This is my first ever fast and I’ve lasted about 98 hours I plan for about 240 hours but if not 168 hours is fine. Just wondering what I should eat? I’m going to be following the fast 800cal diet after this so no recommendations of bread sadly
Hiya
I am on day 4 of a 5 day fast. I am breaking my fast on Sunday morning with a massive English breakfast, bacon, eggs, cumberland sausage, mushrooms, black pudding, white pudding with possibly a Mimosa. Tea (aka “dinner” as known across the globe) Roast pork with all the trimmings (including Yorkshire puddings).
If our ancestors hadn’t eaten for 5 days and managed to kill a wild Boar, what did they do? Did they have a small glass of watermelon juice and a couple of sticks of celery then after that if they felt ok some steamed greens? or did they eat the whole Boar?
You have completed a massive achievement after your fast (including hiding it from most people who don’t understand I suspect!!!!)……. Treat yourself, you deserve it.
I haven’t done 10 days, but have done 16.5- and 31-day water fasts. At that range, GI upset was very very real – at least for me. YMMV.
Broth is the classic recommendation. 800 calories might even be high for the first day. If your last meal was dinner, then 10 days later I’d have a large mug of broth in the evening and that’s it. The other suggestion I’ve heard is gelatin; it has a lot of the same stuff as broth but is solid and is a bit better at waking up the digestive system. I’ve seen this idea attributed to Fung, but haven’t seen the original talk/writeup.
Refeed slowly. I see there are other comments saying otherwise but that’s just not my experience at all. I don’t think bro science and “what would a caveman do?” Is a suitable explanation here. What you’re trying to do is very specific, this isn’t a survival situation with limited to no scientific knowledge. Fasting is pretty well studied and re feeding slowly is always recommended by people who are serious about the fast having a positive effect on their body in general.
Imagine the digestive system is asleep after such a long time without food. Does it sound logical to fill it to the brim with as many different things as your pallet fancies all at once? It’d be like waking up to bombs going off.
If it were me I’d open with a large handful of raw spinach followed by some steamed spinach. Then I’d wait an hour. Then I’d have a handful of dates and nuts. Then wait an hour. Then I’d have a very small meal. Then I’d leave it at that. Then the following day try to keep the slow and softness going and eat sparingly.
Then the following day be a bit more liberal. I’d follow those days of slow re feeding up with continued salt and electrolyte consumption as well.
Don’t piss all your hard work away for the sake of enjoying your food and having a (admittedly much deserved) feast. Just hang in there and treat yourself with some respect and patience.