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My Intermittent Fasting Attempts

10K views 76 replies 9 participants last post by  mbuster 
#1 · (Edited)
I've been unintentionally doing IF by eating only 2 meals a day for a while because LCHF simply satiates me and I am not hungry at certain times like I was before doing the LCHF way of eating. I'll try to post here my intentional efforts to vary from what I call normal. Id like to thank @NSDad126 and @chargette for sparking my interest. I welcome any comments or questions.

I'll be two consecutive 24 hour fasts this afternoon, you convinced me to try. Only water, green tea, and a black coffee first night at work. I did have a BP coffee soon after getting to work last night, then only water and green tea the rest of the night. Not really getting hungry, staying busy and active, didn't really even think about food. Didn't eat any more than normal before going to work yesterday afternoon.
 
#2 ·
The 24 hour fasts were easy to do on graveyard shift, I may try to extend that to one 48 or 72 hour fast during a 4 night graveyard shift, using BP coffee each day as a crutch to avoid eating.

Doing this on day shift or off days, I may find to be a mental challenge.
 
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#3 · (Edited)
This is my second attempt at OMAD (one meal a day). Not much of a problem when I'm working graveyard shifts.

I didn't check my BG last night after eating before leaving for work. Getting home this morning my BG was 105, my blood ketones were 1.1, and my Ketonix showed 2 green blinks. Getting up this afternoon, my BG was 93, my blood ketones were 1.1, my Ketonix showed 3 green blinks. My "pee"tones showed small or 15.

I didn't weigh my food, but broke my fast with 3 fried eggs, 2 slices of bacon, a cup of BP coffee, and 5 or 6 ounces of leftover crockpot pot roast. I will have water, hibiscus tea, and one cup of BP coffee before midnight, then only water and tea the rest of the night and eat tomorrow afternoon after I get up.
 
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#4 ·
After 2nd day (night) of 24 hour fast, my FBG this afternoon was an 84, blood ketones were 1.1, Ketonix was 3 green blinks, and "pee"tones were showing small (15).

I didn't test after eating yesterday evening or this morning getting home. I'll have to try to remember to find and take time to check after eating because it is always a rush to get ready to get ready to go to work.

My fast breaking meal today will be my cup of BP coffee, a fried hamburger patty with cheese and bacon, some broccoli tots, and a lettuce/slaw salad with 2 boiled eggs, green olives, cherry tomatoes, pecans, and a few craisens. The salad dressing is a tablespoon of ACV, 2 tablespoons each of extra virgin olive oil and flax seed oil. This meal may be tipping my daily carb limit to a little over 30 grams of carbs, but I think it will be under 50 grams.
 
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#5 ·
First big challenge was how to take my pills. I was taking vitamins, supplements, and meds on a traditional breakfast and supper regimen. I just doubled up most of the vitamins and supplements, my meds are once a day except metformin. I was only on 500mg X2 and so far after first day, no problems with 1000mg X1, but I am taking 1 soon after first bite and the other near the end of my meal.
 
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#7 · (Edited)
oh, just one thing that might be present with fasting that is NOT present with KETO because keto can be so satiating.....grahlin( probably mispelled). It is a hunger hormone that peaks in the 2nd day then slowing fades until most people find themselves with absolutely not hunger in 4-5 days.

With shorter intermittent fasting, grahlin will be something you have to deal with.

Most people notice that it has cycles, ie you'll experience hunger during your regular feeding hours, but during the hours in between you won't feel hunger.

I think I've mentioned it before, but I drink a sugar free, sweetener free carbonated lemon water during my mealtimes because there is a bloating feeling that lasts long enough for me to get back to work. I've never liked carbonated waters, I thought they were bitter, but with fasting and keto I have come to notice that there is a subtle sweetness to them.
 
#60 ·
Could be an issue with some. I've been mostly keto for 8 years and don't experience hunger at all - ever. I've fasted now and then, but not on any kind of schedule, just if/when I feel like it.
 
#8 ·
I was listening to the Obesity Code podcast the other day. Megan Ramos, the clinical director for Dr. Fung's IDM program was not shy at saying that whenever she has a patient that is 'unable to intermittent fast' she will ask them about their use of artificial sweeteners. That was a pretty bold statement, but one that I find is true with me. YMMV
 
#9 ·
As I have said before, I am not interested (at this point) in fasting. Although, someone reminded me that I actually do fast from like 8pm to 7am daily, but this in not intentional.

