I passed out - day 20

[Elizabeth_Huerta]

Hello fellow fasters!
Hope everyone is doing well! As of today I’m 20 days into my fast.

Starting date: Oct 23
Starting weight: 156 lbs
Height: 65 inches

Today November 12th
Weight: 129 lbs

My fast has been very enjoyable and I haven’t really experienced any bad symptoms or pains. I have struggled with digestional issues most of my adult life and hope that with fasting I can clear up this issue as well as kick my sugar cravings and get down to a more desirable weight. I have worked out 4-5 times a week and still function at my very physically demanding job on 12 hr shifts fine. The main problem I started facing around day 12 was fatigue and weakness and lately it has gotten so bad. Every time I stand up I fight the urge to blackout/passout. Today it got the better of me at work and I passed out briefly. I tried to fight it the whole way but my legs buckled and the next thing I knew I was laying on the ground with a coworker next to me. Not having control of your body is pretty scary. I plan to break my fast this Sunday, Nov 17th. I’m just a little worried about passing out again. Maybe I should end my fast early. I am trying to get down to 125 lbs before I end it and I am so close to my goal. If anyone could give me any tips or insight about what I could do to combat my fatigue and passing out it would be really appreciated!
Lets all keep crushing our goals! We got this!

[Emily_Oh]

Elizabeth, I am also on day 20 of my fast and also struggling with this low energy and with dizziness on standing. I think the dizziness is postural hypotension caused by low blood pressure and I expect that is why you blacked out. I have nearly passed out too but controlled it by standing very slowly, breathing deeply, and pressing my palms together hard, which is supposed to help for some reason. I’m glad you didn’t get hurt by passing out!

It’s a really tough day today for me too. Is is a day 20 thing? Lol. I got so cold and exhausted at work, I had to go home and take a hot bath and I’m just lying in bed. Like you I want to complete the fast but it’s affecting my work now. But I’ll give it a few more days, as through the fast the problems have come and gone.

I’m not sure I can give any medical advice, and you should see a doctor if you are concerned, but I can commiserate, it’s not very fun right now

[Elizabeth_Huerta]

Hi Emily!
Thank you for your response. Day 20 has been hard! And yasssss the cold is on a whole other level. I wish I could go home and take a long hot bath. But I’m currently deployed in Afghanistan and we are staying in little cubicles with other soldiers. Its pretty cold here too and I work nights, outside most of my shift. Soo the struggle has been real! We have to walk outside to the little shower and bathroom cubicles. Its really no fun lol. But besides my lack of energy, fatigue and being freezing everything has been smooth.

We can do this though! I hope your fatigue gets a little better too. Thank you for the “pushing your hands together” tip, I didnt know that. I have been very mind full the whole time about standing slowly and trying to let the feeling pass but it got the best if me this time. I plan to make it 25 days so only 5 more! How long do you plan to fast Emily? Im actually really nervous anout breaking my fast. I dont plan on going into a keto style diet/lifestyle. But I plan on going into ADF/ once I have properly refeed.

[Emily_Oh]

Oh wow, you’re in Afghanistan. That’s incredible that you’re fasting under such conditions, you must be so strong and tough! My older brother was in Iraq with the NZ army last year, and I’ve heard about how tough these Middle East deployments are. I was so worried about him the whole time he was there. Gosh, it must be hard not being able to warm up and be on your own for a bit. Did you get any time off duty to recover after passing out?

Yeah, I actually work for a website that provides medical advice and I found this information which is really good advice, I’ll link it for you… https://m.healthinfo.org.nz/ways-to-prevent-fainting.htm
If you have any compression garments you could wear them under your uniform, it could help with the cold also.

I’m not fasting for a certain number of days. I want to fast “to completion” ie to the return of true hunger after my body has fully completed its detox. Again similar to you I don’t have as much fat stores as some, so I have to keep an eye on my weight also, but I’m still a few kilos off from getting underweight so I’m hoping to go at least another week or so.

As to the refeed I do plan to go keto, or at least LCHF if keto doesn’t give me enough energy, and do some OMAD. have you read the advice on refeeding? I think the most important thing is to take it very slow and carefully and not get carried away by being able to eat! Do you have much food option available?

[Overcomer]

Wow! You should be so proud of yourself. Have you tried adding more salt and potassium chloride to your water.? You could also add apple cider vinegar and a squeeze of lemon with ice if you want. Take it easy and try those suggestions. All the best

[Elizabeth_Huerta]

Thank you Overcomer and Emily.
Yes it is hard out here and with the conditions and just physically load of my job the struggle has been real. Emily I appreciate the link you provided. thank you so much for that information.
I didn’t get any time off after my fainting episode, just had to keep moving on. I started doubling my salt intake, I definitely wasn’t taking very much to begin with. Hopefully this will help and I am taking a multivitamin too.
Emily that is such an amazing goal, fasting to completion! Im not sure I would be able to do that out here but its very inspiring! Lets keep crushing our goals!

[Compdude]

First of all, thank you for your service. I’m the son of a veteran who earned his citizenship with his service.

Second, maybe ease up on the workouts as fasting by its very nature is stressful on the body. My situation is different from most of the people on the forum because my goal is to reverse my T2 Diabetes, Chronic Kidney Disease and Hypertension. I began my journey on August 9th. I’ve been diabetic for over 11 years so I started out not as healthy as others. However, at this point I’ve lost 66lbs, dropped the daily insulin injections and diabetic mediication and high cholesterol one. Down to just 3 meds.

Like Emily I’m going through detoxification as I’m down to the belly fat. It’s pretty horrible. Was woken from a deep sleep last night because had to rinse the toxic taste out of my mouth with Listerine. Anyway, I’m on Day 22 of a 40-Day water fast. I’m luckier than you and Em because I work from home and have downgraded my workload to just doing ADA (American Disabilities Act) retrofitting of websites.

Good luck to you and stay safe out there!