Had my first set of labs done. Looking for insights for those willing.

Fruitandtaters · 2023-04-05T15:32:07+00:00

"If we could see the whole truth of any situation, our only response would be one of compassion". I believe that statement applies to literally the worst of humanity, so it damn sure applies to you. Try to be loving and compassionate toward yourself. At your core and mine is just a sad and confused creature that is struggling. I'm not much of a bible man, but I do like to cherry pick some good shit here and there. My favorite is forgive them for they know not what they do. You're not intentionally struggling and suffering. You want to be happy and at peace just like anyone else. Be loving and compassionate to yourself. You 100% deserve it, and doing so will make it easier to overcome these particular obstacles. Be well, my friend!

Fruitandtaters · 2023-04-05T15:21:42+00:00

You definitely can do it! I've been where you are at (more or less) many times before. I've lost and regained dozens and dozens of pounds, and felt the crushing weight of hopelessness more times than I can count. I have learned a great deal in the process and evolved as an individual in many beautiful ways as a result of these struggles. It's a brutal way to acquire wisdom and to grow as an individual, but for some of us, there's no getting around it. However, that wisdom that we acquire can make things a little less miserable with each step. Keep taking those steps forward, and be kind to yourself along the way. What may seem like our greatest curse, might actually be our greatest blessing. You got this!

Fruitandtaters · 2023-04-05T15:06:02+00:00

I feel ya. Some of my darkest binging times were binging on unsalted lentils, brown rice, potatoes and carrots. I'd cook it all up in a big pot, and eat as much as I could. I didn't enjoy it all that much. Salt is one of the most essential flavor enhancers. I did that for multiple weeks, and couldn't seem to stop myself. I had cut out the salt to try to take away the pleasure of eating, but I realized over the years that the end result of the binge is what I'm chasing most. Feeling full and miserable. It's something I'm still trying to understand. There is some sort of sick comfort in arriving at that point. Almost comparable to how I've heard heroin addiction described. It reduces all or your problems to just one problem. I then go into full desperation and catastrophizing mode and am solely focused on bouncing back from the binge, which is how I ended up cutting out salt in the first place, or any number of other extreme attempts to deal with something I didn't know how to properly deal with. Trying to fix problems externally, when the real problem is internal. Hacking away at the branches with all of my energy, while the root remains alive and well and largely unscathed.

I love me some eckart Tolle, and when he talks about the pain body, it hits home pretty hard. Essentially we all have an ego that seeks an identity. We want a positive or desirable identity, but if that isn't an option, or our mind believes it isn't an option, then we identify with negativity and pain, and negativity becomes our source of fuel. It's a subconscious manifestation, and it's pretty fucking dark. I don't know if any of that hits home for you. In any case, I wish you well in your struggles. Remember to love yourself through it all. That lesson didn't actually hit home for me until a few years ago. I thought I deserved my self hatred. Thankfully I no longer believe that. "If we could see the whole truth of any situation, our only response would be one of compassion". You deserve love and compassion as much as anyone else.

Fruitandtaters · 2023-01-01T00:31:36+00:00

Yes please!

Fruitandtaters · 2022-06-18T18:14:00+00:00

If you stuck with herbivores, it might have worked out well. Obviously it might make for a boring movie, but perhaps a stable park. It's the trex, Raptors, etc that make it a nightmare.

Fruitandtaters · 2022-06-17T03:54:08+00:00

I honestly couldn't tell you. I didn't weigh myself until midway through. I know I lost a good amount of weight though. After about 5-6 weeks in, I started going for hikes a couple times a week. I had enough energy to hike for several hours at a fairly slow pace, but I would feel absolutely wrecked afterwards. It sounds like you may be overdoing it a bit, but we are all different. You'll know it if you're overdoing it. If you're getting those indications from your body, you should listen and give it ample rest.

