Fasting for a month-any suggestions?

[adamuk]

Hi All,

Ill be fasting for a month due to religious obligations. I will be allowed to eat anything before sunrise and then cant eat until sunset (here in Uk that roughly is around 4am-9pm).

I am in induction (post 2weeks) so thought id stick with the same even though i cannot drink or eat in between.

Do you think weight loss will stick take place and any suggestions please?

thanks

Adam_uk

[neutronnorman]

Re: Fasting for a month-any suggestions?

Hi All,

Ill be fasting for a month due to religious obligations. I will be allowed to eat anything before sunrise and then cant eat until sunset (here in Uk that roughly is around 4am-9pm).

I am in induction (post 2weeks) so thought id stick with the same even though i cannot drink or eat in between.

Do you think weight loss will stick take place and any suggestions please?

thanks

Adam_uk

If you are fasting for one day, you'll be okay. A little tired, but no problem. But you said you'll be fasting for a month. If you are fasting for a month, you might well meet the Creator face to face.

[dcketcham]

Re: Fasting for a month-any suggestions?

Wow.. a month...
I actually just came off a one-day fast that I decided to do myself, and I was happy with the outcome, and it wasnt a bad one at all... kept wanting to eat since i've kinda trained myself for the little snacks and meals throughout the day.

but.. wow .. a month

[ShannonM]

Re: Fasting for a month-any suggestions?

Isn't this more of an intermittent fast? Sounds like he can eat between the hours of 9pm - 4am. I doubt he'll be meeting the Judgment Day from that.

Adam - I'd suggest you Google "intermittent fasting" and follow the recommendations you find, adapting as needed for your stage of Atkins.

[Georgiana]

Re: Fasting for a month-any suggestions?

I am in induction (post 2weeks) so thought id stick with the same even though i cannot drink or eat in between.

Do you think weight loss will stick take place and any suggestions please.

Try to adjust your diet around the Ramadan, even if you cannot follow all the rules to a T (i.e. drink water during after sunrise and before sunset or eat every 6 hours). I've been to a Turkish high school and I know the meals you typically have during this time are quite carby and there is a lot of food one eats in one sitting (a longer sitting, but nonetheless). To avoid blood sugar spikes, do not eat all your carbs at once. Will you eat iftar (for religious reasons, not simply because you like iftar)? If you do, limit the amount and try to keep the rest of the foods you eat as close to Atkins as possible. Be aware that eating iftar might throw you out of ketosis, so be prepared to deal with the increased hunger/cravings.

I don't know how your weight loss in the next 30 days will be compared to a "regular" month, but if you choose Atkins as a way of eating for life, this is less important, imo.

[phil h]

Re: Fasting for a month-any suggestions?

Who decided we needed three or even two meals a day? I doubt if early man did.He probably ate when food was available, which could have been after a fresh animal kill. I usually eat every 12 hours and hunger isn't an issue.I could eat a larger meal including a lot of fatty meat and it would do me for quite a bit longer.You should do just fine after a short adaption. Might even decide that is the way you want to eat on a semi permament basis. I have given thought to going to one meal a day myself. But I think I would be better satisfied with a large late morning meal.That would be hard to do working.Might give it a try during a vacation.

[mizski]

Re: Fasting for a month-any suggestions?

Adam, if I read your post correctly you have finished Induction? Maybe move into OWL level 1 (additional veg) and then divide your usual daily meals in half...one half in the a.m. and the other half after nine p.m.

You would not be able to have some of the traditional foods like dates in the evening but maybe the additional vegetables in OWL level 1 will give you a few additional carbs to make Atkins during Ramadan easier. I would also try to drink lots of water before and after the fasting time.

As this fasting breaks the usual routine of Atkins I have no idea if your weight loss would vary. By eating the foods allowed for your phase/level, I think that is the best you can do. And hopefully the scale will smile in September with a lower number.

[JulieB]

Re: Fasting for a month-any suggestions?

Adam, keep us posted on how Ramadan goes for you on Atkins. It will be interesting to see if you maintain or continue to lose. Since this will be a yearly event for you, perhaps keep a detailed food/exercise log that you can analyse later and refer to next year.

[mizski]

Re: Fasting for a month-any suggestions?

I mentioned in my earlier post about maybe moving into OWL level 1 which I still think is a good idea. However, I do realize you may be faced with eating some foods that are above this level so what about taking a look at the proper/recommended portions of other foods in the higher rungs (i.e., paneer in Owl level 2) so you would have a better idea of how much to eat of these before this weekend.

At least this way if you have to eat off plan you will do it WITH a plan!

[goin2befit]

Re: Fasting for a month-any suggestions?

Assalamualaikum Adam~
I will be fasting with you and have fasted for the past few weeks for a few days each week. I stuck with Atkins and I'm on extended introduction. Basically, I woke up and would drink about 30 oz of water in a short period of time and ate pumpkin with creamcheese dish with either chicken or eggs... when breaking my fast I drunk about 60 oz of water before going to sleep and would eat my usual "dinner" and possibly snack on some cheese before bed or a small bite of something. Definately drink the water and on some days b/c of the temperature 90's you may weigh before breaking your fast and realize you have lost 5 or 6 pounds that day (of course only water weight and yes, it will be back by morning... but fun to observe) The other thing is I usually have diarhea during the fasting days which stops by the next non fasting day, possibly from the fat hitting an empty stomach or something of such. As for appetite I almost loose it. I get blocked trying to eat much more than a chicken thigh and 1 cup of veggies. And even in the morning I have almost forced myself to finish my 1/2 cup of pumpkin, but I believe I need to to substain the energy for the day.

