What started as a 3 day Fast, turned into 5 days and ended up being 7ish days…
I have been dabbling in intermittent fasting since 2014, fasting for 18-24 hrs anywhere from once a week to once a month, as I read research shows that it helps reset the bodies hormones (insulin processing, human growth hormones) and gives the digestive track a break. When paired with a paleo diet and practicing it consistently, physical changes to my body were visible but the feeling associated to the mind clarity and focus was even better.
I started reading Tim Ferriss’s (TF) book, Tools of Titans (TOT) a couple weeks ago, and at the beginning of the book there are a couple chapters on multi-day fasting and the associated benefits. What intrigued me the most was the concept of autography, where the body goes through a cycle of flushing out toxins, radical cells, cancerous cells and essentially resets the immune system and the biggest human organ, the skin. I found this autography process absolutely fascinating and could not read enough on it.
Given the benefits of autography and my mental/emotional state at the time of requiring some clarity, I started my 3 day fast.
Because the fast was not really planned I did not prepare my body by lowering the daily caloric intake, as say our hunter/gatherer ancestors would ration food before he/she was going to run out.
My last meal the night before my 1st fasting day consisted of two loaded hot dogs and a pop! I also did not have the right supplements (to deal with cramping/headaches) and monitor/test strips in order to track my ketone levels at the beginning of the fast.
What’s the deal with Ketosis?
Ketosis is a state that the body will naturally get to when it goes into starvation mode or when it is fed a predominately fat based diet (80% Fat, 10% Protein, 10% Carb). In this state, the body burns ketones (uses fat as the energy source) instead of the usual non fasting state of burning glucose (uses sugar as the energy source).
The experts say that once the Ketone levels in our blood stream are over 0.5mmol/L, a light state of ketosis is achieved. This is also when the body goes into the autography cycle.
You can research ketosis and autography on the internet for days, but I thought I would just give an overview of why we are measuring our Ketone levels and why Ketone supplements are used to bump up the bodies natural levels during the start of a fast.
Fact: Leading universities in North America are currently testing/using fasting and ketosis to treat Autism and Cancer. They are finding that cancer/radical cells cannot survive without sugar (ketosis starves those cells), and autography (fasting + ketosis) flushes those cells out of the system.
Is it Really “Fasting” if we are Consuming Fat?
The short answer is yes! The reason why we consume fat is for two reasons:
- Fat helps the organs flush out toxins, so acids do not accumulate and add further stress on the body and/or shut down the organs from processing the toxins.
- Fat feeds the body during the “fast” so it is not feeding on the muscle tissue. Therefore preserving muscle mass in the body at the same time as achieving the benefits of a straight water fast. Burning almost strictly fat!
Note: If the body does feed on muscle the organs (kidneys and liver) need to process the muscle and turn it into energy which will cause all sorts of mayhem including acid accumulation that can result in severe pain.
Supplements and Equipment
When I do it again, I will be better prepared!! Here are the supplements/equipment I used, as recommend by TF, the brands are equivalents:
- Ketone/Glucose Monitor - FreeStyle Precision Neo by Abbott
- Ketone Test Strips - FreeStyle Precision Neo Ketone Test Strips by Abbott - I had to get these in by special order (2 Day Delivery) from Shoppers Drug Mart as it is rare that people buy them. I recommend buying them when you plan to do your fast so you have them on hand and do not need to wait a couple days to get them.
- Blender - 1000 Watt Ninja - Any blender that is around 1000W or higher will do. The power will provide the best frothy consistency to the buttered coffee or tea.
- MCT Oil - Any Organic MCT oil will work - Medium Chain Triglycerides Oil is a derivative of coconut oil, and we use it specifically because it is immediately metabolized into ketone bodies, helping us increase our ketone levels and convert into ketosis faster. This also reduces the amount of low energy tired days experienced during the typical conversion stage.
- Butter - Any Grass Fed Butter will work - Keeps us full, energy source
- Coconut Oil - Any organic type will work - Keeps us full, energy source
- Magnesium Citrate - Webber Naturals - Helps with cramps and headaches
- Himalayan Sea Salt - Any Sea Salt will work - Helps with dehydration. Note DO NOT use iodized salt, this strips the body from minerals needed instead of replenishing them.
- Laxative - Renew Life Cleanse More - Helps with constipation
- **For Next Time - Ketone Supplement - KetoCana. I will use this for the first couple days to “help” my body get into a certain ketosis state (over 1mmol/L) as fast as possible to maximize related benefits.
Here are the recipes I used:
- Lemon Water, Salt Pinch - 1.5L Water, 0.5 Wedges of Lemon, 6 (at the start - bumped it up to 24 at the end) turns of salt grinder (himalayan sea salt)
- Salt Shot - 0.5 TSP Salt, 1/6 Squeeze of Lemon, 0.5 Shot of Water
- Buttered Coffee (or Tea) - 1 or 2 Cups of Hot Coffee (or Tea), 2 TBSP MCT Oil, 2 TBSP Butter (or Coconut Oil), Blended together for 30 seconds.
- NOTE: Be careful when you open the blended coffee, open the blended container with a towel, as the hot liquid has increased the pressure inside the container and it will spit when opened… potentially having butter/oil/coffee stain’s on your cloths.
