This week I decided to run a little experiment and see how long I could fast. I felt that after all the overeating and indulging of the holidays that my body, especially my digestive system, could use a break.
I was inspired by my friend Logan Christopher doing a 5 day fast over New Years. He mentioned using this book The Complete Guide to Fasting: Heal Your Body Through Intermittent, Alternate-Day, and Extended Fasting
I started my fast Sunday night at 10 PM and continued until Wednesday afternoon at 4 PM for a total of 66 hours. This was by far the longest I’ve ever gone without food.
My normal routine includes daily Intermittent Fasting, but that usually only lasts between 16-18 hours. Here’s a video I made last year talking about how to do it.
What did I consume?
- Water with lemon
- Green tea
- Herbal tea
- Black coffee with a splash of half and half
How did I feel?
To be honest, I felt great! I was hungry in brief intervals, but it passed. My energy levels were steady for most of it although in the afternoons I felt sleepy and a little drained. Otherwise I had great mental clarity, focus, and energy throughout the whole thing.
I normally use cold exposure and breathing exercises as part of my daily routine but I felt the beneficial effects were magnified even more during my fast. Read about my cold exposure training here.
Did I workout?
Yes I did. Mostly light kettlebell work, hitting the heavy bag, mobility, and cleansing Qigong.
What are some of the benefits of fasting?
- Fat loss (obviously)
- Lowers blood sugar (not dangerously low because the body burns fat as fuel – ketosis)
- Increased insulin sensitivity (remember obesity other metabolic syndromes are caused by insulin resistance)
- Increased levels of growth hormone
- Increased clarity, focus, and energy
- Improved heart health
- Anti-aging effects
- Boosts brain power
Why did I stop?
To be honest, I wasn’t hungry. I actually broke my fast because I wanted the socialization experience of eating dinner with my kids. Plus I had to cook for them anyway. 🙂
I broke the fast with 1 spoonful of natural peanut butter. After an hour or so I had an arugula salad with cucumbers, carrots, and some red pepper in an olive oil and lemon juice dressing.
All in all it was a great experience. I plan to continue my foray into fasting!
Got questions? Let me know! Happy to help.