I have followed you all on this website and cannot figure out what the end goal is with fasting.....unless your fasting BS is constantly high! As long as my BS tests well within our goals....and I continue to lose weight....what other benefits can be anticipated....?
 
#11 ·
I'm open to any advice, this is a new thing for me to try. I know back early in my marriage, my wife would try to loose weight by fasting or severely limiting calories. All gains in weight loss were soon lost plus some. I believed back then that fasting was a bad thing and 3 square meals a day was required. I just accepted that for fact. I don't really know that I have an end goal and I haven't done much checking into fasting. I am unaware of all the benefits or downsides, but since learning that not everything that is said to be good or bad is necessarily true, I think that maybe what led me to think that fasting is bad may not be true either, so why not try it. I may not go beyond 24 hours, but working nights it has been easy.

Thanks, I'll have to check out the 'gremlin' stuff.

Was too exhausted to check in yesterday, Don't think it was fasting related, because I had the energy to put in over 20,000 steps and between 60-70 floors night before last.

Yesterday had a 116 BG when I got home and my blood ketones were 2.1. After I woke up, my BG was 86 and my blood ketones were 1.1, didn't do the Ketonix. This morning after my last night of graveyard shift this time around, BG is 102, blood ketones are 1.7, and Ketonix is giving me 3 green blinks.

I think the Ketonix may need to have the sensor checked/cleaned. I used to blow red blinks much of the time. Then again maybe it is saying I slipped a little from what I was eating then vs now. I may look at getting a cheap breathalyzer that reacts to acetones before spending much to upgrade the thing.
 
#15 ·
After getting up from my nap today (actually slept longer and deeper today than I did all week. Funny how that works), my BG was 88, blood ketones were 1.3, and two green blinks on the Ketonix. My "pee"tone strip showed Moderate (40) and the same thing when checked right before going to bed this morning.
 
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#17 ·
I snacked on mixed nuts and a couple of Michelob Ultras last night before bed. Took food to work today but didn't eat anything. Wasn't trying to not eat, but things just worked out that I didn't. When I got got home my BG was 111, my blood ketones 2.1. We've been under two tornado warnings, so other than eating supper, I've been watching the weather.
 
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#18 ·
Maybe more bad weather coming today, but currently south of us.

This morning BG is 90 and blood ketones are 1.3 and 6 green blinks on Ketonix.

I still have food at work and will see how long I can go, hopefully make it until I get home this evening.
 
#19 ·
With a cup of BPC when I got up and another one about lunch time, I made it thru the day without eating until I got home, fasting was only 23 hours. My BG was 98 and my blood ketones were 1.7
 
#20 ·
I like BPC, very much.

Nutritionally, BPC is not needed for intermittent fasting so I don't want to have too much of it due to it's high calories. But, it is better to have a BPC than to fall off the wagon, so I don't want to have too little either.

That leaves me searching for a balance that is sometimes in conflict with my desire for a caffeine fix, so I'm attempting to develop a taste for black coffee.

So far, on a scale of 1 -10, my enjoyment of a black coffee is a 5. I actually enjoy black tea better. Ofcourse, BPC is an easy 15.

I have my work cut out for me. LOL
 
#21 ·
Today turned out to be a normal day shift day. BH woke up early, offered to cook breakfast, and I couldn't decline. I ate the lunch meat and cheese I took Friday for "just in case" and I ate supper after getting home tonight.

We'll see what happens this next set of graveyard shift.
 
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#22 ·
First night of this graveyard shift went OK. Went 24 hours with only tea, coffee, and water. Being busy walking into a late planned outage on one of the boilers did pass the time quickly. We'll be starting back up tonight, so I may not have to think of food.

I did manage to knock myself out of ketosis while off, not sure exactly how, but it wasn't a bucket of ice cream. LOL. I think it was mixed nuts, trail mix, and popcorn.

