I have done intermittent fasting for about 5 1/2 years basically eating my 2 bigger meals between 11am and 6pm. At first, I lost almost 25 pounds but have gained at least half of it back (now about 165). Probably too many junk foods between meals. I have been relatively healthy with a few colds during that time and a minor heart event during that time. I take no drugs and eat meats.
Over the course of one's life, it is difficult to know which things you are doing are more healthier than others. Almost 74 and still getting around just fine. I know quitting smoking 48 years ago and limiting alcohol probably helped. I have seldom been an fruit and veggies eater except for brief spurts here and there. A cinnamon roll and coffee still find their way into my diet once in a while. For exercise, I might walk a mile 3-4 times a week or do a light dumbbell stint. I am quitting most supplements due to their toxic makeups and will stick to herb tinctures....mainly for heart health.
Then I look at my father who will be 97 in a few months and wonder if all this "health" stuff really matters. He doesn't exercise, eat all that healthy or have an active social life. Yet he still drives a bit and can get around for himself. He's had his problems, but I see people 20-30 years younger much worse off. My grandfather lived to 101 so maybe a bit of it is genes. Who really knows? I don't think that modern medicine (that's a joke) or science (who knows what that is anymore) can tell us the complete state of our health. It's pretty much hit or miss and whether or not our bodily systems can function as they should.
I feel better when I observe intermittent fasting. It’s also a quick way to knock off a few easily gained pounds. Am I perfectly consistent? No, but I try not to get down on myself when I have the occasional early breakfast.
I am pretty consistent not to eat after my evening meal.
The longest I have done is 21 hours. I usually do 14 to 16 hours and occasionally up to 18. It is sudden palpitations that usually panic me to end a fast. My body seems to get so far and just cannot continue the fast further. My sister is type 1 diabetic and, although I apparently am not diabetic, I do wonder whether this plays a part in myself not able to keep a fast going longer.
I once planned and did a 40 day water fast. To see what would happen, because Bible characters would do this. At day 32, an extreme rage went through me for no apparent reason. I was holding a door knob with my right hand, shaking in the feeling of rage, yet with no corresponding thoughts, with a clear mind. Just watching myself experience violent emotions.
That got me thinking. Hurting someone with misplaced rage didn't seem like a good idea. Perhaps some chemicals were out of balance. So I took vitamin/mineral packets for the rest of the fast, breaking it after 42 days. No further strong feelings went through me.
I believe I lost 53 pounds, but immediately regained 10 shortly after starting eating again. Hunger was minimal, with a slight urge at meal time when others would eat.
Fasting produces great mental clarity and several free hours a day, not making and eating meals. 😁
I did 3 days water only each time I had chemo and have done a few times since. On the morning of day 2 I have rehydration salts in water and on the evening of day 2 I have an organic stock cube in a mug with boiling water. I also sometimes have a black coffee with butter for hunger pangs now.
I see a couple things. The first might be that you need to first reduce your dependence on glucose as an energy source. You could try Paleo (limiting your carbs to 90 gm per day) and then move to Keto (lowering your carbs to about 25 gm per day). If you are eating a diet high in sugar (carbs) the crash you're feeling is most likely based on this. In addition, you sound like you may have a mineral imbalance. We tend to talk about vitamins but not minerals. You may need to supplement daily but definitely during a fast.
You might want to first try an "insulin" fast where you can have a small amount of fat that shouldn't create an insulin response. So a tbsp of 35% cream in coffee keeps you in a fasted state while helping avoid the feelings you are experiencing . An "autophagy" fast, where you only drink clear liquids is more difficult. When you do try that include an electrolyte drink (you can make your own using lemon juice and Himalayan salt (and stevia to sweeten).
The issue I see with fasting and maintaining the traditional SAD diet is the body, dependent on glucose for energy, "panics" and starts breaking down muscle (rather than fat) and gives you a feeling of dread/panic so you'll break the fast. Fasting should bring peace and clarity. It's an evolutionary adaptation - if you missed the hunt you became more focused not less - in order to hunt successfully another day.
Thank you for this. I gave it a lot of thought overnight.
I tend to only drink unmilked tea or water when fasting. Occasionally I will squeeze lemon into water. I take a lot of minerals - magnesium glycinate and zinc supplements along with ensuring I get other minerals via nuts, etc. My diet is as keto I can make it during summer months. In winter I do have additional carbs because the cold requires extra energy that pure keto does not give me. I cycle daily. I do try to minimise sugar but it is my weakness.
The 35% cream - that would be single or pouring cream here in the UK I imagine - aspect is interesting. I assumed that cream would break any fast. Hence why I have been sticking to tea and water.
Thank you for your information. It has given me much to consider going forward.
