I'll keep this quick and to the point - no waffles! I apologise for mentioning food; it was not helpful! Fasting practices are derived from biological survival strategies used by early humans and all wild animals. The research strongly supports it. All of these methods and approaches are general and based on my own experience. Fasting has been understudied in female populations, and there are small variations. I recommend reading Dr. Mindy Pelz's book: Fast Like a Girl. Keep your menstrual cycle in mind when reading the following points.
BASIC GUIDE
1) Choose the busiest days in your schedule to fast. You don't want to be twiddling your thumbs or attempting to relax when fasting. Trust me, it's poo poo! Plan tasks to help you reach your objective.
2) Finish eating as soon as possible the day before. For example, end at 6 p.m. Then all you have to do is make it to 12 noon the next day to complete an 18-hour fast.
3) Don't watch TV with lots of food references! 🤣😵
4) Always let everyone around you know that you are fasting.
5) If fasting makes your mood worse, do it alone. If you cannot accomplish it on your own, please consider those around you!
6) Start off with short fasts. Build up.
7)If it's even conceivable for some lucky people out there, enjoy a lie-in on your fast day.
8) Make sure your first meal (real breakfast, not the made-up Kellogg's one) is ready by the time you intend to complete.
9) Exercise hard! You will amplify the effects of the fast massively! It also helps pass time.
10) Drinking caffeine will increase the effect and pass the time. Black tea or coffee.
I am a huge lover of diet fizzy drinks when I am fasting.
11) Drink lots of water.
12) Maybe prepare a big dinner afterwards. The food is literally wonderful after a fast! To quote one of my heroes, Anthony Bourdain, "For a dinner date, I eat light all day to save room, then I go all in: I choose this meal, this order, and you, the person across from me, to share it with." A meal like that has a wonderful intimacy about it."
13) If fasting does not suit you, try shorter ones.
ADVANCED ONLY!
1)If you attempt a 24 hour fast next to an 18-hour fast:
For example, finish eating at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Complete the 24-hour fast, then start eating like a banshee around 6 p.m. on Sunday, until you're about to bust. You should be finished eating by 7 p.m. Hold out till 1 p.m. Monday. After a 24-hour fast, 18 hours will seem easy.
2) Train incredibly hard. I mean crazy hard! In the morning, during your fast.
I will add additional information as I learn it! Please share any helpful strategies you've tried!
Please contact me directly for media enquiries, academic enquiries, questions and links to research paper's. Thank you! ©️ 2021 Dan Raynham.
ALWAYS CONSULT A DOCTOR BEFORE UNDERGOING ANY NEW DIET OR FITNESS REGIME.
Don't fast if you have a history of eating disorders. If you’re pregnant, diabetic or have low blood pressure.