I’ve been doing 36 hour fasts, once a week, since November. My core diet is very full, healthy, and balanced in between. I’m hoping this will get me off a weight loss plateau, but I’m also interested in the health benefits of intermittent autophagy. I’m looking to discuss the effects with other people doing a similar regime of periodic short fasts.
Periodic 24 to 48 hours water fasting
Just be aware that the timeline for autophagy a lot of YouTubers are propagating out there is based on studies of mice and NOT human beings. It’s important to keep that in mind because the metabolism of mice is much faster than humans. For example, a mouse will lose 20% of its body weight in 3 days and be dead in 4. On the other hand, a human being will lose 3% in 4 days. It’s one reason I forgo short fasts for longer prolonged fasts. Another reason is it takes me at least 3 days to fully exhaust the glycogen stored in my liver and muscles. That has to happen before the body can go into full Ketosis. Minimum water fast I will do now is at least 7 days to make it worth it to me, IMO.
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Thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately I can’t do extended fasts as eating is part of my job, so I’m working within my parameters. I’m thinking that I can drop my carbs throughout my last workday to help get me to ketosis faster on my short fasts. I’m also finding that these short fasts are getting easier and easier. I might extend them to 48 hours, but that’s a bit risky. Not to get graphic, but when I refeed, like second bight into my sandwich, I suddenly need to use the toilet. I don’t seem to have any food left in me, but I get a quick launch of bile out the backside. This is why I want to talk to people who do periodic short fasts - to know if other people experience that.
I’m at a crossroads. I want to fast for 36 hours once per week, but cross country ski season is opening soon here. My next days off I might fast, but if the snow is good, I will be cross country skiing. I will not be doing both. The weather is my god at this point.
Go for “snow time”!
As a former competitive windsurfer, I always junked my plans when the word went out “Wind’s Up!” LOL.
Further complications: A coworker called in silly for the holiday season, so now I don’t know when I have days off. I’ve decided to take this time to develop some very low-carb meals that I can use to lower my available glycogen in the days before I fast - whenever I can get back to fasting. I’m hoping this will help me get more benefit out of my 36 hour fasts.
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Life happens!
Being flexible and keeping your eye 
on your goal means you’ll succeed.
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