I'm done for a bit. :(

I have been trying to do a week long fast and have failed so many times. Extended fasts are so challenging which is very frustrating because past fasts (2 years ago) were simple and routine. My current eating has been fairly chaotic, schedule and diet wise. I figured a good ol week long water fast would get me back into the headspace of organization and health. During my fasts, all I could think about was food. I tried to stay occupied and distracted. I teach, play guitar, cross stitch, and am currently obsessed with Stardew Valley and all I could do while doing those things was think about food. I think I am pushing myself to meet a standard I met 2 years ago when my life was drastically different. Things are very different now and I am deciding to let extended fasts go for a bit. Hopefully it can take some pressure off. I am deciding to start back at square one with 18:6 then get myself to OMAD, then OMAD+ADF which was my primary fasting tool 2 years ago (with some extended fasts). Anyway. I am a very 0 or 100 person so this feels like failure but also I am so tired of struggling and failing, so time to take a break and start from a much easier level. Feel successful with the short routine fasts and get back with a healthy diet. Thanks for being a really neat, supportive, and fun subreddit.

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I can totally relate. I’ve personally been struggling to stick to fasting and it’s been so difficult. You’re right, scaling back some and working our way up can take some pressure off. Let’s just not give up. We can do this.

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Do you menstruate?

Fasting is impossible for me the week before my period. I couldn’t fast for longer than 4 hours. I MUST CONSUME! I’m never satiated. But right before my period starts, my appetite starts to normalize, and then declines towards the end of my period. The week after, I have very little appetite, and I can easily go a day without eating without even noticing.

So I plan my fasts around my menstrual cycle, which makes the first 48-72 hours (the most difficult for me) very easy to surpass.

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I was going for a seven day fast but had to stop at day six, today, becuz I started to feel ill, despite all the electrolytes I was taking. I’m still very proud of myself, even though I didn’t meet my goal. Be kind to yourself, the world’s hard enough.

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I can relate, but maybe multi-day fasting is just not for you at the moment. It isnt for me right now, and I used to do 2-5 day fasts frequently. What I have found works for me right now is ADF. Find something that works for you.

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I can relate. Our mindset is fluid and we’re not who we used to be. We can be but it takes time. What helped me is to start small, and build up on that. This will help you to grow your willpower and your self esteem to what it used to be. We need the small wins they make up the whole battle. Best of luck and do everything with self love and you will succeed.