J's Journal

[Fat2FitJulz]

Dear Julz,

I am doing this for you - please don’t give up when the going gets tough. You need to power through this - I will be so grateful to you once all is said and done.

Long Term and Short Term Goals:
Long term goals for me were to get from BMI Obese II to BMI “Normal”
Short term goals right now are to get to 74kg weight range - would like to lose as much of the 35kg within the next 3 months as possible.

What are some struggles you face or you have faced in the past
I have borderline high cholesterol, and had my gallbladder removed in October. I’m a few months out and finding I still have inconsistent digestion with certain foods and it has made the possibility of trying high-fat KETO diet virtually impossible since I cannot digest high-fat food at all - I either vomit or end up with painful constipation/diarrhea (it’s… as bad as it sounds).

What is my goal? To be honest I need to lose like 35kg just to reach a healthy weight. I need to lose 1/3 of myself. This is a probably unhealthy and impossible but I kind of want to get rid of as much of it within the next 3 months as I can for some plans I have upcoming around then. I want to fit into clothes I still own from when I was 22 - I want to unlock my wardrobe and feel good about myself.

How will I feel once I achieve my goal?
I think I will feel so relieved, like I’m not disgusting. I know I am not really disgusting right now, but my body isn’t healthy and my mind constantly reminds me of that. I want to feel like a “real” person who can focus on things in life beyond my shape.

How do I feel right now?
I am really nervous of the first 4 days. Every time I’ve tried a fast of 3 days or more, I end up getting quite ill on Day 3 - often with diarrhea and what feels like horrible menstrual cramps (even when not that time of month). I need to be ready to power through that struggle.

Day 1
I started my fast last night around 11pm, so just past the 12 hour mark. I watched the first Day 1 check-in YT video, and have taken my progress pictures. I am not shocked by them but I can’t imagine how disappointed I will be if I were to fall off the wagon and stumble across these in a few months. I am motivated to take better ones in 28 days when I hit my 28th birthday at the end of January.

Daily Affirmation
I can do this - I am strong, positive and doing this so that future me can enjoy a quality of life that is currently missing. I am strong so my future self can reap the benefits

Right now, I feel pretty good.

[Fat2FitJulz]

How do I feel right now?
Annoyed I was surprised with a family event last night and my family is not the type to tolerate any sort of ‘excuse’ for not eating at a family dinner. So, I have to restart I may only be able to do 2 or 3 days before resetting again as there’s another family dinner sometime on the weekend. I’m planning to water-fast around these meals and then try for the full 28-30 days again after the weekend. I don’t want to completely go off the wagon and eat for the next 3 days when I could at a minimum be setting myself up for success.

Yesterday was officially an OMAD, and the next meal will be an OMAD as well. Otherwise fasting!

Day 1 Again
I started my fast AGAIN last night, so just past the 12 hour mark again. I watched the first Day 1 check-in YT video again as well, and am going to be running a bit behind on these for now. I’m sure that will be fine :). I’m not going to hit my fasting goal before my birthday, but now I want to push past my birthday if I can

Daily Affirmation
Life happens, it’s not a failure - just keep going, the rewards are right in front of you!

[Compdude]

You will be successful in the long-term. Being flexible in the face of changing circumstances is a key factor from my experience. The main thing is keeping your eye on the prize and looking at things like this as minor bumps in the road.

[Fat2FitJulz]

How do I feel right now?
As mentioned above, had a second family meal over the weekend but I’m officially back into it. I’ve just started Day 2 of the new round and am looking to hit 28 days still, even if it will put me past my birthday.

Day 2
I dreamed that I broke my fast with a bit of chocolate, was so stressed in my dream I was like “should I purge will it help?”… which is stupid. I didn’t, and was relieved to wake up not having done either of them. It was kind of hard to get to sleep last night, though it’s also extremely hot here right now (we’re on fire) and I was quite hungry at the 12-15 hours mark.

I’ve just started Day 2, and I do feel hungry but it’s less invasive. Drinking lots of water I bought supplements as well (Magnesium, Calcium, D3 to add to my existing iron + vitamin C which I need to take), and am hoping those help me.

