I’m on Day 3 of my water fast (started on Tuesday night) and feel great! I do a quarterly 5 day fast for autoimmune issues -have been doing it since 2017. My lupus has been in remission (for the most part) since the first fast in 2017 -controlled without the meds! Whenever i feel a flare coming on, I can do a quick fast and usually nip it in the bud. For autoimmune (rather than weightloss) I need to drop my glucose-ketone-index to less than 1, and keep it there for at least 48 hours. It finally dropped yesterday afternoon, so theoretically I could break fast tomorrow afternoon, but I feel good enough that I might keep going till Monday. I want to have my refeed done by Valentine’s Day, so can eat fun foods (my hubs and I actually celebrate Valentine’s week by eating anything we want all week - normally we’re IF plus keto, because it helps control my lupus, and I’m the one who cooks -but for anniversary week, our birthday weeks, valentine’s week, and the winter holidays -we let ourselves eat anything anytime we want. Is a nice break -and theoretically resets our leptin levels making future fasts easier). I don’t really need to lose a lot of weight (I’m 5’5, 125 lbs) but fat loss is never unwelcome My major health goal for this year is actually putting on muscle, rather than losing fat (body recomposition rather than weight loss is my goal) -but one of the things I’ve noticed since doing these 5 day fasts for lupus is that I lose lean mass and fat during the fast (according to my fat percentage scale), but the post-fast regain is mostly lean mass as long as I eat high protein in the few days after the first refeed day. Given I’m in my 50s, putting on muscle and keeping my bones strong is more of a goal for me than being thinner. I don’t know if anyone reads the journals…would seem weird (it seems this is more for me to keep track than for others). But in case anyone is reading and has a body recomposition goal -lets keep in touch! Today I’ve hit the “fasting superpowers!” portion of my fast (usually days 3-5 are awesome in terms of energy and mental clarity) so am buzzing with energy. Will clean my oven and reseal my counters, a fast is always the perfect time to deep clean the kitchen -since we’re not using it. Only bummer is that Days 2 and 3 i almost always also get headaches -even with eating salt and taking potassium and magnesium. oh well, I just need to remember that this will pass. . . I love the energy and clarity of fasting - I am kind of jealous of people who can go for 10-21 days. I don’t think i weigh enough to do that safely though, especially at my age when every oz of muscle is precious.
Wendi's journal -February lupus water fast 2020
Welcome Wendi! Yes, a lot of us here do read the journals it’s how we keep each motivated and supported. So happy you’re here! As far as recomposition goes…Originally weight/fat loss was my goal. However, what I am finding with over a year of extended fasting and interm fasting is that I have lost much weight according to the scale, but I have really leaned out! I wore a sweater last night that I got on black Fridayast year. I literally WEIGHED THE SAME, but the sweater didn’t fit me last November (I got it because one, it was so stinkin’cute, and two, I wanted it as a goal piece of clothing). Anyway, it looked great on me last night. But somehow, my weight is the same. So weird. Anyway, I have made building muscle and changing my shape more of my focus than seeing pounds go down in the scale. I’ll show you a picture of when I started with this forum (October 27th) for the first group fasting challenge (I completed 8 days) and me just a couple days ago. There is only a 6bpound difference on the scales, but several inches lost everywhere. So yes, let’s keep in touch! I am happy you’re here and I think you have wonderful goals and a great approach to food in you personal life. I like your week “eat whatever” vacation, especially that you’re doing IF and keto throughout the rest of the year.
Left: 169 lbs Right: 163
Height: 5’8.5"
OMG you look AMAZING. what great motivation for me to know that such tiny changes on the scale can look so fantastically different! you appear to be the recomp queen! if you don’t mind me asking, what type of resistance training do you do? i just started working out with weights (as in, just a few weeks ago, so i have managed to land in the “sore -and yet still clueless” phase) and have been using youtube video workouts. are there any routines/workouts you recommend? i’m particularly impressed with the change to your waist/tummy area because that is my problem area in spades. i’m planking but have no idea if that helps slim the waist, or just stomach flattening. also i hate planking…but assume it will get better over time. thanks for being so welcoming (and so inspirational!!), i’m really grateful i found the fast forward to health youtube channel while doodling around, and thus found this forum. its nice to see lots of other people who fast -most of my friends are supportive (because they know its for lupus and my rheumatologist approves) but some still side-eye me sometimes and tell me they think its dangerous/unhealthy.
also -nice to know its not weird to read other people’s journals, um, cuz i was doing it and you’re right -it is definitely motivational!
Hi,
I’m a former CPT (Certified Personal Trainer) and can answer a lot of questions in regards to weight resistance, core and flexibility training. You may want to read one of my Daily Journals titled, S2E1 30-Day Flexibility and Endurance Phase Journal.
Rebecca can tell you she got a lot of info from it.
Cheers!
Alipio
thank you!!
Oh wow, thank you for you kind words! I wish I saw your reply sooner! I hope you find the motivation you need here to keep you plugging towards your goals. Alipio’s journals are a wealth if information, I highly reccomend you go check them out. His new journal has daily motivational videos which I so appreciate! It also makes things more interactive on here. As far as resistance training, I have been keeping things super simple! The keys I focus on are: consistancy, daily and always being willing to up the ante. I challenge myself to do something physical everyday. What that has looked like is sets of squats, pushups, wall sits, calf raises, leg lifts, planks, arm curls, arm raises, pelvic lifts and lots of stretching. Before I get out of bed, I will do leg lifts and pelvic lifts and a pilates move that I remember being called “the 100.” Essentially, you sit on your butt, hold your legs up at a bend, feet off the bed (so you’re like in a v) and pulse your arms down for a count of 100. Then I’ll stretch at least 5 mins a day. With my line of work, I do a lot of diving. When I have days where I’m in the car for a long time I will do all kinds of muscle contracting time of exercises. I definitely think I have seen in an improvement in my rear!