The Situation and Environment
I also should mention that I am in a privileged situation where I do not have to go to a place of work and I am in total control of my time, therefore I can wake up when I want, I can nap and really listen and react to what my body wanted.
Establishing the correct social and physical environment is of the essence to help make this experience as pleasant as possible.
The physical environment is super important, I was outside everyday for between 2-6 hours, the fresh air, the sun and nature really helped ground me, keep me busy and distracted. Doing a fast and staying in a house all day would probably be counter productive as it would be very easy to go stir crazy.
I was also in complete isolation when I chose to be. My brother (and roommate), was out of town almost the entire time I was on my fast, therefore there was no one cooking, eating or watching the food network (our favourite channel) at home.
Another thing that I need to mention is that I kept an awesome social environment, I choose the people I would talk too, friends and family that were positive and supportive, as this process can be an emotional rollercoaster. Without the right social environment it is very easy to fail what you are setting out to achieve, as with anything.
Oh and one more thing, for reference I was 205 lbs and had around 25% body fat when I started the fast. The fat I was consuming (about 50g) during my fast was sufficient for my size and weight. You may need to scale up and down depending on your body composition.
The Plan
When I decided to start the fast I made a plan of how I was going spend my time. I set a routing of journalling, meditating, exercise, podcast listening and reading. This routine really helped me stay on track, gave my day some purpose and an agenda, which also allowed me to get in touch internally and gave me an outlet to express and ground myself.
The Daily Experience
The following is daily account of my fasting experience, and let me tell you it started out bumpy and ended up euphoric.
May 23, 2017 - Day 1 of Fast
Weight - 205lbs, Temp - Sunny +26
8:30 am
Had my morning poop! :)
9:00 am
Today I am starting my first multi-day fast, I am going to attempt 3 days. I am doing the fast for a number of reasons:
- I have been eating my face off, not because I am hungry but because I am anxious and eating out of emotional instability for about two weeks now. My entire deal (I am trying to open up a spin studio in Port Moody, and I am referring to my financing and lease negotiations) went side ways on me around that time. Not only that, my guts probably need a break in general from working so much overtime, which should clear my head and give me some clarity.
- I am interested in how my skin is will react to the fast, everything I am reading says there are drastic improvements to ones skin.
- I wouldn’t mind having a new immune system given the punishment I have put my body through in the last 20ish adult years.
3:00 pm
I feel pretty good so far today. At the moment I have yet to have any hunger pangs, I actually still feel full from all the binge eating I have been doing.
I am using the recommended strategy from TOT, sipping on lemon water with a pinch of salt which makes the water sweet, and for exercise today I am doing some brisk walking on the seawall, from False Creek to English Bay.
I am really into TOT, the book has prompted me to ponder some questions that TF ask’s the guests he is interviewing. If I was asked those same questions I would not have been able to answer them. I have done a lot of thinking over the the last few months but nothing as detailed as what TF is asking these people… I need to get deeper.
I am starting to ponder on these questions:
- How would I change the world if I could? Why?
- How am I going to stamp this world with my mark? What does my legacy look like?
- What are some of the quotes or words that I live by?
6:00 pm
I had a buttered mate (2 cups Argentine Tea + 2TBSP MCT oil + 2TBSP Coconut oil blended together for 30 seconds) about 30 minutes ago and I feel kind of sick and a little jittery.
11:00 pm
I have had one bad hunger pang today but thats about it, I feel really good and wide awake, alert and my body is fully relaxed. Tomorrow I am going to get a glucose/ketone monitor so I am able to check my levels.
Daily Summary
- Exercise - 10km Walking
- Calories - 500 all from fat
- Water - 6L with pinch of salt, lemon wedge and chilli for flavour
Note - I drank and abnormal amount of water today for not getting a workout in. I could be dehydrated from being out in the sun all day, my body may have needed the extra water to work through the start of the detox, or I could have been previously dehydrated coming into the fast. I also got sunburn today :(
May 24, 2017 - Day 2 of the Fast
Weight - 200lbs, Temp - Sunny/Windy +26, Sleep Time - 5.5ish hours
9:00 am
Last night was a rough one! I ended up staying up until 1:30 am due to really bad hunger pangs, sore skin from the sunburn, and it was so fuking windy that I couldn’t open the window. The wind literally knocked over my patio chairs and I am on the 21st floor of my apartment building with my patio nestled into the side of the building… it was windy!
I woke up the first time at around 6 am, then went back to bed and really got up at 7:30 am and do not feel rested at all. I am feeling really tired and sluggish.
The hunger pangs are starting to hit me hard again… I am expecting today to be the hardest day of the fast, or the most uncomfortable, but we will see!
On the plus side, I lost 5 lbs in literally 24 hrs. It must be the inflammation that is getting flushed out of my system!
10:30 am
I had a poop and it was really weak… like I mean really weak, just a couple of turds, which makes no sense because I feel like I am lugging around a football in my guts. I thought I would be taking big dumps right now! Maybe later today.
Also just finished my first 1.5L of water and am heading out for a walk.
