Hey all
Typical backstory, come from overweight family, not obese myself but have never really been in shape either. The closest I came to my ideal weight was by using long fasts in the past. Calorie restriction on a daily basis has never worked. Now the reason I am posting is because I also have multiple spinal conditions resulting in intense chronic back pain that has only progressed as I have aged (early 30s now). I am frequently reminded by my doctor and others that weight loss is critically important because it will reduce the load on my spine, resulting in less pain (basic physics right?). The problem is the only way I have been able to reduce my use of opiates over the years is by substituting them with medically prescribed cannabis, just in the evenings and before bed (with some minor opiate use throughout the day). While I’m very happy about my reduction in opiate use the downside is that the cannabis makes anything other then a small intermittent fast throughout the day an impossibility (MUNCHIES!!). Any suggestions other then having to quit the cannabis? So far I’ve tried a couple of different sativa strains but honestly I have not noticed any difference in the hunger compared to when I use my Indicas.
TL/DR - How to fast while also using cannabis for pain relief?
I’m a big stoner and also have been getting into long fasting and it’s just something you kinda have to get over. when you get the munchies just drink some more water or broth, find something to distract you, a lot of times I get real high and find different recipes online to try when I’m eating again lol
If my experience is worth anything, it’s about changing your association with being high. I also started smoking for health reasons (over 10 years ago now) and had the same problem - eat all the things\~
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What I did at the time was instead of eating, I was playing engaging games (specifically fighters) which required a lot of focus and attention but the constant need to be engaged with the other player I was connected with kept me distracted. By the time I finished 5-10 games, I was good to go to bed. So try to find something you need to keep engaged with (or easily find yourself staying engaged with) and see if that can work for you
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It was really tough the first few days but eventually I replaced my eating with gaming instead. And after about \~2 weeks give or take, my body wasn’t sending hunger signals regularly which made it a LOT easier to manage. So there will be a struggle and be ready for that
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Added bonus - after all these years, I rarely even want food at all if I’m high. Makes fasting + cannabis completely fine. But it did take some upfront work to get here. Good luck. You got this!
It’s hard at first but I found just waiting it out works. I smoke, I’m starving for 20 mins or so and then I’m fine to continue. I just try to distract myself or wait until almost bed time to smoke. Would also look into topical/transdermal to help with pain. Good luck
I just finished my first 5 day water fast, and I was stoned the entire time.
I, like you, have always struggled in the past with munchies interfering with my ability to lose weight. Intermittent fasting sometimes lead to binge eating, because the moment I could eat something I’d enjoy it with weed and yeah, munchies make me eat too much.
After the first 24 hours and first bad sleep without food, the weed munchies had way less of an effect. I’m so a daily user though and have been for years, high tolerance, so maybe I notice the munchies less lately. But it IS possible to do at least 5 day water fast, while enjoying weed morning to night, if I could do it anyone can.
honestly man everyone is different, you know your body and your self more than us. If smokin makes you want to stuff your face then you need to put it down. Even if you somehow lose weight youre going to gain it back one you get the munchies again and pig out. Losing weight is never going to be easy
I had the same problem with hunger keeping me up or waking me up and completely interfering with my ability to sleep. Now I take a scant teaspoon of coconut oil, and sleep is not an issue anymore, even if I go to bed hungry.
I am an occasional gummy consumer and get bad munchies. I basically have to just only use THC when my eating window opens and know that my consumption won’t be rational. It is the only way that works for me.
I just switched to sativa. 10/10 recommend. I’ve lost 75 lbs since I made the switch almost 4 years ago. Sometimes I smoke sativa dominant hybrids too lol
Edited to add: I do intermittent fasting with the occasional 24. I only get munchies from indica and indica dominant strains.
Find other things to do while high. Put on your favorite album uninterrupted and you can kill a few hours, you’ll forget you ever wanted food.
I look at it like this: i need to kill/fill time between when I get home from work and bed. I was eating far more out of boredom or habit than actual hunger. If I take a few bong hits when I get home and watch a movie or go for a hike until I’m ready for bed, I didn’t have a chance to snack.
It’s turned me from a person that couldn’t even do OMAD into someone that has no problem fasting. Apparently, coconut oil is about half lauric acid which is something that really helps with sleep. I’d get up like you and need to eat something, and now that’s gone.
I don’t think that weed will ever get you higher than a long water fast coupled with breathing meditations. Stanislaw Grof who was the pioneer of legally used LSD developed a technique to allow people a similar experience without the use of LSD called Holotropic Breathwork. I haven’t tried that myself but have read all the books on the subject. It is also used for all forms of addiction.
> the cannabis makes anything other then a small intermittent fast throughout the day an impossibility (MUNCHIES!!)
Nope. It doesn’t. It’s just that you’ve associated weed with the munchies mentally and your body has been more than happy to accommodate that.
You have to realize that you don’t NEED to give in to the munchies. It takes some willpower and practice, but it’s the same thing as fasting - you’re teaching yourself you don’t need to give in to eating all the time. It’s a mental thing, nothing insurmountable unless you decide it’s not.
Weed definitely helps me get through fasting in various ways. Smoking while fasting is the only reason I’ve been able to fasts longer than 72 hours.
I have been long water fasting for over 50 years and have never seen a need for the use of electrolytes with the exception of Vitamin C and a little table salt for its iodine content. This will probably get people wanting to argue with me. I usually tell them to check where people saying what to do while fasting are making their money selling those products. The problem with water fasts is that it is free and people just don’t want to accept that what they need might be free.