I find myself doing very low eating days rather than fully fasting (15 almonds, divided in groups of 3 for example).
It makes it really easy for me to not eat that day, and is great for weight loss. I figure I don’t have to worry as much about electrolytes since I am eating something (not that it’s a huge issue for 24 hours..).
What benefits am I missing out on by not going completely food free? Trying to figure out if it’s worth it to fast, since I do find it more challenging.
Thanks!
If you are eating 15 almonds, in groups of 3, that means you are eating almonds 5 times a day. Nuts are a protein, fat filled snack. You are not fasting at all, you are severely calorie restricting. This is exactly what ruins your metabolism. When your insulin is high, your body has to survive on the calories you are providing, thus metabolic slowdown. When fasting, insulin is low, your body has access to the thousands of calories stored on your body (fat). While insulin ls low, if you only eat 1000 calories at a meal, as those calories are burned off your body will make up the difference from your body fat. Snacking all day (5 meals of almonds) insulin is elevated all day.
Depends on your goals. If you just want to do an 18-24 hour fast, 15 almonds will probably not have a meanfingul affect on what you’re trying to do.
Perhaps, tho, 15 almonds could have an affect on autophy in longer fasts.
For starters if you do it long enough you end up nuking your metabolism and cannibalizing your lean muscle mass; the one thing in your body that takes calories to maintain. The less muscles you have, the harder it becomes to lose weight. You also don’t get all the other health benefits of fasting that improve a broad spectrum of health markers and conditions.
Plus you don’t get any hungrier fasting. That sounds more like a habit than an effective way to satiate hunger.