Willpower is another word for self control. Self control is the ability to resist temptation. But self control is not enough. Self control is limited and temporary.
Through repetitive exercise of self control, we can build Discipline. Discipline is building a well traveled pathway in our mind. At first traveling that path can be difficult, but the more we travel the path, the easier it becomes.
When we have traveled that path of Discipline enough times that it becomes effortless, then we have established a Habit. Eventually you will reach this point.
The key to developing Discipline is never beat yourself up. If you don’t make it to the end, then you don’t make it. Brush it off. There’s always tomorrow. A child doesn’t beat themselves up for not being able to walk. Start again tomorrow.
Prayer will help. what you are trying to accomplish through fasting has to outweigh the quick pleasure of eating. I struggle with it too. Sometimes I’ll fast a day, then binge a few times before I say enough is enough and surrender and go for the long haul.
If you have willpower and hunger issues on a regular basis, I think you should rethink your approach.
Hunger is not a caprice of the body. It occurs for a reason. The reason might be that your metabolism doesn’t provide enough energy to sustain your needs during fasting.
While I know and practiced dry fasting for 2 and a half years, I had never (despite my username) hard dry fasted until recently where I made a 60 hours one. At about 24 hours, I felt a calm feeling that I don’t remember that I have ever felt before with soft dry fasting. I had also plenty energy and no hunger in these first 24h. Maybe the difference between soft and hard is not null for some people.
I think the calm/connected feeling is due to oxytocin, a hormone that promotes fat burning among other things (which are numerous).
I don’t know if you already practice hard dry fasting but it could be an option that you could try. Intermittent hard dry fasting, omad style so that it’s not too stressful.