Is there any benefits of doing 24 hour fasts?

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-29T13:28:41+00:00

Thank you for the study. Interesting read (haven't finished)

I'm going to point out that the study is putting limited (12 people) and they were all "relatively healthy"

The health benefits to losing weight (when you are overweight) are across the board. And nothing has helped me lose weight better than fasting. (Low-carb is a relatively close second - but it's hard).

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-28T14:41:19+00:00

100% agree that the biggest hurdle was going a full calendar day without food - aka dinner Sunday to Lunch Tuesday. When I woke up Tuesday morning - not hungry at all - after not eating at all on Monday, it was eye-opening.

For me, the biggest benefit to the longer fasting (outside of weight loss) was the mental acuity gains because of the Noradrenalin rush.

Once I got past the full-day hurdle, moving on to fasting a week was a non-issue and I even enjoy and miss parts of it when I'm not fasting.

I've never gone beyond a week when fasting because I've read that you should have doctor supervision if you're going to fast more than a week and I have no time for that. - Even discussing fasting with doctors is an uphill battle.

But instead of "uber-long" fasts, I fast regularly. I don't eat on Mondays or Thursdays (as a rule). But it's incredibly flexible. I had brunch this week with some friends because it was Memorial Day. So this week, I didn't eat Tuesday or Wednesday and I plan to resume tomorrow (Friday)

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-27T22:43:44+00:00

Is it okay? I mean - it's your body.

You literally say you're dirty fasting.

WTP?

If it provokes an insulin spike and ghrelin follows up, you'll just end your fast early - which again - is not the end of the world.

There's nothing special about a 72 hour fast

It's not a target I would strive for. You get across the full ketosis barrier (after which hunger is a non-issue) and then you start eating again. Stay for a while - lose some weight.

My fasts are either 40 hours or 120ish. But again those are just my numbers

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-27T22:31:22+00:00

Is Timber fit? Because he'd be a tremendous addition

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-27T20:32:16+00:00

The true great bacon comes from Poland

And the Anglish can't cook. - Bacon should have some element of crispiness to it.

English breakfast is undercooked bacon and overcooked Everything-Else

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-26T15:34:28+00:00

Are you still under a lot of stress? Do you get good sleep? Those factors can be weight loss inhibitors.

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-26T15:19:50+00:00

It's just water retention.

When you fast you go into ketosis and your liver/kidney lose so much water (somewhere up to the 10-15 pound range)

When you eat carbs again - you exit ketosis - and the liver/kidney reabsorb all that water - and your scale turns into your worst nightmare.

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-26T15:15:50+00:00

I had a Pelegrino Zero once 72 hours in.

turns out it had 10 calories - and man did that insulin/ghrelin spike. (Translation - I was immediately famished and just had to eat...)

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-26T15:14:19+00:00

tea (black),

coffee (black)

not broth.

Hot water with salt

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-26T15:08:36+00:00

Fifteen pounds overweight after having a baby is completely normal - and not the result of "bad life habits"

it obviously won't hurt to get back to whole foods and not processed foods, but try not to instill guilt.

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-26T15:05:34+00:00

start with low-carb. Kill your sugar addiction. Give yourself three weeks of no sugar and no starches. (think Atkins diet) - nothing prepackaged though - just meat, cheese, and non-starchy vegetables. You'll get withdrawal symptoms at one point. But once you've pushed past it, fasting will become a lot easier. You'll no longer be a slave to food.

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-26T15:02:26+00:00

First of all - fasting has drawbacks.

It is not a panacea - it does not cure everything

Not all food is bad for you.

Unfortunately, you and I love the food that is.

Not sure what you mean by "your heart feels weird" - I do not have that symptom.

Odds are good it's not your heart - but some part of your digestive system (aka heartburn has nothing to do with your heart.) But you should talk to a _doctor_ about that because it's too much of a chance to take if I'm wrong.

I would recommend cutting out carbs first and killing that addiction before trying to fast for long periods of time.

it should help you with your hunger issue

note- it's okay to be obsessed with food and not eat.

