Mjgh06's Journal, 31 July 2018

yes it counts! 

I just watched an interesting video on YouTube by 2fitdoctors where they tested their glucose and ketones while fasting and consuming different fats. 2 TB cream, MCT oil, And butter and it didn’t break their fast. It even raised their ketones. I was surprised by how many calories you could consume and still be fasting. 

@CrashtestDawnie - … yeah I consume 600+ calories a day and I still consider it a 'fast'. I think a 'pure water fast' is useful as a 'spiritual' exercise (surviving by what we have rather than by what we desire). However, for weight loss, anything under 1000 calories will still produce the required 'calorie deficit' (However, if I have a 'calorie deficit' but still consume a lot of carbs, I will still gain weight because large amounts of insulin produce fat - - in me at least). Anyway, the difference between zero calories for the day and 600 is so trivial I have not seen it make a difference to my weight loss (which is usually a pound a day when fasting). However, I will say that it is day 3+ that my body goes into pure fat burning mode. Before then, my metabolism CAN slow down. Consuming MCT oil and other fats can help. ** Getting on Soapbox ** But, what really helps me is to get out an exercise :) I never understand the thinking that fasting and laying around is a good idea? ** Getting off of Soapbox ** But, on day 3+ my body realizes that 'outside food' is totally gone and then starts burning fat. I have never had low metabolism on day 3+ if I have the MCT oil and other fats or not. But, ** Getting BACK on Soapbox ** if my electrolytes are out of balance I will feel weak and lethargic - - I REALLY hope people take this seriously. We get a massive amount of required nutrients from our food, If we stop eating that food there is going to be a price to pay, However, we can take vitamins and electrolyte supplements :) ** Getting off of Soapbox ** 

@adefwebserver I never mind your soapboxes...lol I have found the same day 3-5/7 I am burning fat, but for some reason after that if I don't give my body some kind of food it will start to gain, holding onto whatever it can. Then in another day or two, it will start to lose again. I won't fast for more than a week anymore because I feel that once I get to that stall, my body will start to lose muscle along with the fat. 

The benefit to fasting is less calories in so if it helps in that, you're doing it right. 

Mj how many hours are you fasting? Abef I guess I’ve been mostly “spiritual fasting” lol My fasts are short though 

@Mjgh06 - I agree with everything you said, SERIOUS water retention, some muscle loss (I hit the weights to bring it back). I don't plan to fast for more than a week anymore either. Previously, I needed the longer fasts to balance the weight gain I had when the fast was over! (solved now by eating <20 carbs a day). 

@CrashtestDawnie - Anyone who can do the 'pure water fast' is a hard core 'rock star' in my book :) Now, if it was the only way for me to lose weight I would do it, but lucky for me I can take in 600+ calories and then burn it off with exercise :)  

@CrashtestDawnie The pure water fast was the only way I did fast previously. I would water fast up to 10 days back when a lot younger. I cut that back to no more than a week. Now with my epilepsy my doctors want me to do what they consider fat fasts which is what I am doing now. It is 24-48 liquids with fat added like butter or cream to your coffee, then the eggnog shakes for another 2-3 days then add in one low carb <10 for dinner then dinner and lunch then back to low carb <10g for me to lose weight, no more than 20g in maintenance. 

I did 40 liquid fast now in the eggnog phase. Everyone counts that as fasting because it is still liquid so when done I will have fasted about 94 hrs.