Hi I’ve been fasting this year. 2 weeks ago I completed a 36hour fast with no problems. Then last week I completed a 48hour fast and I was going to do a 72hour fast this week. However, I read some information saying I’m over doing it and it could potentially be dangerous for a beginner to be fasting at this frequency.
I’m not doing it for weight loss reasons. It was more for building self discipline. Obviously I don’t want to impact my health in the process.
Should I consider maybe taking an extra week off? And do the 72 hour fast next week? Or can I just dive right in?
Any advice? Thanks
I’m curious as well. Idk what the downside would be. I’ve heard to go slow just to feel better. To get more adapted to using fat. I haven’t heard of any danger. Since people go on 30 day fasts all the time.
Hi,
I just finished my first 80 hour fast this morning, which was my first ever fast (although I have never eaten breakfast, so naturally follow a 16:8 pattern).
No issues, and feel great. In fact, I had some lunch and immediately decided to fast for another 24 hours…which I’m 7 hours into already.
So, go for it!
Probably varies from person to person. Just broke my first fast, was a week long - wanted to do 10 days, had no issues until today, but today the fatigue got too heavy, probably will try again some other time. Broke it with broth and a bit avocado. I did go to the gym and do some cardio as well during the week, so that might have affected me. Never have fasted before, but due to laziness i have actually done OMAD for months at times.
Provided you are healthy and have enough excess body weight there is nothing wrong with it.
I would liken it to trying to squat 135 lbs for the first time. If you’ve never done anything like it, you are going to really feel the weight. If you work your way up to it by slowly adding weight, you will be there in no time. In fasting you are probably going to perceive a 72 hour fast as being hellish around the 36 hour mark, if not sooner. If you get some intermittent fasting under your belt, some OMAD, and a few 48s, you will be surprised how good it can feel.
Another thing you could do is go keto for a while to get your body adjusted to burning fat for fuel. That would significantly smooth things over.