Miko's fasting: Day 2

[Miko]

Introduction

Hi!

This is Miko. 28 years old trying to end with my sugar addiction and hopefully lose some Kg as I’m over weight.

The idea of a healthy, methodic and strict diet kind of scares me as I lack discipline at the time of eating. It’s rather easy to perform OMAD to me. While doing that, I felt incredibly fine with periods of time with no hunger at all.

I decided to try water fasting since I have done this before when I was 18 and without knowing it was a waterfast. Then I lost 14 Kg without efforts and exercising 2 hours everyday.
Times have changed though… I am grown up and have a 9 hours mentally demanding office job with little to no time for exercise except a 40 minutes walk outside office.

Here we go!

Day 1

SW: 71.9 Kg
C.W: 70.6 Kg
Height: 160 cm (5"3)

Last time I ate was on Saturday night.
I took some vitamins and salts with one Matcha tea as well. On Sunday I didn’t feel the need of drinking water, neither I felt hungry.
Did some meditation and spend time with my two kittens in the yard. Husband is supporting me although he asked me if I think I’m a dromedary since I haven’t drink anything . That was funny !

Tomorrow I will drink enough water and control myself when seeing my office’s peers eating lunch .

[Compdude]

FYI: Remember to differentiate between “caloric reduction” and “dietary restriction”.

“Caloric restriction” has been proven to fail long term vs “fasting”. N.I.H. (National Institutes of Health) in the U.S. studied 14 former contestants of the reality show “The Biggest Loser” and found that 13 of them had gained back their original weight or more 6 years later after the show. The only 1 did NOT was only because of having bariatric (stomach) surgery. This study proved the fallacy of the “Eat Less Exercise More” approach to weight loss long term:

6 Years after The Biggest Loser, Metabolism Is Slower and Weight Is Back Up

Dr Benjamin Bikman of BYU just submitted a study that showed Ketosis preserves lean muscle mass. Whereas caloric restriction does not.

“Dietary restriction” eliminates or restricts 1 of the 3 major macronutrients: carbs, proteins or fats. For example, reducing carbohydrates (keto) and eliminating protein (vegetarian).

When I designed my research-backed treatment protocol and began implementing on August 9th earlier this year I had one major principle: simple is sustainable. These were my guidelines based on that principle: eliminate ALL processed carbs: sugar, bread , rice , etc. HOWEVER, carbs with fiber are fine: broccoli, asparagus, potatoes , etc. NO counting calories. NO required gym membership. Primary goal: Be medication FREE. Secondary goal: Lose weight.

Friday, 12/13 saw Physician’s Assistant to review latest labs - 4 months & 5 days later from start I was officially allowed to be medication FREE. Also lost 70lbs.

[Miko]

@Compdude very interesting information. Thank you for sharing!

It’s sad that after all their hard work they gained all the weight back. It’s true that when I tried fasting and lost 14 Kg it took a lot of time to came back but it finally did because I haven’t taken enough care of my health.

So I’m glad that caloric restriction is not as efficient as fasting as it is way more difficult to stick to it

And congratulations for achieving your goal! These are amazing news which I’m glad you shared because it keep encouraging people

[Miko]

Day 2

8:16 PM

C.W 70.1 Kg

I’m weighting in in the afternoons.I don’t think that’s the best time, right? Will try to weigh in tomorrow morning instead.

So today I’m feeling great ! Couldn’t sleep until 3 AM, and woke up at 7:20 AM but that’s fine.
I logged in at 9 at office and logged out at 7PM. That’s some 10 hours work but didn’t notice the time until I checked and it was already 6 PM. This is because I’m feeling amazing although I’m afraid that this is being too easy, and something bad will come after (?) Hopefully not.

At lunch time, I took a matcha tea. And after, taking with peers at office, I drank Mate.
Let me explain. You might not know this beverage. It is an infusion made with Yerba Mate, drank without any additives and hot water. You might research and you will find that it is very common in Uruguay ( country I’m from), Argentina, Paraguay and some places in south Brazil.
It doesn’t contain almost any calories but it certainly contains caffeine which will produce an energizing effect or should I say, electrifying effect ? lol kind of. After mate, I have a slight headache. But will go after resting.

