UPDATE: LOST 14 LBS IN 6 DAYS!

I decided to water fast again because I’ve attempted and failed so much lately since being diagnosed with my female issues.

I still haven’t heard back yet from the oncologist to see if my first biopsy was malignant or benign, so it’s a bit nerve-wracking.

I am doing this primarily for spiritual reasons- this year has been incredible intense, with some negative things that I am not used to. I also gained 20 lbs since coming back from California in March, so that is also a motivator. It’s been really difficult for me to stay keto lately… I tend to eat my feelings, even if I am generally pretty active. My activity level has also plummeted in the last month.

Doc says my uterus is enlarged to the size of a 3-4 month pregnancy at the moment, so this probably also has a lot to do with my weight gain issues and bloating.

Mostly, I want my body to heal itself before my surgery and I want to reset my immune system.

Water fasting, from my previous experiences, has always been the best way to regenerate yourself.

I am a huge believer in intermittent fasting, cleanses, juice fasts, and the most extreme version: water fasting. In the past, I’ve gone up to 40 days on various cleanses, multiple times, and kept my autoimmune disorders in check by diet and fasting alone.

A word of caution: if you are prone to eating disorders or are already too skinny to begin with- I don’t recommend you do this. 

I have never in my life been ‘too thin’, as I am naturally muscular and more prone to gaining a few pounds if I don’t keep a strict eye on myself, but I’ve always been able to drop weight when needed as well.

It’s getting more difficult the older I get, so the activity had to be adjusted to match my infernal appetites (I eat like a farmhand).

Periodic and intermittent fasts are a great way for the body to rest, heal, restore. It’s also almost spiritual and relaxing for me.

I started my fast on 12 June 2018, after seeing pictures of myself at my son’s high school graduation. Yikes!

I will be keeping this as a journal and not posting this until it is completed… so here goes:

DAY 1 (JUNE 12) IDK how much I weighed on the 12th, but last week when I was at the doctor, I was 20 lbs heavier than when I left San Diego in March. Experienced some intense headaches at night. I am not typically prone to headaches. Wasn’t very hungry.

Imbibed 130 ounces of liquid. Got just a tad over 10k steps for the day and 62 minutes of exercise.

DAY 2 (JUNE 13) DOWN 7 LBS FROM MY DRS OFFICE VISIT LAST WEEK OVERNIGHT!!!  I realize I didn’t lose that much, obviously, but I will take it. Woke up with a crazy caffeine withdrawal headache. Felt good mostly, but tired and had to nap. Spent most of the day in and out of bed.

Was starting to get hungry from watching all the Anthony Bourdain memorial shows. I honestly DO NOT RECOMMEND that you watch food shows or read about food during the first days of your water fast.

Drank 124 ounces of liquids. Did 50 squats with a band. Got 11k steps on the Fitbit and 52 minutes of exercise.

DAY 3 (JUNE 14) down 2 MORE LBS this morning- 11 lbs away from my California weight.

Today I was a bit dizzy and out of sorts, but spent it scrubbing and cleaning my porch. That is a lot of work- plus we repainted furniture, painted some new art, cleaned the inside of her playhouse and bleached it… then I made a little bed for her and Filipino style kulambo mosquito net from scratch out of pink and purple tulle.

I wasn’t able to hit my 10k steps, but I don’t give a shit because I worked my tail off. I actually don’t know how I didn’t hit my step goal, I barely stopped moving today. I will be super sore tomorrow.

I am not going to lie- today sucked, especially the evening. I laid in bed and was SO hungry for the first time since the fast began. Will definitely be staying away from Anthony Bourdain episodes tonight.

Drank 120 ounces of liquids. Did 40 squats, with and without a band. 8500 steps, which is far below my usual Fitbit count. I also found my old mini-trampoline rebounder and set it up for Maisie- we spent a lot of time bouncing on that thing- which is good for the lymphatic system.

DAY 4 (JUNE 15) down another 2 lbs (total since drs appt, which is probably not accurate, is 11lbs less than my drs appt last week).

Had a bit of a headache when I woke, but slept an entire 8+ hours, which is unheard of! Spent most of my sleep state dreaming, dreaming, dreaming. I love dreaming, for the most part. I guess everyone does.

I haven’t had any BMs since embarking on this journey, so I took some potassium and magnesium today. My uterus is laying on my bowel, which is another reason for it to have to come out, so I already have issues. Let me just say- the potassium and magnesium worked a little bit too well. It actually interfered with my day, lol. While I was pleased that I was no longer clogged up, I was not happy with the repeated running to and fro the loo.

Feeling good so far, going to work outside today (can you tell, I update this journal haphazardly? I just post my daily updates to this fast journal as it happens or after)

-Endometrial biopsy of my uterine lining came back negative for cancer!

That being said, they still want to go ahead with the hysterectomy, as I have severe adenomyosis- and they still have to actually biopsy the rest of my tubes and uterus as well, once removed.

I am not looking forward to the 2 month recovery time. Hoping this fast helps get me down to my pre-MI weight, so I can recover without gaining.

-I am finding myself to be more tired as the day wears on, even though I haven’t gotten out of bed and it’s 2 pm already. I am also a bit hungry- was hoping this would go away soon.