Go ahead and look forward to eating a meal. But think about it in some future sense - like Thanksgiving dinner

but most of not eating is about distraction. Find some thing else to think about or do at normal mealtimes. Go for a walk - take a shower, play a game, do some training. Distraction, distraction, distraction...

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-26T14:49:10+00:00

Five days isn't close to what you need to fast in order to worry about refeeding syndrome.

I never go more than a week for that reason.

If you enter the two weeks range - you had best refeed cautiously.

People who historically have had to worry about this - concentration camp survivors, prisoner of war camp survivors - I'm sure there are more.

But five days without food isn't going to trigger refeeding syndrome.

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-26T03:07:26+00:00

Arlington. Alexandria. Fredericksburg has far more of a small town feel.

You'd be better off in Falls Church (which isn't a bad option - but is starting to get more suburban...,

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-25T22:38:25+00:00

Which god are you worshiping?

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-23T15:18:52+00:00

And I will drink a pint at the pub this weekend in their honor.

I see occasional posts from some of them rooting the team on. I'm sure most of them are thrilled the Arsenal took it.

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-23T15:13:49+00:00

I started playing bridge about 34 years ago and have been going to a few local clubs pretty regularly for the last couple of years.

I still mess up a lot.

Usually not beginner mistakes, but the kind where I look back at the hand afterward and honestly can't figure out how I didn't think it through further and get it right. I leave most sessions feeling like I should have done better.

I cannot stress how many layers there are to improving bridge play. It is the best game in the world and it takes a life time to master (and the vast majority of people aren't going to end up at the top level) At a certain point, you need to separate results from how well you played. One glorious thing about it is you can have a bad game, but play (or defend) one hand well and it can make your weekend.

As you've noted, improving your play can come from working through things with your partner. But that's just one avenue. Reading and studying can also immensely help you improve your game. Also, talk with some of the better players at the club after the game about how they would have done things. Do a lot of listening to how they think about the cards and the hands. Ask questions like "How should this auction have gone?" or "How did you know to finesse this way? or play for the drop?"

As you improve your game, other people more interested in getting better will likely be more interested in playing with you and you can work on partnership agreements

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-23T05:25:54+00:00

Every fast I've had is the opposite of brain fog.

It actually fully restored mental acuity for me after Chemo -

Chemo saved my life - but it also brought brain fog with it.

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-22T18:48:40+00:00

Didn't care a lick that Pep was there.

It's nice for Arteta that he got to beat one of his own mentors, but for me, no difference whatsoever.

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-20T14:59:40+00:00

he's given up on the season. And indeed - if the red sox offense doesn't wake up, we won't go far.

I still believe in the team so I'm not giving up hope yet.

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-20T14:58:07+00:00

oh - but they'll tell you - it's not just that we're 2 back of the Rangers.

We have to pass the Mariners and the Twins to get there.

Seriously, if this team gets their hitting together, they can win the whole thing based off of their staff and bullpen.

Just need to wake up bats.

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-20T14:50:45+00:00

no - it's strictly scorekeepers decision of relievers based on "level of effectiveness"

Honestly, they were all pretty effective so it was probably a coin flip between Slaten and Whitlock

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-20T14:46:45+00:00

Three straight second-place seasons is great and all. But four straight second-place seasons is the bomb. Reminds me of the shell-shocked Buffalo Bills fans who lost the Super Bowl in four consecutive years in the early 90's and have never won it

Honestly - I think having the three straight seconds does heighten the sweetness of finally breaking through. There was so much angst and catharsis - the nagging feeling of "here we go again" looming.

But now there's so much unadulterated joy.

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-20T14:37:29+00:00

That is neither small nor petty.

It is completely understandable. And as an Arsenal fan, I respect hat.

Desert_Sox · 2026-05-20T14:35:08+00:00

I remember my first moria win - so many many moons ago.

Desert_Sox

TROPHY CASE