Intro I’m Jay, 39F, and I’ve been fasting for almost 20 years now. I’ve been in this game a long time, and I’ve seen a lot of online communities come and go over the years. It’s so great to find a dedicated fasting community again!
Why I have a hardcore sugar addiction, and fasting is the only way I’ve ever been able to manage it. I try to stick to low-carb/keto IF most of the time, then do at least one extended water fast every year to reset. I find if I don’t do the extended fasts, eventually, the sugar starts to creep back into my diet and I fall off the IF train.
I haven’t done an extended fast in almost 2 years, and sugar got the best of me again. I woke up on Saturday, and decided enough was enough. I didn’t feel like eating, so I ran with it.
Plan I don’t really have a plan for this fast. It is completely unplanned and spontaneous. I don’t have an end-date in mind. I know that it’s going to be a long one though. The longest water fast I’ve done to date is 22 days. I would love to beat that record, but it’s not the goal. I’ll keep going until I feel like stopping.
Supplements I’m old school. When I first learned about fasting, supplementing electrolytes just wasn’t a thing, so it’s not something I ever really did. I’ve tried it a couple of times in recent years, but I don’t really notice any difference. If I experience any symptoms, I pop a magnesium or potassium supplement. I only take them as needed though, not on a daily basis.
I do take a daily multivitamin on extended fasts. I also mix in some mineral water and green tea, so its not a pure water fast.
Progress I’m currently on Day 3. My last meal was dinner on Feb 28. So far, the transition to ketosis has been super smooth. My body is very much used to fasting after all these years, so I don’t experience many negative symptoms anymore. I had a mild headache last night, which is typical for me on Day 2. This morning I woke up feeling fantastic. Mentally clear, well-rested, lots of energy.
I had a bit of a temperature regulation issue this morning. I was massively overheating! That has calmed down now though, and I’m feeling great!
