Deciding to undergo an 86-hour fast is not a challenge most people readily take on…
Preparing Body and Mind for the Fast
In preparing my body, I made sure to eat light, low carb meals for a few days beforehand…
I also started taking exogenous ketones and MCT oil to support ketosis. Adding a broad spectrum mineral supplement ensured my electrolyte bases were covered.
Scheduling work meetings and social events was swapped for quiet me-time like reading, walking, and meditating. This allowed me to truly unplug and direct energy inward.
Finally, having the right break fast foods on hand made all the difference…
Into the Void: Day 1 of No Food
I officially started my 86-hour fast after finishing breakfast on a Monday morning…
The first pangs arrived around noon. Although manageable at first, they grew more annoying as the hours passed. I made my go-to electrolyte drink to take the edge off – mineral water with Himalayan sea salt, potassium chloride, and lemon juice.
By dinner time, stabbing hunger had me daydreaming about food. My mind taunted me by envisioning every delicious meal I could be eating. Each growl of my stomach felt like a tiny mutiny against my goal…
Lying in bed that first night with my stomach performing a noisy concerto, doubt crept in. Maybe I had underestimated this challenge. But I somehow managed to quiet my mind enough for some fitful sleep.
Battling Headaches and Fatigue: Day 2 Descends
Morning came after a night of tossing and turning. As I attempted my usual routine, brain fog and fatigue quickly set in…
To combat symptoms, I tried special herbal blends known to reduce headaches and improve mental clarity while fasting. I also went for a short walk outside to reenergize.
But by afternoon, the nagging hunger morphed into true lightheadedness a few times. Spotty vision and sudden clamminess made me pause work to rest. It was a battle convincing my primal instincts that food could wait.
The second sleepless night left me seriously questioning my will to keep going…
But the competitive side of me wanted to outlast previous records. I knew with focused mindset strategy, I could override my body’s desperate cries for nourishment.
The Final Stretch: Doubts and Deliverance
When I staggered out of bed on day 3, moving felt like wading through wet cement. My mind strained just to string simple thoughts together.
I cringed thinking about the long hours left. The clock seemed determined to halt completely just taunt me.
Thinking about foods I loved no longer sparked joy or longing. My appetite had apparently waved the white flag. Nausea replaced hunger at times thanks to my body attacking itself for fuel through gluconeogenesis.
I questioned everything as I tossed and turned through yet another restless night. Why was I doing this impossible challenge? What would breaking this commitment now really mean about my grit?
But finally seeing dawn’s light on day 4 reignited my determination. I dug deeply for every last scrap of mental and physical strength I had left. Like a horse galloping towards home, I rallied whatever energy I had left to triumph.
After a grueling 86 hours, I finally allowed myself a small bite of bone broth to break the fast…
How Extended Fasting Compares to Other Diet Trends
Before attempting something as extreme as an 86 hour stretch without food, it’s helpful to understand…
Intermittent Fasting
This beginner approach involves eating within set time windows, such as 8 hours of feeding followed by 16 hours of fasting daily. Studies show health benefits can come fasting for as little as 12-14 hours at a time. Prolonged periods allow the digestion system to rest, mental clarity to arise, fat burning hormones to activate and cellular repair processes to engage.
Alternate Day Fasting
This intermediate fasting method alternates normal eating one day with severe calorie reduction the next day to mimic fasting. Fasting days usually allow for 25% of normal intake, about 500 calories without food restrictions. This extended break from digestion provides amplified benefits. However, because fasting days still contain some intake, autophagy processes may be reduced compared to absolute fasting.
Extended Water Fasts
Hardcore fasters will dive straight into extreme water-only fasts ranging from several days to over a week. While research shows huge benefits from short fasts under 5 days, longer deprivation requires caution and medical guidance. Attempting multi-day fasts as a beginner can mean misery instead of bliss if the body rebels too severely.
So while my 86 hour feat may sound incredible on paper, was it really better than gentler fasts? Let’s analyze the pros and cons…
The Pros
- Skyrockets willpower, self-discipline, self-trust
- Burns more stubborn fat for energy faster
- Triggers deeper ketosis and fat adaptation
- Improves insulin sensitivity dramatically
- Forces reinforced mind-body connection
The Cons
- High risk of refeeding issues afterwards
- Much higher chance of serious adverse effects
- Intense physical suffering if unprepared
- Not sustainable as ongoing lifestyle
So in many ways, taking baby steps into fasting yields big benefits without huge risks that extreme lengths may incur.
Fasting Tips and Recommendations Based on My Experience
If you do decide to pursue extended fasting, applying some of the lessons from my journey could help…
Preparing to Start
The easiest transition into…
Getting Through the Fast
When struggling on fasting days, these strategies can lessen symptoms…
Breaking the Fast Properly
As tempting as it may be to…
Integrating Regular Fasting
While extreme fasts make headlines, you may reap more long term benefits from…
Surprising Takeaways from Starving My Body and Brain
After depriving my body of fuel for a shocking 86 hours straight, I gained several interesting insights about fasting and what my mind and body are capable of tolerating…
My experience trying prolonged water fasting taught me we should see bodily discomfort during fasts not as something going “wrong” but rather our amazing body smartly telling us change is happening.
Leaning into daily mini fasts better aligns with the body’s natural cycles versus shocking systems with extreme deprivation once in awhile. After all, our ancestors evolved going hours between meals or enduring periodic food scarcity. So by returning to this more natural state through routine fasting, we prompt healing and regulation.
Overall I believe occasional extended fasts can deliver profound benefits, including exploding limiting beliefs about human limits. However shorter intermittent fasts done consistently may ultimately transform health more by realigning the body with its natural rhythms.
The next time hunger arrives announcing itself loudly hours before your usual dinner, consider thanking your body for the alert instead of always immediately appeasing it. Through embracing fasting‘s physical and mental discomfort at times, you may just uncover untapped energy, focus and inner strength you never realized you possessed.