Finally, I was quite worried of my performance at work, because I provide tech support to airlines and I really shouldn’t do mistakes while communicating with customers. But, I have made one mistake today, which was a typo, that caused some confusion. Nothing big I guess.

That’s all for today. It was a fantastic day and I think that way because I start believing that I can give more of myself. Will enjoy reading Carlos Ruiz Zafon

happy fasting everyone !

[Compdude]

Keep it up! Btw, I always cheer on tech support staff. When I was working tech startups in Seattle 1 gig I had was Software Test Lab Manager. Part of my duties was supervising tech support. I always admired that those who had that job must have the “patience” gene, God knows I sure didn’t have it!

Anyway, here’s a little motivational video for you that I sometimes fell back on when I was having a bad day:

[Miko]

Ok. I’m not sure why but I seem unable to edit the title.
No problem at all… here we go with

Day 3:

Could not sleep until 3AM again and had to wake up at 7:20 AM. Today I felt quite sleepy and tired, but nothing that wasn’t solved with a nice shower and a positive thinking about how the day would be

Weighted in the morning and I was in 68,5. Wonder if it’s Ok? I didn’t see the 69 between yesterday and today.

I felt very well thru the day. Drank 2+ Liters of water, no matcha, no vitamins, no mate.
Hopefully the toughest physical part has passed. I am still waiting for the hungry assaults thought.

Tomorrow I will be put into test. We will be few people at office and as I’m working the 25th Dec and 1st of Jan. I will be the happy responsible of arranging the food for my peers but…today I went to BK with peers and didn’t bought anything. Even though I smelled the food it’s very weird, but did not feel tempted at all. So I will be able to deal with the assigned task without failing. because I can, and I will

Thank you @Compdude for reading me and supporting me. It feels really nice having an space where to share your feelings and experience and it’s even nicer to have someone to read and comment with positivism.

[Compdude]

You have to earn the “Regular” badge to be able to edit the title of your Journal. Ask Anna she may know of another way.

Thank you for the appreciation. Helping others is aiding me in organizing my book and deciding which contents to include/exclude.

You GOT this. As you get deeper into Ketosis, the keystones suppress the production of the hormone Ghrelin, better known as the “Hunger” hormone. In other words, over time the hunger pangs will fade. But other issues will pop up, but since every individual’s experience (I’ve been comparing notes with the few other successful fasters here) when you have an issue reach out to me and Anna. I haven’t seen the other two since they achieved their goals, but one’s on vacation and the other’s busy with preparing for a HUGE New Year’s Eve party. LOL

[Miko]

@Compdude Oh ! I see.

I will fix the title when I have the capabilities then.

Do you think that having been in Keto and OMAD before helps to get into ketosis faster?
I haven’t experienced the keto flu, or hunger the first days as I did before when first tried keto. I did start keto-OMAD before 3 weeks, and completed 2 successfully then one week I ate “normally” , sweets and fast food included though.

Will update Day 4 now !

[Compdude]

@Miko Yes. The reason is from an evolutionary standpoint we have these two processes that provide us energy: glucose and ketosis. However, because of the proliferation of “eating small and frequent meals.” Our bodies ability to easily switch between the two fell into disuse. A state called “metabolic inflexibility.” However, the more we fast and/or do IF we become more “metabolic flexible.” OMAD is similar to fasting in that it maximizes the time when insulin levels are low enough to allow Ketosis to occur. Keto because it reduces the time it takes for our bodies to burn through it’s glycogen (stored carbohydrates) by reducing the carbs that get stored in our liver and muscles. Hope this helps.

[Miko]

Day 4

CW: 68 Kg Feeling well, slightly tired.

Today was a bit of a challenge. Had to go earlier to the work but I woke up fine and rested.
Seems that in Christmas stuff breaks too, so there were a few airlines unable to perform check in, an we were there for them to assist. This required a lot of attention. The main challenge came in the midday at lunch time when I had to open the fridge and give my peers the food for this Christmas day. There were some salty food, coke, and sweet treats which looked delicious ( I really like sweets…) I knew that this part would eventually happen, so I was ready. With the mindset in Water Fasting, loosing weight, feeling great, which no little treat would ruin, I brought a little lunch bag and kept my part in there.
I did smell the pastry, and Oh! one of my colleagues brought Christmas’s homemade cookies which I also kept, not for after, but for my husband. He has an amazing metabolism, and with his height, doesn’t seem to gain any weight even though he tries. So I though it would be a great idea to keep all the food that I might was able to eat but I didn’t, so he could enjoy it and possible gain some grams too That was a challenge accepted and won!