Note - I read and interesting note today in TOT…All humans are created equal, however the only thing that separates us, is in the consistency of we do, day after day!
3:30 pm
I just woke up from a 2 hr nap. I feel weak and I have a headache, I took 300mg of Magnesium Citrate (MC) to calm it down, and I also feel bloated.
Prior to my nap I went for short 4500 step walk that felt really good. It distracted me for a while. My legs feel heavy, I feel anxious, I feel really tired, I don’t want to go too far from home just in case my body decides to get rid of something.
After my nap, I started sipping on my buttered mate.
I have been experiencing dry mouth (similar to having a mouth full of cotton balls) since I have started the fast, and from what I am reading it is from dehydration. How can I be dehydrated if I am drinking 6L of water per day, I don’t get it.
When I put my legs up they feel really light and tingly at the toes, almost like they don’t exist.
5:30 pm
I started my 3rd 1.5L water bottle and finished my buttered mate. The headache I had earlier has gone away, but I am still bloated and feel light headed.
10:00 pm
I had a few hunger pangs in the last couple hours but nothing a couple sips of water didn’t get rid of.
**Side Note: I am laying in my bed at time of this entry and the condo dweller (beautiful women) in the building across from me is cooking in her bra and panties. What a beautiful view!!! She sees me but it doesn’t bother her. I should almost go out on my patio and say hi!… the beauty of being a condo dweller in Vancouver!
Daily Summary
- Exercise - 5km of walking
- Calories - 500 all from Fat
- Water - 6L
Note - Figure out why I have dry mouth
May 25, 2017 - Day 3 of the Fast
Weight - 199lbs, Temp - Sunny +26, Sleep Time - 8.5hrs
7:00 am
I just woke up and I feel good but I am so comfy in my bed that I do not want to get out of it. My body also feels pretty good except for the fact that I feel I have a monster something sitting in my intestines. If I could just poop it out, I would feel great. I also have a mild headache at the moment. I Slept 8.5hrs straight last night!
I dreamt about what I want to eat when I break fast. I am trying to be strategic about how I do it so the system doesn’t go buck wild, but it looks like the ultimate goal is slow cooked pork shoulder that has been marinating for 2 day in a bath of red wine, salt, pepper, coffee grinds, thyme, garlic, onion, chilli pepper, worchestishire sauce and mustard. Once it has finished slow roasting for 6hrs at 250F, I will crank up the heat on it so it can develop a beautiful crust on the outside. OMG I am salivating right now… I can smell it, I can taste it. The most perfect way to finish this off, would be to stack the succulent pork roast on a beautiful sweet brioche bun with some creamy coleslaw and a shot of tangy Carolina sauce.
I need to get out of bed and do something!
9:30 am
I am having a coffee at my favourite cafe, Terra Breads in Olympic Village. I love it because I have a view of the snow capped mountains, the calm ocean, and a subtly busy square. It is quiet and the sun is sunning down on my face! My mind and body feel great, I feel that my mind and my thoughts are very clear and focused.
On my way to the coffee shop I was pondering about, why I always put myself into all-in positions? I have been doing it my whole life into everything I do, from starting this fast, to my investing in my first business, to my experience in the stock market, to my experience with gambling and card counting, I can go on and on… And now I am going all in on the spin studio vs trying to start an online business.
Why do I put myself in this type of situation? Is it because scarcity drives me to ensure success?
If I think about this a little deeper…why haven't I produced anything in the last 8 months, i.e. published an article on my journey to opening my business, diet, exercise, finance etc… is it because I am scared of the bankers, landlords, people I am currently work with, and my network reading that I am struggling, that I am scared I won’t succeed?
Or that I will not end up opening up my studio, and that I made a mistake or misunderstood what it took to start this type of business… in other words being incompetent?
Why do I care? I have always prided myself on marching to the beat of my own drum!
At least I am trying to pursue the path I want, and not doing the status quo to pay the bills. I think that is hard for anyone to say, especially from someone that I am scared would ridicule or shame me for failing.
Maybe I need to look at what marching to the beat of my own drum actually means? Do I really do it? Or do I do it in certain cases to prove some kind of point to whatever circle I am a part ofTo show superiority? That I am not afraid? That I don’t care? That I am of value? But these are behaviours of someone who is weak, that is wearing a mask, that is hiding something underneath! That which is proving to the world what he cannot prove to himself. What are you trying to prove KJ? What are you scared of? What are you hiding? From Who? Why?
Wow… This is getting deep!
Every time I think Vancouver is full of shitty people, I meet someone that changes my mind. I just had a gentleman named Rafael come up to me, because I had the TOT book on my table and he is a TF fan. He complimented me on my straight writing in my journal that doesn’t have any lines, saying its a sign of an organized mind (I don’t know if I believe that!). We continued to chat about my journey of switching careers and his journey of also switching careers (from a finance executive to app entrepreneur consultant). What a nice guy!