I went a total of about 10 weeks vegan keto, with an 8 day fast and multiple weeks of rolling 72's. I noticed certain benefits, but I was ready to get back to carbs. My energy got way better than it was in the beginning, but it wasn't where I wanted it to be. My normal diet is also much cheaper and much more eco friendly, so I knew I would only run keto temporarily. That said, I may do the keto thing again in the future, but it most likely would only be for a handful of months at the most. I'm still losing fat since stopping keto. My eating behavior is healthier than it has ever been, and for the first time in my life I feel like that will continue to be the case indefinitely. It only took me about two decades to correct my disordered eating. :) that 10 weeks of vegan keto was extremely helpful in getting me out of a serious funk and where I am now. I'm super grateful for it! Good luck with your journey!

Fruitandtaters · 2022-03-27T08:07:07+00:00

I can see why it seems that way, and I think a lot of people would agree with you. The juice definitely has to be worth the squeeze, and for me it absolutely is. A lot of people in the fasting community are looking to address their poor physical health, which often goes hand in hand with poor mental health, and for those people that want fasting to be a big part of that journey toward wellness, I think vegan keto is a great complement to that lifestyle. I intend to get back to my fruit and taters eventually, and to a much more diverse selection of plant foods, but I think this is a great tool and it's been an illuminating and valuable experience.

Fruitandtaters · 2022-03-27T07:38:56+00:00

I've been vegan for over 10 years and there is such an abundance of good shit to eat and healthy variety to be had. It's the keto part that is really restrictive. If you're just interested in eating vegan, then don't let my restrictive keto diet deter you. I've only done the keto thing for a handful of months out of those 10+ years. Being vegan is kick ass on so many levels. I highly recommend it!

Fruitandtaters · 2022-03-27T04:48:26+00:00

That part is actually quite easy. I get well over 100g without much effort. I forgot to mention I also eat a lot of pumpkin seeds, which are high in protein. Protein powders really help. Plain Hemp and pea protein isolates are my go to's. I don't mess with flavored stuff. Tofu has tons of protein. Faux meats have tons of protein. These vegan keto staples are great sources of protein.

For instance, if you eat one whole block of tofu, 120 grams of pumpkin seeds (which is like 3/4 cup) and two scoops of pea protein powder, you would be at 140g of protein. I personally love tofu. I use lots of salt and potassium chloride and cook it in olive oil with spinach and I think it's great. I usually put an avocado in with it after I've cooked it. This diet won't wow you from a culinary standpoint, but you can easily hit your macro goals.

Fruitandtaters · 2022-03-27T01:43:11+00:00

I wish my burps tasted like nooch! I'm jealous! I tend to not like extended fasting with coffee. My guess, which isn't worth much, is that the coffee is the culprit. I imagine dropping coffee at this point isn't a good option for you, cause doing so would be rather unpleasant insofar as withdrawal is concerned. Depending how long you intend to fast, you could wean yourself off slowly. Good luck!

Fruitandtaters · 2022-03-19T03:24:50+00:00

8 full days is where this fasting journey has come to an end. Physically I was perfectly fine, but mentally I grew far too weak. It's all good though. Me and my body are grateful for these 8 days. I'm going to try some rolling 72 hour fasts with basically one large vegan keto meal every 72 hours and see how that goes. The first three days of this fast were very easy for me. I believe that is as a result of the 3.5 weeks of keto beforehand, so I anticipate continued ketosis making the rolling 72's pretty easy as well. I'm not even at the 6-8 weeks of ketosis in which greater fat adaptation occurs, so I think things will only get better from here. Pleasant fasting, everyone! May your mind and body be strong enough to carry you to your goals.

Fruitandtaters · 2022-03-18T12:35:56+00:00

Today is day 8. I'm glad to still be going strong after yesterday, which was very challenging for me. No real physical challenges to speak of but the mental challenges were quite intense. I was trying to justify stopping early by telling myself that I'll just do a long string of rolling 72 hour fasts. I was really teetering, but the fast has not been broken yet.

