The science of intermittent fasting

[Afro_Vacancy]

February 7th, 2017, 183.0 lbs, 83.0 Kg
February 8th, 2017, 180.4 lbs. 81.8 Kg
February 25th, 2017, 176.8 lbs, 80.2 Kg*
February 26th, 2017, 175.0 lbs, 79.4 Kg*
March 2nd, 2017, 175.0 lbs, 79.4 Kg
March 4th, 2017, 175.2 lbs, 79.5 Kg
March 6th, 2017, 174.4 lbs, 79.1 Kg*
March 8th, 2017, 174.4 lbs, 79.1 Kg
March 10th, 2017, 174.4 lbs, 79.1 Kg*
March 12th, 2017, 173.2 lbs, 78.6 Kg*

I finally broke through a plateau. Was it a minor whoosh?

I ate roughly 500 calories at dinnertime, around 7:30-8:00pm: bowl of soup, slice of bread, cup of kombucha, cup of chia seed pudding. I'm slowly recovering from my flu, I still have somewhat of a cough.

I wonder if I can keep doing alternate-day fasting through the month of March?

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

February 7th, 2017, 183.0 lbs, 83.0 Kg
February 8th, 2017, 180.4 lbs. 81.8 Kg
February 25th, 2017, 176.8 lbs, 80.2 Kg*
February 26th, 2017, 175.0 lbs, 79.4 Kg*
March 2nd, 2017, 175.0 lbs, 79.4 Kg
March 4th, 2017, 175.2 lbs, 79.5 Kg
March 6th, 2017, 174.4 lbs, 79.1 Kg*
March 8th, 2017, 174.4 lbs, 79.1 Kg
March 10th, 2017, 174.4 lbs, 79.1 Kg*
March 12th, 2017, 173.2 lbs, 78.6 Kg*
March 14th, 2017, 173.2 lbs, 78.6 Kg

I ate around 500 calories yesterday. On two occasions, between 4pm and 6pm approximately, people offered me food and I ate it because I wanted to avoid the "I'm fasting" conversation. The first was a chocolate biscuit, the second was a serving of bread pudding, lol, among the worst foods to eat on a fast.

 

[kj6723]

A friend in medical school asked me for this, it's a bibliography of fasting studies.

General and Classics:

Some references taken from here:
https://authoritynutrition.com/10-health-benefits-of-intermittent-fasting/

Jason Fung's fasting series, Part II (linked here is colloquiual), parts 3 and 4 are very technical, and it goes on
https://intensivedietarymanagement.com/fasting-physiology-part-ii/

Article on a 20-day fast that made the cover of Harper's a while back:
http://media.wix.com/ugd/03997d_422ba2e2c279e899b8d1c3de71f1b1e7.pdf

Features of a successful therapeutic fast of 382 days' duration
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2495396/

Medically supervised water-only fasting in the treatment of hypertension.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11416824

Medically supervised water-only fasting in the treatment of borderline hypertension.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12470446

Fasting: the history, pathophysiology and complications.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6758355

Miscellany on Human Growth Hormone, Autophagy, Norepinephrine, Etc.

A randomized pilot study comparing zero-calorie alternate-day fasting to daily caloric restriction in adults with obesity.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27569118

Fasting enhances growth hormone secretion and amplifies the complex rhythms of growth hormone secretion in man.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC329619/

Augmented growth hormone (GH) secretory burst frequency and amplitude mediate enhanced GH secretion during a two-day fast in normal men.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1548337

Fasting enhances growth hormone secretion and amplifies the complex rhythms of growth hormone secretion in man.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3127426

Resting energy expenditure in short-term starvation is increased as a result of an increase in serum norepinephrine.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10837292

Alternate-day fasting in nonobese subjects: effects on body weight, body composition, and energy metabolism.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15640462

Metabolic regulation of Sirtuins upon fasting and the implication for cancer.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24048020

Caloric restriction and intermittent fasting: Two potential diets for successful brain aging
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2622429/

Short-term fasting induces profound neuronal autophagy
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3106288/

Mitochondrial degradation by autophagy (mitophagy) in GFP-LC3 transgenic hepatocytes during nutrient deprivation.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21106691

Prolonged Fasting reduces IGF-1/PKA to promote hematopoietic stem cell-based regeneration and reverse immunosuppression
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4102383/

