Naomi's Daily Journal - 21 Day Fast, March 2020 Challenge

[Nayohme]

Day 1
I started a little late, but started nonetheless. Timer set at 1600.

Day 2
My name is Naomi, and I am here to embark on my journey of a 21 day water/salt fast. I’m doing this to overcome my unhealthy relationship with food, as well as create a healthier lifestyle for myself. Those are both my main short and long term goals. Some struggles I have faced in the past were due to boredom, or excess free time, which then results in me breaking my fast and overeating because I reasoned with myself that I “deserve” it after a long 48. I really just need to quit the vicious cycle, and I know this will be the time it finally happens (positive affirmation).

1:07 pm - I’m doing okay so far. Coming up on 21 hours. I am having “lunch” by drinking some salt water and coffee. No headaches or anything yet. Just can’t wait to get off work, take a walk with my husband, drink my carbonated water, and go right to sleep lol.

4:26 pm - So I think I spoke too soon! I’m not hungry, but I have a headache at the very moment. It’s not too bad, but it’s definitely out of the ordinary as I don’t get headaches too often. I have gotten them in the past though when I fast, so it’s not too surprising. I’m have little dashes of pink himalayan salt in hopes to help with the headache. Going to go for a walk with my husband, shower, and then pass out!

[Freedumb]

Welcome to the forum. I hope you do well. I would chalk up any headaches the first week to withdrawal from sugar, etc. I needed at least a teaspoon of salt a day. Good luck.

[Nayohme]

Thank you!

[Nayohme]

Day 3
Wow! So I feel a TON better today! Yesterday after I got home from work, my husband and I went for a walk and I was feeling really ran down. I thought the walk would make me feel better. It didn’t When I showered and got into bed, I was FREEZING cold and my headache got worse! I took a magnesium pill to help me get to sleep. I was literally shivering and my head was pounding! It doesn’t help that it’s like 30-40s here, but normally I don’t get THAT cold. I was bundled up too. Eventually I got to sleep and slept from like 7 pm - 5 am this morning! My detox must have been really bad. TMI here, but when I went to the bathroom, the poop smell was quite foul. It didn’t help that I ate anything and everything I wanted to as my last meal guess I paid for it last night.

But I feel better and I’m ready to get this day started!

7:05pm - I feel good! Definitely no headache, cold shivers, or fatigue tonight! My husband and I walked for an hour which helped keep me busy. I’m about to head to bed now and I feel better knowing my detox symptoms are gone

[Freedumb]

Feeling cold was a surprising effect of fasting. I started using a heating pad to get to sleep, which I never had done before.

[Compdude]

A reason we get cold, especially during ketosis, is all the blood redirected into our adipose tissue to access them for energy.

[Nayohme]

Yes! I would always get cold before when I fasted, but I think cause it’s 30-40s where I’m at, I’m EXTRA cold. Thanks for sharing!

[Nayohme]

Thank you for sharing this reaffirmation that our body is going through a GOOD change! Even though it sucks, you reminded me that fat is getting accessed and burned for energy.

I appreciate the comment!

[Nayohme]

Day 4
5:39am - I feed great! Normally I wake up and we go to the gym. I haven’t been going lately since I been transitioning into the fasting, but today I felt energized enough to go. I just did the stair climber at low volume for about 30 minutes, then went for a casual walk after. Going to keep up with my salt water and some black coffee throughout the day and hope I do well today too.

*Positive effects for the day:
-I woke up and my face felt less inflamed! Normally when I wake up, I feel like my face is kind of swollen, tight, and inflamed…kind of like when you get sunburn…most especially my cheeks…does anyone know the reason for this? I’ve always wondered. Glad it lessened when I woke up!

-I normally need to use deodorant for my workout because my BO after I workout or exercise can be kind of strong…this morning, I didn’t wear any before exercise though…I sweated a lot, and didn’t smell at all afterwards! It was funny because I told my husband excitedly and he just laughed at me as if I was crazy What a triumph hahahah

5:42pm - I feel okay, but starting to feel a bit hungry It only started after my nightly walk. I’m just gonna drink my carbonated water. I’m also kind of tired, so Im gonna watch some TV then head to bed. Gotta keep it going!

