How do you deal with hunger cues? Does it affect your driving? Do you get mood swings? Do you get insomnia or hypersomnia? What do you tell the people around you when they ask why you haven’t eaten in over a day? How long did your body get used to long fasts?
I think about ghrelin. No problem driving. No mood swings. I tend to sleep shorter. Nobody asks, and I don’t mention it. I’m still new at this, but was low carb and used to windows like 22:2, so the main adjustment for me is mental.
Once you get used to the anxious feeling that can come with hunger it’s just a mental exercise and becomes easier. Look at it as a personal development challenge like meditation.
Not necessarily insomnia but do sometimes sleep less. People don’t ask and generally don’t care. My family/ friends are used to it as I explained it to them once I got good at fasting.
I think if you’re working your way up to 24 hours steadily and taking in enough water and electrolytes, you won’t have those issues. The only of the above that I’ve ever experienced is the feeling of hunger- sometimes I mask it with liquids, sometimes I give in and eat. When I am feeling particularly bad@$$ I can tell myself that those hunger feelings are my body eating itself and that is what I want!
I started with 16:8, then 18:6, before getting myself to 23:1 daily. After a month or so of 23:1, I’ve completed a few 36s, roughly 5 42-hour fasts, a couple 46s, and a 48. Building your way up is key.
Some days, regardless of practice, I still feel hungry. I take in some electrolytes, drink more black coffee, chug a sparkling water, do something to distract myself. If I am miserable, I break my fast early and try again the next day.