Ok, so I searched what additives everyone adds to water in here, and most people said to just drink plain tea/coffee/water. I cannot do black coffee. Tea doesn’t taste right without splenda (which apparently can break a fast). I get tired if drinking plain water all day. I used to love to put one packet of crystal light in my 32oz bottle, but that has Splenda in it. If splenda can break a fast, then what additive CAN I add?
I’ve seen some say you can’t add anything or it’s dirty fasting. Then some say you can. I’ve even seen some people say they add heavy cream to their coffee and still consider that a fast. I’m trying to wrap my head around all this, but it seems like people follow different things. So I just wanna know, can I please have my crystal light? Or is that gonna keep me from obtaining my goals.
Thanks for reading. Tomorrow will make one week of IF for me. I’m trying this out since so many people swear by it.
Zero calorie flavor which helps you fast longer is fine if you are still making progress. I had to work into things. Started with 16:8 and now I do 20 or 21 hours each and every day. I stopped using half and half in my coffee, then I stopped adding lemon to my water (pro tip– 1/4 tsp of cream of tartar added to a mug of water makes it tart and bonus potassium). Then I stopped making my home made extra protein, stone ground whole wheat bread and didn’t buy any, either (I do love bread). Then I started paying closer attention to keeping my diet balanced and under a certain number of calories each day because I know I can eat way too many calories in 3 to 4 hours. Then–I stopped drinking alcohol. Every little bit helps!
I’ve lost a third of the weight I need to lose in three months. I’m looking forward to starting a maintenance routine sooner than later and anything I can do to speed this weight loss phase along is what I’m gonna do.
Some of the largest scientific studies of fasting allowed for several hundred calories/day. So I’d argue some cream in your coffee doesn’t matter (unless you’re going for tenuous autophagy based goals apart from weight loss; then it might). Your 0 cal Crystal Light REALLY doesn’t matter.
Zealots post more on social media, that’s the only reason it seems “dirty” fasting is “bad”.
I read a IF book a while back, and the reason some consider cream in coffee to not be a fast breaker is because fat does less to raise your blood sugar than carbs or protein, so the writer of that book allowed a tablespoon of heavy cream or coconut oil or whatever, along with a couple other things. Edit: P.S. I personally think non caloric drink additives are fine, it’s not like you’re fasting for hospital bloodwork.
As far as I know sweeteners can cause you to produce insulin because the body expects sugar to soon enter the bloodstream. Could cause cravings and you need to carefully watch how you feel after. I eat sugarfree breath mints sometimes because it helps me to stay away from cigarettes. I call it a dirty fast but it’s all about your health so do what works for you but keep careful watch when you diverge because standards are usually there for a reason.I noticed some more intense cravings near the end of the fast when eating breath mints early on during my fast, but still manageable and sure beats smoking :-)