I am on ALMOST day 5. it will officially be day 5 for me in 1 hour and 9 minutes… I have done several 14-21 day fasts, I am hoping this one will extend into at least 30 days if not longer. I will listen to my body. Previously I have had issues with electrolyte depletion so I take salt, magnesium and potassium as well as the occasional multi vitamin. other than that it is just water water water. I used to be a model and a trainer and was in a very long term abusive relationship… food became my addiction and comfort. I ballooned up to 232 pounds at my highest weight (lowest as an adult was 127) after leaving that marriage and entering a blissful relationship I was able to lose weight and feel good about myself until that two has turned sour… and I found myself again comforting with food except this time food didn’t bring me comfort… I don’t like most things but I will eat and eat my way through everything TRYING to find that high that happiness and euphoria that food used to bring me… I suppose no different then an addict looking for the next high.
I turned to my old friend fasting once again to try to bring me some mental clarity, healing and of course weight loss… the great thing about fasting is when you are going through something you really have to look it dead in the face… especially if you are a food addict like me and you take the only source of relief away. So hear I am looking my problems in the eyes and changing my life one fasting day at a time!
LeonYram Fasting Journal (as long as it takes)
Welcome to our fasting community!
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Nice to have another experienced faster join the group.
Wow! A 21 day fast is amazing!
I can relate to being in an abusive relationship. My last was one is I used food to cope.
I like what you said about looking at what you’re going through in the face. I think that unresolved issues lead to food addiction.
I’m glad you have a positive outlook and I’m looking forward to seeing you reach your goals!
Thank you! I’m excited to see where this leads to… planning on spending a lot of time on healing and self reflection 
Here we are middle of day 5. I have no hunger or desire for food other than the occasional wish to fill a void or boredom. Fasting tends to slow time WAY down, a lot of hours in the day to take a deep hard look at myself. Books, meditation, walks… one day at a time to healthier me. Self love is true love 
Thanks for sharing with your journal here! So sorry to hear of the pain you’ve been in with abusive relationships, and I so admire your strength and commitment to face and feel the pain, and choose ways to cope that will serve you better in the long run.
Food is such a natural coping mechanism-- the chemical changes we get from food are immediate and powerful. In my experience with emotional eating, it’s been interesting for me to start to recognize that I’m not actually getting lasting relief when I eat emotionally. More than anything, it’s a moment’s distraction-- and then one that makes me feel terrible afterwards. 
I really appreciate the things you’ve written thus far with your journal-- ‘self love is true love,’ and ‘looking my problems in the eyes and changing my life one fasting day at a time’ indicate to me that you are coming at this process in a very grounded and loving way-- which I believe is so important for making lasting change.
Sending my best wishes to you through your process! Congratulations on the new life (and you) you are building, starting from a true love and acceptance for where you are (and who you are) now. Very inspiring.
Hi LeonYram. Your story sounds familiar. We’re all in this together. One hour at a time. One day at a time… what you said about looking your problems in the eyes struck a cord
Thank you, it’s true there is no lasting relied when eating for anxiety / pain etc and often times what ends up happening is you feel more guilt and shame after… especially if you are a binge eater like myself
I am 6 days 19 minutes into this fast now as I type this, I have no REAL desire to eat, I’m not hungry … I’m even feeding children during this and so far so good. One thing I was thinking about today tho is I’d like to come away from this with a really healthy love for food. I’m not talking the sense of “loving” like a food addict does…where I HAVE to have it… but a sense of true enjoyment, savoring and the ability to be done when I’m full. I’ve always been an extremely fast eater… to be able to slow down and really enjoy the taste and sensation would be amazing.
I’m also spending a lot of time reading, meditating and visualizing trying to work out some old belief systems, values and habits that no longer serve me. Reminding myself that this is what this fast is really about helps me… yes weight loss is a big part for me but weight for me is carrying all of those beliefs that are holding my down. Releasing the weight and the beliefs/habits go hand in hand. They both have to go. I don’t need to hide under pounds of fat or behind food anymore, and I don’t need to hold on to old beliefs or thought forms (self-abuse) that no longer serve me.
I’d focus on educating yourself on the refeed after the fast. It’s a harder challenge because for people that don’t have a plan they revert back to bad habits. Have a refeed plan for after your fast.
Hi everyone!
I just completed 72 hours and my head has been hurting so bad all day. When does this and weakness usually stop?
@LeonYram Your post resonated so much to me. I want that experience as well. I was a fast eater too prior to this. I would finish eating and wonder where the food left. I always felt unsatisfied. I’m hoping this fast changes that.
Thanks for sharing, @LeonYram! You so beautifully write about the perspective shifts you’d like to come away from your fast with, and because you do have a specific vision I feel you are much more likely to attain this shift.
I am with you-- good food is such an enjoyable experience-- it’s such a shame that our busy lives and quantity-over-quality culture has affected the eating habits for many of us. So nice that, with fasting, we can hit this reset button and come back to appreciating food that nourishes us and all of the flavors and sensations that go along with it.
Best of luck, and have a great weekend!
Thank you, I’m really looking forward to seeing how long this fast takes me.
Yes, I was constantly unsatisfied after eating when I knew you should be full. If I just had something savory I wanted something sweet, if I had something sweet I wanted something savory… It was a never ending cycle. I would tell myself you’ll change tomorrow, which was an excuse to binge… tomorrow never came
The headache usually goes away for me by about day 4 or 5, usually this can be attributed to switching over to using ketones as fuel. You also may not be drinking enough water. 1/4 tsp Salt, magnesium and potassium twice a day should help with the weakness
7 days are officially down as of 1 minute ago. So far the fast hasn’t been too difficult in terms of hunger, but some of my emotions have been intense. They too always pass but when you are in the moment of them it seems like they will never be gone. I meditated a few times today which helped me process my emotions and some inner turmoil. I stopped by a Graduation “party” today and there was so much food… .smelled amazing. Always seems to be a good array of food when you’re in the middle of a fast. So far I am down 10.5 pounds, so it’s been steady… I’m pleased with it. I’m in this for the long haul… however long that is. So far my body and mind are reaping the rewards of this fast. I hear some people dream of food during their fasts, I’ve been fasting for about 12 years and have yet to have that happen… I do always notice tho I will randomly have a taste of something familiar in my mouth, it could be a lemon cookie or a piece of pizza or a salad… it happens fairly frequently.
Moving into day 10 now the last 2 days I have had heartburn/indigestion off and on. Still no real hunger but really wanted a salad to take the edge off… I didn’t but I seriously considered it. It’s late and I’m tired I will check back in tomorrow.
You’ve done 10 days already. That’s quite an achievement. I wonder what kind of changes you notice in yourself physically and emotionally
How are you doing today? What day are you one? I am just starting a 21 day. Looking for inspiration!