They sure do break the fast, but I do not care.
I have been experimenting with fasting for years now and I know how to control my weight, but two things are still problematic for me.
1- My moth tastes real bad after the third fasting day.
2- I study/work a lot related to subjects that are mentally demanding (Electrical engineering and data science), and my concentration and ability to focus drop down a lot after the third day as well.
I love doing 4-7 day fasts since they are the easiest for me and they save me a lot of time, my energy is always great during them, and I work out 6 times a week, but the shitty mouth taste and the lack of concentration are no longer to exist.
I have been experimenting with eating around 200g of pickles whenever I feel the need for them, which is usually daily from the fourth day to the last.
I do not care that much about the weight loss speed, but I am extremely curious about the long-term effects. I can't have my BMR go downhill, and I think spiking the insulin every now and then while in a calorie deficit might affect it very negatively.
I found that eating pickles frees me of the shitty mouth taste and makes me able to study/work.
I take electrolytes, and the pickles are homemade so only salts, water, and vegetables.
Any thoughts?
Answer
Dude pickles are perfect for when you need that boost to keep you going. They are 99% water by weight and the electrolytes are a plus. It’s not spiking insulin as theyre like 5 calories each.
So don’t worry and use them without guilt!
Answer
Interesting. I’ll give them a try. Fellow engineer here, totally understand what you mean by the reduced focus. For me it happens after the 55 or so hrs. I always stopped my fasts at 72.
Thanks for the idea!
(I typically grab half a lime and smother it in salt to lick it slowly, tequila style when I’m tired of snake juice, sometimes use Tajin chilli powder, too. I’ve never venture out of a 3 day fast, but I want to try next month.)
I tried the other day cucumber salad. It had very little of cooked slices of onions with vinegar/lime juice, a bunch of cucumber. Salt, black pepper and lime and maybe olive oil?. Absolutely delicious! I was doing keto omad that day.