12:00 pm
During my walk today to try and find ketone test strips on Broadway between Main and Granville street, the hospital area (no where in the city I went too carries these things due to no demand, I figured that area would be my best bet) I noticed a couple things;
1 - The traffic and noise really irritated me and gave me a headache. I have been staying close to home for the past couple of days, so this is the first time I am exposing myself to this type of noise and visual pollution since starting the fast. This type of traffic never really bothered me before, however I can tell that my sense are definitely heightened, even my sense of smell is much more sensitive. I can smell certain spices for example as I walk by a donair shop that has a donair spit roasting in the window. Once I got away from the traffic, people, cars, noise and activity, my headache, anxiety, stress started to cool down, peace and a relaxed state of mind started settling in.
2 - I have tonnes of energy today, I have walked for about an hour already and am thinking of doing a yoga class.
I have also noticed that my water consumption has dropped a little, I am currently finishing my second litre of water and in regards to hunger pangs, I have only had one so far today and that's when I was passing by the donair shop as I was breaking down the donair meat ingredients with both my nose and mind.
Another thought I just had was in regards to staying home the last couple of days and feeling jittery, anxious, sick, low energy, tiredness and the most important was not knowing what was going to happen with the bowel movement.
Some of the reading I have been doing indicated that there would be a massive elimination process, so I figured its better safe than sorry, but after further reading some people experienced constipation due to intestinal track shut down. I guess the intestines need to keep processing food/fiber to keep working, if they have nothing to process they go to sleep.
I am still consuming about 500 calories of liquid fat, so I thought this would keep everything moving through, but after further reading the fat actually helps the organs (liver, kidneys, pancreas) with the flushing of the toxins!! I am thinking I may need some external help (think laxative).
The cotton mouth I am experiencing is getting worse, its similar to what someone would experience after waking up and they slept with their mouth open all night, or the same mouth feeling one would get after smoking an herbal remedy. Its a consistent cotton mouth feeling all day. According to the research I have done on dry mouth, it is due to the body not holding on to the water without food being consumed, so the water is just going right through the body, hence the drinking of the 6L of water per day!
To balance the water retention process it is recommended adding salt to the water! Wait a minute I have been doing this already, I add 2 mill turns of himalayan sea salt to each cup of water I am drinking…but maybe it is not enough? I go back and re-read TF recommendation on the water salt mixture and he recommends a PINCH of salt per 1 litre of water. I am not currently following the recommendation!
I was also reflecting this morning about the difficulty and inconvenience the idea of fasting is in today’s world. Given the health benefits of autography and the system reset you would think that everyone would want to do it!
The hardest part I found with doing the fast was actually starting the fast. If I think about this a little deeper, this principle can be applied to almost anything that we want to do that is perceived to be difficult. Even though I have been dabbling in intermittent fasting for the last couple years, a multi-day fast seemed overwhelming due to the, “what if’s” and the fear of the unknown that we put ourselves through when we are faced with something that we don’t have any experience with.
For me, the long term benefits totally out weigh the short term “suffering”. This also reminds me of the time I did the colonic for the first time, which is a whole other story, but it was absolutely terrifying reading about it and looking at the instruments that were going to be penetrating me, but I figured long term gain for short term pain again!
I found that once I have committed to what was originally going to be a 3 day fast, a la TF, I figure I am already half way to a 5 day fast, and a 5 day fast is going to benefit me more than a 3 day fast, and I am finding that the fasting is getting easier, so… may as well go for it. Also from what I have read, people have experienced a “nirvanic”, “enlightened” or “superhuman” type state in days 4 and 5 of a fast.
I have a couple of minor skin conditions that I am really interested to see how they react during this fast as many have experience “better skin” whatever that means.
Another thing I wanted to note was that some of people that have completed the fast also mentioned they became sensitive to temperature, they seemed colder than usual and need to add layers or turn up the heat. I have not yet experienced this.
3:00 pm
On my walk home I had a massive headache for about 2 hours. I don’t know if my body is working through something, or the sun was working me today, if I had too much caffeine or the noise is getting to me again, although that doesn't make sense as I walked the seawall home.
As soon as I got home I guzzled 2 cups of water which tells me I was a bit dehydrated, I also took my MC and pounded back my buttered coffee (1 cup of coffee + 2 TBSP MCT Oil + 2 TBSP Grass Fed Butter), and I start feeling a little bit better. I need a nap or to just close my eyes and relax.
4:00 pm
My headache just got a lot worse. I pondered the salt intake from earlier today and put together, in a shot glass, half a TSP of salt, a squeeze of lemon juice from a wedge (1/6 of a lemon), added some water mixed it up and pounded it! I also doubled the salt in my water bottle. The headache is gone 20 minutes later.
New water bottle formula 1.5L water, 1/2 lemon, half TSP of salt.
6:00 pm
I laid down about an hour ago, and got into a deeply relaxed state, you can say meditative. I was so aware and my sense so heightened that I could feel my heart beat in my finger tips, in my toes and my quads, either individually or all together as a symphony depending on how I was focused! Unreal feeling.
A mild headache has come back, so I do another salt shot.
11:00 pm
My headache is gone! My dry mouth is not so dry anymore! I may have been salt deficient the last couple days. I took a couple laxatives to move out whatever I have sitting in my guts.
Daily Summary
- Exercise - 3 hours of walking (11K Steps)
- Calories - 500 all from fat
- Water - 6L
Note: Damn a lot came out today!! I also had a few episodes of light headedness.