Got home this morning and BG was 137, ketones were 0.4, and 3 green blinks on the Ketonix. Got up this afternoon and BG was 111, I didn't check ketones, and was 2 green blinks. After eating 4 ballpark franks with wolfbrand chili, cheese, onions, and pickles, along with a salad with about a half a box of craisens, my BG was 161. EEK. I wish I had an insulin meter, sounds like my pancreas is being lazy.

We'll see what tomorrow brings.
 
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#23 · (Edited)
Got home this morning after night #2, BG was 141, blood ketones 1.5, but Ketonix stayed blue. Before bed yesterday and today, drank 40 grams of potato starch mixed in water as prebiotic. This afternoon when I got up my BG was 114, blood ketones 0.4, and 5 green blinks on the Ketonix.

Today's meal is crockpot roast beef, brocolli with ghee and coconut oil, and a salad.
 
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#25 ·
I like these people so here is a video



I have never taken potato starch so I can not have an opinion
 
#26 ·
Probably more informative on potato starch than a YouTuber who's tried it twice would be Tim Steele.
 
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#28 ·
I'm gonna have to look. I haven't checked before because it never did that in the past, maybe a recipe change. All the more reason for me to make some more homemade chili to keep on hand.

Also more info on resistant starches on Free the Animal. Just be forewarned, they are not pro LC, nor diabetic.
 
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#29 ·
I start 4 nights of graveyard shift tonight and will start back on the OMAD plan tomorrow.

After doing some reading on Tim Steele's site about the potato hack diet, I may give it a try to see the results over 4 days with a slight modification. The main goal of the diet, per the creator, is weight loss and suggest eating only plain cooked potatoes for every meal for a few days, no salt, pepper, butter, sour cream, etc., no fats, if you can. I'm going to try it OMAD with my retrograded potato salad (has mayo, mustard, salt, pepper, onion, pickles, pickle juice, and ACV in it) and I will be having fats in my 2 cups a day of BP coffee. I'll be putting potato starch on it as well.

I'll be interested in the weight loss, if any, and of course the affects on my BG. I am going to stick it out if my BG does not go over 200 and see if there is lowering of BG over the course of 4 days.
 
#31 ·
Didn't have time to post yesterday so will try to catch up.

After first night of graveyard, got home yesterday morning and BG was a 108 and when I got up around 12:30 BG was 99 and blood ketones were 0.8. At 4 PM after a BP coffee and before eating my BG was still 99. Had 10.6 ounces of potato salad (no macros because I didn't measure anything when I made the batch) and hibiscus tea. At 1 hour PP my BG was 133 and at 2 hour PP I was 138, didn't get to test again. Had water and BP coffee at work.

This morning getting home my BG was 107. My FBG when getting up this afternoon was an 88 and my blood ketones were 0.9. I had a BP coffee and then had 12.7 ounces of potato salad and a glass of hibiscus tea. Will be testing a couple of times before going to work and will try to check again after getting to work.

Blood pressure and HR yesterday was 119/67 59 today was 122/63 53. These are 3 test averages that my Omran machine does. Just thought I'd check it.

Almost cheated Friday night, got to work and found out we were being catered fried fish/chicken dinners for some production records that were set in the first quarter. I do love fried catfish. Being the first night back to work in a couple of weeks after a vacation, had a lot of stuff to catch up on. By the time I could go check on trying to get some, the catering service was hooking up to their last trailer to leave. Cheat failed.
 
#32 · (Edited)
Testing 1 hour PP my Bg turned out to be a 143 and 153 at two hours pp. Didnt recheck until a few hours later. Was an 88, got home at a 99. this morning. Guess will see what fasting is when I get up this afternoon. I know I dont have enough potato salad to make a good meal so will make the best I can out of what we got. So far so goodl
 
#33 ·
Got up this afternoon after 3rd night of graveyard shift and FBG was 83, blood ketones 1.0, and BP & HR were 117/67 51. Resting HR being 10 points lower is surprising to me.

Had a cup of BP coffee, 14 ounces Community Club w/Chickory, 1 tbsp butter, 1 tbsp unsweet cacao, 1.5 tbsp coconut oil, 2 tbsp MCT oil, 4 tbsp HWC, 2 scoops pure stevia. An hour and a half later before eating BG 83.

OMAD for today was the remainder of the chicken livers (baked), the last of the potato salad(5.7 ounces), a slaw salad, a bowl of Daytona's keto yogurt.
 
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