This is my first time fasting. I’ve done intense diets on the line of keto or 800 cal a day with some daily fasting but nothing like this. Do you guys have any tips on how to deal with cravings or how much water? I’ve also read on having electrolytes and salt, when and how should you use them? Also for context I’m 5’7 and 200 pounds if that matters with how this will affect me.
Do 10 days of OMAD first (aka rollings 24s)! Let your body and particularly your hunger hormones, acclimate to the feeling of not having food. Doing 10 days is needlessly harsh on your body and mind. Just sucks for no reason when you could have avoided it by going a little slower at first.
Download the app Zero to keep track of progress.
Every person is different but 10 days is what I would consider extremely ambitious target, given you didn’t do any extended fast before. Having little food every day feels way different than not having any. I would recommend doing 36 hour fast few times then couple 72 hours fasts and after that I would aim for a week long fast. This way you can learn how your body reacts to not having food, during certain activities. Do you get dizzy? Do you have energy? How is your vision? Do you encounter headaches? Can you overcome your hormones telling you it’s time to eat? You will get hungry around times you usually consume food, then the feeling will go away. It will get gradually easier. You will smell food from a very long distance and it will be very intense and appealing to your senses. At some point you won’t be hungry anymore but you will miss sensation of eating which might be even stronger urge than hunger itself. We read a lot of success stories here of people just jumping into it and completing extended fasts, but please go at your own pace and listen to your body, good luck.
I’m on day 14 of a 42day fast. So far cravings have appeared to me to be none other than mental images…they led me to watching cooking shows, creating new recipes and walking around grocers discovering new foods. I’ve also read up on the effects of fat, salt and sugar on dopamine. I’ve kind of indulged these images by exploring them further. It has led to life-changing insights 🤸
I wish you success on your journey 🥳