Fasting and Weighlifting

Effects of eight weeks of time-restricted feeding (16/8) on basal metabolism, maximal strength, body composition, inflammation, and cardiovascular risk factors in resistance-trained males
http://translational-medicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12967-016-1044-0

Time-restricted feeding in young men performing resistance training: A randomized controlled trial.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27550719

Krista Varady's Research on Alternate-Day Fasting

Dietary and physical activity adaptations to alternate day modified fasting: implications for optimal weight loss.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20815899

Short-term modified alternate-day fasting: a novel dietary strategy for weight loss and cardioprotection in obese adults.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19793855

Alternate day fasting for weight loss in normal weight and overweight subjects: a randomized controlled trial.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24215592

Improvements in LDL particle size and distribution by short-term alternate day modified fasting in obese adults.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20880415

Intermittent fasting combined with calorie restriction is effective for weight loss and cardio-protection in obese women.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23171320

Safety of alternate day fasting and effect on disordered eating behaviors.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25943396

Alternate day fasting increases LDL particle size independently of dietary fat content in obese humans.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23612508

Alternate day fasting and endurance exercise combine to reduce body weight and favorably alter plasma lipids in obese humans.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23408502

Alternate day fasting (ADF) with a high-fat diet produces similar weight loss and cardio-protection as ADF with a low-fat diet.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22889512

Improvements in coronary heart disease risk indicators by alternate-day fasting involve adipose tissue modulations.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20300080

Benefit of a low-fat over high-fat diet on vascular health during alternate day fasting.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23712283

Meal timing during alternate day fasting: Impact on body weight and cardiovascular disease risk in obese adults.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25251676

Effect of exercising while fasting on eating behaviors and food intake.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24176020

Changes in hunger and fullness in relation to gut peptides before and after 8 weeks of alternate day fasting.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27062219

Improvement in coronary heart disease risk factors during an intermittent fasting/calorie restriction regimen: Relationship to adipokine modulations.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23113919

Effects of weight loss via high fat vs. low fat alternate day fasting diets on free fatty acid profiles.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25557754

Modified alternate-day fasting and cardioprotection: relation to adipose tissue dynamics and dietary fat intake.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19375762

Determinants of weight loss success with alternate day fasting.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26385599

Alternate-day fasting reduces global cell proliferation rates independently of dietary fat content in mice.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19084375

Impact of intermittent fasting on glucose homeostasis.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27137896

Alternate-day fasting and chronic disease prevention: a review of human and animal trials.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17616757

Effects of modified alternate-day fasting regimens on adipocyte size, triglyceride metabolism, and plasma adiponectin levels in mice.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17607017

Dose effects of modified alternate-day fasting regimens on in vivo cell proliferation and plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 in mice.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17495119

Improvements in body fat distribution and circulating adiponectin by alternate-day fasting versus calorie restriction.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19195863

Modified alternate-day fasting regimens reduce cell proliferation rates to a similar extent as daily calorie restriction in mice.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18184721

Effects of different degrees of insulin resistance on endothelial function in obese adults undergoing alternate day fasting.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28035343

Valter Longo's research, mostly focused on the fast-mimicking diet and applications to cancer treatment, the immune system, and life extension

Here's a TEDx talk by Valter Longo

Fasting-Mimicking Diet Promotes Ngn3-Driven β-Cell Regeneration to Reverse Diabetes.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28235195

Fasting-mimicking diet and markers/risk factors for aging, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28202779

Nutrition and fasting mimicking diets in the prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases and immunosenescence.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28137612

Impact of intermittent fasting on health and disease processes.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27810402

Fasting and Caloric Restriction in Cancer Prevention and Treatment.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27557543

Fasting-Mimicking Diet Reduces HO-1 to Promote T Cell-Mediated Tumor Cytotoxicity.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27411588

Fasting, Circadian Rhythms, and Time-Restricted Feeding in Healthy Lifespan.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27304506

Safety and feasibility of fasting in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27282289

A Diet Mimicking Fasting Promotes Regeneration and Reduces Autoimmunity and Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27239035

Fasting plus tyrosine kinase inhibitors in cancer.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26645151

A Periodic Diet that Mimics Fasting Promotes Multi-System Regeneration, Enhanced Cognitive Performance, and Healthspan.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26094889