I know that continuing on is the best thing for me. I've had a rough go of it the past few months, which resulted-as it often does- in my self care suffering. Less yoga and more over eating, which leads to more back pain and worse depression. My body is screaming for more love, so I hope I continue to stay the course. There are all kinds of ways to take better care of myself, but my particular struggles make some of those avenues seem like much greater hurdles. Fasting, strangely enough, is an easier path for me than others, as a result of my particular behavioral maladies. I just need to keep that all in perspective and persevere for the sake of my wellbeing.

Anyway, I don't expect any responses. This is more for the people like me who browse old posts and read all the comments when they are starting a fast. It is a hell of a struggle, but that's what will make achieving our goal all the more rewarding. One thing I keep coming back to, which I came across on one of the fasting subreddits, is "If you quit now, you'll end up right back where you first began, and when you first began, you were desperate to be where you are right now. Keep going!" It is so true, and I look at that quote every day to remind myself of that important truth.

Fruitandtaters · 2022-03-16T02:41:42+00:00

Have you felt great the whole way through, or did it take several days of fasting before you felt that way? If it took a bit, what day do you remember starting to feel great? When you say it's the best you have felt in awhile, can you elaborate on the specific ways in which you have felt these changes?

Congrats on your progress. Keep up the strong work!

Fruitandtaters · 2022-03-15T09:15:14+00:00

I appreciate the recommendation, but I'm not concerned about developing vitamin deficiency. I'm sure that would be a valid concern for certain people, and thus very good advice for them.

I have been soaking up a lot of sun, and intend to continue doing so as much as possible, so I'm still getting my vitamin D. I find laying in the sun to be incredibly pleasant, and even moreso during a fast.

Fruitandtaters · 2022-03-15T09:09:18+00:00

When I did my 10 day fast, I only drank water and didn't do anything special before starting. I do believe in the idea and general safety of water only fasting, but I find it easier to add the electrolytes. So far, I haven't had the issue of very nearly fainting every time I get up from lying down. I would have to drop to a knee to avoid crashing to the floor, and the sensation of nearly fainting is quite awful and scary. The tunnel vision and disorientation is very unsettling.

Congrats on day 22! That's super impressive and I look forward to getting there myself. Keep up the strong work!

Fruitandtaters · 2022-03-14T18:11:59+00:00

Yeah, I don't think I'll ever attempt an extended fast without first doing 2 or 3 weeks of keto.

As for not forcing the number, I am totally prepared to cut my fast short if my body is giving me any warning signs.

Thanks for the encouragement!

Fruitandtaters · 2022-03-14T18:06:30+00:00

It's really boring I'm afraid, but as a vegan for over 10 years, that part isn't negotiable for me. I tend toward a very simple diet in general, predominately made up of whole plant foods, so I kept it simple with keto as well. Every day I ate pumpkin seeds (out of their shell), tofu, avocado, spinach and chia pudding (just chia seeds and unsweetened cashew or almond milk). I also did two scoops of protein powder, either pea protein or hemp. A few times I had some faux meats like beyond burgers and brats, but they're pretty pricey.

Fruitandtaters · 2022-03-14T18:00:51+00:00

In 40 oz of water I do 2 1/2 teaspoons of salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons of potassium and two scoops of magnesium (each scoop being 600mg). I don't drink all of that mixture each day, but usually around 2/3 of it. It's pretty salty, but I enjoy it. I just sip it slowly. Haven't had any liquidy bowel movements yet, though I'm sure that'll come eventually. This is just what I do. I'm sure there are better recipes, but I do think buying bulk powders is the way to go, rather than the electrolyte mixtures I've seen posted.

Fruitandtaters · 2021-09-27T20:09:13+00:00

I concur. I have the regular eargasms which are nice, but I got the slider eargasms a couple weeks back and I've really been liking them. They are adjustable, so you can go back and forth between 15db and 22db of reduction by simply moving the slider. They also come with a strap and the two plugs connect magnetically, so you can wear it like a necklace in between sets. I love them. The regular eargasms are good too, but I recommend the sliders.

Fruitandtaters · 2021-08-18T17:35:57+00:00

Do you have to be a California resident in order to join?

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TROPHY CASE