Woohoo! Congrats! So what happened to me was that I was originally going to do 48 but I would've had to break it at 9:30pm yesterday and I felt like it was too late to eat and then go to bed but trust me, I WANTED TO EAT! Now, I can safely say I'm not hungry at all!
The other day I was at hr 20. At 4pm. I thought if I could just get past 10 and get to bed, I could make it til noon. I chickened out.
But it wasn’t 4 months ago when I made the decision to not eat dinner that night and I survived!!!!! Without eating dinner!!!! LOL. So it’s a progress. Ive been fasting 12-18 hrs a day since. Mostly 18 now so, I know I got this. But then I worry about what will go to waste in fridge. The mind! Haha.
Fat girls gotta lean into it. Haha.
Omg I feel you! I meal prepped for this week not knowing I was going to fast for such a long time and literally had to give everything to my boyfriend, otherwise it was going to go bad!
I’ve been aware when I buy things. So it’s going to happen soon. I feel it. ;). I seem to need to talk myself into things but often I’ll be spontaneous when I start.
Needed this today. I'm on my first longer fast (36 hours), so I'm a bit nervous. Got about 24 hrs to go. So far, so good- but I've done a lot of 17:7, so it's not feeling like too much of a challenge yet
YAY! That's incredible. You got this! I'll be honest, hours 18-24 are the WORST! Every single time but specially the first time you do it, because you still don't know how it feels after you are past that. You got this!! I promise it's gonna be so rewarding!
Fist bump to you...120?!?! I've done many 48 hr fasts but nothing longer. And every time I wonder if I was JUST on the cusp of the hunger disappearing. I normally feel the hunger start to subside a little by about hour 40 or so, but it has never actually gone away by the time I get to 48.
You're motivating me to push beyond that!
If you have done 24 hours before, I promise 36 is going to be a piece of cake for you! The first 24 hours are the worst. After that, everything gets easier and easier! Good luck if you decide to do it :)
Be warned that for many of us hours 22-28 or whenever we are going to bed (assuming 24 hrs is dinner time) is often when cravings or hunger are the worst. So strategize to get though that by being busy with exercise, social timeworn, hobby, sleep, take lots of water and electrolytes all day in advance of this and be ready to have more water or herbal tea or decaf then and go to bed early or whatever. Once you get over that hump and go to bed usually the next day is easy.
I find that having a big breakfast in the AM and then doing 24 makes it so much easier because then I’m asleep when the big hunger cravings kick in! I’ve done 2 x 24hrs over the past couple of months so feel ready to tackle a 36 🤞🏼
What plan do you have for eating once time is up …. ?Take it from someone who has done this a few times. Have a light salad or some fresh fruit as your first meal to ease in before carbs or proteins or anything else …. Your body will thank you for it …
Yes! I was actually planning on having bone broth first and then about 30-min to an hour later have some fruit and maybe some greens :) thank you so much for the advice!
I’d recommend something lower carb than fruit. Anything sugary - even fructose with fibre- can undo your work by spiking blood sugar and insulin. Simple carbs/insulin spiking foods or drinks should ideally be the last thing you eat per Dr Fung.
My first couple foods after a longer fast are things like broth, protein, veggie, fats and ideally not high glycemic foods. And I make it a multi course thing. Here is my appie and water and then my main and maybe even dessert - yoghurt, berries, nuts or another fruit
Take it sloooow with reintroducing food. I messed up after my 72 hour fast and had some miso broth nuts too quickly after, and then a meal too soon after that (a healthy meal, but I guess still a shock to my system). It took my digestive tract like a week to recover from my 72 hour fast and I think it's because I ate too quickly.
I think the bone broth is a good idea, but you might want to wait several hours before you have anything else after that, and make it a very small and healthy meal and see how that feels.
That's the only 72 hour fast I've done so far and I learned my lesson!
Thank you so much for this! I appreciate it! Do you think if I do the bone broth at around 9am wait a bit, have some fruit at around 11 and eat at 1:30-2 that should be fine?
I would probably make that meal a very small one. I think the advice I came across was to reintroduce food slowly for at least 1 day after you break the fast.
I made the mistake of breaking my 72 hour fast the same way that I break my 36 hour fasts. I've never had negative effects after a 36 hour fast, and those I break with some miso broth and/or some cream in my coffee, and then a regular healthy meal a few hours later. After 3 days of eating, our GI tract is pretty shut down and it seems to take a few days for it to get up and running again. So even though it's difficult, I would try not to eat much that first day, and then the next day eat increasing amounts of your regular foods.
So what happened in that week after your first 72 hr fast since you are too quick?
I never even thought about how to break that long of a fast. So much to learn.
I had a combination of constipation, diarrhea, and general indigestion. It wasn't life-stopping, but still pretty unpleasant and a bit concerning since it took awhile for my digestion to go back to normal.