Fasting potentiates the anticancer activity of tyrosine kinase inhibitors by strengthening MAPK signaling inhibition.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25909220

Fasting induces anti-Warburg effect that increases respiration but reduces ATP-synthesis to promote apoptosis in colon cancer models.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25909219

Prolonged fasting reduces IGF-1/PKA to promote hematopoietic-stem-cell-based regeneration and reverse immunosuppression.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24905167

Fasting: molecular mechanisms and clinical applications.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24440038

Fasting enhances the response of glioma to chemo- and radiotherapy.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22984531

Fasting cycles retard growth of tumors and sensitize a range of cancer cell types to chemotherapy.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22323820

Fasting and differential chemotherapy protection in patients.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21088487

Fasting and cancer treatment in humans: A case series report.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20157582

Reduced levels of IGF-I mediate differential protection of normal and cancer cells in response to fasting and improve chemotherapeutic index.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20145127

Fasting and the Brain

Tedx talk by Mark Mattson, one of the dominant researchers here:

Intermittent fasting attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation and memory impairment.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24886300

Intermittent fasting attenuates inflammasome activity in ischemic stroke.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24805069

Chronic Intermittent Fasting Improves Cognitive Functions and Brain Structures in Mice
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3670843/
Dietary restriction increases the number of newly generated neural cells, and induces BDNF expression, in the dentate gyrus of rats.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11220789

Dietary restriction enhances neurotrophin expression and neurogenesis in the hippocampus of adult mice
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.0022-3042.2001.00747.x/abstract

Dietary restriction increases the number of newly generated neural cells, and induces BDNF expression, in the dentate gyrus of rats.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11220789

Energy intake, meal frequency, and health: a neurobiological perspective.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16011467

Dietary restriction normalizes glucose metabolism and BDNF levels, slows disease progression, and increases survival in huntingtin mutant mice
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC151440/

The Roles of BDNF in the Pathophysiology of Major Depression and in Antidepressant Treatment
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3022308/

Age and Energy Intake Interact to Modify Cell Stress Pathways and Stroke Outcome
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2844782/

Intermittent fasting and caloric restriction ameliorate age-related behavioral deficits in the triple-transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17306982

Reversal of cognitive decline: A novel therapeutic program
http://www.aging-us.com/article/100690

Caloric restriction and intermittent fasting: Two potential diets for successful brain aging
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2622429/

Dietary restriction and 2-deoxyglucose administration improve behavioral outcome and reduce degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in models of Parkinson's disease.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10398297

A ketone ester diet exhibits anxiolytic and cognition-sparing properties, and lessens amyloid and tau pathologies in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23276384

Intermittent fasting: A “new” historical strategy for controlling seizures?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3740951/

Bonus: Discussion of Coffee, Diabetes, and Weight Control
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/re...etes-and-weight-control-research-review.html/

lol sh*t dude that's extensive

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

Keith Harmon – “Fasting builds, not burns muscle”
https://intensivedietarymanagement.com/keith-harmon/

This post is dedicated to @jd_uk who recently argued that top athletes all follow 4-6 meals of high-carb diets.

There are, in fact, any number of top athletes who follow intermittent fasting / high-fat diets.

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

February 7th, 2017, 183.0 lbs, 83.0 Kg
February 8th, 2017, 180.4 lbs. 81.8 Kg
February 25th, 2017, 176.8 lbs, 80.2 Kg*
February 26th, 2017, 175.0 lbs, 79.4 Kg*
March 2nd, 2017, 175.0 lbs, 79.4 Kg
March 4th, 2017, 175.2 lbs, 79.5 Kg
March 6th, 2017, 174.4 lbs, 79.1 Kg*
March 8th, 2017, 174.4 lbs, 79.1 Kg
March 10th, 2017, 174.4 lbs, 79.1 Kg*
March 12th, 2017, 173.2 lbs, 78.6 Kg*
March 14th, 2017, 173.2 lbs, 78.6 Kg
March 19th, 2017, 174.2 lbs, 79.0 Kg
March 20th, 2017, 171.8 lbs, 77.9 Kg

I am completing a 60-hour fast this morning. The past two days I ate under 500 calories total, mostly made of coffee and kombucha. I don't think I had any solid food. Today I eat and I start fasting again on Tuesday.

