Why I haven't Eaten This Year
/Today is my 10th day of fasting.
I will almost certainly never do this again, but I absolutely think you should consider trying it.
On December 31st, 2018, just before 8pm central time I shoved the last morsel of food into my mouth. Something needed to be done because I was swoll up like a Christmas pig from all the holiday celebrating with sugar and all the carbs imaginable. I enjoyed the holidays in Louisiana with my family. I enjoyed them so much that I had gained 8 pounds.
There was no way I was going to hang on to those 8 pounds. During 2018 I had lost 40 pounds through eating low carb and doing intermittent fasting because of my favorite book The Obesity Code by Dr. Jason Fung. I was maintaining my lowest weight in 24 years and I wasn’t going to give it up over too many Christmas sweets.
Because I had been practicing intermittent fasting for about 8 months, I felt that I had built my fasting muscle up enough to do 10 days of fasting. I had the knowledge, planned ahead, had support and knew what to expect. I even tapped into my support resources by getting Megan Ramos, Program Director and Co-Founder of the Intensive Dietary Management Program and one of the foremost authorities on fasting to coach me daily through the process. She coached me live each day of the fast in the Obesity Code Network Facebook Group. The members of this group were incredible and hundreds joined me in fasting by picking their own length of fast from 1 to 10 days based on what they wanted to do. You can watch every video of Megan Ramos coaching me and answering everyone’s questions here:
Let me warn you, the videos are live and very real. They tackle some yucky physical issues and emotional struggles to fasting. It isn’t all pretty.
A brief oral history
A few Facebook posts I made during the fast to the best support group imaginable. The Obesity Code Network. (It’s a closed group, but you can request access.)
Day 3
My current thoughts on Day 3 of 10 Day Fast
This is day 3? Day 3? Are you serious? There is no way I can do 10 days!
What could I eat that no one would notice is missing?
I had a fantastic morning and did all the right things, why do I feel so angry now?
Water sucks.
Why does this seem so simple for everyone else and so hard for me?
I promised you I would be 100% honest and this is where I am at right this moment. I'm not proud of it but these are my real thoughts. I'm physically just fine but the mental struggle for me is real and I feel angry. Then the anger passes usually with the hunger. Fasting is not all pretty for me.
I don't need you to convince me that my thoughts are ridiculous. I know they are and I know they will pass. I would like to know if you sometimes struggle with ridiculous thoughts in difficult moments that pass. How do you pick yourself up?
Day 4
Day 4 of my 10 Day Fast. Feeling nervous as I head to the only meeting I couldn't reschedule during the fast. It is a business breakfast with an incredible business woman that I look up to. I have no issue saying I'm fasting and just having coffee. I am apprehensive about ignoring the smells of food and feeling hungry. I'll have a full report this morning in our event together
Day 5
Day 5 of my 10 day fast. Here is my inspiration in the form of my 12 year old daughter. I taught her poor eating and poor fitness for 11 years. I simply didn't know any better. She and I were both sick constantly which I blamed falsely on an obvious poor immune system.
Neither of us are perfect but she watched me switch to low carb eating and intermittent fasting and she saw me get healthier and hotter. Luna reduced her sugar and reduced her carb intake. She started getting interested in exercise. She got sick twice least year instead of every month and I got sick once.
Our children watch what we do and often adopt those behaviors. She is the love of my life and I feel incredibly grateful I've been able to change my health and affect hers. This quirky, 5 foot 8, twelve year old helps make it worth being the best example I can be every day. I'll always be wonderfully imperfect and now I can show her how to be her own version of wonderfully imperfect. My actions show her that I love myself and hopefully can teach her to love herself too.
Will this gingerbread house break my fast?
Day 7
Day 7 of my 10 day fast. I slept well last night for the first time since day 1. No melatonin. No waking up at 3am. No headache and Tylenol needed. Just 9pm to 630am full on, slobber on the pillow deep sleep!
Yesterday was tough but today feels like I might be turning the corner. It is as if my body is saying - alright, I get it, you aren't eating for a bit so we will stop making you feel like crap. I'm even noticing the pink in the sky as the sun rises out my window.
I'm going to keep very busy today with my daughter and hope this feeling continues.
Day 8
Day 8 of My 10 Day Fast. I'm running on adrenaline and bone broth. Just zipped up this size 12 dress and headed to the final interview for the job I want!
For those of you that asked about my dress I keep shrinking and I hate shopping so I use clothes services where you rent the clothes and return them for a monthly fee. You basically rent your wardrobe. My favorite ones are LeTote, RentTheRunWay and GwynnieBee. For those of you on your weight loss journey who hate shopping, it is worth checking out.
My favorite is Gwynnie Bee because it has sizes 0 to 32 and I have been every size under the sun. They will even give you a free month to try it out. I hope you dig it! But if you don't then just cancel before the first month is up.
Day 9
Day 9 of 10 Day Fast and I need your vote. In one hour should I do CrossFit for the fifth time in my life or should I watch Young and the Restless with my pup on my lap? Please vote in comments below by 11:15cst and I will do what the group commands. Remember to be sweet to me!
(EDITORS NOTE: The group members chose CrossFit.)
Each one of us has our own unique relationship with food. For my entire life, food has been like a confidante, a friend and a soul mate. Letting go of all that for 10 days means I have to deal with all of my emotions on my own and quite frankly, I don’t like it.
Some people have a ridiculously easy time fasting. They report feeling free, happy and exuberant as if unicorns are dancing around them over a rainbow. All I want to know is - Where are my damn unicorns?
After all this, the ten days is about to end and I’ve been so lucky to hear thousands of stories from people about their own struggles and their triumphs with fasting for better health. It has been incredibly inspirational.
Now that I’m just a few hours away from eating, it all feels worth it.
I am, of course, kidding.
It was way too long for me. But, I am so proud of myself for sticking to it, for sharing my story and for losing 9 pounds.
If you are attempting to lose weight or improve your health, I think intermittent fasting is something to learn about and consider. I don’t think it is for everyone and you should always consult a medical professional you trust. But, who knows, maybe you’ll get unicorns and you’ll be so hot and skinny you can ride off into the sunset on it!
To Your Health and Hotness!
- Eve