May 26, 2017 - Day 4 of The Fast
Weight - 198lbs, Temp - Sunny +26, Sleep Time - 7ish hours
7:30 am
I had a good sleep last night, but I didn’t pass out until after midnight. A good night sleep for me is usually about 7-7.5hrs
The laxative I took last night has not worked its way through the system yet, it has just made me gassy and feel as though it flushed the water out of me. I got up a few times in the middle of the night to pee.
I currently have a mild headache, so I took a salt shot, the headache was gone in 20 minutes.
9:30 am
I had a coffee 30 minutes ago and it stimulated my first real bowel movement in 3 days, I can’t even describe the feeling, I have a smile ear to ear and it feels like a huge load off, I want to do jumping jacks and run a marathon I feel so good. I must say the poop was a big one (broke the water line), however it was really sludgy, black and yellow?!?!? WTF over… I hit the google search to see whats going on, and it looks like the yellow is due to the liver cleansing its self. The yellow color is bile that the liver is flushing… Interesting!
Cotton mouth is gone…looks like I was not getting enough salt!
11:40 am
I just took another poop, it was not nearly as big as the first one but would resemble a regular sized poop on a normal day, it was super stinky but had a totally different look than my first one, it was whitish with a cauliflower like look. I literally was full of shit!! LOL
I feel so good I am heading to a HOT YOGA CLASS. I take a salt shot because I am going to be sweating profusely and don’t want to die or faint from dehydration.
2:00 pm
Hunger is striking like a motherfuker, a few glasses of water a few deep breaths helps make them go away.
Yoga class was unreal, I felt like it was very easy to move around in my body, given its been maybe 3 months since I did my last yoga class. I chose yoga as my exercise of choice because of the easy movements, I was feeling stiff so this would help me loosen up and I decided to go hot because, its my preference and I also figured I could help my body flush out toxins and help with the cleansing process.
One thing that did happen during yoga class was close to the end of class I had to stop moving because I got super light headed, near the pass out stage. Given my state of energy, I am super proud to have completed the class, I sweat so much my tank top and shorts were as wet as if i jumped in a pool and my towel mat could have been rung a few times. I ended up drinking 1L of water during class.
4:30 pm
I had my buttered coffee at 3 pm, and it totally shut down my hunger pangs and has kept me full.
I laid down for 30 minutes and meditated. I am not hungry but my cravings are starting to run wild. I am going to head out for a bike ride and to grab my ordered ketone test strips to distract myself and so I can test myself tonight.
10:00 pm
I completed myfirst Ketone blood test and I measured in at 1.5mmol/L. Mild ketosis is considered achieved past 0.5mmol/L. I may not have reached ketosis until day 2 or 3.
Note: Better planning for next time, to have everything I need from the start.
I had a wicked day today full of energy and was not hungry except for after Yoga class, however my cravings were through the roof.
After I had my buttered coffee, I felt full and my energy levels were off the charts. I biked up to Broadway via the Main street steep hill on my one speed, then to Kitsilano and hung out at the beach and met a new friend there.
2:00 am
I cant sleep! I have a headache coming on so I took another salt shot, along with 450g of MC and couple laxatives.
I have yet to feel the euphoric superhuman feeling that is suppose to happen on days 4 and 5.
I actually felt a little more anxious like I wanted to socialize, party and have some drinks, instead I got some ribs and a pork shoulder roast and set them in the marinade I had dreamt about a couple days ago. They will be so full of flavour when I slow cook them in a couple days, when I break fast.
I thought my skin problems were going to start clearing up mid to end of my 5 day fast but I don't see any progress. I am however getting lots of compliments on how much slimmer I look in my face and in my gut area. I have been seeing physical changes in my body daily so it is nice to hear others see it too.
Daily Summary
- Exercise - Hot Yoga 1hour, Walking 30 minutes, Biking 2 hours
- Calories - 500 all from fat
- Water - 7L
Note - I felt full of energy today!
May 27, 2017 - Day 5 of The Fast
Weight - 196lbs, Temp - Sunny mid 20’s, Sleep Time - 5hrs
7:00 am
I woke up this morning to the sun and to a brewing poop that was rumbling my stomach. My poop was almost black with a yellow and green hue to it. It was runny, but not liquid, but chippy?!?!? Weird I know. I feel like this is the stuff that I need to come out of my system the “detoxed” shit.
I also woke up to a headache and a sore jaw. I was grinding the shit out of my teeth last night. My core is also sore from Yoga class yesterday.
I am surprised I woke up so early since I was up so late. I feel tired like I can go back to bed but I am also restless.
Today maybe my last day of fasting and I will break fast tomorrow morning. My body on another note is looking super defined and amazing, the six pack is coming in nicely and I am seeing huge definition in my quads and shins… I am loving it!
I am going to hit the gym today for a chest and arms workout and see how strong I am or If I lost muscle mass.
12:00 pm
I just got up from laying down for about an hour and half nap. I feel tired, anxious and hard on myself, lots negative self talk going on. I feel lonely and vulnerable.
I had a couple hunger pangs and am getting the fuck it feeling!