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

February 7th, 2017, 183.0 lbs, 83.0 Kg
February 8th, 2017, 180.4 lbs. 81.8 Kg
February 25th, 2017, 176.8 lbs, 80.2 Kg*
February 26th, 2017, 175.0 lbs, 79.4 Kg*
March 2nd, 2017, 175.0 lbs, 79.4 Kg
March 4th, 2017, 175.2 lbs, 79.5 Kg
March 6th, 2017, 174.4 lbs, 79.1 Kg*
March 8th, 2017, 174.4 lbs, 79.1 Kg
March 10th, 2017, 174.4 lbs, 79.1 Kg*
March 12th, 2017, 173.2 lbs, 78.6 Kg*
March 14th, 2017, 173.2 lbs, 78.6 Kg
March 19th, 2017, 174.2 lbs, 79.0 Kg
March 20th, 2017, 171.8 lbs, 77.9 Kg
March 22nd, 2017, 171.2 lbs, 77.7 Kg

Yesterday I had a bit of cream in my coffee in the morning, a bit of bone broth at night, so <~ 200 calories in all.

All of my size 34 pants are now quite loose.

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

February 7th, 2017, 183.0 lbs, 83.0 Kg
February 8th, 2017, 180.4 lbs. 81.8 Kg
February 25th, 2017, 176.8 lbs, 80.2 Kg*
February 26th, 2017, 175.0 lbs, 79.4 Kg*
March 2nd, 2017, 175.0 lbs, 79.4 Kg
March 4th, 2017, 175.2 lbs, 79.5 Kg
March 6th, 2017, 174.4 lbs, 79.1 Kg*
March 8th, 2017, 174.4 lbs, 79.1 Kg
March 10th, 2017, 174.4 lbs, 79.1 Kg*
March 12th, 2017, 173.2 lbs, 78.6 Kg*
March 14th, 2017, 173.2 lbs, 78.6 Kg
March 19th, 2017, 174.2 lbs, 79.0 Kg
March 20th, 2017, 171.8 lbs, 77.9 Kg
March 22nd, 2017, 171.2 lbs, 77.7 Kg
March 24th, 2017, 171.6 lbs, 77.8 Kg

Yesterday I had a bit of cream in my coffee in the morning, so <~ 50 calories in all. I ate decently the day before as well.

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

February 7th, 2017, 183.0 lbs, 83.0 Kg
February 8th, 2017, 180.4 lbs. 81.8 Kg
February 25th, 2017, 176.8 lbs, 80.2 Kg*
February 26th, 2017, 175.0 lbs, 79.4 Kg*
March 2nd, 2017, 175.0 lbs, 79.4 Kg
March 4th, 2017, 175.2 lbs, 79.5 Kg
March 6th, 2017, 174.4 lbs, 79.1 Kg*
March 8th, 2017, 174.4 lbs, 79.1 Kg
March 10th, 2017, 174.4 lbs, 79.1 Kg*
March 12th, 2017, 173.2 lbs, 78.6 Kg*
March 14th, 2017, 173.2 lbs, 78.6 Kg
March 19th, 2017, 174.2 lbs, 79.0 Kg
March 20th, 2017, 171.8 lbs, 77.9 Kg
March 22nd, 2017, 171.2 lbs, 77.7 Kg
March 24th, 2017, 171.6 lbs, 77.8 Kg
March 27th, 2017, 173.2 lbs, 78.6 Kg
March 28th, 2017, 170.8 lbs, 77.5 Kg

I reached a record low this morning, following a 60-hour fast. It would be lower if I had not absolutely pigged out on Saturday (I don't know what got into me). Past two days I ate ~200 calories a day, yesterday I had some cream in coffee, a piece of mozzarella, and a glass of kombucha. Today and tomorrow I eat normally. I resume fasting on Thursday.

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeand...-science-ketagenic-michael-mosley-diabetes-ms
Is fasting a free health fix – or is it just a fad?
Dara MohammadiSunday 2 April 2017 03.30 EDT

This article from The Guardian goes over a lot of the research results with respect to intermittent fasting. They mention that it's good for weight loss, insulin resistance, the immune system, fighting cancer, and brain function.

They go over some of the research issues, that we don't know which fasting regimen is best (many short ones or a few long ones), and how many of the benefits go beyond the association with weight loss.

This is surprisingly positive, as it's from a mainstream media news source and these tend to be conservative.