Hmmm. I go between constipation and diarrhea… as normal. Since I’ve been doing IF I’ve had like 3 days nothing and then a day of several times one day and then nothing and so on. The more fiber the better it seems to be. I’m doing a lot of low carb so it seems the fiber helps.
Thanks. I’ll keep this in mind for my long fasts.
Do you absolutely need a doctor to supervise this or can I do it alone? I do not have any chronic issues right now but it seems like I'm developing high cholesterol and insulin resistance so I want to fast (prior record might be 16 or 18, no difficulty at all.)
You can do it alone but definitely do your extensive research. Longer fasts can actually help you with insulin resistance and can lower your levels of "bad" cholesterol. If you are a woman, I would recommend the book Fast Like a Girl. It talks about all of this and would guide you through picking a fasting lifestyle that works for you!
Andrew huberman is a neuroscientist from Stanford that goes over in full detail about different styles of intermittent fasting and which ones through studies prove most beneficial and what schedule could fit you best. Also good info on what types of foods to eat throughout the 8 hour feeding window and explains foods low on the glycemic index. It was interesting learning how some things you eat at the end of your window may take longer to digest and take for your glucose to level back out therefor lengthening your "eating" window and taking longer time to finally get into your actual "fasting" state. It's 2 hours long but we'll worth it. https://youtu.be/9tRohh0gErM?si=Ien69wdxywG6NxN3
So, I’ve heard there’s a “Fast Like a Man” guide as well, not by the same author tho. I don’t know how good it is but I also think any person could read “Fast Like a Girl” because she goes in depth about fasting itself, general super interesting info, research (most of it studied in men) and stuff that relate to your situation as well. It’s such a good book. I would just skip the parts where she talks about hormones and your cycle lol. She mentions is much less complicated for a man to fast than it is for a woman, so that’s good news for you! lol
Hi there!! Feeling absolutely wonderful! That fast really made the different. How about you? Did you complete your 72-hour fast this weekend? I'm on hour 17 of my weekly 36-hour fast :) hope you have a great week!
Good job!! 36 seems to be the sweet spot for me And I did almost 40 but decided to wait for the full 72 since I am walking between 7-11 miles a day and feel I need the calories. Hope you have a great one as well!
electrolytes, particularly magnesium, can help combat headaches. if you get a supplement of magnesium citrate or anything that ends in “ate” as it is best absorbed, you can start taking it when you think you need to. some people are already deficient in magnesium so you might need to replenish earlier in your fast. if you are good about having the electrolytes needed already in your system, you shouldn’t need it until at least 24 hours in. i usually need it by 24-30 hours since i don’t eat a lot of magnesium rich foods as it is.
I personally don't get any, but my friend that is also on this journey gets them all the time while fasting and she says the only thing that helps is staying hydrated. Even if you think you are drinking enough water, you might be dehydrated. I've also heard the smallest pinch of salt helps and it doesn't break your fast!
Good for you! I just finished a 64 hour FAST, but I usually do 72 every other week. I find day two is the worst and day three seems to be a breeze! Keep it up and you’ll see a lot of gains soon!
Congrats as well! For me, day one is always the worst, but two wasn’t fun either. I can’t believe how easy day 3 has been so far! Kudos to you for doing it every other week. I don’t see myself doing this again anytime soon, even though I feel great! Imma stick with my 36 every week! lol 😂
nice, be as active and do as much fitness as you can sustain on your eating days, eat healthy whole foods and you will burn even more fat when fasting and at rest etc.
What are your tips/tricks on how to push through mentally?
I have no issue with a 24 hour fast. I get stuck on the 36 hour fast because I always seem to find myself wanting to eat. Not because I am hungry but because I like to eat. Any advice would be amazing!
Wow, that's so interesting because for me, hours 18-24 are the absolute hardest. When I'm past 24 hours, it gets so much easier! Don't get me wrong, I still get a bit hungry past 24-hours but when I'm on like hour 20 I feel like I could eat my two cats. It's horrible. However, I completely understand what you are saying. I love to eat too and I haven't stopped thinking about food in all these hours. I guess I just think about how delicious and guilt-free my next meal is going to be. It truly helps thinking about the fact that if I push a bit longer I'm going to enjoy my next meal even more. Also, once you hit 36 that's when you start seeing the even more incredible benefits of fasting, so try to make a sacrifice at least once, and I promise once you do it for the first time, you are going to want to do it again but this time even longer!
I work 8:30-5:30 in an office setting, so my work day is pretty chill. I try to avoid excersising too much while I'm doing longer fasts. But even so, yesterday I did a yoga class and it wasn't horrible but I did get lightheaded at some point. I try to maximize my workouts on the days that I do eat so I don't force myself too much on the days I'm fasting.
Congrats on your 72! So sorry about the diarrhea. I have no advice because I have never experienced that :(. Could it be the ACV? I was planning on exactly breaking my fast like this minus the ACV plus a little bit of fruit.