Stay away from the Dates!!! I know it is sunnah and nice and traditional for most to break their fast with them.. but a BIG, HUGE, NO NO!!! Not only is the carb count high, but they taste better than sugar and for me wow... talk about cravings after that. If the prophet (PBUH) didn't find dates he broke it with water... so that is good enough for me Rulings for Iftar (Breaking the fast after sunset)

I do plan on possibly adding 5 carbs of nuts. I know that is out of order b/c next is another serving of veggies and after that is dairy, however, the nuts will help with the fiber and they satisfy me more than animal protein does. So possibly with the pumpkin I will had 5 carbs of nuts to it... (please, I'm for sure this what I will do for the next 30 days, by no means am I advising someone else to skip rungs or say what I'm doing is what is suppose to be done. I'm simply trying to adjust Atkins at this time to what I will be doing for the next month... kinda think of it as if I'm pregnant the rules are bent a little)

Ramadan Mubarak!!!!

P.S. During this time I had lost down to 341 (so lost 4 pounds, however, do to drinking the drink for a CAT scan I had stalled (found out it has asparatame and must have been alot of it b/c it was sweet) and my body seemed to have a hard time adjusting on top of that TOM is now with me so I am up about 4-5 pounds in water weight... I do think if it is done the right way it can be done successfully and the body will continue to loose, hopefully it is fat and not much muscle. Since DH is Moroccain I usually follow how they eat and usually there is always an omlette or boiled eggs on the table to chose from when breaking fast. So I plan on sticking with that when invited to friends house. Also, they usually have some kind of ground meat either plan or in tomato sauce, so all legal. But believe me there is alot of bread on the table!!!

[JulieB]

Re: Fasting for a month-any suggestions?

Hi Amanda, I am not criticising your plan to add nuts during Ramadan, I just want to let you know that Nuts are an exception in the OWL Rungs, which you might not know since you are on Extended Induction. They are not added 5 carbs at a time like most foods: they are added 1oz at a time, except for Cashews which are added 1/2 ounce at a time. This is just for your information, not to be critical or judgemental of your choice!

[neutronnorman]

Re: Fasting for a month-any suggestions?

Sorry, I didn't know it was a religious holiday or event. I'm ignorant when it come to those matters. I grew up in an Irish-Catholic section of the upper west side of NYC.
From a religious point of view, it be best to follow your religious duties first I would think, then just go back to dieting or following the Atkins WOE. I would think spiritual obligations should come first above all things if so inclined.

[not2late]

Re: Fasting for a month-any suggestions?

Hi All,

Ill be fasting for a month due to religious obligations. I will be allowed to eat anything before sunrise and then cant eat until sunset (here in Uk that roughly is around 4am-9pm).

I am in induction (post 2weeks) so thought id stick with the same even though i cannot drink or eat in between.

Do you think weight loss will stick take place and any suggestions please?

thanks

Adam_uk

In the past, there have been ADBB members who have fasted for religious reasons. They simply moved to Maintenance Phase during their fast, then moved back to the weight loss phases afterwards. The trick, however, is to really follow Atkins Maintenance Phase during this time.

[goin2befit]

Re: Fasting for a month-any suggestions?

In the past, there have been ADBB members who have fasted for religious reasons. They simply moved to Maintenance Phase during their fast, then moved back to the weight loss phases afterwards. The trick, however, is to really follow Atkins Maintenance Phase during this time.

Megs~ Not really a bad idea, can you expand a little more on this idea. Would we then eat from all rungs during that time? How would we know how many carbs we should eat? Thanks.

Julie~ So thank you for the reminder... I knew that One of those moments. Mostly I will stick with Almonds (those are also always on the dinner table!) I believe if I right about 22 almonds make an ounce?

Norman~ Wow.. I didn't know you grew up on NYC... that is where I'm at, not exactly, brooklyn to be known... but HATE IT HERE.. I came when I was 15 in the marching band and we marched in the Macy's Day Parade, I hated it then and said what a filthy city it was and you couldn't pay me a million dollars to live there... (I'm from a small town in east TN) ... then can you believe it, just 7 years later, I met DH and guess where he lived, yep, NYC... so now I've been her for over 6 years and still hate it...and he didn't even give me a million to move... Love can be so blind Okay I can't complain in some how we are out near Coney Island so the beach is there, I get to visit museums and gardens with the girls and stuff and Religiously I'm safe feeling (unlike when I go home to TN, I swear I will not go to the next town over where some of my relatives live)...

[not2late]

Re: Fasting for a month-any suggestions?

If you are on OWL/Pre-Maintenance, then sticking to a fasting diet will be easier, especially if you know your CCLL.

If you are on Induction, then you have to figure out what is your degree of metabolic resistance. Then use the charts in the Maintenance Chapter to estimate the number of Maintenance carbs for your degree of metabolic resistance and stay within that carb range during the fast.

As I wrote, the trick is to not go crazy. If it is traditional to break the fast with fruit. Go ahead, eat fruit---but eat it the portions that you would in OWL/Pre-Maintenance. In some cultures, the requirement for traditional foods is really a taste/mouthful----not bushels or barrels at one sitting.

Granted you might not lose weight, but on the other hand, you might maintain your current weight----for me that's a whole lot better than regaining the weight that you lost and extra weight you gained during your fast.