I personally consider the scientific evidence for intermittent fasting to be overwhelming at this point. Within a few years, having a fasting regimen will be equivalent to brushing and flossing your teeth every day, exercising regularly and making sure you get a good night's sleep. It will just be part of the standard protocol people follow to stay healthy.

 

[bencarsno]

I’ve been curious about fasting since reading about cdnuts and his regimen. I have PFS-like symptoms without ever having been on finasteride, and feel like something drastic is needed to improve my general health. Tried a 36 hour fasting recently and it felt really good.

Anyway I don’t have a clue about biology but could there be some issue with being on hair loss medication while attempting intermittent fasting? Since you’re messing around with the digestive system etc. I assume you’re still on RU while fasting?

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

I’ve been curious about fasting since reading about cdnuts and his regimen. I have PFS-like symptoms without ever having been on finasteride, and feel like something drastic is needed to improve my general health. Tried a 36 hour fasting recently and it felt really good.

Anyway I don’t have a clue about biology but could there be some issue with being on hair loss medication while attempting intermittent fasting? Since you’re messing around with the digestive system etc. I assume you’re still on RU while fasting?

I don't think the RU is a problem as I take it a very low dose. That said I do sometimes stop the RU/minoxidil (inconsistently) when fasting, and if you're worried you can stop too.

If you're going to try this more regularly, feel free to discuss in detail, I'm here to help lol.

Which symptoms do you have? What's your height, body weight, age, and pants size?

 

[bencarsno]

Great, I’m using 40mg RU and the S5 Plus cream, but I guess a short break on fasting days would be fine.

Symptoms are mainly the brain fog which I’ve had for many years and which makes my life feel like a neverending headache.
Also mild ED, and just overall constant low energy. Weightlifting 3x a week hasn’t helped much, and bloodtests come out normal.

26 years, 176cm, 62kg, pants size I don’t even know but I’ve never been overweight or fat at all. Putting on weight is incredibly hard for me as I noticed while attempting a bulking phase last year.

So fasting would be for brain/general health reasons. Maybe a 60 hour fast twice a month or something? Or 24 hours every week.
I would like to try the crazy cdnuts 21 day fast but I guess then I would have to get off the medications.

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

Great, I’m using 40mg RU and the S5 Plus cream, but I guess a short break on fasting days would be fine.

Symptoms are mainly the brain fog which I’ve had for many years and which makes my life feel like a neverending headache.
Also mild ED, and just overall constant low energy. Weightlifting 3x a week hasn’t helped much, and bloodtests come out normal.

26 years, 176cm, 62kg, pants size I don’t even know but I’ve never been overweight or fat at all. Putting on weight is incredibly hard for me as I noticed while attempting a bulking phase last year.

So fasting would be for brain/general health reasons. Maybe a 60 hour fast twice a month or something? Or 24 hours every week.
I would like to try the crazy cdnuts 21 day fast but I guess then I would have to get off the medications.

I can't give you a thorough reply right now, but I'll point out that there is anecdotal evidence for side effects from S5. Maybe take a 1 month or 3 month break from S5 and cut the RU dose in half.

I'll write more later. If I don't, bump the thread.

 

[bencarsno]

Thanks. I think I've noticed S5 sides already actually, I think it may have lowered my libido after 2-3 months of use.
But I was definitely overdosing on it. When I noticed my shedding going down I got excited and probably started using way too much.

Since then I’m using only a very small amount, and also jumped on RU a week ago.

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

Great, I’m using 40mg RU and the S5 Plus cream, but I guess a short break on fasting days would be fine.

Symptoms are mainly the brain fog which I’ve had for many years and which makes my life feel like a neverending headache.
Also mild ED, and just overall constant low energy. Weightlifting 3x a week hasn’t helped much, and bloodtests come out normal.

26 years, 176cm, 62kg, pants size I don’t even know but I’ve never been overweight or fat at all. Putting on weight is incredibly hard for me as I noticed while attempting a bulking phase last year.

So fasting would be for brain/general health reasons. Maybe a 60 hour fast twice a month or something? Or 24 hours every week.
I would like to try the crazy cdnuts 21 day fast but I guess then I would have to get off the medications.

I did some cursory reading of testimonials on propeciahelp a while ago. Those people are not completely reliable so take it for what it's worth. My impression is that fasting helps a little with ED, but a lot with vrain fog, so that's good news for you.