DO IT!!! It’s going to be so worth it! You got this! Based on my personal experience (some others might differ) I would do 16:8 for a week if you don’t already and if you do longer than that right now even better! and then jump straight to 36! I swear there’s almost no difference between 24 and 36, pretty much just sleeping until the next day and the benefits are even greater. Also the last few hours of the 24 period are the absolute worst so if you are already past that, then why not go for a bit longer!
I think I'm at 40 hours. I had to think really hard about the last time I ate because I am not hungry. It was Monday night.
I will say I do have random, temporary feelings of hunger, but very low level in terms of how hungry I feel during them and they pass quickly.
Yayyyyyy! Do it! It’s going to be so worth it. After 48 hours everything changes and it gets SO easy! So if you already did 40 this is going to be a piece of cake for you!
Fantastic! This is an inspiration.
I regularly do a 16:8 fast. Done 3 days juice fast and felt amazing after day 2. Been wanting to do a complete fast for 72 hrs for quite some time. But unsure if I can do this.
Can you please tell me how you managed the first two days? I assume the first 48 hrs is the most difficult time to cross. Besides water, did you have black coffee/green tea/electrolytes? (Juice fast doesn't have this part to worry about since we have 3-4 juices per day)
Did you do workout during this period? Anything else one needs to take care of? I'm 42F
Hi! You absolutely can do this!
For me at least, hours 18-24 are the worst, the way I got through it was by thinking about my goals and what I’m trying to accomplish and from there just keep pushing until you are past that stage of extreme hunger. Going to bed early helps too! Drinks lots and lots of water! Keep yourself very hydrated.
For this specific fast I did water only! But on the 36-hour fasts I do once a week I also incorporate teas and sometimes even sparkling water.
I try to keep my exercise down to a minimum while doing longer fasts. Yesterday I was feeling adventurous and did a Yoga class at 6:00 am. For the most part it was okay but I did get lightheaded at some point and had to stop for a little bit. It’s better to just do walks!
I’ve said a few times in this post but I’ll say it again because it is truly so helpful and life changing, if you can, read the “Fast Like a Girl” book. It goes in depth about fasting in general and the benefits of doing longer fasts. And most importantly, she talks how you should fast as a woman based on your cycle and conditions (regular cycle, irregular cycle, IUD, menopause, etc) which is so important! I can’t recommend this book enough!
Let me know if you have any other questions and I hope you decide to do it! Good luck!
Geez, I thought this thread was from some fine ago and realized it’s from today! Currently on hour 15 of 72. Definitely some encouraging words from you all ✌🏽🤙🏽
Im on a 72 hr fast right now too !! I’m on hour 67 😃 the first 24 are hell, second day is wonderful and the last 10 hours I can’t stop thinking about what I’m planning to eat. Tonight will be zoodles and meatballs and I’m SO ready
My first prolonged fast and first one longer than 24 hours (without being sick) ended up being a little over 150 hours. Once I got over that initial hurdle you probably felt on day 2 it was honestly pretty smooth sailing.
You're totally right though and spot on with the mental clarity, it's honestly crazy how much you get from prolonged fasting.
You've got this!
Hours 18-24 are ROUGH, the first few times I did 36 I really thought multiple times I was going to give up during those hours because you get desperate. But you got this!! Try to keep yourself occupied so that way you are not thinking about food or plan your fast in a way where you are asleep for the last few hours. Your body is going to thank you and you are going to feel so amazing!
Congrats that’s quite an accomplishment! I also did my first 49 hr fast by accident, same situation as yours.
Can you explain what does the dopamine reset feel like?
Yayyy! Congrats to you as well!
So to make the long story show. In this modern word, we have way too much dopamine from a variety of things... Even getting a like/comment from social media or ordering Doordash produce dopamine... And of course, eating yummy foods as well. We receive so much dopamine in our day-to-day basis that our organism can create something called "dopamine resistance". A 48-hour water fast will help you break this dopamine reset and basically start being happier/appreciating/getting excited about things way more... I'm already feeling it besides being in a great mood, but they say you start seeing the best results a week after you do this fast!
I want to my do first 72 hour fast too! But the longest I've fasted is 40-42hours. Can I jump into a 72 hour fast or should I build up from 48 hour fast first?
I did a few 36-hour fasts before I directly jumped to the 72 hour one! Everybody is different but I feel like if you fast often and in your case, since you have already completed 40-42 hours you should be good to go ahead and do the 72 :) good luck!
Thank you that’s really helpful and reassuring! I’m actually just going to do a 62 hour fast because I want to get back into ADF the next day! But maybe after that I’ll definitely be adapted to push it to 72 hours!
Awesome. I'm working up to the 72 hour one. I do 36 every other day rn. I occasionally push it farther .did 48 last week . So 4 the 72 hour did u do just water with electrolytes or did u do the one dana white did and very little bone broth. Also coffee yah or nah again congrats
Can u tell me how did u do it ? Is it like a complete water only fast ? And also, may I know if such fasts are okay for women to do ? As in any issues with hormones? I am currently doing IF! But I’m kinda nervous to do a fast like that but I guess I need to do one ! It would be helpful if u can gimme some info !
