I’m near the end of day 8 today and though I’ve lost about 15 lbs, I’m still around fifteen to twenty percent body fat so I’m definitely not starving. I’m drinking water and taking electrolytes regularly. But yesterday, going into the beginning of day 8, I started feeling hungry again. It’s not crazy hunger, but I’m definitely hungry, and drinking my water isn’t helping with it like it used to.
Now I just woke up, day 8 is just a couple hours from being complete, and I’m still hungry. What’s going on here? I thought I wasn’t supposed to have hunger return until almost all my fat was gone and I was in starvation mode.
…what?? Hunger is normal. It comes and goes. Sometimes it goes away for long stretches, days and days, then it can come back fiercely. If you’ve truly read ‘hundreds if not thousands’ of articles about fasting, check your sources, because if you’re doing it correctly you’re not in ‘starvation mode.’ People sometimes get hungry while fasting, even extended fasting. Suggesting that shouldn’t or doesn’t happen, as a blanket statement, is absurd.
I don’t know how you’ve can only have heard that hunger equals starvation. You haven’t researched enough. Hunger is experienced because of a hormone and is released throughout the day. If people had to eat every time they’re hungry fasting wouldn’t exist. Take a chill pill and enjoy your hunger:) It’s healthy
I have no sources but experience only. During my 3 day fast if I feel nauseated or hungry I drink water with salt at least. If I feel like it I will drink water with a vitamin tablet and add a tsp of apple cider vinegar. Won’t break your fast. Sometimes you just gotta get up and do something/exercise to get your mind off it. Nagging feels of hunger is normal. Your ghrelin levels lower during extended fast but do not go away. Stomach cramping painful hunger where you get very weak is not normal if you’re a normal/over weight. Either your body isn’t converting fat properly or you don’t have enough fat. Consult your doctor. Refeed and start again.