Hello everyone,
After quite a long break I’ve decided to return to fasting recently. My longest fast (ages ago) was 14 days during which I simply lived on water with absolutely nothing else, so no electrolytes either (one can say that was a dumb move!). Because it was a really long time ago I can’t remember properly how my experience was.
Fast forward to now, I decided to go on a long fast again. During 2021 and early 2022 I did multiple 2-3 day fasts as part of my (back then) regular system but took a break for almost a year.
On the 2nd or 3rd day I started having palpitations. I normally have a resting heart rate of around 75-85bpmb, which is already relatively on the higher side. I’m now on my 6th day fasting and for the past 4-5 days I’ve been trying to deal with a resting heart rate of around 115-125bpm which is extremely annoying and discomforting.
Since the beginning of my fast I have been taking a healthy amount (within the range given on the Wiki here) of electrolytes spread throughout the day but no use, the palpitations are driving me crazy. It is bad to the point that I cannot keep fasting, while I do want to see 21 days this time.
Additionally, (as I’m extremely overweight right now, 5’9” / 222lbs) ) I am exercising daily for around 20minutes, using a (water filled) rowing machine during which my heart rate average is at around 185bpm, which is unpleasant but bearable for just 20 minutes, but my resting heart rate is absolutely not.
I hope somebody can help me out, I have been reading and researching for 3 days but almost every single post, answer (here on reddit and elsewhere) points out to electrolytes, which obviously isn’t a solution for me as I’m already taking the recommended amounts daily.
Cheers!
Drink a Gatorade. It’s practically medicine for fasters. Low blood sugar is not just an issue for diabetics, if your body is used to getting it then its going to think it needs it. Palpitations are a symptom. Cutting out sugar needs to be a planned process. Cold turkey does not work for everyone. Gatorade Gatorade Gatorade
Don’t worry about breaking your fast for a few hours if you feel like you have a medical issue. You’ll lose more than weight if you let yourself pass out. Just because you’ve fasted this long before doesn’t mean your current fast is healthy.
If i was you, i would stop the fast and do keto for a while with a good size of vegetables and see how heart rate is. And then fast if things are ok. Are you stressed, angry, anxious lately? Elevated heart rate happens when the sympathetic nervous system is active.