I’m trying to get into intermittent fasting for weight loss and I’m doing 1x 24 hr fast plus 2x 19 hour fasts per week until I’m at my desired weight, then I might do one fast a week to maintain my weight.
I’ve seen that a lot, if not most people on this sub, do fasting for much longer periods of time and I’m just wondering how, and why, you do it, if not for weight loss? As I’m assuming a few mild fasts a week would suffice in getting you into a calorie defecit if that’s your goal.
I’m aware of the benefits in terms of autophagy and giving your digestive system a break, etc, but wondering if people do it for other reasons such as spiritual benefits?
Also - what are you guys injesting throughout long fasts? Is it possible to do water-only extended fasts? I’m just curious and find it interesting!
I started fasting in general for the cognitive benefits. Aside from the 2016 medical Nobel winner’s work in autophagy, there is now a lot more research in how fasting for long periods of time removes cellular debris. So much, in fact, that this “spring cleaning” applies to areas in the brain.
A growing body of research in the last 7-8 years suggests that autophagy-inducing activities, like cardiovascular activity and fasting, actually assists in removing cellular clutter in neurons, linked to preventing neurological degeneration and disease, as well as growing new neurons in a process called neurogenesis.
Here are some TedTalks that got me started about 6 years ago and I haven’t looked back:
How to Grow New Brain Cells: Neurogenesis
Mostly weight loss for me. 1-5 days just to keep my body in ketosis more. At 52, deep autophagy appeals to me also. Long term once I hit my goal weight. I’m going to twice a year long fasts and Monday / Wednesday fasts year round. Omad most days. I now get how insulin has probably been key to me gaining too much. I don’t want to go back.
Well, one obvious one is that longer fasts generate more deficit in a shorter period. Many also find it easier to do one long fast rather than several short ones.
Personally, I do it for insulin resistance. Our bodies are not prepared to handle the foods that are available out there. There’s too much sugar being consumed too often, and as a result almost 40% of adults in the US have some level of prediabetes.
Fasting is the most effective way of reversing and preventing prediabetes (AFAIK), except for maybe giving up sugar completely, which is unrealistic for most.
Chronically ill and digestion is a huge trigger so you have me there. Autophagy/immune/stem cell regen are big ones for me, too. I also do keto OMAD, too, most of the time outside of extended fasts. Ketosis feels really good for me. It might be my illness at play here but after day 3 on an extended fast in ketosis, I feel better - like my illness is gone better - which is completely worth abstaining from food for
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For the fasts, water and salt/potassium/magnesium as needed (standard on this sub). I don’t often snake juice and just take those straight
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And just to say, if I ever recover, I’ll likely still fast for extended periods. It feels good and right once it gets going. There’s also this part that tickles my ego a bit when people basically think abstaining for so long AND being more capable than normal is a kind of super power\~
Couple of reasons.
These day time frames aren’t exact but a heuristic.
Fasting for me is the quickest way to relieve autoimmune systems such as pain and fatigue. While I don’t do much long term fasting, pairing IF with a ketogenic diet gives me by far the most relief and allows my body to recover if I go through a stretch of crappy eating. Also I find It’s always way easier to do rolling fasts while on keto because I won’t fall out of the ketogenic state each time I eat.