Afterwards, at home, I did take a nice shower and as soon as my head touched the pillow , I surrendered to the oneiric pleasure of resting having accomplished one more day of this enjoyable experiment

Mind status:

I don’t feel that my mind and thinking are sharp. I haven’t felt that yet, although some people say that you will have your senses intensified, I have only noticed that I can smell food from far away, which is not helpful ! I need my mind back to quickly thinking. Must say that if I focus enough I can talk and properly develop a complex conversation, however, I’m easily distracted.

Body sensations

• Today felt a little bit hungry, surely because I was surrounded by food.
• Already I have that bad breathe. Have to go to clean my tooth always that I remember and when the fresh minty smell has gone.
• I din’t lose more than 500 grams today beause I’m retaining liquids. Yea, those days.
• Tiredness went away with a little bit of sleep ( 2 hours )

Spiritual status

Feeling well. I am happy that I could reach 4 days of water fasting and that I am having no major inconveniences.
I feel more calm although I have no much patience when something bothers me.
It has helped me when feeling bored, to read a book or to give myself a nice leg’s massage with some nice perfumed cream. Your spirit will thank you
In an overall fasting is being pretty easy to be honest. I will keep it up and pay attention to my body’s signals so I can decide when to stop.

See you tomorrow and happy fasting everyone !

[Anna]

You’re doing great so far! I really enjoy reading your journal!
Happy fasting

[Compdude]

Well written post! Like the spiritual aspect. Glad you are doing well.

[Miko]

Day 5

CW: 67,2 Kg
S.W: 71,9 Kg Total loss by today: 4.7 Kg almost an overage of 1 KG per day

Fair enough. I would like to loss weight quicker but that would imply exercise as I did the last time I tried this (10 years ago). I was walking two hours per day. For going to university I would spend 1 hour, and backing home, another one. I used to dance for hours as well listening to Michael Jackson,LOL. And those lollipops ! Pretty mad teen I guess.

So today I did well too. I only felt more tired than yesterday and took my lunch time to relax in a sofa. I didn’t feel like working at all, but noticed that if I tried to focus, I would concentrate more easily than the past days. Thankfully tomorrow is Friday! And I won’t work on Saturday and Sunday, so, will have enough time for sleep
And talking about sleeping, I did not mention that the 3 first days I slept a lot. Specially in the afternoons. Kind of a long nap, but after I wouldn’t sleep until 3 AM. Yesterday I slept in afternoon, but also at my normal times, between 10 and 11 PM. Glad that I’m being able to rest properly.

Body signals

• Today I noticed a white cast on my tongue. I didn’t see it before and it is quite difficult to remove it with the tooth brush. I will need another instrument to do so.
• I didn’t feel any cramp on my legs so far
• I like to have my eyes closed (?) This is weird. But I was going around the office kind of sleepy and felt better when I didn’t see the office’s lights.

I drank a hot matcha tea today. I felt as I needed it as the smell of coffee in the morning was so tempting. Also I did take a time in the bathroom between breaks, to put myself body cream. I really needed to pamper my body as I see I’m putting it into stress, but it will thank me later.

That’s all for today! Hope you are doing alright and happy fasting, reading, re-feeding everyone

[Miko]

Hi @Anna,

Thank you for reading me

I also enjoyed reading your journal. Very interesting and amazing accomplishment.
Please keep us posted on your progress after you recover from the fasting !

Cheers,
Miko

[Miko]

Hi @Compdude,

Thank you. I like to separate things like body, mind and soul or spirit aspects.

Spiritually today, I’m feeling quite similar as yesterday. Although I noticed my low level of energy interferes with my mood, listening to music has helped to cheer me up.

Any recommendation of tongue’s tool that I can use to clean it? Or any tip?