I was thinking of what the difference is between bone broth and your standard stock cubes? Normally I will add stock to a cup and drink it like it was tea or something, but not sure if it will substitute for bone broth on those days I feel I need it or if it will knock me out of the fast? Calories are <10 per cup.

Daily Affirmation
Ps get degrees - you only need to pass each day, not excel like a superwoman. Struggling isn’t failure.

[Anna]

Haha it’s funny how everyone talk about about their nightmares of breaking their fasts!

I don’t do bone broth myself, so if someone reads this, ( @Yasemin maybe) please correct me, but I’m sure there’s lots more nutrition in bone broth compared to store bought cubes (that mostly consists of salt, oil and spices)!
If you only have one cup, it’s not gonna be a huge deal, but everything with calories will technically break a fast!
Many people find it harder to fast while having small amounts of calories, such as teas, sugar free gum and broth, because it still requires enzymes and reactions in the body that might increase the hunger and cravings for more, instead of just sticking to water and minerals!

[Fat2FitJulz]

The dreams are wild, I’ll say that much.

I don’t intend to drink stock all the time, mainly if I am really struggling or feeling light-headed. I have a workout routine that I am worried about continuing with this month and I feel like if it gets too much I might have one cup just to bring me back to a baseline of comfort.

I don’t think I could live my life without black tea and just water, I don’t find tea to make me feel extra hungry or anything, sometimes water just doesn’t feel like “enough” so tea helps (well in previous fasts is has).

[Anna]

I’m glad you’ve found a way that works for you, that’s great!

@Compdude has been analysing in the forum that many people are struggling due to being too active exercising while fasting! It can be very stressful for the body to fast on its own, so just keep that in mind, and listen to your body!
Wish you all the best!

[Yasemin]

Completely agree with everything !

[Yasemin]

Yes let your body do the work!!

[Compdude]

@anna @Fat2FitJulz

From my analysis the #4 reason people failed to achieve their fasting goals was Strenuous Workouts. We had one member faint at work because she wouldn’t reduce her workouts despite working 12 hour shifts and that combined with the water fasting overloaded her body.

Everybody’s definition of what a “light workout” is comprised of will depend on each individual. For me, a T2 diabetic, with hypertension, gout, and high cholesterol was a daily 1 to 2 mile walk at the time I started my 40 day water fast.

When people ask me how do they figure it out for themselves I tell them monitor your energy levels.

Hope this helps!

[Fat2FitJulz]

Thank you!!

I just wanted to add here - I am craving wonton noodle soup so badly. I’m just shy of 36 hours right now (nearing bed time) and the temptation is real. It’s to the point I am already upset that my favourite place to get it doesn’t open until 5pm and my current fast is due to end at 10am on Day 28. WHAT WILL I DO FOR THAT 7 HOURS IN 26 DAYS??

Dream of wonton noodle soup…

[Compdude]

@Fat2FitJulz

Mine was dreams of inhaling In-n-Out’s famous double double cheeseburgers. Anybody who comes from Southern California or has lived here for awhile will know what I’m talking about!

[Fat2FitJulz]

Never had the chance to try In-n-Out RIP.

How do I feel right now?
Right this moment I feel alright, but I do feel hungry. I went to the gym today and did a workout - the workout itself was fine actually but I was really light-headed afterwards and found showering difficult. I ended up sitting for 30 minutes before leaving the gym. It’s not unexpected especially since working out during a fast is a known cautionary activity, but yeah it didn’t feel good at all.

Day 3
I dreamed that I broke my fast again, but the dream was weird. I went to a fish&chip shop okay, and ordered food. Then I was eating the (white) fish and noticed it was quite pink? I asked the guy if it was meant to look like that and he got this weird look on his face and said… oh this is a fresh fish and took it away. I was like um am I going to get food poisoning??? And then the dream ended and I was more relieved waking up that I wasn’t going to have food poisoning than I was about eating lol.