Fuck this fasting thing!
Fuck this entrepreneurship thing!
Fuck it all!
I may just need a trip home to be with friends and family.
1:30 pm
Fuck it! I am heading to the gym and a bike ride and saying fuck it you negative self talking monkeys, get out of my head and leave me alone! Then I am going to the park to do some reading.
3:00 pm
I just finished a heavy low rep chest and arms workout. I was a lot weaker than I felt however, I cannot ignore the fact that I have not been lifting consistently over the last 4 weeks.
I finished the last of my buttered coffee and don’t have any hunger pangs as of yet. I am also contemplating doing one more day of fasting, in part because I feel my first fast day was just processing a backlog of the huge amounts of food I ate, and second I really want to see progress of my skin clearing up that everyone is talking about.
After my lift I did not notice getting my usual “pump”, the massive swelling in my chest and arm.
11:00 pm
That workout and bike ride totally drained my energy, I took a TBSP of extra virgin olive oil to curb my hunger pang and give me an energy boost. I may have got too much sun as my skin and head feels very warm as I lay in my bed.
I felt brain lazy today, the exercise the last couple of days without any food maybe a little excessive and ambitious. Walking or light bike rides should be the only exercise I do on a fast.
Daily Summary
- Exercise - Heavy Lift Session 1 hour, Bike Ride 1.5 hours
- Calories - 650 all from fat
- Water - 6L
Note: Today was very emotionally stressful! I did not take a ketone test as I assume they are the same as yesterday and did not take any laxatives
May 28, 2017 - Day 6 of The Fast or Fast Break Day?
Weight - 194lbs, Temp - Sunny high 20’s, Sleep Time - 8 hours
7:15 am
Just woke from a beautiful deep restful sleep, last nights sleep was by far the best sleep I have experienced during this fast.
I am thinking I can’t do another day its too hard…Then I see this book I just finished reading a month ago called “Man’s Search for Meaning”, a truly touching and inspiring account from a holocaust concentration camp survivor, that lived in horrendous conditions, did hard labor 14hrs to 18hrs per day and survived in the camp for 4 years on one piece of bread (maybe 100 calories) until the Nazi’s were defeated.
I am currently on 500-600 good calories, I can sleep when I want, I am free, I can entertain myself, I am not doing hard labor, I am not living under stressful conditions, I am not sleeping on the floor or in a bunk, ass to crotch with other men, I am not prone to disease, I am not getting beat daily, I am not worried that I maybe executed at anytime.
I am suddenly full of gratitude for what I have and the privilege that I have the freedom and time to do my mind and body this service. To give it a rest and a chance to do some long awaited house keeping.
I need to go back to my “why”, Why am I doing this in the first place? I have reached the duration of the fast that I originally set out to do, but after all the research I have done, and my mindset that “the only reps that count are the ones we have the most trouble completing”, I wanted my body to get the best possible experience from this fast.
What are my why’s again?
- I would really love my skin to clear up, that hasn’t happened yet and I have not seen progress
- I love how tight I feel, although I don’t need to fast to achieve this
- I don’t know when the autography cycle is complete or has had enough time to get “enough” work done.
- I love loosing the 2 lbs a day at the moment
I plan on doing this again in the fall, and can make the next one 7 days or I can just hang in there for today and tomorrow and get it done!
Let’s be real there is nothing else on my plate at the moment that is distracting me or forcing me out of the “state” I am in.
8:30 am
Completed a Ketone Test and I am showing 2.8mmol/L, almost double where I was a couple days ago. I am in deep ketosis.
12:00 pm
As I am walking to the park this beautiful day, I feel I am at deep peace. Everything around me seems to be moving slower, sounds quieter as if I am watching a movie in slow motion. I am really relaxed.
Its another beautiful day in Vancouver, the sun is shining, there is no wind blowing, the ocean is calm and the smell of lilacs is in the air. I know why I moved here a few months ago, for moments like this.
I don’t have feelings of anxiety, of flightiness or feeling that I need to “do something” as I usually do, and the monkeys that are always jumping around in my head have all gone away. I am fully present, calm and I am super good with that.
I sipped on buttered coffee over 4 hours.
5:00 pm
I am so clear in my mind today that I completed about 4 hours of critical thinking in regards to self assessment and personal short term strategies.
I am back at my house laying on the couch. I feel like I am semi stoned! Its a feeling that both my mind and body are reacting as one. They do not want to read, research or produce anything, they just want to observe and enjoy this moment of bliss. My toes are tingling.
I am in a place I have never been aware of experiencing thus far in my life. As I lay on my back on the couch with my knees elevated and supported, I am content with just staring at the ceiling and observing different sensation of my body and my surroundings.
This must be the “nirvanic” state that I was reading about that usually happens on day 4 or 5. I am thankful that I decided to extend my fast this morning in order to experience this feeling of heightened awareness, happiness and state of being.
I feel fulfilled, joyful, grateful, loving and humbled in this moment.
7:00 pm
Completed a Ketone Test and I show 4.8mmol/L
10:00 pm
Took a laxative, my 450g of MC and I am ready for bed. I did not have a poop today so I figured I would give my system some help for my last day of fasting.
