Hello everyone,
I’ve been interested in fasting for a couple years now, experimenting every now and then with 24-40h fasts. It was very difficult at the beginning, so much so that I don’t know if people in this community will believe me.
I always experienced being very cold (literally putting on several layers of clothing in the summer and still cold), tired, light-headed and eventually nauseous even before hitting the 24 hour mark. The nausea was always pretty bad (for all practical purposes like falling ill).
Still, I did eventually get better and better at it, pushing the nausea back to 30, 36 hours and so on … and today I finished my first 48h fast, which I’m very proud of, considering how difficult I find fasting. When I started out 48h seemed impossible to be honest.
I will say (yes, feel free to criticize) that I’ve never supplemented electrolytes because I just thought it was unnecessary for such short periods. I plan on taking fasting more seriously from now on and my next goal is to eventually reach 72 hours. Obviously I will supplement electrolytes and I’ve read the wiki page here.
That’s pretty much it. Anyone else who experienced a lot of difficulties when fasting please feel free to share. I’m glad to have found a community where I can read about the experiences of others.
Oh, one more question: Does anyone find they almost don’t experience thirst at all during the first 30h or so? I actually have to force myself to drink. That + not supplementing electrolytes was probably the source of much of my symptoms (?).
All the best.
I’m currently on Day 3 of a Day 5 fast and I can relate to most of what you’re saying!
My feet and hands are like permanently cold, I wear thick socks and gloves and it’s still cold. I take electrolyte tablets, so I don’t experience much of the nausea, but my longest fast has been 7 days, and I didn’t use any electrolyte supplements and I was fine, but most people advise to take it after 72h or so.
Good going on the fasting, I still remember my first 36h fast and how hard I found it. I’m fasting a lot more regularly now, and I’ve found it is very much a trained habit and becomes easier the more you do it.
I try to do a 3-5 day fast once a month just to keep my weight in check, and I try to be as keto as possible Monday to Friday, but weekend boozing and dinners etc it’s way too difficult for me so I just allow myself weekend to relax a bit!
I hope this suggestion helps.Prior to your fast, first get your body into ketosis for at least 4 or 5 days. Low/no carb, no artificial sweeteners, and (maybe) no dairy. Basically, steak, eggs, bacon, and (clarified) butter. Once primed, the fast should feel easy.
You need electrolytes even for short fasts. You can get away with no electrolytes for one or 2 fasts a month but it is hard on your body. And if you do rolling fasts you are essentially doing longer fasts just breaking them up.
I’d you cannot stand snake juice just get some rock salt and put it under your tongue to absorb. Supplement with magnesium and use Potassium only if you are getting muscle cramps.
I use to get cold before I became fat adapted. Which means I was cold because my body was having a hard time switching from burning carbs to burning fat. Aka switching into ketosis.
Heat low carb or fat fasting before a water fast put your body into ketosis and you bypass the cold body Temps.