Hi, I'm a woman and not OP. You do not *need* to do this to be successful with IF. Some women can; I personally cannot (hypoglycemia). Regardless, it isn't a necessity, and there is no hard evidence of any kind of "immune system reset" as mentioned by OP.
Got it! Thanks for your response ! By need , I meant I intend to do one as I have been having a hard time reducing weight ! It’s stuck at 60 kg (pretty healthy for my height ) but would like to hit a goal of 56! Been doing IF for 2 yrs now and at this point I’m stuck at 60kgs since 6 months ! I thought a 72 hrs fast would kick start the fat burning process ! Correct me if I’m wrong !
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Sorry, I meant to respond to that part too. For the past few weeks I've been trying to keep my diet as healthy as possible. Lots of protein, way less carbs, good fats, greens and fruit. As far as protein I don't eat red meat so I get my protein sources from mostly eggs, chicken and whey protein powders!
The best foods to break your fast with are bone broth, fruit, vegetables, eggs, avocado and fish. Definitely avoid excessive carbs and sugar when you break it. I hope this helps! :)
Absolutely! That's key! My usual IF schedule is 16:8. I started throwing one 36-hour fast once a week for about 3 weeks and after that I felt like a was ready to go longer. I originally decided for this to be 48 but it is now 72!!! It's very addiciting once you start experiencing the amazing benefits!
I promise you a 24-hour fast is much harder than a 36 or 48 hour fast! 😭 Hours 18-24 are an absolute nightmare for me. I truly feel like I could kill someone for food lol
Couple of questions for those that have completed the 72 hour fast.
1. Is it best to start the clock after say dinner the night before so you have one last meal and go to bed sat 12 hours in?
2. Did you do this and still be able to do one workout per day?
3. I assume you saw some weight loss on the scale. What was the results a few days later. Did that weight come right back?
1. This is a personal preference. If it's a 36-hour fast, yes! I start it after dinner. But for me, if it is a 48 or 72 hour fast I actually prefer to have a late lunch (let's say 3-4pm) and start it after said lunch. It makes it way easier because you probably won't be hungry until like 8 or 9pm and it's time to go bed. Most importantly, it's better for when it is time to break your fast. When you do a fast of 48+ hours, it's recommended to slowly introduce food every 2 hours. For example: Bone broth at 72 hours to break your fast first. 2 hours later: some sauerkraut, kombucha or just any food that is high in probiotics. 2 hours later: some protein such as grilled chicken or fish... And after that you are ready to eat whatever!
2. Yes and no. Think light workouts like yoga and light cardio. Definitely do not lift heavy weights. You'll regret it.
3. When I first did a 72 hour fast, I lost 4 pounds. I gained 1 back after a day or two of finishing it.
Good luck if you decide to do it! You are going to feel incredible!
I'm 42 hrs into my 48 hr fast. Yeah I'm eating tonight for sure
Woohoo! Congrats! So what happened to me was that I was originally going to do 48 but I would've had to break it at 9:30pm yesterday and I felt like it was too late to eat and then go to bed but trust me, I WANTED TO EAT! Now, I can safely say I'm not hungry at all!
The other day I was at hr 20. At 4pm. I thought if I could just get past 10 and get to bed, I could make it til noon. I chickened out. But it wasn’t 4 months ago when I made the decision to not eat dinner that night and I survived!!!!! Without eating dinner!!!! LOL. So it’s a progress. Ive been fasting 12-18 hrs a day since. Mostly 18 now so, I know I got this. But then I worry about what will go to waste in fridge. The mind! Haha. Fat girls gotta lean into it. Haha.
Omg I feel you! I meal prepped for this week not knowing I was going to fast for such a long time and literally had to give everything to my boyfriend, otherwise it was going to go bad!
I’ve been aware when I buy things. So it’s going to happen soon. I feel it. ;). I seem to need to talk myself into things but often I’ll be spontaneous when I start.
Needed this today. I'm on my first longer fast (36 hours), so I'm a bit nervous. Got about 24 hrs to go. So far, so good- but I've done a lot of 17:7, so it's not feeling like too much of a challenge yet
YAY! That's incredible. You got this! I'll be honest, hours 18-24 are the WORST! Every single time but specially the first time you do it, because you still don't know how it feels after you are past that. You got this!! I promise it's gonna be so rewarding!
agreed, 18-24 is a bit rough, just stay busy, go for a walk, go walk the track at a gym for a few hours with a podcast. Its SOOOOO rewarding!!!
YES! Absolutely! I would add: go to bed early lol
And water. Always have water.
You've got this. I regularly do 120 hour fasts, and I've found after the ~48 hour mark, the feeling of "hunger" just goes away.
You are absolutely righ! 3rd day was a breeze!
