2019 Fast 5.0 - Dry Fast Day #2

35 hours into the Dry Fast - 72.7 Kg
After struggling for so long, I was finally able to begin a new Dry Fast, hopefully I can beat a new record this time around - aiming for 14 days!
Last night my sleep was not great and I had a terrible headache for most of the afternoon and evening. I woke up at around 2:00 AM and did not fall asleep till 4:30 AM or so, I was just tossing and turning in my bed. When I went to sleep I was extremely nauseous, I felt I was going to vomit for sure. But then it passed, I forced myself to stay in bed and to try sleeping on my pounding headache and my nausea, and it helped after all. I had weird dream in my few hours asleep, something that I usually don't experience on fed days, and not for sure so early into the Dry Fast.
Energy wise I'm still in a normal state, I don't feel thirsty at all - just a bit of grumbling stomach, but not hungry per se. I didn't check my Ketosis yet but I feel particularly cold today, wondering if it's the weather or my Ketones are rising up.
Every Fast is different from another one and this time, I feel I'm having stronger detox symptoms, maybe because I waited too long to start a new Fast (after all my eating habits are not bad and definitely not changed from any previous Dry Fast).
I have gained a lot of weight in these past few months, always procrastinating my fast and believing I can lose weight by just eating less. Sure it might help for a week or so but then, I'm back on square one with even more pounds to lose than before. I'm tired of this yo-yo dieting that I'm doing, I should find a way to maintain all I lose during my fasts.
I found a couple of motivations this time around though. The first one is to meet again an old friend...that never seen me so fat, so I want to look better for him but mostly feel better with myself. Another one is because I look much older with all this extra weight on me, I can see on how people interact with me. Summer is coming soon and I don't want to hide again under extra large maxi shirts and leggings, I want to be able to wear again all my beautiful dresses.

Fasting and Social Life - How to manage it?

One of the difficult things to overcome when deciding to embark in a prolonged Fast is the social-life aspect. I’ve been struggling on completing properly my Dry/Water Fasts often for this reason; since my man is an always-hungry-foodie type of person and denying a dinner invitation all the times can be difficult.
One thing that I learned though is that I can work around the events somehow; at the end I go out to eat maybe one or two time per week. Of course that could be situations when I’m out of town for a road-trip or special events going on that I need to attend, but really this is not the usual schedule. I work 9-to-5 and I cannot afford to go out for lunch or dinner with friends every single day, plus I don’t find it really healthy anyway, at the end you never know how is the food served at those restaurants.
I always remind myself that, no matter if I eat or fast, time will pass and it’s up to me deciding if I really want to improve my health or find excuses not to. So look at your weekly schedule and plan a Fast around it; starting with 2/3 days of Dry or Water Fast is great as well, and I’m sure between weeks will happen to have more time to keep on going with the days. If anyone asks for lunch or dinner when you’re in the middle of your loving fast, well a regular excuse that I come always with is: “Sorry, I had a very long week and still need to catch up with some tasks/errands; let’s try the next one”. It might not work for everyone by all means – but it can give you some ideas.
I perfectly know how difficult can be starting a fast, thinking of not eating or drinking anything for days, but life’s made of priorities sometimes and, with trials & errors, everyone I’m sure, would be able to find some time to do a fast; even my boyfriend once was able to do a 2-days Water Fast! Unbelievable but true, he felt amazing after that, his belly too!
Good luck everyone on finding the time and mental preparation for this amazing journey of Fasting.

How to stay motivated during a Water Fast?

When approaching Water Fasting most of us struggle on being disciplined and continue the fast till the planned time or the hunger signal. The most difficult part of a fast is going through the first 2/3 days, till the body enters into Ketosis. Those days are the toughest one usually - since hunger, detoxing symptoms and headaches are a common thing. Desire of food and general unwell being can be hard on anyone. I myself experienced these difficulties too and gave up many times!

So how do we stay motivated and keep on going? Although I don't have a magic formula for that – since most of it can be self-motivation; I believe that knowing exactly that we just need to reach Day #4 and feel better, great - can be helpful in motivation. I suggest planning the first 3 days out of the house, busy with something; plan exactly what you are going to do in these days, set your mind to reach this goal no matter what. Once those days are gone you won't feel anymore hungry; temptations for food will always be there, we're humans at the end, but the chances to give up and indulge on eating will be definitely less.

How do I feel after 2^nd/3^rd day? I personally reach Ketosis around >48 hours into a fast, I can usually see some traces of Ketosis after this time, some people need more time, and apparently men take something like 72 hours to reach this stage. Once into Ketosis I feel always cold, energy is very good and the weight loss changes a bit, I can see reducing fat on my body. Maybe not in a single day but during extended fasts the excess fat tends to get down rather than muscles. I believe this is also another reason why I lose much more in the first days rather than when in Ketosis. Of course there is water retention, GI tract cleaning up but there's also muscle loss unfortunately. Muscles are heavier than fat and even a small muscle loss can show up on the scale more than losing unwanted fat. I would suggest being happy for the weight loss only once into Ketosis, that's the real deal!

Researches have shown that the Ketosis phase can also give a pseudo high sensation, and I believe it. Once few days into a Water Fast I usually feel way better with my mood and motivation. I suffer of anxiety and this is definitely improved after few days into a Water Fast. If you're struggling with anxiety and depression, definitely a prolonged Water Fast could give you some relief for that.

So don't give up in the first 2/3 days! I know it's hard like hell but the way you'll feel after will help you keep going with minimum effort. I personally don't have any problem between Day #4 and Day #21 really, but I noticed that if I set my mind with a Water Fast deadline, I cannot go longer than that. That's why I always suggest to Think BIG! Set for yourself an extended Water Fast, at the minimum 7 Days (if it's your first time), in this way there will be less chances for you to give up at Day #5 or #6 since you will be almost achieving your goal. May the force be with you!