Made it one more day, whoo hoo! Started feeling a bit better this afternoon: less weakness, more energy, positive anticipation!
I drank at least 12 cups or more of water. I think the cups are about 12 oz.; I'll check tomorrow. After nearly completing Dr. Jason Fung's book on fasting, I was convinced --per his words-- that the perfect fast is what is perfect for me, and that completing the entire fast is most important. He recommends coffee with a teaspoon or two of whole cream and bone broth to sustain through the really trying times; improving the chances of completion. I agree! A bit after Noon, I had a cup of coffee with .5 Tbsp. of butter and 1 Tbsp. of cream. It seemed like the best cup of coffee I have ever tasted! Butter? Yes, butter! If you've had Tibetan Butter Tea, it's not all that odd! It was rich and satisfying, and since it was full fat, it will not affect ketogenesis or spike insulin too, too much! Plus, only about 100 calories, so definitely won't affect my progress. Around 5pm, the bone broth was done simmering, so I had .5 cup of that as well. Both of these improved my mood, stamina, and sense of physical well-being. I've decided to have the same tomorrow: one (and only one!) cup of coffee with cream (but switch from butter to Ghee) after my morning hot lemon water, and then .5-1 c. of broth in the afternoon. The nutrient benefits of the broth are beneficial physically and the happy feeling of satiation from the coffee is emotionally beneficial! Yay! Day 3 done, and 18 more to go! I can do it! So much empirical data and research! So much scientific data about what happens to the body during shorter fasts of 24 hours, all the way to several weeks! And explicity instructions on methods of fasting, including water fasts, juice fasts, partial water fasts supplement with bone broth, tea, and coffee... just so much info! I love this book! I have completed about 80% of the book, and it has made me consider a few ways to tweak my water fast to ensure success and individualize to my needs! Yay! I will still complete a 21-day water fast, but I will supplement it with a cup of coffee in the morning, bone broth around noon, and tea. I will still receive the ketogenic and cleansing effects of a water fast, but have a bit more energy. Plus, bone broth is full of minerals and nutrients, which will be helpful. Yay!
I've also decided to transition to IF (Intermittent Fasting) and TRE (Time-restricted Eating) when I complete the 21-day fast. I will water fast 2-3 alternating days each week and only eat within certain hours of the day, following a 12:12 or 16:8 hours ratio of fasting to eating. I also intend to complete a 21-day water fast once or twice each year. It feels like returning to Yogaville and then ending up here on my friend's farm in Mississippi was meant to be! Jeesh! Today I am feeling the effects of water fasting! My last food intake was around 7-8pm Thursday night; I have been fasting approximately 60 hours! That calculation took me several minutes due to brain fog and mental lethargy! I don't feel badly, per se, though I do feel tired and a bit shaky after my morning ablutions and walking up and down the stairs to fix my morning lemon water. I had more hunger pangs last night, and felt a little thirsty as I was falling asleep, despite having drunk plenty of fluids. I had a cup of hot water in hand the entire day, so I'm sure I took in plenty of water. Perhaps I will try to track it better today. An odd thing occurred yesterday. I could feel the coating on my tongue increasing during the day and evening. And it was quite thick this morning. My urine was also a darker yellow than usual--an indicator of dehydration. In spite of drinking at least 10-20 cups (guess-timate) of water, I am dehydrated! As I mentioned, I was a bit thirsty late at night, and I am definitely thirsty this morning! Yet I am not experiencing a dehydration headache or any other negative side effects such as nausea. However, the lethargy and weakness is marked (I could not wait to finish getting my water and dropping back into bed!). Again, I did not sleep well: frequently awakening and raucous dreams. In fact, I had CRAZY, vivid dreams. I had an encyclopedia of dreams (there were so many); it felt like I was switching dreams every hour throughout the night! I only remember the last one, however. I have had insomnia issues for many months now, due to hormonal changes, but these last two restless nights feel directly related to fasting. Either that or because I've been lying around most of the last two days... I just don't know! After my morning ritual of brushing my teeth (and that nasty ama--toxin coating--off my tongue), using my neti pot, and washing my face, I felt thirsty and a little weak. Returning downstairs to fill two cups with boiling water, I wanted only to sit down and stop moving. One cup had a squeezed lemon wedge and the other remnants of yesterdays ginger, cayenne, and lemon. I managed to carry those upstairs and, feeling breathless and shaky, drop back into bed! Sitting in bed, I noted my heart racing as though I had run up the stairs, increased breath rate, shakiness, and thirst. Despite the physical symptoms, I do not feel mentally or emotionally disturbed. My will to complete the fast is intact and my cheeks were actually quite rosy when I looked in the mirror (oh, that awful tongue hehehe!). Although I am weak, I am undeterred! I will drink more water and track the amount. I will rest and relax, knowing that the first 3 days are the roughest! As my body shifts from glycogen fuel into ketone burning, any remaining hunger will dissipate, along with the fatigue! I should start feeling better later today or tomorrow at the latest--awakening with brio and anticipation! Day 3 begins! Note: I began reading Dr. Fung's book yesterday, and I am about halfway throught it--I mean, I've had the time since I'm just relaxing and rejuvenating! I have watched several videos of him on YouTube, and he knows his stuff! He has also written other books on obesity and health issues. Day 1 I am excited to start this journey, though I am not feeling it today! I slept poorly last night due to back pain: I pulled something and my lumbar region started hurting in the morning and go progressively worse. I am hoping it will ease up today. My plan for the weekend is to ease in to a full water fast on Monday; I'll have tea and lemon water with turmeric and ginger, as well as replenish with some elecrolytes and salt while my body transitions from glucose burning to ketogenesis. The salt and electrolytes should make the transition easier and minimize headaches and fatigue. I will continue to add salt to the water and probably electolytes as well, during the 21-days. Continued below... My friend had this book lying on the table: The Transformational Power of Fasting, written by Stephen Harrod Buhner. I picked it up and was immediately smitten by the science and aspects of emotional and spiritual transformation discussed. I have never before considered a water fast, but the approach Mr. Buhner takes is one of overall healing and evolution-- and I definitely need healing in all three realms.
My plan is to record my journey via video and autobiography on a daily basis. I don't have a scale, and at this point, don't really want to post "before" photos, but from watching videos of people who have completed a 21-day water fast, I know I can expecte to lose about 20 or more pounds and that after Day 2 or 3, it will be fat loss, not water weight loss. In studying Buhner's guidelines and introspective questions, I will work through and heal emotional trauma surrounding my relationship with my body and food, other emotional traumas, and begin a spiritual journey as well. I am ready for change; I am tired of this 35 year-long battle I have had with my body and food, which colors the rest of my life and has acted as an inhibitor to so many positive actions and thoughts. I want to have a positive relationship with my body, finally, and I truly believe this book, with its instructions and empirical-backed research, will help me achieve that desire! Wish me well! I'll be easing into a water fast tomorrow, starting with lemon water, herbal tea, and electrolytes. On Monday, I'll transition to only water (plain, added salt, or added electrolytes) and herbal teas. My goal is a 21-day water fast. I'll be writing and video blogging throughout the process. I'm psyched and nervous! Not only is this a physical healing journey, it will be a path toward spiritual and emotional transformation as well! In this time of sequestering, due to COVID19, I have a safe, nourishing space in which to complete the fast. My stress level hasn't been this low in years! Wish me well!
Why fasting? Why water fasting? https://www.stephenharrodbuhner.com/books/ https://thefast800.com/ https://thefastingmethod.com/ |
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