How can you make a 42-day fast easy to do?

Three years ago, I did a series of 7- and 10-day fasts. I fasted for 70-days over 8 months, and reached my perfect weight again, after 20 years adrift. But those water fasts were so hard that I’ve never done them since, until now

What absolutely killed those fasts were the very high ketones (literally off the charts, beyond what my monitor could measure) and very low blood sugars that cut in at Day 5. These were ‘good’ results. They indicated I had entered the zone of therapeutic ketosis. Unfortunately, they also led to the horrible sweet, sticky, metallic taste of keto-mouth, and draggy low energy. I could never continue for more than 2-3 days after that

On this fast, I’ve gone way beyond Day 10. I will get to Day 42 when I stop at Xmas. But I have ‘cheated’ to make it possible. I don’t even know whether to call it a fast or not. Maybe ‘starvation diet’ would be a better term. In fact I usually call it a ‘lettuce fast’, to distinguish it from water fasts

Lettuce has been my absolute saviour! After Day 7, I ate up to a pound of lettuce a day. This is basically just crunchy water, with almost no carbs or calories. The effect is fantastic. It lowers ketones just enough to make keto-mouth manageable. It lifts blood glucose enough to offset lethargy. I have 10-20% less energy, but that is still enough to walk 2 hours a day. Bowel movements were never a problem, but I am sure the fibre helps. Lettuce also counteracts stomach acidity. This means I no longer have nighttime acid reflux, so I sleep better. I have not had a single bad day, not one, in the whole 42 days, and I could probably go another 10 days if I wanted to

Apart from that huge bowl of lettuce, I also have cream in my two coffees. So I am probably on 300 calories a day

I know this is not a pure, traditional water fast, but the results have been amazing. I’ve now had 30+ days in the zone of therapeutic ketosis. I never got anywhere close to this in the past.

This ‘dirty fast’ has given me weeks of continuous autophagy, neurogenesis, perfect blood pressure, perfect blood glucose, production of HGH and BDNF, full keto-adaptation, contentment (I call it ‘keto-calm), mental clarity (mostly) and I’ve lost 10% of my body weight much faster than ever before. This is twice or three times as fast and powerful as my 70 days of water fasting 3 years ago

I know many people struggle enormously to get beyond Day 3 or 4 and give up. I understand that. I did that in the past. But maybe we shouldn’t try to be too pure

Losing excess weight is just so, so fundamental to good health. Autophagy and all the ‘graces of ketosis’ are so valuable, that we should get them in any way we can. If you are struggling with a water fast, and are willing to listen to a heretic, can I suggest: Just try lettuce before you quit. It certainly won’t kill your progress towards ketosis (I know. I’ve been pricking my thumb ever day)

I am sure that a water fast, day for day, is superior to my ‘lettuce fast’. I estimate my 42-day lettuce fast, with its 300 daily calories, is probably equivalent to 30-35 days of water fasting. Unfortunately, I can only do 10 days max on water, and it is a drag. Conversely, my 42-day lettuce fast is life-transforming. The only down-side was that I found it harder to go to the gym. I’m only stopping because I want to get my exercise up to scratch again.

Nonetheless, I plan to do another such fast in February and March, probably as two 21-day fasts. My ideal weight is calling me again, and I know I can get there. My friend used to tease me for my ‘heroic fasts’, but that is in the past. I am really just a wuss who wants the best results as easily as possible. I absolutely love this style of fasting!