The FastDay Forum

Hi guys,

so, as the title suggests, this is my second attempt on 5:2.
I done OK before, however my fasting was not consistent, and I would like it to become routine.
I have also lost and gained 14lbs in the year I have not been consistently fasting, although that loss was due to a general reduction in food intake, not only fast days.

My old journal shows a girl who fasted pretty much problem-free for the first week, with improved sleep, and maintained good academic performance, so I am confident this is the way of eating for me.

I am fasting Mondays and Thursdays, although for the first week I will fast today, as I want to get started ASAP.
Weighing on Thursdays.
Due to starting Isotretinoin for acne in February, I will have monthly blood tests, so I may be able to judge whether there are any changes there or not, however, my bloods are always good, with the occasional high white blood cell or high cholesterol - neither of which have caused any health problems I am aware of.

One thing I may need to be careful with is headaches, nausea and dizziness. I never in my life have had headaches unless I was severely ill, however, 3 months ago I took the worst headache I ever had, and have been nauseated and dizzy since. I have a head scan next week. So, I just need to watch those symptoms on fast days, when they were at their worst I walked right out in front of a car that stopped just in time!

So, thank you for having me back everyone, hopefully I'll make it into a new way of eating this time, lord knows I've needed one all my life!

09:33: I'm just gonna come out with it. I'M STARVING!
And I'm not even a breakfast-eater - there's famine-fear for you!

Today's Mantra:
Hunger is just a feeling.
Hunger means my body is still figuring out how to use up my 28% body fat!
I do not need food, I have 28% body fat to eat!


Yeah. Today is going to be tough.

Welcome to the forum @it_is_time. You are right about the hunger - just tough it out and after a while it will fade away. You might want to post on https://forum.fastday.com/fasting-today-f8/fast-tuesday-6th-january-t13651.html, for mutual support.

Thanks Barbarita. I'll check it out.

Good to see you here - the health issues sound rather miserable and kudos to you for journalling accurately enough to record that fasting seems to have some +ve benefits for you.

Yes, you're spot on, it's fear of hunger rather than the real thing that seems to be acting up for you today. I hope that the apprehension around this clears up in a timely manner for you. Well done for your smoking cessation that you mentioned in the other thread and, as you say, this might play its own part in your current perception of hunger as well.

Any questions, you know to speak up because there are enough seasoned fasters around here for someone to be able to suggest something or signpost you in the direction of useful information.

Good Luck with your reboot of your fasting lifestyle.

Hi It_is_time,

welcome back. I went through that feeling of hunger and even angrily moarning stomach attacks yesterday - all day Then, this morning, no hunger anymore at all. So I even decided to add a second FD right away. Today it is much better. Hope this encourages you a bit. It is all temporary and it feels so good to go with that flow - waves rolling back and forth...

Good luck
Mahalo

[Tracieknits]

Welcome back!! When I get noisy-stomach hungry on a fast day, I find a warm beverage (even in summer) helps a lot. Until about 10 or 11 am, I choose black coffee (although I let my first two espressos of the day have 1 tablespoon of milk in them). After that, it's either herbal tea or chicken broth/bouillon/bovril. Chicken broth always cures it quite well, but it's 10 calories per cup. So I usually save it for my 4pm weapon of last resort unless it's a really bad fast day. Thankfully those are rare and usually related to hormones. Sigh.

I'm sorry about your health problems and hope you can get them sorted.

@Ssure, thank you for the encouragement. Can I ask you a question please? What is your program for migraine control? I'm asking as I am hoping what has been happening with my health is some sort of atypical migraine. I'm too young for any serious stuff! 32!

@Mahalo, excellent! I am looking forward to the same, I suspect I will be capable of eating my partner by 6pm tonight! But yes, I will go with it, go with it.

@Tracieknits, great advice, I am actually drinking a tea as we speak, but I think I'll have to pick something else for the rest of the day, as I have already chalked up 130 kcal in sugar and milk today - I know, I am bad! I do have stock cubes and low kcal soup to hand though.

Thanks for the welcome everyone!

Can I ask you a question please? What is your program for migraine control? I'm asking as I am hoping what has been happening with my health is some sort of atypical migraine.

There is a protocol called "modified ketogenic diet" that should return a fair number of Google hits. The different types of ketogenic diet for various conditions are outlined here: http://www.charliefoundation.org/explor ... g-the-diet

It's useful for some neurological problems that don't respond to the usual medication (my migraine episodes wouldn't). I can't recommend it unless you don't have other options as it's seriously anti-social because you have to eat in fairly precise macronutrient ratios that makes it difficult to eat anything prepared by anyone but yourself. There's also a limit as to how much food you can eat at any one time so socialising becomes implausibly difficult very quickly.

I can go into more detail if necessary and you need pointers after a diagnosis but you might want to see what the results are from your tests/scan and what the available options are. Unless it's unavoidable, you really don't want to be the person who throws a conniption because you asked someone to give you a portion of Full Fat yoghurt only to be served Fat Free (or vice versa depending on your meal plan for the day).

It may well prove that 5:2 is of some benefit to you by dint of the reduction in calories on 2 days a week. I've known some migraineurs for whom IF has made a +ve difference.

Best wishes for a diagnosis of some sort and a timely resolution.

@Ssure, thank you very much for the information. I followed your link and had a read about the diets. It's amazing that diet can prevent epilepsy, makes me wonder how many people are given this option alongside or instead of medication. I've known a few people with epilepsy, but they were all taking medication with no diet modification, and still had break-through seizures, some life-threatening. So, I hope this information gets around more.

Thank you for the best wishes, whatever's going on, I just want to get on with feeling better!

0835 day after fast: I done it!!! No cheating!

I had:
A tonne of tea!
5 x sugar (shall be eliminated next time - waste of calories)
100ml skimmed milk
Dinner: Mash Direct carrot & parsnip mash, a handful of green beans and a tbsp of chick peas
Evening snack: 3 x egg whites and 20g brazil nuts

I will be breaking this fast at 12pm today, which is no problem, as I am not a breakfast person most of the time.

Emotions: I feel great that I made it. The night time was not as difficult as I thought it would be (that's when I usually do most of my eating). I feel physically fine today, VERY empty, but it's not uncomfortable, and no tired than I would usually be.

Ended up in bed an hour earlier last night, which is probably a good thing! Next fast is thursday, I'll be at work all day, so that'll be the next test, as I am used to drinking coffee/tea with milk and sugar most of the day, so shouldn't be too much of a change to drop the sugar and reduce the milk. just need to watch night time, as I will have expended quite a bit of energy (physical job).

I'm so happy my first fast back was successful - thank you to everyone who encouraged me, it really helped!