[deleted]
>I’d read about online
People write a lot of things online, and also the people who don’t have an amazing experience, or just a normal experience, tend to not post about it.
Not everyone has issues refeeding, and sometimes even the same person can has issues one time and no issues the next. Welcome to the human body. After 10 days you are definitely in the realm of refeeding syndrome and I probably wouldn’t do that again with the waffles’n’stuff. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don’t.
I don’t remember any particular increase in mental clarity or capacity during long fasts, and my sleep is usually worse unless I exercise and tire myself out, because the extra energy from not having to digest anything keeps me awake. I maybe feel slightly more wise towards the end because of slowing down, reflecting, thinking less about day to day things, and more about spiritual/philosophical things. I think it all depends on what you ‘feed’ your mind during the fast.
For me the benefits are more apparent after the fast. That’s when the clarity and elevated mood comes. I’ll feel more at peace, have a better attitude and perspective on what matters, feel more motivated and upbeat etc. Generally stronger and healthier in my mind, body and spirit.
In terms of re-feeding, it may cause no problems going in but that might not be the case on the way out… In my experience I can’t digest fat very well after an extended fast.