I’ve just ticked over to Day 3 - this is the day I expect will be horrific - the last 3-day fast I had I ended up having a digestive meltdown and had to break the fast. I’m expecting something like that in about 12 hours from now. I started sniffling about 90 minutes ago out of nowhere… keto flu?

I have been taking my supplements and had a glass of salt water last night as I felt a headache coming on - it seems to have worked. I’ll watch the Day 3 YT video later on, before bed.

Still dreaming of wonton noodle soup.

Daily Affirmation
You’re killing it, keep going <3

[Fat2FitJulz]

How do I feel right now?
Today I feel run down, I decided not to go to work (office job) because of it, and have been lying down today. In terms of food etc, I am not really hungry or anything but the temptation to eat is at an all time high.

Last night, my legs started hurting and had a digestive episode , which was expected. It was pretty uncomfortable and I am looking forward to being finished with that in the next week or so.

Day 4
I’ve just started Day 4 - I am at home today just super run down. The temptation to eat is like 5,000,000 percent, I am constantly thinking about eating and I’m beginning to dread just how long the fast is. I’m just starting today, I still have TWENTY FIVE days. That’s sooo long, and I am beginning to rationalise stopping early like oh just make it to 5/10 and start again after some food. I’m working really hard to ignore those temptations.

I took my supplements and had a glass of salt water last night again, I think I’ll do it as a normal thing. I also want to buy some potassium and phospherous supplements as well, the latter to minimise the risk of refeeding syndrome at the end of this - anyone have experience with that?

Dreaming of wonton noodle soup, guacamole, hot chips

Daily Affirmation
One foot in front of the other, you’re strong!

[Compdude]

Yep when I was have a hard time finishing one of my daily walks during my 40 day, I’d use that same affirmation from a song from one of my childhood holiday specials: Song starts at 1:40 into the video:

Hang in there the hunger pangs will fade as you get deeper into Ketosis as keytones start to suppress production of the hunger hormone, Ghrelin.

[Fat2FitJulz]

One thing I’m finding as I near half way point of day 4 (the second half of the day for me generally is when I am sleeping), is that doing my normal tasks each evening (shower/brush teeth/mouthwash), I am getting light headed and have less “standing” energy. I’ve read that a warm/hot shower can lower blood pressure and cause light headedness, but I’m a little worried since it’s not like I can just stop showering lol. I could try cooler showers, and given it’s summer here that’s fine, but there’s only so cold I can tolerate really.

I’m going to buy some potassium supplements tomorrow and add them to my mix - so far I’ve been taking magnesium, vitamin D3, and calcium along with my existing iron/vitamin C supplement (doctor prescribed), as well as a cup of salt water in the evenings.

I know I mentioned possibly drinking broth some days, but so far I’ve managed on just tap water - I’ve had two cups of tea in the last 4 days, and I find it helps a bit if I am struggling with the monotony of water.

[Fat2FitJulz]

oh and apparently KFC has a short-term promo of my dream box meal (Zinger Burger, Regular Popcorn Chicken, Original Tender, Regular Chips, Regular Potato & Gravy, Regular Pepsi Max) and it’s likely to be gone by the time my fast ends.

How can the world do me this dirty???

[Compdude]

Good job sticking with the water. It will get easier after Day 5. The potassium will help. If you want to find out about more supplements, here’s the topic thread that Yas started, hope it helps:

https://www.waterfastingforum.com/t/electrolytes-supplements-water-fasting

[Compdude]

I can relate on the KFC thing.

Last November, I was nearing the end of my 40-day and a good friend offered to take me out to Lucille’s, BB King’s BBQ restaurant.

Had to postpone all the way the way to this Friday.

[Fat2FitJulz]

I just woke up, I am a few hours away from finishing Day 4. I had to cancel my workout this morning as I am pretty light headed just standing up. I had another glass of salt water this morning, I am hoping it helps soon.

I am heading to a remedial massage now and I’m a little worried i’ll feel worse afterwards given how others have spoken about them on here but i’ll just have to see how it goes.