Upon reflection on the day and everything I have read regarding the “nirvanic” state, and by testing my ketone levels this morning and evening, I believe that state is achieved once the 3mmol/L level is crossed. I observed a lot of clear thinking, awareness and sensitivity to noise, sun, environment and my surroundings.
I was able to put a full day of critical thinking without major distractions to mainly my emotions and my monkey brain. I felt true razor sharp focus.
I am super excited to throw that pork shoulder and ribs in the oven tomorrow morning and to chow on them in the afternoon!
Daily Summary
- Exercise - 40min Walking
- Calories - 500 all from fat
- Water - 4L
- Salt Shots - 2
Note: Had episodes of lightheadedness.
May 29, 2017 - Day 7 of The Fast, Fast Break Day
Weight - 193lbs, Temp - Sunny High 20’s, Sleep Time - 3ish hours
4:40 am
I got up to a bowel movement, it looked like the last one.
The laxative was probably a bad idea last night as it was probably some of the reason I was not able to sleep.
I think I slept from 12:30am to 3am. I never got fully relaxed for bed as I felt I was on high alert for something to happen either to me or in my surroundings. Its the same feeling I get when I am camping, sleeping alone in my tent and I hear something in the bushes, my listening levels are so heightened and in tune because I am on alert, because I am in fight or flight.
When I got up at 3 am I was going to put the meat in the oven so I could break fast at 9 am. Instead I had a glass of water and a TBSP of extra virgin olive oil to cool my nerves.
I am interested to see what my ketone levels are showing this morning, I am assuming it is around 6mmol/Lbased on current progress and due to the way my body and mind are behaving. I am feeling anxious, flighty, irritable and a little sick.
Its gotta be the lack of sleep, and the lack of sleep is because of the laxatives!!
5:30 am
Ketone Test shows 5.9mmol/L. Meat goes in the oven at 250F.
The feeling that I have is super hard to describe… but imagine being able to…
(interrupted by another bowel movement, and its the first time I have the runs)
…feel your every heart beat in your entire body from your toes, shines, quads, stomach, shoulders, arms and fingers, either all together of focused on each part, depending on how you want to listen to it beat. I can feel all of this in a state of complete relaxation.
I am also aware of this lazer like focus which, I assume feels like what spiderman feels when his senses start tingling, and he can zero in on a conversation going on across the city. My focus is not even close to that however its putting in perspective this heightened state of awareness feeling.
The monkeys in my brain are sleeping, I may have starved them out… Thank christ what an awesome break! My mind is clear!
8:30 am
I passed out for 3 hours after my shower. I just woke up again to the smell of ribs I have in the oven, it smells so delicious I am salivating.
9:30 am
I was planning to break fast at 4pm today, however the smell of the ribs got to me when I opened the oven to check on them and they were done.
I break fast with a quarter cup of kefir and it tastes so good. The ribs are staring at me in the face and are begging me to eat them. I tell them I cant yet, my body is not ready for them, the monkeys are back. They are fighting, some of them want me to eat, some of them don’t. What do I do!!! Will my will power overcome the delicious slab of fatty tasty marinated meat staring me?
10:30 am
I break! I kill 2/3 of a full rack of ribs and it tastes so good, I am eating with my hands, I have seasoning all over my face, I am trying to eat slow, but that is not happening, I have a huge smile on my face and I am moaning like I am about to climax during an intimate love making session. I proceed with this process for an hour!
11:15 am
I have the runs!
11:30 am
I am tired and am going to nap. I have episodes of lightheadedness.
1:30 pm
I am up but feel sick.
2:00 pm
I have another rib finger, and can stuff anything else in my belly anymore, and go back to bed.
5:30 pm
Just woke up from another 3 hr nap. I am done eating, I don’t feel good, I totally over ate.
Note to self, eyes are way bigger than stomach.
I am working through some emotional episodes in regards to my short term future. I have that feeling when you know you are in a relationship with the wrong person and you know it, but you stick around anyway because so much time and energy has been invested.
With these emotions coming up, I look to test my ketone levels as I have not had these types of feeling for a few days. Ketone test shows 3mmol/L, a major drop from this am. I observe the major affect food digestion has on my emotional state… this is interesting.
I am still in deep ketosis and in the “nirvanic” state according my ketone levels but digesting food is getting in the way.
I also had a headhunter reach out to me this morning regarding a pretty good job in Calgary that instigated a positive emotional reaction even though the thought of heading back to that industry makes my stomach turn.
I find it very interesting to experience this instantaneous emotional reactions just from having my digestive system working again… or I could just be sensitive as I have not had any food for 7ish days.
6:20 pm
I think I want an accountability partner to keep me on track with what I want to do.
11:00 pm
I am in bed, I feel a little bit sick like I did last night before bed and I am tossing and turning and my brain is running around in circles. I read. I take deep breaths and I stretch to try and relax.
Daily Summary
- Exercise - None
- Water - 3L
- Food - See above (about 1200 Calories)
May 30, 2017 - The day after fast break.
NOTE: I added this day because I wanted to show my emotional/mental states and appetite sensitivity
Weight 192lbs
8:00 am
I slept through the entire night, however my hip was bothering me before I slept and this morning.