As the day wore on, realized hunger wasn’t abating. Everywhere I looked- food or food references. I was scared I would break. I didn’t. I also didn’t eat the neighbors, children, relatives- and much to his regret, R.

The idea of going to bed at 8 pm sounded really great, but I had to get 10k steps today, minimum. I missed my step goal yesterday and I hate not meeting my goals.

All that being said, today sucked by the evening. Probably worst day so far on fast. Lots of detoxing. This ain’t my first rodeo- I know if I push through, I will hit the sweet spot. It’s just getting through the detox phase that really blows the most.

Imbibed 120 ounces of liquid. Did 50 squats minus the band. Gardened ALL day.  Got about 13,500 steps on Fitbit and 69 minutes of cardio.

DAY 5 (JUNE 16) lost another 2 lbs– back in CA range- 13 lbs gone so far!  I look thinner because I am not lifting weights, though. I will gain at least 5 lbs back after I go back to keto, but regular IF should keep the weight loss and good benefits humming along.

My REM sleep has been off-the-charts since starting my fast. It is so nice to sleep now. I sleep MORE at night now that I am fasting, which is a great thing.

Woke up hungry, again. Am waiting for that blissful loss of hunger part of the program. It usually kicks in by now. Blah

Later, was not really hungry, but super tired in the afternoon. Having trouble getting my steps and getting my work done. I am detoxing heavily and really need a nap. I may have to take it easy on myself today, but I have houseguests coming in a week and I need to get this house cleaned.

Discovered that LaCroix key lime tastes exactly like key lime pie if you haven’t eaten in 5 days- and not just like bubbly water a key lime pie farted into.

Today was foyer day (yeah, I have a huge 106 yr old house)- I cleaned the LL Bean Waterhog mat, with the help of Miss Maisie and youtube tutorials- and we scrubbed and polished woodwork and mopped. My three year old LOVES to help clean. I loathe cleaning, but soldier on because of her joy in doing it.

The guys also helped, when I decided I could no longer stand and needed a bit of a nap, just before 7 pm… which lasted til 8:30 pm.

I am really thinking of breaking this fast early and going back to intermittent fasting and keto. I have been detoxifying really hard- this is probably the most intense fast I’ve ever done in my entire life. I feel so weak tonight, like I am dying. I know if I power through this, it will be ok. Still, if I quit before 10 days, this is still the longest fast I’ve done in years. It’s all good.

I think part of it is my inability to allow myself to rest- my brain says  ‘get those steps’, when my body says ‘lay down, damn it, and REST’. What usually made for successful fast before (pre-fitbit) were days and days of allowing myself to lay in bed and ride it out.

Here are links to the stages of fasting:

https://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/stages-of-fasting-what-happens-when-you-fast/

http://www.anti-aging-plan.com/en/fasting_by_stages

Tomorrow is Father’s Day and R is enticing me to quit this by offering to make low carb enchiladas (a dish I never had in my life til this year) and a big breakfast.

I am now torturing myself and fast by watching “Parts Unknown”. I adored Bourdain. He was a snarky asshole and his shows were charming. I am a snarky asshole foodie, so he appealed to me even more, in the way people recognize their tribes.

Tonight’s episode is from season 8, with Eric Ripert- a Sichuan odyssey of burning spices and cultural musings- and sadistic torture of Ripert by Tony, which I love the most.

One can almost imagine the hellacious heartburn and anal ring burner after these men consume staggering amounts of chili pepper flavored foods. It MAY keep me on my fast, after all.
Imbibed 124 ounces of liquid. Did 0 squats today- screw that. Cleaned foyer like a madwoman.  Got about 10,500 steps on Fitbit and 52 minutes of cardio.
DAY 6 (JUNE 17) Lost another 1 lb- so down 14 lbs in 6 days. Going to call it quits today and get back to intermittent fasting and keto.

I expect to gain back 3-4 lbs once I start eating, but short IF will keep it off and get weight lower.

I love how much thinner I look and feel when I wake up. Indeed, even with the annoying bouts of dizziness, I feel pretty damned good on the whole- when I am not in crazy detox mode. I am not much for letting myself get ‘too thin’, but the bits of me that harbors a lot of pride in my looks enjoys it when I am curvy and feel sexy and fit.

Aging, for me, hasn’t been a huge issue psychologically. I feel stronger and clearer the older I get. I am certainly happier, with more joie de vivre. I like the evolution of my face, the character of it. The increasing innocence that has crept in since Maisie’s birth.

However, I have to maintain a certain weight to feel my best- and that is generally 140-150 lbs. Any less and I look emaciated. I am built like a brick shit house French pony- muscular and strong. Thank goodness. I eat like a farmhand usually and move as much as I can possibly muster.

Fasting is amazing, even with it’s drawbacks and psychological tortures.

TOMORROW, I will hopefully do a short 2 day fast, then ease back to the 1 day one, 1 day off intermittent thing combined with keto.

I only have 5 lbs to lose to get to the CA lowest weight- and 15 to get to pre-preggo weight.

I’ve been heavier than I was before the kid for nearly 4 yrs now, so I’m not sweating it as much. I like the way I look.

It is more important to FEEL good, in my opinion. Healthy is what I am aiming for.