Veles Fasting Journal

[Veles]

DAY 4 (after failed fasting)

Hey everyone,
It’s been a while and as the title says, I failed my fast last fast. I broke it because I was invited to a dinner party and I simply couldn’t say no. It was important that I went, but I felt so stupid at the same time… It’s taken me quite a while to get back into this current fast I’m on. I don’t know why, but it was just simply too hard?
However, I’m back on it now -I’ve reached day 4 and I’m feeling better. Yesterday was a bit rough as I had some heartburns and a minor headache the entire day. I took some organic apple cider vinegar (I actually managed to find Brag’s!) and had some sparkling mineral water as well.
I don’t know what the general take or thought on mineral water is, but I doubt it’s bad, right?

So, all in all- I’ve gone through the “first rough day” of this fast and today seems to be much better. I just hope mental clarity will come sometime soon. I already feel a lot more focused than before, but I would want to experience the “euphoric” state some fasters claim to have experienced.

I hope you’re all doing well!

Best,
V

STATUS

Start weight: 120 kg (264.5 lbs)

Current weight: 114.9 kg (253.3 lbs)

Total weight loss: 5.1 kg (11,4 lbs)

[Compdude]

Don’t fret about the dinner party. If its an obligation and you made the decision deliberately that’s fine. Life is meant to be lived after all. More importantly you got “back on the horse”.

In regards to the benefits, you should be getting those around Day 5 or later. It’s different for everyone.

Congratulations on getting this far.

[Veles]

Thank you Compdude! Feels great to be back and to keep working toward my goal.

Oh great, that means if I’m very lucky the benefits will kick in tomorrow, right in time for my lesson with my teacher. Which I honestly could use, as it’ll definitely be a very rough lesson- haha.

Once again, thank you!

[Veles]

DAY 5

Hey everyone,
Finally at the end of day five and I’m doing okay I’d say? I’ve been having a lot of acid reflux and been trying to “treat” it with Bragg’s apple cider vingegar, but I can’t say that I feel it helping. Something that does seem to help though is my mineral sparkling water, why I have no idea, but it saved me during a lesson today.
Been a little more tired than usual today and I’m ready to faceplant the bed this very second. A lot of visits to the toilet as well, which is a bit surprising at this stage of the fast to be honest.

Either way, today was a success and I’m happy with the progress I’ve made! I’ve notised that my jackets and t-shirts fit me a lot better, it’s easier to move around and now I’m just waiting for the time where my trousers start falling off- as weird as that sounds. All in all, I feel a bit more confident and it’s definitely a huge relief not having to worry about maybe buying new clothes.

I hope you’re all doing well.

Best,
V

STATUS

Start weight: 120 kg (264.5 lbs)

Current weight: 113.5 kg (253.3 lbs)

Total weight loss: 6.5 kg (14.3 lbs)

[Veles]

DAY 7

Hey everyone,
I was so busy yesterday that I didn’t have time to write an update. I was feeling quite poorly yesteday with terrible acid reflux and a chronich fatigue like state. I sleep but I still feel very tired all the time, and if I didn’t make myself get up, I’d probably just lie in bed the whole day.
However, this acid reflux is slowly killing me… It comes and goes but it just won’t stop. So, if anyone has any tips I’d really appreciate it.

Yesterday I went to a friends brithday party, and it was really nice. We where about 10 people there and we all had a really good time. I just wish I wasn’t so tired, made me feel a little anti-social at times when I just zoned out a little.

Anyway, I’m on day 7 and it seems to be a better day so far? Still tired as hell, but I might have a cup of coffee just to get myself going. I know it’s not the greatest thing to consume on a fast, but I’ve got a lot of things to do and I’m not sure if zombie me could manage that.

I hope you’re all doing well.

Best,
V

STATUS

Start weight: 120 kg (264.5 lbs)

Current weight: 111.7 kg (253.3 lbs)

Total weight loss: 8.3 kg (18.2 lbs)

[Compdude]

You’re fine with the coffee as long as its black. @Yasemin has an answer to address your acid reflux issue.

[Yasemin]

Hi!!

Awesome journaling

For acid reflux, I recommend doing about 0.5 oz of ACV (apple cider vinegar) and mixing it in with water. This will force your esophageal valve shut and stop the root cause of the acid reflux

I talk about it more in this video of 10 common symptoms/side effects of water fasting + some easy remedies!