[Freedumb]

You are doing really great, keep it up.

[Nayohme]

Thank you! I appreciate your encouragement!

[Compdude]

Just reviewed your journal and noticed you are doing a 21-day. One thing to monitor is your energy level. As you get deeper into the fast, it will draw more into your energy for detox purposes. I recently completed a 21-day, here’s my DJ if you’re looking for a roadmap: S2E2 21-day Water Fast Journal.

[Nayohme]

Thanks so much! I got through the first 3 days and I am enjoying the read! I will continue to read the post of the day I am fasting. This will help me continue my fast so I appreciate you sharing!

[Nayohme]

Day 5
5:25AM - Woke up this morning feeling kind of weak. Drinking more of my salt waters now. Now, after an hour of waking up, I don’t feel as bad anymore. I kind of had a hard time sleeping too. I kept waking up last night…it was pretty annoying. Not feeling really motivated, especially because I didn’t go to the gym for any activity, but I’m gonna keep it going. I’m also still feeling cold…but like Compdude said, its because blood flow is being directed towards our adipose tissue for energy access…so that’s reassuring for me to keep going!

1150AM- I am hungry I’m struggling pretty hard right now. I’m on my “lunch” but just trying to stay distracted by watching the YouTube videos and drinking my salt waters.

[LionS]

Stay strong!! You got this!! My day 5 was kind of rough too, but salt ACV and magnesium made me feel better…maybe we need more of these and more water, if our bodies are doing a deep detox? I’m going to try that tomorrow. Keep strong!!

[Nayohme]

So I ended up eating into my Day 5. I felt so bad!!! Like I failed myself and the accountability group however, when I realized the video Yasemin just posted was relating to the crutch, and mental health, I didn’t feel too bad! It came at such a right time. I think it was a sign My crutch meal consisted of the following:

Grilled Broccoli
1 oz of beef
A handful of almonds
A few slices of sausage
2 whole eggs and 4 egg whites

So I didn’t feel too bad physically after that. Went to bed and then of course today I woke up with my period. So I guess that kind of contributed as to why I wanted to eat. I just felt really tired and miserable. So when I watched Yasemin’s video, I didn’t feel that bad anymore… the message really resonated with me.

After my meal, I got back into fasting in which I am at 19 hours now. I think I decided that on the weekends I’ll do a 2-3 day fast and restart a 4-5 day fast Sunday night. I think this is manageable for me. Enough to challenge me, yet won’t make me sincerely miserable.

Thank you all for the support!

[Nayohme]

Day 7 of Fasting (5 days water fast, 2 days OMAD)

7:59AM - So today is day 7, 2 days after I broke my fast. Yesterday, day 2 of OMAD, I ate the following:

3/4 a rotisserie chicken
3 servings of grilled broccoli

I know I said I wanted to do like a 72 over the weekend (right now it is Saturday morning) but the weekends are so hard for me, so I’m going to just stick with OMAD and keep it healthy. As long as I don’t binge, I’ll be ready to attempt another 4-5 day fast starting Sunday night.

Also, I REALLY missed weightlifting! I’m a pretty active person already, but while being on the fast I couldn’t do too much weightlifting because my energy was really low. So it was nice to be able to workout again, just to change things up! This morning I did some light weight of the following:

Deadlights
Bent over rows
A few other various back exercises
15 mins stairclimber
30 minute walk with my husband

Even though I broke my fast, I still feel pretty good. It’s probably because I didn’t binge on crap and kept it healthy. So I’m proud of myself for that. And I’m down to 148, which is my lowest in years! So even progress is still being made Fasting focused lifestyle for sure!

Chat with you all tomorrow!

[LionS]

Your meal sounds delicious and so wholesome! I’m going to copy at some point! I also thought Yasemins video on crutch meals was awesome…I’m considering one soon…

[Overcomer]

Well done. I will probably be breaking my fast today after 7 days and will start again tomorrow night after omad, so I’m with you to do 4 to 5 days fast.

[Overcomer]

I will be keeping it low carb/keto for my refeeds.