The FastDay Forum

I definitely have more energy on fast days now than I did when I started 2 months ago. It's been a very gradual shift. I do go to bed early, but then I'm an early bedtime person anyway.

I'm really lucky in that I never had any adverse effects on fast days and now actually enjoy them. Maybe it is to do with the fact that my TDEE isn't too high because I never had that much weight to lose and therefore 500 calories wasn't too much of a hardship. I advise keeping as busy as possible, go for walks and try not to think about food. I actually enjoy my fast day now.

First day fasting and was expecting all the bad stuff...... headaches, lethargy, sleepiness.

My experience so far, none if the above. Last meal was 19 hours ago. Since then, I have only had my morning coffee minus my sweetener (that was not easy) and water. It is now mid afternoon and thankfully I have not had the bad stuff as of yet. Late night at work, so it will be another 5 hours until 'dinner'.

Not suffering any hunger pains as such. Definitely no lethargy or sleepiness. But, there are side effects. Not sure how to describe it. There are elements of increased alertness, clear headedness and possibly a feeling of 'twitchiness" or inability to sit still. I guess this could be interpreted as feeling more energised, but to me, it feels more like a manic feeling or anxiety. It almost feels like an impending sense of doom and I am looking for that approaching trouble everywhere.

Not sure if that makes sense, but typing this as I go through it is interesting.

It is almost like something has triggered the fight or flight reflex within me

Hi Dude, I know exactly how you feel, I don't get that through the day while fasting, but as soon as I go to bed that evening those exact feelings kick in and then I don't sleep, but other than that I feel great.

Whoever said it was feeling like you had been hit by a truck has described it for me perfectly! Yesterday was my 3rd fast day and some time after noon I got SO TIRED feeling. I felt like I could go and take a nap instantly! (Which is ironic because when it's bedtime on fast days I have such a hard time falling asleep!) I hope it does get better. I am also very irritable (which I always have been when I am hungry) and my mind is kind of foggy, can't concentrate too well. If it does not get better with time and more fasts I am afraid it will not be something I can do long term. I don't like being impatient with my kids and husband, I feel terrible.

[carorees]

It definitely gets better. I'm coming up to 6 months on the diet and have not felt tired or irritable on fast days for a long time now (well no more irritable than on any other day when someone does something stupid anyway ). Many people find they are energised once their body finally learns to use fat as a fuel!

I just finished my 6th fast day. The first one was miserable, my hand kept reaching for food! I even felt nauseous the next day. (This surprised me cuz I finished a religious fast in March, and the first day was - and usually is - the easiest.)

Anyway, each fast day has gotten a little easier. Yesterday, I only felt a little tired. So hang in there. Each of us is unique in how our bodies adapt, but from what I have read here, adaptation happens!

Oh good, I thought that there was something wrong with me! I have done 4 fast days now and each time I had gnawing hunger around 1.00pm, headache and tiredness. The gnawing hunger reappears the following day when I haven't eaten and I am getting a mild headache then too. Also felt a bit nauseous. So far I seem to have lost hardly any weight, which is a bit dispiriting. I will persist with this to see if things do get easier. It would be nice if I could see some results for my pain.