Sun 3/15/20 I just started the clock on my first 48 hour fast, feeling a little apprehensive but more hopeful and excited. Apprehensive because I’m anticipating the mental obstacles more than the physical ones. I’ve been practicing the 20:4 regimen for about a month, and I did the 16:8 regimen last year with great results. I noticed this time around that I didn’t get ravenously hungry like I thought I would adding the 4 hours to my fasting window. I only broke it because I was “supposed” to eat, not because I was actually hungry. I could’ve gone longer in the fast, but I did not want to pass up the joy of eating.
The story of the 2 wolves has always resonated with me. I am on a journey this year of self-love, -acceptance, and -compassion. I have tried caloric deficit, going hard in the gym, keto, low carb, and supplements. Doing IF has shown me that when I don’t feed the wolf, it doesn’t attack and take me over like I thought it would. It does fight me back when I tease it with a little food here and there throughout the day like I did with caloric deficit. Funnily enough, as I have learned from informational videos on Youtube, although I experience a caloric deficit with IF, I am not as hungry because I am not constantly spiking my insulin like I do with a deficit plan.
The practice of delaying my “reward” is good for the wolf in me. It allows me more time to be productive and focused because I’m not taking the time to prepare the meal, sit down and eat it, then clean up after myself. Carrying out my tasks on an empty stomach without feeling hungry or deprived provides me with a razor focus that I don’t get when I’m full and almost sleepy feeling post-meal.
This eating/food struggle is just another symptom of the hungry wolf in me. It has shown up in my alcoholism, and I faced that and continue to face it a day at a time and am now 4 almost 5 years in recovery. It manifested itself as cigarette smoking and I quit August of last year. Now this looms in front of me, in my thoughts and on my plate. Just like I faced those other challenges, I will face this with the help of others and do it one day at a time. I can’t and won’t do this alone, but I am willing to put in the work.
I am worth it. I love and approve of myself. I know I can do this, one step at a time, one day at a time, one hour at a time if it comes down to it.
My plan includes black coffee, water, ACV, lemon/lime juice, sparkling mineral water, and my daily supplement regimen. I will also use pink Himalayan salt like it has been advised on here and on Youtube.
Thanks everyone for being on this forum, I just signed up yesterday and I’m already finding it to be really helpful. I will check in later.
Best wishes!
. After this, we agreed to do a 24-36 hour weekly fast. I have 3 lbs and 1% body fat to go. I have been going for 135. I will go for 130 if it doesn’t make me gaunt and sickly-looking. I love IF because I have kept my curves and muscle as opposed to caloric restriction in which I either didn’t lose weight or did lose weight but it was muscle. I just have a few hours til bed, then my fast is done at 3:30 am tomorrow while I’m at work. 
Going on a 36 hour fast ending Wednesday 6 am. Good night, world! Be safe and well 