Glad I could add something :) I edited my post as I put in bone broth which is what I drink (before eating) when I end my fast (not during fasting), apologies. You may or may not watch Dr. Berg but this video is a good one reviewing the different drinks during a fast. He puts cream at maybe only because he also includes half and half (which as about 1.5 gm of carbs). The cream has 0 carbs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0lrJXU92-Q
I do regular 16/8 fasting, plus a monthly 48hr fast to correct insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and high triglycerides. It works wonders. A range of teas gets me through the longer fasts - green tea, guava, dandelion root, and good old Earl Grey. I even notice that my eyesight improves during/after longer fasting and I don't need my glasses to read for a few days. Also gives my old liver a break....I like wine a little too much ; )
I've been doing TRE for 4 years. It is the easiest diet ever. And as Tess says, you save money by losing 1 meal per day. And it turns out its good for health too. I think the Pharma Cartel needs to patent fasting and sell it for $1000/week. Oh wait....
In WW2 two Allied doctors - an Aussie and a Kiwi IIRC - did a study of starvation on their fellow prisoners in the horrendous Changi Japanese prisoner of war camp in Singapore. The prisoners were basically starved, beaten and worked like slaves there. It was horrendous. The docs discovered that the starvation diet initially affected slim / skinny people worse whilst muscular and fat people did much better. It seems obvious - those with more fat or muscle had energy reserves to live on. However, in the longer term the former muscular / fat people did very badly with the near starvation they were forced to endure. The initial slim / athletic types, whilst also losing considerable weight at the outset of greatly reduced calories, appeared to cope better with the near-starvation which went on for 4 hellish years. Anyhow, for some reason I thought it worth a mention here.
I've also fasted for years - daily and longer fasts per season. My son and I just finished a 48 hour fast. Because I'm fat adapted I can do a high impact 55 minute workout in the middle of this fast without loss of energy. I just read the book Change your Diet, Change your Mind. It looks at how your diet impacts your mental health. It like many of the books I've read over the past year (focused on body health and in particular, mind health) recommend a whole food keto diet. (I also recommend watching Fat Head, Cereal Killers and Run on Fat. The last two come from Dr. Aseem Malhotra to learn more) Although technically "healthy", your high sugar fruit salad isn't the best way to break your fast. It most likely spikes blood sugar and sets you up to be hungry soon after. Better to fry (pasture raised) eggs in (grass fed) butter with a salad, made with goat cheese, walmuts, and dressing made from apple cider vinegar, stevia and olive oil). You could even throw a bit of fruit in if you want. Satiating and nutritious.
I have done intermittent fasting for about 5 1/2 years basically eating my 2 bigger meals between 11am and 6pm. At first, I lost almost 25 pounds but have gained at least half of it back (now about 165). Probably too many junk foods between meals. I have been relatively healthy with a few colds during that time and a minor heart event during that time. I take no drugs and eat meats.
Over the course of one's life, it is difficult to know which things you are doing are more healthier than others. Almost 74 and still getting around just fine. I know quitting smoking 48 years ago and limiting alcohol probably helped. I have seldom been an fruit and veggies eater except for brief spurts here and there. A cinnamon roll and coffee still find their way into my diet once in a while. For exercise, I might walk a mile 3-4 times a week or do a light dumbbell stint. I am quitting most supplements due to their toxic makeups and will stick to herb tinctures....mainly for heart health.
Then I look at my father who will be 97 in a few months and wonder if all this "health" stuff really matters. He doesn't exercise, eat all that healthy or have an active social life. Yet he still drives a bit and can get around for himself. He's had his problems, but I see people 20-30 years younger much worse off. My grandfather lived to 101 so maybe a bit of it is genes. Who really knows? I don't think that modern medicine (that's a joke) or science (who knows what that is anymore) can tell us the complete state of our health. It's pretty much hit or miss and whether or not our bodily systems can function as they should.
I feel better when I observe intermittent fasting. It’s also a quick way to knock off a few easily gained pounds. Am I perfectly consistent? No, but I try not to get down on myself when I have the occasional early breakfast.
I am pretty consistent not to eat after my evening meal.
The longest I have done is 21 hours. I usually do 14 to 16 hours and occasionally up to 18. It is sudden palpitations that usually panic me to end a fast. My body seems to get so far and just cannot continue the fast further. My sister is type 1 diabetic and, although I apparently am not diabetic, I do wonder whether this plays a part in myself not able to keep a fast going longer.
I once planned and did a 40 day water fast. To see what would happen, because Bible characters would do this. At day 32, an extreme rage went through me for no apparent reason. I was holding a door knob with my right hand, shaking in the feeling of rage, yet with no corresponding thoughts, with a clear mind. Just watching myself experience violent emotions.
That got me thinking. Hurting someone with misplaced rage didn't seem like a good idea. Perhaps some chemicals were out of balance. So I took vitamin/mineral packets for the rest of the fast, breaking it after 42 days. No further strong feelings went through me.
I believe I lost 53 pounds, but immediately regained 10 shortly after starting eating again. Hunger was minimal, with a slight urge at meal time when others would eat.
