[wincy]

I’m by no means an expert, but I think there’s some amount of adaptation that occurs. I feel like I had to “train” my body to fast. I had a similar problem and it was really unpleasant the first time I tried a fast, but recently did a three day fast with no discomfort right until the end. The end was weird because I told myself I was going to break my fast, and my stomach kicked into action too early, making me sick. Like I went from very little hunger to RAVENOUS. Had to break my fast at a drive through (best chalupa I’ve ever tasted!)

For me at least I go into fasting by first skipping breakfast for a few days, then skipping breakfast and lunch. Skipping dinner is mostly a mental hurdle because there’s so much psychological signaling that you should eat at dinner time and don’t really know what else to do with yourself. Going to bed without eating in a day feels weird at first.

I also make sure to get lots of electrolytes during all of this, magnesium glycinate and lite salt seem to do the trick. Otherwise I start to get shaky and have bad headaches.

[narwally]

I had a similar experience with my first extended fast. I was just going to do three days, but I felt really good and not at all hungry at that point, so I extended it a day. But when went to break the fast, as soon as I started eating the light salad and broth I had made, I became instantly ravenous and no longer had any self control. So what started as a light salad ended with mozzarella sticks and a whole pack of Oreos. I no longer keep junk food in the house if I'm doing a fast.

The salt and other electrolytes is crucial as you mentioned. If you don't supplement you'll actually get some pretty intense cravings. It was the first time I understood why deer love salt licks. I would have licked on one of those like it was a tootsie pop.

[curiousllama]

huh, I guess this is why I love pickles and kimchi when I'm cutting calories