Jen's New Plan

#1

Hi! I just turned 51 in December. My highest weight of 238 lbs was August 2018. I started keto that month and lost 10 lbs; went carnivore in Oct. 2018 and lost another 20. My swelling and inflammation decreased dramatically!! I experimented with OMAD and IF, and completed a couple of 48-hr fasts. Nothing too long. By May of 2019, I had been stalled at the same weight for 7 mos! This caused me to mostly give up, although I mainly ate a keto diet. Then I went off the rails into carb hell, where I was keto-ish during the week and over- carbing on the weekend.

Fast forward to today: currently weigh 232 (gained almost all of it back). No more! I’m committing to an extended fast - one day at a time. 1st goal is 7 days. Extended goal is 21 days. I’m just listening to my body. Got my pink salt, magnesium, potassium… and apple cider vinegar for heartburn, as I’ve learned I don’t produce enough stomach acid while fasting! (too alkaline)

My main goal is to lose belly fat and start exercising again. I have lots of joint pain issues that I hope will resolve with water fasting and weight loss. I’m 5’6", so my ultimate weight goal is 140ish. Wish me luck! My husband thinks I’m a nut for doing this! So be it! I’ll be 92-lb lighter nut! :crazy_face:

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#2

Hi!

Welcome to our fasting community. My name’s Alipio, I’m the resident “greybeard” both figuratively and literally as I hold the current longest water fast at 40 days and I’m older than dirt.

If you have any questions or need to :scream: for help feel free.

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#3

Thank you! This is day 2 of water fasting for me. Doing fine so far! :+1:Not drinking coffee with cream is hard for me, but it’s a habit I need to eliminate anyway…

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#4

If you’re looking for information and motivation, I just started my own 21-Day Water Fast and I just completed Day 2 myself. I’m journaling it here, its titled “S2E2 21-Day Water Fasting Journal”. Just a suggestion.

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#5

Thank you! Yes, I will follow as I’m not an accomplished faster, and I don’t want to do anything that will put my health in jeopardy. I’m not very good at journaling, but I will try!

I’m on no medications, but food absolutely controls me. I’m tired of being mastered by it. I want to be liberated from it. Weight loss is a benefit, but my goal is much deeper than that.

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#6

One day at a time like you said! Each one of us deserves to find health and happiness, and you can do it! We’ll be here for support! :cherry_blossom::muscle:

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#7

It’s the beginning of day 3 for me for water fasting.

Any suggestions for calming a headache? It was mild when I went to bed, but worse this morning.

My sleep was not great, due to heavy rain and thunderstorms. I was finally able to sleep a couple of hours, but my head was hurting. :persevere:

I plan to keep going today! Looking forward to breaking bad habits that I’ve held onto for decades - coffee, overeating, sugar and sweeteners… I know this won’t be especially easy at the beginning. I realize I will probably do several long fasts to reach my goal. Slow and steady wins the race! :turtle:

#8

So it’s Thursday, 12:30 p.m. here in Texas. I just caved in and drank a cup of chicken broth. Felt like I was dying. :weary: I realize this is not water, but I needed something to get me through the rest of this day. I’m not caving in to solid food. I will continue this as long as I can! At this point, it’s the longest I’ve ever fasted, so I’m proud of myself for that. :facepunch:

#9

Also, has anyone had problems with heartburn on the 3rd day of fasting? :woman_shrugging:

#10

Tagging @Yasemin on this question.

For myself, no.

#11

I believe I have low stomach acid, so using apple cider vinegar helps. It’s the worst when my stomach is empty. I just thought it would go away with having no food to digest. :woman_shrugging:

#12

Beginning of Day #4 Water Fasting!

Weight: 225 (down 7 lbs)

Still have heartburn off and on :weary:

I made it! It’s around 12:25pm central standard time, and I’m almost 90 hours into my fast. I’ve never made it past 48 hours!

When my husband tells me goodnight, each night since I started this, he says, “Goodnight Sweetie! I hope you don’t die!” He just can’t wrap his brain around the fact that fasting is a good thing. He still thinks I’m starving myself. :woman_facepalming: Well… I am in a sense - starving my body of extra fat so that it can eat up my fat stores!

Yesterday was hard as I struggled with an awful headache all day, cravings, hunger pangs, and heartburn. I almost gave up… So, I had some clear chicken broth, and powered through. I’m not going to beat myself up over it not being water. It was one cup, and it’s what I needed to do to persevere. :blush:

Headache-free today, although I’m not sure I have tons of energy. I just remembered that I’m supposed to host a women’s breakfast at my house tomorrow morning. :woman_facepalming:Not sure how I’ll get through that, but man, I’m gonna try! It will be unprecedented for me to pass on food during this time!

My goal now is 7 days, refers for 3 days, start another 7, and see if I can push it out farther! :muscle::raised_hands::fire::100::facepunch:

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#13

Technically, chicken broth breaks a fast because it would cause a rise in insulin levels which stops production of glucagon, the hormone that starts and maintains ketosis.

On the other hand, Dr Fung says as long as its 50 calories or less it doesn’t. So I’d like to get @Anna opinion on this. I’m also zip a question to the endocrinologist at the University of Southern California Medical School that I consult with.

#14

@Compdude It was 10 calories and no sweet taste. I would tend to believe the spike (if any) would be very inconsequential.

#15

I’m sure you’re probably right.

But being the techie nerd that I am I like to nail down the question if just the presence of insulin shuts down glucagon production since the body only operates in one of two modes: energy storage or using that energy storage. There’s no in-between.

#16

Gotcha. I hope not. :pleading_face:

#17

@Anna @JennyC130

Here’s the answer from the USC endocrinologist:

If we’re being technical, then anything with calories breaks a fast. But from a realistic/practical standpoint, a very small amount of calories probably won’t have a significant impact, especially something like broth that will have a very small amount of carbs.

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#18

Day 5 completed for me!!!
Starting weight: 232
Current weight: 222

I reported wrong on my weight yesterday. It should have read -7lbs. I’ve lost 3 more since then, so now I am a total of 10 lbs down!

Still having issues with heartburn several times a day… very annoying. :weary: I didn’t need any chicken broth today. Still getting tummy rumbles though. Nothing I can’t manage.

Felt great today! Lots of energy. Went to a movie with my hubby. Made him a yummy late breakfast and dinner. Can’t wait to join him again after my fast - at least for dinner. I think I’m winning him over to working up to his own fast! Fingers crossed because he needs to lose about 100lbs! :raised_hands:

I plan to go a full 7 days and assess, and possibly go longer. If not, I will refeed for a week with Keto OMAD and start another water fast. We’re going on a cruise in October, so I’m shooting for a goal weight of 140! I want to work up to a 21-day water fast.

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#19

Hardest to convince is family. 5 months, becoming medication free and dropping 81lbs it was only after accomplishing all that did my 84 y.o. mom agree to my helping her reverse her T2 diabetes.

Look forward to your husband joining our fasting community.

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#20

Wow, @JennyC130, you are doing really good :+1: My family also is a bit sceptical about the fasting, but I think with time they will start seeing the positive results.

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