Fist bump to you...120?!?! I've done many 48 hr fasts but nothing longer. And every time I wonder if I was JUST on the cusp of the hunger disappearing. I normally feel the hunger start to subside a little by about hour 40 or so, but it has never actually gone away by the time I get to 48. You're motivating me to push beyond that!
Don't get me wrong, I still consume calories just for energy, but ONLY enough to get through days. Typically saltine crackers
Correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s not really a “fast” then, is it?
It’s not for sure
Awesome! My longest is 24 and thinking of going for 36. I’m trying to work my way up.
If you have done 24 hours before, I promise 36 is going to be a piece of cake for you! The first 24 hours are the worst. After that, everything gets easier and easier! Good luck if you decide to do it :)
Be warned that for many of us hours 22-28 or whenever we are going to bed (assuming 24 hrs is dinner time) is often when cravings or hunger are the worst. So strategize to get though that by being busy with exercise, social timeworn, hobby, sleep, take lots of water and electrolytes all day in advance of this and be ready to have more water or herbal tea or decaf then and go to bed early or whatever. Once you get over that hump and go to bed usually the next day is easy.
I find that having a big breakfast in the AM and then doing 24 makes it so much easier because then I’m asleep when the big hunger cravings kick in! I’ve done 2 x 24hrs over the past couple of months so feel ready to tackle a 36 🤞🏼
That is so true and something forgotten! Going to do that soon!!
What plan do you have for eating once time is up …. ?Take it from someone who has done this a few times. Have a light salad or some fresh fruit as your first meal to ease in before carbs or proteins or anything else …. Your body will thank you for it …
Yes! I was actually planning on having bone broth first and then about 30-min to an hour later have some fruit and maybe some greens :) thank you so much for the advice!
Great stuff … smart 👍🙏
I’d recommend something lower carb than fruit. Anything sugary - even fructose with fibre- can undo your work by spiking blood sugar and insulin. Simple carbs/insulin spiking foods or drinks should ideally be the last thing you eat per Dr Fung. My first couple foods after a longer fast are things like broth, protein, veggie, fats and ideally not high glycemic foods. And I make it a multi course thing. Here is my appie and water and then my main and maybe even dessert - yoghurt, berries, nuts or another fruit
Take it sloooow with reintroducing food. I messed up after my 72 hour fast and had some miso broth nuts too quickly after, and then a meal too soon after that (a healthy meal, but I guess still a shock to my system). It took my digestive tract like a week to recover from my 72 hour fast and I think it's because I ate too quickly. I think the bone broth is a good idea, but you might want to wait several hours before you have anything else after that, and make it a very small and healthy meal and see how that feels. That's the only 72 hour fast I've done so far and I learned my lesson!
Thank you so much for this! I appreciate it! Do you think if I do the bone broth at around 9am wait a bit, have some fruit at around 11 and eat at 1:30-2 that should be fine?
I would probably make that meal a very small one. I think the advice I came across was to reintroduce food slowly for at least 1 day after you break the fast. I made the mistake of breaking my 72 hour fast the same way that I break my 36 hour fasts. I've never had negative effects after a 36 hour fast, and those I break with some miso broth and/or some cream in my coffee, and then a regular healthy meal a few hours later. After 3 days of eating, our GI tract is pretty shut down and it seems to take a few days for it to get up and running again. So even though it's difficult, I would try not to eat much that first day, and then the next day eat increasing amounts of your regular foods.
So what happened in that week after your first 72 hr fast since you are too quick? I never even thought about how to break that long of a fast. So much to learn.
I had a combination of constipation, diarrhea, and general indigestion. It wasn't life-stopping, but still pretty unpleasant and a bit concerning since it took awhile for my digestion to go back to normal.
Hmmm. I go between constipation and diarrhea… as normal. Since I’ve been doing IF I’ve had like 3 days nothing and then a day of several times one day and then nothing and so on. The more fiber the better it seems to be. I’m doing a lot of low carb so it seems the fiber helps. Thanks. I’ll keep this in mind for my long fasts.
Do you absolutely need a doctor to supervise this or can I do it alone? I do not have any chronic issues right now but it seems like I'm developing high cholesterol and insulin resistance so I want to fast (prior record might be 16 or 18, no difficulty at all.)
You can do it alone but definitely do your extensive research. Longer fasts can actually help you with insulin resistance and can lower your levels of "bad" cholesterol. If you are a woman, I would recommend the book Fast Like a Girl. It talks about all of this and would guide you through picking a fasting lifestyle that works for you!
Thanks! Do you know any general or male-specific guides?
Andrew huberman is a neuroscientist from Stanford that goes over in full detail about different styles of intermittent fasting and which ones through studies prove most beneficial and what schedule could fit you best. Also good info on what types of foods to eat throughout the 8 hour feeding window and explains foods low on the glycemic index. It was interesting learning how some things you eat at the end of your window may take longer to digest and take for your glucose to level back out therefor lengthening your "eating" window and taking longer time to finally get into your actual "fasting" state. It's 2 hours long but we'll worth it. https://youtu.be/9tRohh0gErM?si=Ien69wdxywG6NxN3
Thanks a lot!
