The FastDay Forum

Hi, I have been doing this for about 8 weeks now - very happy with just over 2kg loss as it has take 12 months to lose 4kg on a standard "sensible' exercise and calorie diet.

My concern is the last 3 or 4 weeks I have been quite distracted at work and made a few uncharacteristic errors (minor things like getting dates wrong or forgetting appointments - it's ok I am not a pilot or anything!).

I am thinking of just doing a 1 day a week fast for a few weeks and see how I feel. I am not far off my goal anyway.

Is there any science behind this? or can I put it down to being almost 50 and pre-menopausal!!!?

[carorees]

Hi Caro

Fasting is supposed to improve your mental faculties, the theory being that it helps you to hunt down your next meal! No human studies as far as I know but in mice I think it has been demonstrated.

Menopause however is well known for affecting our brains.

In your case time will tell I guess! If you're not far off your goal, experimenting with 6:1 makes sense anyway I should think.

Somewhere there is a link to a website that Dr M used to test his mental abilities, that he quotes in the book. I couldn't get some of the tests to function properly on my computer but it looked fun. Some of the tests are memory tests. You could give it a go now and again after a few weeks of 6:1 perhaps.

I have been doing this since August 2012, and I am getting very absent minded - I am constantly forgetting things I want at the supermarket - I forgot a paediatric appointment for my son, I even convinced my OH that today was Mothering Sunday, because somehow I thought it was the wrong day. I don't work, at 53, think I am a bit beyond menopause, and hopefully a bit young for Alzheimer's - I don't work, so it isn't that much of a problem, but I am having to make a point of writing everything on my calendar or it just seems to drift out of my head - detailed shopping lists are also a necessity.

Hi Liz, I am going to take it easy this week and just do a one dayer. I will also spread the cals over the day rather than leave them all until dinner in case it is a case of not enough energy getting to the brain.

And thanks Carorees for the information - I do feel more alert but perhaps the brain is looking for gazelle rather than reading calendars!!

[carorees]

And thanks Carorees for the information - I do feel more alert but perhaps the brain is looking for gazelle rather than reading calendars!!

Perhaps you're right!

Hi Caro,

The absent minded problem has struck sooner than I thought and I'm putting it down to not drinking enough water! I've only had 3 fast days so far and towards the end of the 1st and 2nd fasting days I found myself using the wrong words for things, just now and again, it was very strange. I barely drank any water on either of those days except for a couple of cups of tea and yesterday I made sure I sipped water all through the day, not gallons just a few sips here and there and my wacky behaviour subsided - lol! It's just a thought. Having said all that I'm 51 and per-menopausal so that probably doesn't help either!

TTFN
Annie:)