Intrigued by all this talk about the benefits of fasting, Akemi and I embarked on our respective fasts yesterday. I felt better prepared because I tend to, inadvertently, practice intermittent fasting – not eating after 6 p.m., skipping breakfast, and then not eating again until 11:00 lunch the next day – roughly 17 hours. Akemi, on the other hand, always eats a light early dinner, but gets downright hangry if she misses her carb-laden breakfast of either french toast or croissant.
So, I stopped eating after yesterday’s lunch, around 11:30 p.m., while Akemi had a final snack (muffin) at 2:30 p.m. When dinner rolled around, I was feeling pretty good – and not all that hungry. We usually eat big lunches and light dinners (she has miso soup while I’ll usually go with a couple of eggs followed by some kefir and blueberries). Around bedtime, I was still feeling fine while she was definitely feeling the hunger pangs.
The next morning, to my surprise, Akemi had elected to forego breakfast, determined to stick it out – until lunch time at least. I was my usual unhungry morning self. But as we crept past 10:00 a.m., hunger got the best of Akemi and she caved, satisfied with her 21 stretch, and enjoyed two eggs and a cup and kimchee pancake containing a cup and a half of kimchee.
Unlike Akemi, I wasn’t feeling overwhelmingly hungry, weak, or dizzy, so elected to push back lunch and join my wife on a shopping trip. Throughout, she was worried that, in my weakened state, I would pass out under the hot sun – but I’m pleased to report I made it there and back with minimal discomfort. BUT, by around 1:30 p.m., I started feeling hungry. I suppose I could have stuck it out longer but I didn’t want to go to bed after a huge dinner, and the prospect of waiting until tomorrow at lunch to eat was problematic insofar as I have a zoom call scheduled for 10:00 a.m. and I suspected I would not be at my best.
So I ended my fast at 27 hours with a half rack of lamb ribs, sauerkraut, a half an avocado, and some dark chocolat.e And for dinner tonight, it was some kefir, manuka honey, blueberries and dark chocolate.
I’m feeling pretty good. But exhausted. Earlier today, I figured that in my food-deprived state, I’d be unable to focus but, to my surprise, I was pretty sharp this morning, managing to write the tease to my new pilot.
Anyone else tried fasting, intermittent or otherwise? How’d you do?
Today’s Yes/No…
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