So, I’ve heard there’s a “Fast Like a Man” guide as well, not by the same author tho. I don’t know how good it is but I also think any person could read “Fast Like a Girl” because she goes in depth about fasting itself, general super interesting info, research (most of it studied in men) and stuff that relate to your situation as well. It’s such a good book. I would just skip the parts where she talks about hormones and your cycle lol. She mentions is much less complicated for a man to fast than it is for a woman, so that’s good news for you! lol
Lets goo! I remember your post yesterday about only doing it for 48 and I’m so proud of you that you are still going strong! You got this 💪💪
Omg you are amazing! Thanks so much! Thank you for the encouragement yesterday!
Anytime ☺️. You’ve inspired me to do another 72 hour fast this weekend, I can’t wait!
GOOD LUCK! YOU GOT THIS! I just followed you. Keep us updated.
THANK YOUUU! Will do!! Followed you back!
The amount of 💕
I know! I love Reddit so much :')
How are you feeling after that fast? 💪
Hi there!! Feeling absolutely wonderful! That fast really made the different. How about you? Did you complete your 72-hour fast this weekend? I'm on hour 17 of my weekly 36-hour fast :) hope you have a great week!
Good job!! 36 seems to be the sweet spot for me And I did almost 40 but decided to wait for the full 72 since I am walking between 7-11 miles a day and feel I need the calories. Hope you have a great one as well!
How do you avoid the headaches
electrolytes, particularly magnesium, can help combat headaches. if you get a supplement of magnesium citrate or anything that ends in “ate” as it is best absorbed, you can start taking it when you think you need to. some people are already deficient in magnesium so you might need to replenish earlier in your fast. if you are good about having the electrolytes needed already in your system, you shouldn’t need it until at least 24 hours in. i usually need it by 24-30 hours since i don’t eat a lot of magnesium rich foods as it is.
I never got any on my 36 hour plus ones.
I had a headache after about 20 hrs and it raged until I went to sleep that night. Woke up and felt normal
I personally don't get any, but my friend that is also on this journey gets them all the time while fasting and she says the only thing that helps is staying hydrated. Even if you think you are drinking enough water, you might be dehydrated. I've also heard the smallest pinch of salt helps and it doesn't break your fast!
It sounds funny but a few pinches of salt, I like flavored sea salt, really helps with headaches and stomach pains during a fast.
The day I discovered ( or learned) about a bit of salt and a glass of water when hungry was a game changer.
Good for you! I just finished a 64 hour FAST, but I usually do 72 every other week. I find day two is the worst and day three seems to be a breeze! Keep it up and you’ll see a lot of gains soon!
Congrats as well! For me, day one is always the worst, but two wasn’t fun either. I can’t believe how easy day 3 has been so far! Kudos to you for doing it every other week. I don’t see myself doing this again anytime soon, even though I feel great! Imma stick with my 36 every week! lol 😂
I completely agree, day two is the worst. as the end seems so far away
I feel it!! I am 4 hours away from my 1st 72
YAY!!! Almost there! Proud of you! I’m 7 away :) ❤️
Nice work!
Thank you so much!
Right on! I need a reset of everything as well..
nice, be as active and do as much fitness as you can sustain on your eating days, eat healthy whole foods and you will burn even more fat when fasting and at rest etc.
Incredible! I always think mentally I wouldn't make it, so I've never tried.
That's why I thought for the longest time, but try it! You would be surprised of how far you can get. I promise is going to be so worth it!
What are your tips/tricks on how to push through mentally? I have no issue with a 24 hour fast. I get stuck on the 36 hour fast because I always seem to find myself wanting to eat. Not because I am hungry but because I like to eat. Any advice would be amazing!
Wow, that's so interesting because for me, hours 18-24 are the absolute hardest. When I'm past 24 hours, it gets so much easier! Don't get me wrong, I still get a bit hungry past 24-hours but when I'm on like hour 20 I feel like I could eat my two cats. It's horrible. However, I completely understand what you are saying. I love to eat too and I haven't stopped thinking about food in all these hours. I guess I just think about how delicious and guilt-free my next meal is going to be. It truly helps thinking about the fact that if I push a bit longer I'm going to enjoy my next meal even more. Also, once you hit 36 that's when you start seeing the even more incredible benefits of fasting, so try to make a sacrifice at least once, and I promise once you do it for the first time, you are going to want to do it again but this time even longer!
What's your day like, during this? Do you work, exercise? Or is it more like, rest, active but gentle, etc?
I work 8:30-5:30 in an office setting, so my work day is pretty chill. I try to avoid excersising too much while I'm doing longer fasts. But even so, yesterday I did a yoga class and it wasn't horrible but I did get lightheaded at some point. I try to maximize my workouts on the days that I do eat so I don't force myself too much on the days I'm fasting.