Thanks!
Miko

[Compdude]

Yasmine has a video on stuff to get for an Extended Fast. One was getting a tongue scrapper. She had a link in the video. Sorry can’t remember which one.

For myself, just armed with toothbrush, Colgate & Listerine when I faced the “Keto Breath Horror” at the end of my 40-day.

[Miko]

Thank you @Compdude. I will make sure to search for a tongue scrapper around

Starting now with

Day 6

C.W: 66,3 Only two kilos away from not being overweight. yeey !

Today I felt better than yesterday. Reasons below:

Mind status:

• Finally I can focus quickly and think efficiently to work better. I didn’t feel foggy or metal tiredness.

Body signals:

• The first 4 days of fasting I was quite warm. My body was hot and I didn’t feel uncomfortable. Now I feel cold on my hands and feet. I think it’s normal and since we are in summer right now, I don’t mind it at all.

• My face is becoming slimer and my skin has softened a little bit. Soooo gratifying

• I will be discreete. I today It is creepy to think that after 6 days of fasting I was keeping something like that inside

Emotionally and spiritually I’m doing great so far. I make sure to take good care of myself.
When I identify a situation that makes me stressed, I try to change it or go to do something else with myself, but I don’t allow to stress myself. Meditation and taking it with calm also helps

Yesterday at night I felt stomach ache and I was a little bit hungry. Images of food came to my head and I imagined eating them But today it didn’t happen Could the matcha tea make the difference? I realized just now that today I didn’t take it.

Well.,that’s all for today. See you soon and happy fasting!

[Compdude]

Looking back at my 40-day journal I didn’t have my last until Day 13. The following day (Day 14) I got an energy boost probably because that part of our basal metabolic rate devoted to digestion was freed up. Also had a weight loss plateau but resumed losing weight the next day (Day 15).

Interested in seeing what your experience will be tomorrow.

[Miko]

Not feeling so great… but let’s resume

Day 7

C.W: 65,4

I had a lot of activity today. Maybe for that I am not feeling so great. I abused the energy I had to spend my day nicely, and now I am suffering the consequences.

Interesting things that happen today Saturday, 28th of December:

• Woke up early like if I was going to the office. The thing is since I’m fasting, I can’t sleep too much specially in the morning. I slept a lot in the afternoon though. When I woke up I started to do the activities of the house as usual ( mainly laundry and cleaning around ) and poor husband could not sleep any longer. He said " my little Ghandi doesn’t let me sleep" poor soul

• Had to go to the supermarket to buy some water and while backing home an storm caught us on the road. That was very refreshing and thanks God for sending down water and wind.

• After that, I went with my mother to visit an old Italian lady that is so nice and as all Italians, cook heavenly food. She tried to feed me !! Thankfully my mom ate before going to her house, but when time passed by, she start to bring coke, pear juice, and some delicious homemade fig jam that looked amazing! She wouldn’t go from my side until I tested a little… so to make happy this nice lady, I took the spoon and did like if I tried it when I actually didn’t. She’s almost 91 years old so she didn’t realize I didn’t actually eat Felt like lying there…

• Finally, when I went from the house of this nice Italian Lady, I was walking under 30 C ( not sure how much it’s in Fahrenheit, sorry) and saw the bus coming. Had to run to catch it. Jeeeeez, I didn’t have enough air on my lungs, neither the energy to perform an activity like that but thankfully, I caught it and came home.

So after coming home, took a nice shower and relaxed for the rest of the day. Couldn’t do anything else even though I was hoping to enjoy going to the mall with husband, that wasn’t possible due to the nausea I started to experience. This happened around 7 PM.

I though it might be low blood pressure so took some salt and now I feel better

Honestly, when I experienced this nausea, I though of eating something light ( maybe because today I saw too many food around, in the supermarket, in the house of the old lady… in street too) and this affected me. But I haven’t come this far to surrender to my temptations. Don’t you think?

Still didn’t reach my goal and still I’m one Kg away from not being overweight. So, is it hard? Yes. But it’s worth it.

Happy fasting everyone !

[Miko]

Hi @Compdude,

I have realized that the day I I was feeling my hands and feet cold. But, the days after I started to feel warm again.

What would that be?

Thank you!
Miko