Firstly, fasting may not be the approach for you but I'd like to share my experience in hopes that maybe it will help someone. Do your research and if you have concerns, consult a nutritionist or a doctor before doing any extended fasting.
I have been a compulsive eater for a very long time and knew I was ready for a change. When I first started my journey of weight loss in February, I actually began with a 72 hour water fast. I had zero calories for 3 full days and the only thing I consumed during those three days aside from water was one cup of black coffee every morning. I knew it was going to be uncomfortable. I knew it was going to be challenging but I knew I had to reevaluate my relationship with food.
The first 24 hours was the hardest. My stomach rumbled and my brain kept telling me to eat something, anything. I knew I had to ignore it and exercise my willpower. After the first day, I was no longer physically hungry but my brain did continue to nag at me for the following 48 hours. I know I wasn't going to starve to death as humans can go weeks without food so I had to ignore that little voice in my head telling me to have a sandwich. The mental aspect was by far the hardest part of it of me. It was also pretty hard to fall asleep during those days as well.
When the 72 hours was up, it was time to break my fast and reintroduce food. I had done a fair amount of reading about fasting and knew that I had to start with low GI foods to be sure I don't spike my blood sugar. I started my fast in the evening so when I broke it, it would be dinner time, I'd eat and go to bed shortly after to start a fresh day after and avoid overeating. I started with some tea with turmeric, gave myself 30 minutes and had an apple. Gave myself another 30 minutes before having some plain basmati rice with just a little salt. As much stomach had shrunk, that was more than enough for dinner.
The next morning, I was extremely critical of what I wanted to put in my body. I was grateful for food and cherished the experience and knew that since I had accomplished my fast, I had the willpower to control what and when I ate. Since then I have successfully maintained a vegetarian diet. I've also been very consistent about never eating after 7pm. I've lost 34 pounds since February, I'm the lightest I've been in over 12 years and I feel phenomenal.
In the last week, I've put a few pounds back on because my compulsiveness regarding food has started to return. I'm currently in a 24 hour fast to reset what my idea of hungry is and to refresh my memory that I do have the willpower to control what I eat. My current, shorter fast is what inspired me to share my experience.
Fasting may or may not be the right path for you but the experience has done wonders for me and changed the way I think about food.
TLDR: Knew I had to change my relationship with food, successfully completed a 72 hour fast in February and have lost over 30 pounds since almost exclusively through diet.
[link] [comments]
from loseit - Lose the Fat https://ift.tt/3czXFWx
No comments:
Post a Comment