One issue with being 62 Kg at 176 cm is that a long-term fast is impossible for you. Fasting shifts in metabolic nature once your BF% drops to ~4%, which might really be a little higher. You're in a little bit of a catch-22 in that you might benefit from fasting, but you don't have a lot of fat to lose. My understanding is that once your BF% drops that low, your body switches from burning fat for energy to burning muscle and organs for energy. This kind of makes sense, it implies the body wants to maintain a minimum level of body fat, around 3 or 4%.

Honest recommendation for you, it's a little difficult to implement but that's because you're already thin. You might benefit from fasting, but then you need to feast when not eating. It is ok and fine for you to lose a little weight, but you might not be able to lose a lot.

1) Do 8-hour eating windows on non-fast days, so you get a bit of autophagy every day.
2) Add the following foods to your diet when eating: fish and particularly oily fish, grassfed beef, coconut oil, olive oil, mixed tree nuts, peanut (without added sugar), varied vegetables, avocado, dark chocolate, fermented foods like kombucha keffir high-fat yogurt saurkraut miso et cetera. For the time being, avoid bread, anything with wheat really, and added sugars.
3) No snacks or reduced snacks on eating days. Just eat your 1, 2, or 3 meals.
4) Fit in longer fasts when you can: 36-hour fasts, 60-hour fasts, 84-hour fasts, et cetera. There's no science on which length is "best", that hasn't been proven and tested, but it's known that biology continuously changes in the first few days. autophagy (which is the body's natural healing process, where old cells are preferentially decayed) starts at around 16 hours of fasting.
5) Black coffee is fine during fasting.
6) Get some sun in case you need more vitamin D3. It's not obvious if you do, so just go get sun.

 

[bencarsno]

Man, thank you so much for this. Very interesting advice, especially considering I usually eat loads of bread and small snacks throughout the whole day lol.

Seems like long-term fasting is off the table for now also. But I'll try the shorter fasts and the 8 hours between meals. Feel really motivated to fix myself and stop feeling like sh*t now.

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

This week I'm not sure if I should fast Monday/Tuesday, or Monday through to Friday. I've done a week of travelling visiting family and have overeaten.

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

February 7th, 2017, 183.0 lbs, 83.0 Kg
February 8th, 2017, 180.4 lbs. 81.8 Kg
February 25th, 2017, 176.8 lbs, 80.2 Kg*
February 26th, 2017, 175.0 lbs, 79.4 Kg*
March 2nd, 2017, 175.0 lbs, 79.4 Kg
March 4th, 2017, 175.2 lbs, 79.5 Kg
March 6th, 2017, 174.4 lbs, 79.1 Kg*
March 8th, 2017, 174.4 lbs, 79.1 Kg
March 10th, 2017, 174.4 lbs, 79.1 Kg*
March 12th, 2017, 173.2 lbs, 78.6 Kg*
March 14th, 2017, 173.2 lbs, 78.6 Kg
March 19th, 2017, 174.2 lbs, 79.0 Kg
March 20th, 2017, 171.8 lbs, 77.9 Kg
March 22nd, 2017, 171.2 lbs, 77.7 Kg
March 24th, 2017, 171.6 lbs, 77.8 Kg
March 27th, 2017, 173.2 lbs, 78.6 Kg
March 28th, 2017, 170.8 lbs, 77.5 Kg
April 19th, 2017, 173.2 lbs, 78.6 Kg
April 20th, 2017, 170.4 lbs, 77.3 Kg

I reached a record low this morning, following a 60-hour fast. I had less than 500 calories in each of the two previous days. It's pretty good that I stayed level as it followed ~9 days of travelling, during which I visited family and often ate with them.

I've lost ~10 lbs in 10 weeks it seems, as I weighed 183.0 and 180.4 lbs after a 60-hour fast finishing February 7th and February 8th. I will try to fast today and tomorrow, or at least keep my calorie count under 500 calories.

 

[Trichosan]

I advocate intermittent fasting also. I practiced CRON for three years but quit as I felt I was losing bone density and getting sarcopenia. Felt about the best I ever have however. Mental acuity being the most evident. I still fast one or two days occasionally-no food at all, water, black coffee. A sports med person I spoke with last week mentioned a study of 12 hr. fasts being effective in some way but I haven't looked for the research.

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

lol,