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Fasting Getting Harder

I have been doing IF for 4 years now. I started at 16:8 for the first two years, and 18:6 for the past two years. I also follow clean/semi-clean Keto lifestyle for almost 6 years now, and I have gone from 500 lbs to 215 lbs. In the past year and a half, I have taken up cycling. and have ridden about 3000 miles in that a year and a half. I have lost a ton of fat and gained muscle from my riding. About a year ago, I started to build in one 24 hour fasting day a week to go with my 18:6 fasting. Four years later, IF is getting much harder. My hunger goes up, and it's not empty huger, I get so low on energy and sleepy along with the hunger. I used to be fat adapted, but my body seems to be changing and I'm afraid to eat when im starving because I don't want the extra calories and put back weight. Im miserable and hungry way more than I used to be. My supplement regime and prescription medications have not changed. The only other thing I can think of is early onset menopause or perimenopause (im 37 with PCOS and Estrogen Dominance, and I'm already on progesterone hormone replacement for 5 years now)- I'll find out at my annual appointment in Dec. I'm not sure what to do and I am upset and frustrated.

Answer

I’m in the same boat, have been doing IF about 6 years and have done OMAD for the last 2-3 years. But have noticed over this last year that my hunger is insane. My weight is slowly climbing but I’m still sticking to OMAD, so not sure what to do.

Answer

I’m wondering if your semi clean keto is possibly part of your problem? could you clean it up a bit? maybe you can add more good fats instead?

Keep in mind if you have lots more muscle then youll need to fuel it!

Answer

Six days a week my carbs are under 25, and on Saturdays they are under 50. My blood sugar is still at or under that 116 about 90 minutes after my largest meal. I had insulin resistance prior to a couple of years ago. At 13 years old, I was hyperglycemic, and by time I was 500 lbs in my mid 20s, , I was probably diabetic (and too scared to see a doctor). I think I still have IR but it is under control because I don’t eat carbs or high glycemic foods for it to take reign on my body. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and bad genetics have completely screwed me over. I’d love to get to 180 lbs, but I am carrying between 15 and 20 lbs of excess skin (this was told to me by 2 different doctors). I cant afford the $35000 plastic surgery to have it removed.

I try to do all of my exercise during my fasting window- I actually do better with strength and energy. My main exercising is cycling, but I do a lot of walking, a few miles on my elliptical, and some light weight lifting. I ride about 60 - 70 miles a week nowadays (especially after getting a new hybrid bike), and I do my main 45 mile bike ride first thing Saturday morning (literally at dawn). By time I get home from my 45 mile ride, it has been about 19 hours since my last meal. I have been and still am trying desperately to burn fat and sugar reserves. I don’t have any visceral fat left, but I have plenty of subcutaneous fat, especially stuck to the excess skin in my hips and thighs that I’m trying to minimize naturally.

Uphill battle - and I cant get into bad habits now by being starving and stuffing my face.