Well, I have been in a plateau when it comes to weight for about 4 to 6 weeks. I have been staying at pretty much the same weight during this time, plus or minus about 5 pounds either way. I think the plus/minus part of it depends much on water retention in the body. Going up or down a bit between days is not really a concern to me, but being at about the same weight over 4 to 6 weeks, it is a concern.
During this entire time, I have been very faithful to the ketogenic way of eating that I have been practicing. During February and March, I lost about 35 pounds, and I have not changed my lifestyle at all. So, I am not sure what is going on.
Last week I was talking with my friend, Jeff. Jeff lived in the United States and he is a doctor. He is also doing a ketogenic lifestyle, and he mixes in Intermittent Fasting, and also longer term fasts as I do. So, anyway, we were talking online the other day and he mentioned to me that he has a doctor’s appointment coming up soon, and he wanted to lose some extra weight before that appointment. Coincidentally, I also have a doctor’s appointment coming up next week. This appointment will be with my endocrinologist.
As Jeff and I continued talking, we found that both us have doctor appointments on the same day! May 16. I am on the other side of the world from Jeff, though, so I am one day ahead of him, but on paper, we will both be seeing the doctor on May 16.
I was thinking, and I told Jeff that last time I saw my endocrinologist, I did a 10 day fast ahead of the appointment, with the 10th day being the appointment day. I would like to lose some pounds before May 16, since I have not lost much since the last time I saw the doctor, because I am stuck on this plateau. Jeff said he was wanting to lose weight before seeing the doctor too, so I suggested to him that we should each do a 10 day fast ahead of our respective appointments.
Jeff thought it was a great idea, so I started fasting after dinner on Saturday night! So, here it is Monday morning now, and I am about 2 1/2 (a little more than that) days into my 10 days fast. I am feeling great. Since the last time I did a 10 day fast (mid-March), I have found that it has been more difficult to do a longer-term fast than it used to be. Funny thing is that this time I am finding it quite easy, at least so far. Maybe it is the fact that I am excited and psyched up for this 10 day fast. Having Jeff as a fasting partner makes me more committed to it as well.
What I am hoping is that as I continue with this long-term fast, it will break the plateau that I am stuck in. I will say, this morning when I weighed myself, I found that I was 2.4 pounds down since yesterday. That is the most weight I have lost in a single day in a long time, but I am unsure how much of that is just less water in my body.
One thing I know for sure, whether I lose weight or not, whether I bust through the plateau or not… fasting is healthy. It makes my body feel good. It heals things in my body. So, how could I go wrong?
Good luck to you, too, Jeff! I know we can do this!
What does your fasting routine consist of? I’m sure you have to eat something.
I eat nothing. My body eats my body fat. If there is some kind of emergency, I will “eat” or drink bone broth.
Wow. I don’t think I could do that. If I go too long without eating, my blood sugar drops, I get headaches and the shakes until I eat something.
It is actually easy to do, but you need to have your body into ketosis first for it to be easy. Unless you are taking diabetes drugs or insulin, your blood sugar will not drop too low. Your body will regulate that. Last time I fasted for 10 days, the lowest blood sugar I had was 72.
Wow
Wow! I will be starting on my 24 hr fast soon.
That is great, Mumay! Good luck to you!
Thanks looking forward to it.
Very encouraging and informative Bob.
Thank you very much James.
I dont eat for 12 hours my glucose rises 80 to 150 points. Dosing my insulin injections while fasting is tricky at least, but also dangerous to the umpteenth degree. I am trying to fast over weekends, made through first weekend relatively in range. A couple lower 300 readings as I was over cautious in my dosing. This past weekend however, went the other way as I had three Glucose plunges reading, 18 once, 34 and 43 as I manipulated dose. Anyone dependant on insulin injections must remain vigilante in constantly monitoring glucose when fasting. Even though you are not eating your glucose will rise, but because you are not eating your normal injection may be too much causing dangerous low glucose situation. A type 2 diabetic is generally producing insulin, sometimes not enough (because their diet) sometimes they have a degree of insulin resistance. Usually is a combination, and diet and excercize Can eliminate or least tremendously reduce ‘Diabetic’ condition. There are tremendous benefits to eating healthy and excercize for all, Type 1 diabetics who adopt the lifestyle accordingly can significantly reduce their insulin dose. But will always need to monitor and inject.
If you are on insulin, you definitely have to be vigilant about monitoring your glucose to avoid plunges. Thankfully in my case I have been able to eliminate insulin and all diabetes medicines from my life and have very stable blood sugar now. I wish you luck, Jeff.