Fasting.

 

 

 

I first heard about fasting a few years ago and my reaction was to assume it wasn’t possible to go without eating for at least five to seven days. But what I mistook to be hunger pains, were actually the cravings of a carb-based diet. A few years later and a growing unwanted middle-aged spread, I knew I needed to change my behaviour and not just my diet. I read that a fast allowed you to re-set your eating behaviour because you significantly reduced the cravings for sugar and carbohydrate-based food and it increased for more wholesome food. I also heard that after a few days the body slipped in to ketosis, whereby the body fat started to be burned as a necessary means of energy.

 

Known benefits of a seven day fast:

 

1.       Promotes blood sugar control

2.       Combats inflammation

3.       Reduce blood pressure

4.       Boost brain function and fight neurodegenerative disorders

5.       Helps weight-loss

6.       Increase growth hormones

7.       Delays aging

8.       Is even said to help fight pre-cancer cells and assist on chemotherapy

 

There are more, but I was to find the most noticeable positive benefit was being able to re-set my bad habits, such as eating three to four chocolate biscuits every day about ten in the morning, and three to four more after lunch, every day, and a couple or few more in the evening. Now, I have the self-control to say ‘not now’ to the cravings.

 

I decided to set seven days aside for this, when there would be less people around as I knew there were going to be significant challenges and irritation to not eating and I didn’t want to fall out with anyone unnecessary.  I am single with no children and having sent out cards, presents and well-wishes to nieces, nephews and siblings, I began.

 

 

18.12.21

First day of fast.

Feeling cold and desperately want to eat; years of carb addiction has meant that I crave a meal by late morning.

On a walk, I saw a dog of a walker, that stood watching me. Irritated by it not following his master and looking at me, I stared back and it started to bark. I knew that by reacting to the dog’s inquisitiveness, I made the situation worse. I wanted a conflict, then felt regretful seconds later when the owner pulled the dog away. This is a sign of extreme irritation at not having food.

Smells and scents are everywhere and I did not seem to notice them before.

 

 

19.12.21

Second day of fast.

Feel low energy and irritated. I drink decaffeinated coffee to help have a warm drink and give me something other than copious amounts of water. I walk to do something with my fidgetiness and irritation. While on a walk, someone’s dog jumped up to me and I kicked it away, annoyed that it had left a dirty imprint in my freshly clean trousers. I was particularly irritated by the owner’s lazy attitude; a sloppy apology and not having control over the dog. The day felt long and difficult, always looking for something to do, so spent a lot of time needlessly cleaning and fixing.

 

 

 

 

20.12.21

Third day of the fast.

Woke with pain all over my joints and feeling extremely low on energy. When I stood up, I felt dizzy and sick with big head ache. Even the walk up and down the stairs to get the morning glass of water was difficult.

It was then I discovered that the salt and minerals need to be replenished and a good way of doing this is with sea-salt. I would do this form day one next time.

Went in to town to buy the sea salt to put in water and bumped in to an old acquaintance who I almost had an argument with while sharing simply points of interest. I mistakenly bought some coconut water, thinking it was safe to drink, drank half of, but noticed it had a tiny amount of sugar in and there can be no sugar intake for ketosis to work. Not a problem as I carried on and it will have little effect on the process overall, but it reminds me how difficult it is.

Sleeping is hard and I wake up about four to five times a night.

 

21.12.21

Day four of fast.

Feeling a bit better than yesterday and the pains are a lot less. I still feel cold, tiered and sore, but a bit better and increased clarity of mind. I was thinking about playing football but do not have the energy, however, I have been doing long walk of about 4-6 miles a day and this helps alleviate the boredom, while using a consistent supply of energy.

Dropped of bibs to team but decided not to play as in ketosis.

 

22.12.21

Day five of fast.

Much better start to the day, feeling warmer and more relaxed with less pain in my joints. I also feel more alert and far less irritated, able to work on my articles for the newspaper and short stories for my website. I am still irritated and thinking of food most of the time, but I think about sweet potatoes, fried peppers, chopped mushrooms, and other healthy foods that I will enjoy making.

 

23.12.21

Day six of the fast.

What a great start to the day. Much less hunger pains. I did some organising of administration for my job while spending a few hours working on a website I invigilate for, doing more work than I expected. I still feel low energy and can get dizzy if I move fast, but feel more comfortable and have less cravings for fast food. I have noticed that the protruding fat on my stomach has gone down, though not by much, as I am not over-weight this is done more to help re-set.

 

24.12.21

Xmas Eve. Seventh and last day of my fast.

Started my new regime of intermittent fasting, which will be eating between 1PM and 7PM, then 18 hours fasting. This lunch time I made jacket sweet potatoes, avocado, peppers and onions fried with mushrooms as a side and loved every bit of it.

I will be going to my sisters to spend Christmas with her and her family tomorrow and expect there will be challenges and temptations because they have sweets everywhere and acholic drinks, but with far less cravings for sweet foods, it will be easier to say no.

I am feeling warmer and relaxed with less pain and the need to eat is not so desired. In fact, I feel like I need less to be satiated, thinking with a bit more clarity and sleeping better.

 

 

In conclusion, I am pleased I did this as I have reset my body to go in to intermittent fasting as a way of life going forward.