(side note: my right hip side was out of place and since have had several physio sessions to get it back in place, it has not acted up like this in months).
I started turning on the fan in my room before bed primarily for circulating air, but it also acts as white noise to block out the sirens and trains that are always noisy by my apartment.
I have a lot of things going on in my mind about next steps, what are they? How do I get there? Are they feasible?
I am really bored at the moment and need to figure out what I can do with my time. Anything!
12:30 pm
Ketone test shows 3mmol/L
I was not really able to eat today, I have a little bit of pork roast and sauerkraut with my buttered coffee and I don't think I am eating anymore today. I have a little bit of a sick feeling.
I am going to eat to stay in ketosis for the rest of the week and observe what happens. I am also interested to experience what the diet consisting of 80% Fat, 10% Protein, 10% Carb would taste and look like.
4:00 pm
I feel as though I am back up to 100% strength today, although I did have some anxiety that I was able to manage.
What I learned?
I learned an absolute ton during this fast, mainly about myself and about the human body and how beautiful and extreme machine it is.
Fasting humbled me, took me through a pretty crazy emotional rollercoaster, but also taught me well deserved discipline and patience. I also learned that the mind is super strong and depending on how I was focusing it, the mind worked either towards or against my goals.
This may sound obvious but a lot of the time we are unaware of how we are focusing our brain and we could be self sabotaging against our goals even though we think we are focusing…Think autopilot mode!
I learned that my emotions could cloud my mind very easily, and I was extremely vulnerable under “stressful” situations. As you read through the daily accounts, some days I experienced extreme highs and some days extreme lows and other days I experienced both. In these states of chemical imbalance it is never good to make any decisions until a state of neutrality is achieved.
I learned how I will do it better next time (see below).
I learned about ketosis and the power of autography. They body’s first solution to illness should never be pills but rather what can the we do to help the body heal itself. More often then not, the solution is water, diet, exercise, and I will now add fasting to the list!
7ish Day Fasting Summary
- Lost 13lbs
- Can see major definition improvement in my abs and legs
- Body feels super tight and light
- My Mind feels fresh, happy, grateful
- I have Identified many core beliefs
How Would I do it again?
Next time I do a 7 day fast I will make sure I have all the supplements/equipment mentioned above before starting as well as an exogenous Ketone booster as TF suggests. The booster is in order to put me in deep ketosis as soon as possible until my natural ketone levels catch up, to get maximum benefits from the fast in the shortest time period.
I will reduce my calorie consumption 2 days prior to the planned start date of the fast. Example, I am now 192 lbs and consume roughly 1800 calories on a normal day, 2 days out I would consume 1200 calories, and the day before I would consume 1000 calories and eat that via an intermittent fasting type day (all calories consumed in a 4 hour period and in the late afternoon or early evening). Then proceed with fasting routine. See below for typical days would look like.
2 days out
- Keto Test upon waking
- Lunch: Veggies/Fat and Protein 600cals
- Dinner: Veggies/Fat and Protein 600cals
1 Day Out
- Keto Test upon waking
- Late Lunch/Dinner: Veggies/Protein/Fat 1000cals
Day 1 - 6 of Fast
- Upon Waking: Salt Shot, Keto Test
- **Keto Booster (Days 1, 2 and maybe 3 depending on your levels), want Ketone levels to be above 1.0mmols/L
- Morning: Long Walk (3hrs), After walk Sip on Buttered Coffee or Tea
- 6pm: Salt Shot
- Before Bed: 450g Magnesium Citrate, **On day 1 of fast take mild laxative.
Day 7 of Fast
- Upon Waking: Salt Shot, Keto Test
- Morning: Long Walk (3hrs), After walk Sip on Buttered Coffee or Tea
- Late Afternoon/Early Evening: Break Fast with light salad or warm veggies, lots of fat, and little protein. For example, I would break fast with 1-2 cup of organic greens, 2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil, 4 oz of salmon and half cup of organic sauerkrautor kefir (to re-establish a positive flora in the intestines via the probiotics) - about 500 calories.
- Before Bed: 450g Magnesium Citrate
After Day 7 of Fast
Slowly re-introduce food via small meals and according to what my body is telling me.
Note: If I am going to a place of work next time I would start my fast the day before the weekend. i.e. If I have a Monday to Friday 9-5, I would start my 1st fasting day on Saturday, that way I have the weekend to get settled into the fast. The first 2 days are the worst as your body is converting over and the energy levels are low. I may need naps or just to lay down etc…
Summary
It was such a privilege and an honour to have done the service of fasting for both my body and my mind and will make it a habit to continue these 7 day fast’s a couple times a year.
If you have any questions on any of the details listed, shoot me an email and I will try and help. I do think this journey is an individual experience but I can share my experience in more detail if it would help you get through your fasting experience.
Oh and one more thing, I am not an expert on this in anyway, nor do I recommend anyone do it without doing your own research and/or consulting with professionals, this is just an account of my own experience and research on the subject matter.
Cheers,
Kelly Jawhari (KJ)
Downtown Vancouver, BC, Canada
June 10, 2017