Hot Topic: Therapeutic Fasting vs Lifestyle Approach

Episode #67
In this episode, Megan and Terri discuss an important distinction for everyone to understand-the difference between therapeutic fasting and a general fasting lifestyle approach. They discuss how this can feel confusing or misleading to folks newer to the fasting community. And bring in clinical examples of how many people achieve their health goals. They also help differentiate the healing process that takes place during therapeutic fasting and the longer-term effects of making fasting a regular part of your lifestyle.
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This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional care by a doctor or other qualified medical professional. You should always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before doing any fasting, changing your diet, taking or adjusting any medication or supplements, or adopting any treatment for a health problem. The use of any other products or services purchased by you as a result of this podcast does not create a healthcare provider-patient relationship between you and any of the experts affiliated with this podcast. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

[@evettabush3435]

Ive been working on my fasting lifestyle for a littltle over 4 months now and listen to many fasting method and jason fung videos to help me stay on track. I'm amazed at how i look at myself and food now. I see other people eating junk food now and think "spiked insulin levels" instead of " i want some too, it looks good".

[@AndreaShink]

I am so enjoying this series. thank you for your work, ladies!

[@catherinehughes7535]

Thank you Megan and Terri. I always enjoy the podcasts and this one is particularly inspiring.

[@zanniebythesea770]

So informative and encouraging

[@linzidelconte7405]

Great information! thank you

[@AlanWil2]

Y'all Rock!!!

[@Romans12.2]

I love this!!!! But for me fasting has really screwed up my body and I don't know what to do. Now my thyroid is going whacky. Which is something that has been slowly happening and not triggered by the fasting. So I keep playing with my fast. It's so frustrating. I feel like I get one thing under control and then my body is like hahaha, nice try in feeling better, I'm going to mess with this area now. :( 😩

[@catcan221]

I am with you. Similar issues.

[@iss8504]

You always need to vary fasts to avoid slowing your metabolism. You also need to do longer fasts and maybe fewer and eat enough when you eat. I am going thru menopause, it's tough. Cortisol is an issue too. Don't do too many things around once because that's too much stress.

[@celinescrappassion2184]

.i deciced to start a fasting regimen on jan 16th. I ate my last meal sunday evening at 6pm and only ate again wednesday at 6 pm, then did not eat thursday, ate one meal friday 6 pm, saturday 6 pm and sunday 6 pm. I lost 11 pounds the first weeks, and nothing for the next 2 weeks. This is discouraging. No carbs at all during my meals(Keto). What is my problem? I don't know what to do anymore. I am about to just abandon my weightloss journey, that i have been on since june 2019. I had lost 72 pounds and last year, in feb 2022, i was just sick of the scale and decided to stop weighing myself, and allow some carbs here and there... and after 9 months i had gained 39 pounds back. I am just sick and tired of battling with my weight.

[@celinescrappassion2184]

i also never eat fat bombs, MCT oil in my coffee, i eat very rarely processed foods. I eat whole foods.

[@jennie9]

It's possible you're not eating enough AND you're not leaving enough time between your fasts. For weight loss, TFM recommends a 60-40 split of fasting vs meals a week. 60% fasting and 40% eating or vice versa. You're eating fewer than 40% meals. TFM also recommends more than 24 hours of fasting at a time for people who have a significant amount of weight to lose. You're doing 3 24-hour fasts. Maybe try shifting to 42-hour fasts instead. For instance, fast on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and eat 2 meals on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. If you want to do rolling 42s, then don't eat on Sunday the first week and eat on Monday, shifting all the days by one. Personally, I eat on Saturdays and Sundays because that's when I'm most likely to be spending time with others who are eating and when I'm off work, which makes it harder for me to fast.

[@celinescrappassion2184]

@@jennie9 i will try that. I think that i was not eating enough and my body just decided to not let any more weight go. I will restart again with a different fasting/eating schedule, because i do think that it was not balanced enough. My only issue is that i do not like fasting on week ends because that is when i am spending time with others. I came up with this schedule to try next week: 48 hour fast (last meal sunday 6pm) TUES:break the fast with 1 meal at 6PM WED:have 2 meals with at least 5-7 hrs between meals(12pm and 6 PM) 48 hr fast on thursday and break fast Friday at 6pm with one meal SAT: eat 2 meals what do you think?

[@jennie9]

@@celinescrappassion2184 That looks like a more balanced approach. The length of fasting is enough to give you some good benefits for weight loss and autophagy, and you're getting enough food. Plus it allows you to eat with others on the weekend. Try it out and see how you feel. That's the key. Do you feel healthy, is it giving you the results you want, and is it sustainable for you and your lifestyle? Good luck!

[@MXYZPTLK1234]

​@@jennie9 thank you for this example. it helps to understand the structure.

[@catcan221]

I have been doing keto and TRF for 4 months with occasional 24-36 hour fasts. My labs look great for triglycerides, sugar and insulin but my protein is too low and free T3. I have a hard enough time making my protein minimums on days I do eat. How does one break a weight loss plateau with fasting and not become protein deficient? Also, when you say 36 hour fast M, W, F, you can't really get a full day's meals on off days to meet protein requirements. I think my body thinks it is starving to death and is holding on to its reserves.

[@evettabush3435]

Do you drink a lot of caffeine, especially near the time you eat your protein? I've heard that it can impair absorption of protein, and to give yourself an hour or so leeway before consuming caffeine. I'm having a little of this issue myself and am trying to balance my protein and caffeine consumption now. Hope to find out how much it helps over the next few weeks.