Progress Report ID-9364 by Orion
Mark 30 years old male, weighing 103 kg / 226.6 lbs, 70 in /177.8 cm tall, Netherlands NL
Doing 60 days of Water Fasting. Starting November 1, 2011
Reasons for Fasting:
Primarily weight loss, although I always like how calm the mind gets in a fast. I set myself a goal to get to my ideal weight this year. 58 days to go as I write this, and about 23.5kg/51.8lbs removed from my current goal. Some would call it unrealistic, I just hate not being able to keep my word to myself. I'll understand if I don't make it, I would just like to try. Cold temperatures, higher metabolism, and stricter fasting protocols will get me close, at least.Past Fasting Experience:
Done several fasts before, 2 months & 1 month on water in 2010, and 1 month this year. I tried juice fasting, but the time for preparation and cleaning of the juicer tends to demotivate me. Water is just easier for me.Present Diet:
Semi-healthy. I've been overeating for the past couple of months during training, resulting in more muscles, higher metabolism, and unfortunately more fat.Supplements:
Vitamins, EFA, and sometimes Proteins.Relevant Medical History:
Nothing of note. Blessed with a strong resilient body.Present Medication or Drug Usage:
I've been drinking more coffee at work lately, having a sleeping disorder.State of Mind:
Tired & slightly depressed (comparing everything I had planned for the year with everything I accomplished does that to me). And messy, like a cluttered desk. In need of structure.Limitations:
Work, if one can call it a limitation.Questions:
I would like to hear people's experiences with dry/absolute fasting. Gives me something to compare to, since I'm going to try it in between the water days for the added effect.
The body is a miraculous thing. The last drink I had was Tuesday evening. Strange how I just keep going and my mouth isn’t dry at all. Although I admit I was home during this time. It is a whole lot harder when at work, since that’s far more exhausting mentally. Plus I find myself being exposed to food and beverages all the time. I think it’s easier just sleeping through the whole thing. Maybe water while at work, nothing at home? 4 days water, 3 days dry? Sounds extreme.
I have this Internet-scale at home. Whenever I weigh, it measures my weight, and uses impedance to measure fat & water %. Calculates BMI, and you can enter in blood pressure and body measurements. I measure daily just because I love the graphs.
Of course, impedance is sketchy at best, and completely unreliable when fasting, but with consistent measurements the values should go down. It’ll be motivating to see the graphs go downwards again.
Hi orion, Good luck with your 60 day fast. It would be better if you didn’t have to work. Try to save your energy. You will need it on the other end of your fast. Remember that any extended water fast is an accomplishment. No matter the time involved.
I usually set some smaller goals…and move them up as I continue. This way, I feel like I am having success all-the-while! Just a future fasting suggestion. Please feel free to ask any questions that you may have. Ron
Ron, life itself would be better if I didn’t have to work. If I could, I’d take a very long sabbatical to focus completely on my health. Afterwards, I’d become a health coach.
I set a goal at the start of the year, just never seem to get started on it. Now I have only 57 days left. So, a big goal it has to be. Considering the speed I lose weight during a water fast, I’ll need some added intermittent dry fasts just to get there in time. Not my most pleasant experience, I’m sure.
Yesterday I got super-tired at work, and ended up with a light head-ache when I got home. So I poured myself a drink. That first sip was divine. Around 40 hours during which the only fluid was my own saliva, and then this glorious glass of water. It teaches a bit of humility, considering how much we take for granted these days.
It’s funny how I get cold during a water fast, and hot during a dry fast. Apparently, that’s what happens to most. Maybe turning fat and air into water is a very thermogenic process.
102.8kg/226.6lbs this morning. Circumference of my arms and legs is decreasing, belly ominously remains to remind me of my bad habits. Muscles in my legs feeling sore, hunger pains as well. Thinking about having a final light meal tomorrow, it would be a shame to throw the last bit of food away. The rest of my fridge is already emptied out, prepared for the fast. My house-mouse is starving.
Wow! Good luck on your fast. YOu are awesome going 60 days. How are doing so far?
Not so good actually. I always have problems getting started. There’s always that ‘one last bite’. Very annoying really. Once I get started I don’t have any problems.
As stated above, I’m still having problems really getting into it. On one side, there’s the ever-present psychological addiction to food. On the other, there’s strenuous exercise. When I train, my body pushes me to eat. Every fast I’ve done so far where I’ve also exercised has been a short fast for that very reason.
And right now, I’m exercising waaaay too hard.
I’ve gotten into this rhythm of eating or not eating on a daily basis. If I gain weight, I don’t eat that day. If I lose weight, I eat a single normal-sized meal in the evening, and nothing during the day. On my days off I tend to keep from ingesting anything for as long as possible.
The result: I’m slowly losing weight, with ups and downs. My fat percentage is lowering somewhat more evenly though. And my stomach circumference is also decreasing (finally!)
I probably won’t make that insane goal by the end of the year at this rate, but that’s fine. I’ll keep trying though.
Today is one of those weight up-days. I went from 99.6kg/219.6lbs to 101.1kg/222.9lbs in a single day, and all I ate was a bit of bread yesterday. Goes to show how tough it is for the body to digest bread.
Fat % went down by 0.7% though, so it’s not a complete loss. Still, no treat for me today. I’ll get some fruit and veggies for juicing tomorrow.
Random thoughts:
I saw this documentary the other day, “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead”. It’s about an Australian that goes on a road-trip through the US for two months while juice-fasting. During his trip he interviews all kinds of people about fasting, and he reports of his experience. Then he goes on to help others do the same. Quite interesting actually. Plus, you see the responses of people, and how ignorant many are when it comes to the process of fasting. Got its own website: http://www.fatsickandnearlydead.com/
My blood pressure has reached a new low. 92/63 with a resting heartbeat of 83. My resting heartbeat has gone up in the morning, as if my body prepares for the inevitable post-sleep exercise round.
Hey Orion! =D
Am back! =D
How’s your dry/absolute fast going? I see that you’re aiming for a 60 day water fast. If possible, can we have a quick update on how things are going? Been more than a month since you last commented on this post.. no? =p