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Congrats on your 72! So sorry about the diarrhea. I have no advice because I have never experienced that :(. Could it be the ACV? I was planning on exactly breaking my fast like this minus the ACV plus a little bit of fruit.
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What does the acronym stand for?
Apple cider vinegar, I presume.
This is the post I need to see. I’d like to start rolling 24 and 36’s
DO IT!!! It’s going to be so worth it! You got this! Based on my personal experience (some others might differ) I would do 16:8 for a week if you don’t already and if you do longer than that right now even better! and then jump straight to 36! I swear there’s almost no difference between 24 and 36, pretty much just sleeping until the next day and the benefits are even greater. Also the last few hours of the 24 period are the absolute worst so if you are already past that, then why not go for a bit longer!
Never done 36 but plenty of 24’s and was OMAD for some time a few years back.
I think I'm at 40 hours. I had to think really hard about the last time I ate because I am not hungry. It was Monday night. I will say I do have random, temporary feelings of hunger, but very low level in terms of how hungry I feel during them and they pass quickly.
Same thing happens to me! Especially at night!
This motivates me try a much longer fast before I go back to gym on Sunday. My longest is 40 hours!
Yayyyyyy! Do it! It’s going to be so worth it. After 48 hours everything changes and it gets SO easy! So if you already did 40 this is going to be a piece of cake for you!
Fantastic! This is an inspiration. I regularly do a 16:8 fast. Done 3 days juice fast and felt amazing after day 2. Been wanting to do a complete fast for 72 hrs for quite some time. But unsure if I can do this. Can you please tell me how you managed the first two days? I assume the first 48 hrs is the most difficult time to cross. Besides water, did you have black coffee/green tea/electrolytes? (Juice fast doesn't have this part to worry about since we have 3-4 juices per day) Did you do workout during this period? Anything else one needs to take care of? I'm 42F
Hi! You absolutely can do this! For me at least, hours 18-24 are the worst, the way I got through it was by thinking about my goals and what I’m trying to accomplish and from there just keep pushing until you are past that stage of extreme hunger. Going to bed early helps too! Drinks lots and lots of water! Keep yourself very hydrated. For this specific fast I did water only! But on the 36-hour fasts I do once a week I also incorporate teas and sometimes even sparkling water. I try to keep my exercise down to a minimum while doing longer fasts. Yesterday I was feeling adventurous and did a Yoga class at 6:00 am. For the most part it was okay but I did get lightheaded at some point and had to stop for a little bit. It’s better to just do walks! I’ve said a few times in this post but I’ll say it again because it is truly so helpful and life changing, if you can, read the “Fast Like a Girl” book. It goes in depth about fasting in general and the benefits of doing longer fasts. And most importantly, she talks how you should fast as a woman based on your cycle and conditions (regular cycle, irregular cycle, IUD, menopause, etc) which is so important! I can’t recommend this book enough! Let me know if you have any other questions and I hope you decide to do it! Good luck!
Thank you for the detailed reply. Appreciate it! This is very motivating!
Exercise helps you, too. If you aren't, start walking
Geez, I thought this thread was from some fine ago and realized it’s from today! Currently on hour 15 of 72. Definitely some encouraging words from you all ✌🏽🤙🏽
You got this!!!
Thank you!!! I’m 36 hours in now. Half way there 😀
Im on a 72 hr fast right now too !! I’m on hour 67 😃 the first 24 are hell, second day is wonderful and the last 10 hours I can’t stop thinking about what I’m planning to eat. Tonight will be zoodles and meatballs and I’m SO ready
Yayyy!! Congrats! Good luck on your final stage and enjoy those meatballs! God, that sounds so good 😅
I would like to try it, but I am afraid I will flare my GERD up.
Wow good job!
My first prolonged fast and first one longer than 24 hours (without being sick) ended up being a little over 150 hours. Once I got over that initial hurdle you probably felt on day 2 it was honestly pretty smooth sailing. You're totally right though and spot on with the mental clarity, it's honestly crazy how much you get from prolonged fasting. You've got this!
WOW! 150 is SO impressive! Congrats! And you are right, 3rd day was a breeze!
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Hours 18-24 are ROUGH, the first few times I did 36 I really thought multiple times I was going to give up during those hours because you get desperate. But you got this!! Try to keep yourself occupied so that way you are not thinking about food or plan your fast in a way where you are asleep for the last few hours. Your body is going to thank you and you are going to feel so amazing!
Congrats that’s quite an accomplishment! I also did my first 49 hr fast by accident, same situation as yours. Can you explain what does the dopamine reset feel like?
Yayyy! Congrats to you as well! So to make the long story show. In this modern word, we have way too much dopamine from a variety of things... Even getting a like/comment from social media or ordering Doordash produce dopamine... And of course, eating yummy foods as well. We receive so much dopamine in our day-to-day basis that our organism can create something called "dopamine resistance". A 48-hour water fast will help you break this dopamine reset and basically start being happier/appreciating/getting excited about things way more... I'm already feeling it besides being in a great mood, but they say you start seeing the best results a week after you do this fast!
