Frequent extended fasting?

[donna]

I’ve read that extended fasts require a refeed time equivalent to half the number of fasted days. So a 21-day fast requires at least 10 days to refeed.

How long is wise to wait before another extended fast? There are probably physiological reasons for waiting a certain amount of time, but to me, it seems that jumping right back in could result in fasting burnout. Fasting only 1-3 days probably wouldn’t be as likely to cause that.

Thoughts? (For me, I’m just doing a 3-7-day per month followed by ADF or so the rest of the month.)

[Compdude]

Here’s my recent experience: After completing a 40-day, I did a 21-day ReFeed and then a 30-day Flexibility & Endurance program before starting my current 21-day water fast that I’m on Day 8 right now. My primary end goal is to be the most physically fit that I can be by my next doctor’s visit on 6/12/20. The reason for the 30-day was to increase lean muscle mass which increases the basal metabolic rate, increase my body’s flexibility and increase my aerobic endurance.

The result so far on this 21-day has been no transition symptoms outside of increasingly fading hunger pangs, the required dreams of breaking fast over delicious food, longer walks and better energy.

Hope this helps!

[donna]

@Compdude, Thanks for sharing your experience.

I have heard others say that a long refeed is just not necessary. It seems to be it might be OK to just eat intuitively provided true hunger is followed.

[Compdude]

I agree with you. I did NOT plan for a 21-day refeed as I took it day by day. Also @Anna took her refeed on a day by day basis and her experience was completely DIFFERENT from mine. Also since I was a T2 diabetic at the time, I believe my body needed the long ReFeed to convert the stem cells produced during the long fast to new cells replace all the dead and senescent cells cannibalized in my major organs during the fast. Again since I was a T2 diabetic I believe I had a lot of them.

[Anna]

Many doctors recommend a long refeed of about half the length of the fast itself to make sure you re-introduce the foods without shocking the system. But all bodies reacts differently like Alipio said, and as long as you’re being careful with planning your refeed to get a good start of it, I think you’ll be able to listen to your body’s needs and make your decision on whether to continue or jump into another fast!

If you have any medical conditions or are in the lower weight range where you’re risking getting underweight, you might have to be more careful to not get weak by fasting too much! It’s also a risk of getting a few deficiencies if the body doesn’t get enough micronutrients while eating!