[Veles]

Thank you Compdude, I really appreciate the help!

[Veles]

Hi Yasemin,

Thank you for dropping by as well as your advice! I’ve tried using apple cider vinegar, but I must’ve taken a too small amount for the esophageal valve to shut. I’ve been using baking soda as a last resort so I can sleep at night, but I’ll try drinking a higher ACV amount. (I don’t have a functioning kitchen scale right now, so I’m eyeballing everything…)

Once again, thank you so much!

[Veles]

DAY 8

Hey everyone,
Today has been a very low energy day with not much going on. I’ve had this constant feeling that something in my body needs to get out, kind of like when you’ve eaten something bad and you’re body is just trying desperately to get it out. I had my up moments which where okey, took the time to call my mum and congratulate my sister-in-law on her birthday. Other than that, I’ve mostly watched movies or watched waaaaay too much youtube.

Despite feeling quite physically poorly, I do feel mentally better than I have in many years. The chronic brain fog is gone, my mind is a bit calmer and I don’t feel as pressured about things anymore.
However, I’ve noticed that I’ve been quite emotional as well? I have a tendency to remember past events that for one or another reason bother me, and I can usually not “hold onto them” long enough to reflect on it, but yesterday I could hold onto it for a few seconds.
This might be nothing special, but for me it was something very new- I’m beginning to feel emotions more strongly again, which to me is a blessing.
Sorry for the long rant.

I hope you’re all doing well though?

Best,
V

STATUS

Start weight: 120 kg (264.5 lbs)

Current weight: 111.2 kg (245.1 lbs)

Total weight loss: 8.8 kg (19.4 lbs)

[Compdude]

One of the benefits of a prolonged water fast is that it increases production of BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor). Think of it like fertilizer for the brain. I learned about BDNF and neuroplasticity when I took a class through Harvard University’s Extension Program years ago when I was researching the brain body connection for my older clients concerned about Alzheimer’s when I was a Certified Personal Trainer. That’s one of the primary reasons for your increased mental clarity.

As for the emotional side of things, I had the same happen to me but in the respect that my usual patience with clients that I do computer consulting for was fraying. I had to restrain myself several times from giving them a tongue lashing understanding that they were their usual irritating selves and the issue was with me.

Hope this helps!

[Veles]

That’s really interesting, I remember reading something about BDNF but can’t remember the finer details. Do you know for how long the increased production of BDNF during an extended fast? Does it spike within the first week, or will it come and go?

As always, thank you for you wisdom and help! Always great to get such great insight from you

[Veles]

DAY 9

Hey everyone,
Today has been a “rest” day, I couldn’t sleep last night for some reason so I woke up very late. (luckily for me I got nothing at uni today) The acid reflux is still coming and going, but I’m trying the advice Yasemin gave me and it does help, but it keeps coming back after a few hours. Though the flare ups are a lot less frequent.

I’m tired but I feel a lot better in general and I seem to have cleared out anything that was bad in my system. I also lost quite a lot of weight again, which really surprises me! I calculated approximately how much weight I’d lose in 30-31 days, using the formula that you lose about 0,3 kg (~0,5 lbs) a day and simply adding it up. I’m 0,1kg (0,2 lbs) from reaching the weight I expected to be at round the 25th of February.
I assume that my weight loss will be at a slower pase from now on, but I’m still very happy that I reached my first mile stone so early on.

To elaborate a bit more on my “calculations”. I use a “old school” paper calendar to keep track of what I have to do during the week. In addition to this I’ve kept track of my weight loss progress as well as measuring my body, to see how much smaller I’m getting. But what really kept me motivated was knowing that if I stick to my fast, I would in theory reach 110,4kg by the 24th of February. So reaching it 21 days in advance feels a bit crazy to be honest.

STATUS

Start weight: 120 kg (264.5 lbs)

Current weight: 111.2 kg (245.1 lbs)

Total weight loss: 8.8 kg (19.4 lbs)

[Compdude]

You’re welcome.

No I haven’t kept up on the latest in neuroscience advancements as I was focused on insulin-related advancements due to my now reversed T2 diabetes. Now I’ve switched to anything related to reversing CKD, my last remaining metabolic disease that I’m working.