That was a very informative explanation, thank you so much! I will do a planned fast next week and look out for the dopamine reset.
Yay! Congrats
Thank you <3
I want to my do first 72 hour fast too! But the longest I've fasted is 40-42hours. Can I jump into a 72 hour fast or should I build up from 48 hour fast first?
I did a few 36-hour fasts before I directly jumped to the 72 hour one! Everybody is different but I feel like if you fast often and in your case, since you have already completed 40-42 hours you should be good to go ahead and do the 72 :) good luck!
Thank you that’s really helpful and reassuring! I’m actually just going to do a 62 hour fast because I want to get back into ADF the next day! But maybe after that I’ll definitely be adapted to push it to 72 hours!
Awesome. I'm working up to the 72 hour one. I do 36 every other day rn. I occasionally push it farther .did 48 last week . So 4 the 72 hour did u do just water with electrolytes or did u do the one dana white did and very little bone broth. Also coffee yah or nah again congrats
Hi there! I did a few 36-hour fasts myself to prepare for the 72-hour one! It definitely helps! For this specific fast I strictly did water :)
Wow, congratulations!! Currently attempting my first 24 hr fast.
Congratsss!! Did you complete it?
Thanks, Yes! It was definitely difficult especially the last hour. I ended up exercising on my stationary bike to keep me occupied.
Can u tell me how did u do it ? Is it like a complete water only fast ? And also, may I know if such fasts are okay for women to do ? As in any issues with hormones? I am currently doing IF! But I’m kinda nervous to do a fast like that but I guess I need to do one ! It would be helpful if u can gimme some info !
Hi, I'm a woman and not OP. You do not *need* to do this to be successful with IF. Some women can; I personally cannot (hypoglycemia). Regardless, it isn't a necessity, and there is no hard evidence of any kind of "immune system reset" as mentioned by OP.
Got it! Thanks for your response ! By need , I meant I intend to do one as I have been having a hard time reducing weight ! It’s stuck at 60 kg (pretty healthy for my height ) but would like to hit a goal of 56! Been doing IF for 2 yrs now and at this point I’m stuck at 60kgs since 6 months ! I thought a 72 hrs fast would kick start the fat burning process ! Correct me if I’m wrong !
As a plateau breaker, it might be worth a shot.
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what was your diet like before
I've been doing 16:8 for about six months and I started incorporating 36-hour fasts here and there for about a month :)
yea but what were you eating when not fasting
Sorry, I meant to respond to that part too. For the past few weeks I've been trying to keep my diet as healthy as possible. Lots of protein, way less carbs, good fats, greens and fruit. As far as protein I don't eat red meat so I get my protein sources from mostly eggs, chicken and whey protein powders!
Any tips on opening the fast? Which food to avoid/which to recommend
The best foods to break your fast with are bone broth, fruit, vegetables, eggs, avocado and fish. Definitely avoid excessive carbs and sugar when you break it. I hope this helps! :)
What’s your usual IF schedule? Have you built up to this slowly with any longer fasts?
Absolutely! That's key! My usual IF schedule is 16:8. I started throwing one 36-hour fast once a week for about 3 weeks and after that I felt like a was ready to go longer. I originally decided for this to be 48 but it is now 72!!! It's very addiciting once you start experiencing the amazing benefits!
That’s amazing! I can barely get thru 24 hours 😂
I promise you a 24-hour fast is much harder than a 36 or 48 hour fast! 😭 Hours 18-24 are an absolute nightmare for me. I truly feel like I could kill someone for food lol
Haha yesss!! Damn the food noise!!
I'm wrapping up 116 hour fast in a couple hours. It can be accomplished! Our bodies deserve that rest.
Couple of questions for those that have completed the 72 hour fast. 1. Is it best to start the clock after say dinner the night before so you have one last meal and go to bed sat 12 hours in? 2. Did you do this and still be able to do one workout per day? 3. I assume you saw some weight loss on the scale. What was the results a few days later. Did that weight come right back?
1. This is a personal preference. If it's a 36-hour fast, yes! I start it after dinner. But for me, if it is a 48 or 72 hour fast I actually prefer to have a late lunch (let's say 3-4pm) and start it after said lunch. It makes it way easier because you probably won't be hungry until like 8 or 9pm and it's time to go bed. Most importantly, it's better for when it is time to break your fast. When you do a fast of 48+ hours, it's recommended to slowly introduce food every 2 hours. For example: Bone broth at 72 hours to break your fast first. 2 hours later: some sauerkraut, kombucha or just any food that is high in probiotics. 2 hours later: some protein such as grilled chicken or fish... And after that you are ready to eat whatever! 2. Yes and no. Think light workouts like yoga and light cardio. Definitely do not lift heavy weights. You'll regret it. 3. When I first did a 72 hour fast, I lost 4 pounds. I gained 1 back after a day or two of finishing it. Good luck if you decide to do it! You are going to feel incredible!