein for muscle growth and repair. Though I’ve seen several people here on the forum discuss that the increased HGH (Human Growth Hormone) allows them to weight training while fasting. My take is that they can do so because they’ve trained their bodies to continue their training.