My first week into IF and I have discovered a significant problem and I wonder if it is common.

**Our brains burn a lot of calories when doing tasks that require a lot of focus, coordination and alertness.** Like driving. I started with 8-16 plan. My 8 hour eating starts at 2PM and ends at 10PM. So I'm fasting all night while sleeping and all morning up until 2PM. During the fasting hours nothing but water and some black coffee. Barely feel any hunger pangs thanks to the coffee. **It is very easy for me to fast during the morning and early afternoon hours but damn near impossible for me to do that at night.** The problem is when I'm driving a car during the morning hours to 2PM I feel a little scatterbrained and my regular quick thinking and sharp reflexes, thet we all need to drive safely, feels diminished. I only noticed this when driving. It feels similar to driving with sleep deprivation although I am not tired at all. I can only attribute this to not eating all night and most of the day and my brain wants calories to burn. Has anyone else experienced a slightly diminished mental capacity during the 2nd half of your fast hours that feels similar to mental fatigue of sleep deprivation even if you don't feel tired?

Answer

It should be the other way around.. More alertness, but than again you Just started.Give it some time. Also most of “symptoms” are self “belived” becouse its still a “health risk” to fast in general opinion. Been doing for 10th year now. My usual is 22/2 sometimes up to 48

Answer

I have experienced this.

Everyone’s experience is inherently unique, so you have to take anecdotal experiences with a pinch of salt.

I.F. takes time to adjust to. The body and mind develop expectations for all aspects of life, feeding, sleep, work and a whole other multitude of things. I would strongly suggest taking the time to consider your new I.F. routine in light of how you are feeling, especiallyas safety is directly involved. Maybe you need to shift the timings? Maybe hold of starting until you have some better suited time e.g. a holiday, to allow for adjustment.

I cannot say enough that even with the best will in the world, coupled with the best of intentions, very few people really know the ins and outs of I.F. When we see medical and scientific professionals now beginning to enter the field, looking for precise and accurate hard data, we have to approach the advice of others (definitely including myself) with huge caution, when hoping to make the most of an I.F. lifestyle. Whether it be a temporary or permanent dietary regime.

You have some brain fog. It occurs in a tie of the day in which most people would be asleep. Consider all the factors.

Best of luck.

Answer

Fasting is a little like jet lag and takes time (a week or 2) to adjust. Once ‘fat adjusted’ and your brain running on fasted ketones many people report feeling mentally calmer or sharper. But naturally adjust to ease into it and be safe