I have such a hard time with the mental aspect of getting past 36 hours.
I enjoy doing mostly 20/4 IF and OMAD, but I really want to add some 48s every week or so.
I find when I reach the meal time that comes at the 36 hour mark that my mind overrides any desire I have to reach my 48 hour goal and I enter this autopilot mode that directs me to eat and doesn’t allow me to continue fasting.
It feeks like an overwhelming primal instict, not a desire for gluttanous selfish indulgence.
It’s very hard to fight this urge that is like “one track mind, tunnel vision” pushing me to give up on my fast and eat.
Does anyone else relate to this and do you have any extra tips for the 36hr mark?
Going beyond 36 hrs was a huge mental block for me too. After doing several 36 hr fasts, I found that I adjusted and I was able to push to 40 hrs and then eventually 48 hrs and longer. Taking electrolytes on the first day of the fast was a game changer too. I don’t think it’s strictly necessary for 36 - 48 hr fasts but for me it makes it so much easier.
One trick I found is to eat fat. Fat will not break a fast. Sugar, carbs, and protein will. Fat will not raise blood sugar or insulin. Butter, coconut oil, and MCT oil are good. A product I found is Keto Bricks. There main ingredient is cacao butter. The flavor I like is chocolate and peanut butter cup. There are spendy, but I like them a lot.
First of all let’s be adults you could do it.
When I wanted to extend my fast for weight loss, I would eat something small like cheese. It worked for me. Now I realize that some warm or cold water with electrolytes is enough and I don’t need crutches.
Your eating sounds emotional not hunger driven.
Find another way to release emotional tension.