Fasting produces great mental clarity and several free hours a day, not making and eating meals. 😁
I did 3 days water only each time I had chemo and have done a few times since. On the morning of day 2 I have rehydration salts in water and on the evening of day 2 I have an organic stock cube in a mug with boiling water. I also sometimes have a black coffee with butter for hunger pangs now.
Amazing.
I see a couple things. The first might be that you need to first reduce your dependence on glucose as an energy source. You could try Paleo (limiting your carbs to 90 gm per day) and then move to Keto (lowering your carbs to about 25 gm per day). If you are eating a diet high in sugar (carbs) the crash you're feeling is most likely based on this. In addition, you sound like you may have a mineral imbalance. We tend to talk about vitamins but not minerals. You may need to supplement daily but definitely during a fast.
You might want to first try an "insulin" fast where you can have a small amount of fat that shouldn't create an insulin response. So a tbsp of 35% cream in coffee keeps you in a fasted state while helping avoid the feelings you are experiencing . An "autophagy" fast, where you only drink clear liquids is more difficult. When you do try that include an electrolyte drink (you can make your own using lemon juice and Himalayan salt (and stevia to sweeten).
The issue I see with fasting and maintaining the traditional SAD diet is the body, dependent on glucose for energy, "panics" and starts breaking down muscle (rather than fat) and gives you a feeling of dread/panic so you'll break the fast. Fasting should bring peace and clarity. It's an evolutionary adaptation - if you missed the hunt you became more focused not less - in order to hunt successfully another day.
Thank you for this. I gave it a lot of thought overnight.
I tend to only drink unmilked tea or water when fasting. Occasionally I will squeeze lemon into water. I take a lot of minerals - magnesium glycinate and zinc supplements along with ensuring I get other minerals via nuts, etc. My diet is as keto I can make it during summer months. In winter I do have additional carbs because the cold requires extra energy that pure keto does not give me. I cycle daily. I do try to minimise sugar but it is my weakness.
The 35% cream - that would be single or pouring cream here in the UK I imagine - aspect is interesting. I assumed that cream would break any fast. Hence why I have been sticking to tea and water.
Thank you for your information. It has given me much to consider going forward.
Glad I could add something :) I edited my post as I put in bone broth which is what I drink (before eating) when I end my fast (not during fasting), apologies. You may or may not watch Dr. Berg but this video is a good one reviewing the different drinks during a fast. He puts cream at maybe only because he also includes half and half (which as about 1.5 gm of carbs). The cream has 0 carbs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0lrJXU92-Q
I do regular 16/8 fasting, plus a monthly 48hr fast to correct insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and high triglycerides. It works wonders. A range of teas gets me through the longer fasts - green tea, guava, dandelion root, and good old Earl Grey. I even notice that my eyesight improves during/after longer fasting and I don't need my glasses to read for a few days. Also gives my old liver a break....I like wine a little too much ; )
I've been doing TRE for 4 years. It is the easiest diet ever. And as Tess says, you save money by losing 1 meal per day. And it turns out its good for health too. I think the Pharma Cartel needs to patent fasting and sell it for $1000/week. Oh wait....
In WW2 two Allied doctors - an Aussie and a Kiwi IIRC - did a study of starvation on their fellow prisoners in the horrendous Changi Japanese prisoner of war camp in Singapore. The prisoners were basically starved, beaten and worked like slaves there. It was horrendous. The docs discovered that the starvation diet initially affected slim / skinny people worse whilst muscular and fat people did much better. It seems obvious - those with more fat or muscle had energy reserves to live on. However, in the longer term the former muscular / fat people did very badly with the near starvation they were forced to endure. The initial slim / athletic types, whilst also losing considerable weight at the outset of greatly reduced calories, appeared to cope better with the near-starvation which went on for 4 hellish years. Anyhow, for some reason I thought it worth a mention here.
I've also fasted for years - daily and longer fasts per season. My son and I just finished a 48 hour fast. Because I'm fat adapted I can do a high impact 55 minute workout in the middle of this fast without loss of energy. I just read the book Change your Diet, Change your Mind. It looks at how your diet impacts your mental health. It like many of the books I've read over the past year (focused on body health and in particular, mind health) recommend a whole food keto diet. (I also recommend watching Fat Head, Cereal Killers and Run on Fat. The last two come from Dr. Aseem Malhotra to learn more) Although technically "healthy", your high sugar fruit salad isn't the best way to break your fast. It most likely spikes blood sugar and sets you up to be hungry soon after. Better to fry (pasture raised) eggs in (grass fed) butter with a salad, made with goat cheese, walmuts, and dressing made from apple cider vinegar, stevia and olive oil). You could even throw a bit of fruit in if you want. Satiating and nutritious.
“WHO” is a relative of yours? In which case I may not be able to trust you!?!?