Any reason fasting would become much less tolerable for someone over time?

I first started fasting for weight loss when I was 21 or so and was able to last 4 days before electrolyte deprivation symptoms would set in (I didn't know anything about supplementation atp) and 6 days before the symptoms became so intolerable that I'd have to eat. I did a 2-3 of these 6 day fasts and a few 72-96 hour ones to lose a last bit of weight before taking a break from fasting for a few years. Fast forward 3 years and I can't fast for more than 2 days without electrolytes or more than 4 even with them (I use the recommended recipe in the sub's wiki). I plan on talking to my doctor about this, but wanted to see if anyone here had any ideas. I'm more overweight now than I was when I was first fasting if maybe that makes a difference

Answer

It is mostly a mental game.

I honestly believe that the absolute best way to improve your fasting is to improve your non fasting time. Become disciplined about not snacking, don’t consume empty sugars that spike your hunger, don’t drink your calories, and welcome being a bit hungry between meals. That last bit; being used to say no to hunger spikes should make fasting a lot easier.

Also if you fail to achieve your goals consistently you are training yourself to consistently fail. Again; a mental game.

Answer

I’m going through the same thing. Right now it’s almost midnight, I’ve been in binge mode all day, I’m full and yet I still can’t stop eating. I have been going through this sort of ‘discipline depletion’ for the past couple of months. I have not been able to do more than 48 hours, and even when I do, I’m drinking energy drinks to keep me going because there’s just this powerful craving for taste that I can’t shake - it makes it difficult to concentrate on work because I just keep thinking about food. It is particularly bad at night, and some times I literally try go to bed at like 9PM just so I can go to sleep and stop craving food.

I’d initially convinced myself what I’m going through is a temporary psychological phase, because I don’t quite know what caused it, and I just assumed that the ‘fasting discipline’ switch in my mind would flip back on as spontaneously as it was flipped off. But I’m beginning to worry it’s not temporary, cos it’s been over 2 months now and I’m still binging most days and unable to do more than 48 hours (of what is really just ‘lazy’ fasting, i.e. drinking zero-calorie monsters all day). Feeling hopeless.

Answer

I never thought I would say this before my fasting but meditation and mindset really helps. Just focusing on goals and spending real time with your thoughts helps a ton! I thought that was a bunch of bs before I started but I tried it and it really works!