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The hardest part was social?! Really?! I've done a couple five day fasts and the hardest part is that after day three you have an effective IQ of 65. Your body

The hardest part was social?! Really?! I've done a couple five day fasts and the hardest part is that after day three you have an effective IQ of 65. Your body shuts your brain down and you can't think clearly. I wonder if this has an under-explored psycho-therapeutic value, actually. When you can't mentally ruminate at all anxieties definitely dissipate. I'd recommend fasting as a way to clear one's head for sure. You can't get any work done, though. You really need a week off alone.

neltnerb 13y ago
Day one was mostly hard due to habit (I cut out sugar and carbohydrates four days prior, so no withdrawal to deal with) and after day 8 or 9 I started to feel a bit weaker. But in between I felt more energetic and was certainly no less sharp mentally (I mean, I was still doing quite well in my coursework and research). What really stuck out for me was just how much time I was spending each day either planning meals or eating them. Easily four hours a day, including cooking, cleaning, eating, and planning meals with friends. The social part was not so big a deal for me, but only because there were four of us in our fraternity trying it all together. Plus, well, living in a fraternity and being in college. I didn't need the excuse of a meal to hang out with people.
- kalms 13y ago
  I imagine that ones metabolism factors in as well. I was sick once, couldn't eat anything for 14 days due to large wounds in my mouth. I felt fine if you factored out the pain. Lost 8-10kg (I'm an athletic, not large person) and I could barely exit a car when I visited the doctors office. I remember being very tired, but not feverish, so I don't think that factored in. Regained the weight extremely fast when I started eating again. I remember how that surprised me!
smoyer 13y ago
I wasn't claiming it was the same for everyone ... and as I mentioned, I actually felt sharper.
- dorfsmay 13y ago
  > I actually felt sharper I do IF (Intermittent Fasting, 24 to 36 hours with water only once a week), and have found that too, but I have also found that as soon as I start eating again, I get quickly tired and warm (like I started a fire inside my body).
  - smoyer 13y ago
    I don't eat carbs when I start eating again for the same reason. Try eating per the Atkin's diet for a few days and gradually add carbs back in. As an aside, I've used the Atkin's diet to lower my cholesterol and the "keto-strips" indicate a light ketosis after 3 days or so.
Kiro 13y ago
For me it's the opposite. The cognitive effects of fasting are amazing and the number one reason I do it. Did you drink enough water?
chiph 13y ago
I used to work with a guy who would fast on Wednesdays for religious reasons. After a while, we realized that we shouldn't ask him any technical questions on those days, as he simply couldn't answer, or didn't provide good answers. A few years later I went on a diet (lost almost 30 pounds, sadly since regained). I experienced the same effects - I was irritable, and didn't produce my best work. This was probably a contributing factor to my being selected for a layoff.
beagle3 13y ago
You have to have reasonable stores of vitamins & minerals (iodine, b12, niacin, iron) before starting if you want your cognitive ability to remain in top shape.

neltnerb 13y ago

Day one was mostly hard due to habit (I cut out sugar and carbohydrates four days prior, so no withdrawal to deal with) and after day 8 or 9 I started to feel a bit weaker. But in between I felt more energetic and was certainly no less sharp mentally (I mean, I was still doing quite well in my coursework and research). What really stuck out for me was just how much time I was spending each day either planning meals or eating them. Easily four hours a day, including cooking, cleaning, eating, and planning meals with friends. The social part was not so big a deal for me, but only because there were four of us in our fraternity trying it all together. Plus, well, living in a fraternity and being in college. I didn't need the excuse of a meal to hang out with people.

kalms 13y ago
I imagine that ones metabolism factors in as well. I was sick once, couldn't eat anything for 14 days due to large wounds in my mouth. I felt fine if you factored out the pain. Lost 8-10kg (I'm an athletic, not large person) and I could barely exit a car when I visited the doctors office. I remember being very tired, but not feverish, so I don't think that factored in. Regained the weight extremely fast when I started eating again. I remember how that surprised me!

smoyer 13y ago

I wasn't claiming it was the same for everyone ... and as I mentioned, I actually felt sharper.

dorfsmay 13y ago
> I actually felt sharper I do IF (Intermittent Fasting, 24 to 36 hours with water only once a week), and have found that too, but I have also found that as soon as I start eating again, I get quickly tired and warm (like I started a fire inside my body).
- smoyer 13y ago
  I don't eat carbs when I start eating again for the same reason. Try eating per the Atkin's diet for a few days and gradually add carbs back in. As an aside, I've used the Atkin's diet to lower my cholesterol and the "keto-strips" indicate a light ketosis after 3 days or so.

Kiro 13y ago

For me it's the opposite. The cognitive effects of fasting are amazing and the number one reason I do it. Did you drink enough water?

chiph 13y ago

I used to work with a guy who would fast on Wednesdays for religious reasons. After a while, we realized that we shouldn't ask him any technical questions on those days, as he simply couldn't answer, or didn't provide good answers. A few years later I went on a diet (lost almost 30 pounds, sadly since regained). I experienced the same effects - I was irritable, and didn't produce my best work. This was probably a contributing factor to my being selected for a layoff.

beagle3 13y ago

You have to have reasonable stores of vitamins & minerals (iodine, b12, niacin, iron) before starting if you want your cognitive ability to remain in top shape.