First 48 hour fast and very nervous about this one. I could use tips. I know about electrolytes but if any of you have insider tips that would be great
Cw:191
GW: 140
Been doing 48 hr fast every week for 6 weeks now, black coffee is your best friend, and smelling food is your worse, keep yourself busy as advised, I do mine Monday and Tuesdays as I’m a heavy eater over the weekend, I find hunger pains stop after 24 hrs, just need to bear with it, also think of the reason why you’re doing it, for me, it’s about living longer as my weight was going to cause an early demise.
You’ll be one. The first two times I did the 48 i felt a little uncomfortable around hour 30 (waking up in the middle of the night). Now I breeze through it. About to wrap up a 72 this evening and feeling good. Just drank a little salt water each day and took some magnesium but I don’t even think it was necessary.
.1. Dandelion tea has potassium and that’s an electrolyte. The non-roasted version of the tea is better, imho. I usually have two cups a day in between my 6-8 cups of green tea.
.2. Multi Vitamin burps are so gross they are funny. Smells like you shoved your nose in the vitamin jar - but definitely still take your multivitamins.
.3. Combat hunger pangs that hit around 36+ hour mark with a shot of apple cider vinegar. Know that actual hunger pangs (not the tummy rumbles) wash over you in a wave that rarely lasts longer than 30-seconds.
My sister says they feel kind like the light-headedness of period cramps. Me, as a male, can only equate them to the mild discomfort when you first eat psilocybe mushrooms, and then it’s gone.
After my second or third time going to 48 hours, I stopped noticing them altogether. It maybe I stopped having them, either way, don’t feel distressed over the sensation.
.4. Preparing food (for later or for others) without licking your fingers or taking a taste can be a fun and challenging way to get through the last several hours of your fast. (there’s something about smelling food as you prepare it that helps mitigate hunger as well)
EF’s are easier for me when I cut out sugars, diet sodas and starchy snack carbs a few days before I start. I also increase my water intake (unflavored sparkling water is a nice change of pace & helps with hunger too). I also take the extended day electrolyte capsules which are way better than other electrolytes for enerrgy, headaches & light headedness.
I’ll agree with the tips that other posters have shared:
Black coffee, black tea, green tea, mint tea, water, carbonated water are all excellent.
I found that I need electrolytes to make fasts over 24 hours comfortable. I take magnesium via pill, once or twice a day, and have No Salt and salt in water with a squeeze of lemon a few times a day. The lemon squeeze makes it dirty fasting, but despite a lot of experience fasting, that’s what works for me 🤷🏻♀️
Hunger pangs generally crest and trough over 20 minutes. Find something to keep you busy when one hits and it will be easier to ignore/ride them out. That can be a book, a podcast, cleaning up your email, cleaning up your house, calling a friend, etc.
Best of luck!