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Ask HN: Are You Fasting?

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41–48 of 48 posts

Re: Ask HN: Are You Fasting?

#41

Post by amon22 »

nvilcins wrote: post #29

I've been doing intermittent fasting for years now, on a not-so-typical schedule: first meal late in the day (5PM-ish) and the second (final) one within a couple of hours. What I love: * Total mental clarity during the first half of the day, can focus fully on work or life responsibilities without a single thought about food. * Freedom to not have to organize the day around food (making choices, planning logistics, "…

I do the same lol, it's great isnt it! I also make an effort to cook my "big meal" myself which is also a great habbit! I use my "lunch break" to go to walk to my local market and pick up ingredients.

Re: Ask HN: Are You Fasting?

#42

Post by shubb »

hammyhavoc wrote: post #34
nvilcins wrote: post #29

I've been doing intermittent fasting for years now, on a not-so-typical schedule: first meal late in the day (5PM-ish) and the second (final) one within a couple of hours. What I love: * Total mental clarity during the first half of the day, can focus fully on work or life responsibilities without a single thought about food. * Freedom to not have to organize the day around food (making choices, planning logistics, "…

I find it amazing how much experiences vary. I think a large part of it may be what you eat when you do eat, and also the quantity. Portion sizes seem to vary drastically. If I fast, I generally get moody and all I can focus on is food. A lot of friends fast for religious reasons too, and the overwhelming majority of them get cranky instead of more productive and able to focus.

I find that if you eat or drink anything with calories between waking up and breaking your fast your body switches mode and wants food. Even a black coffee is risky. Maybe something about ketosis.

Re: Ask HN: Are You Fasting?

#43

Post by timonoko »

UncleEntity wrote: post #35
timonoko wrote: post #6

"Wait till you are actually hungry" seems to work fine. It is extended version of @Jack's "I eat only once a day", except there is no rules. Interestingly first thing they teached to American Injuns, was "warm meals thrice a day" and the result can be seen in the Indian population even today.

You know “injuns” is a pretty bad racial slur?

[flagged]

Re: Ask HN: Are You Fasting?

#44

Post by devoutsalsa »

This year I decided to try fasting during Ramadan, as I was visiting a Muslim country and all my friends there were doing it. It was pretty interesting to eat the first meal around 4:30a, fast all day (no food, no water, no anything), and then eat again around 6:30p. I also didn’t drink any alcohol during the month, partially because one couldn’t buy it. I accidentally developed a bit of self control, and now controlling what I eat & drink seems to be a bit easier.

Re: Ask HN: Are You Fasting?

#45

Post by yabirgb »

I'm muslim and I do fast on mondays and thursdays. I feel much better during the day and also more focused. Following as how it is done in islam (no food, no water) I take breakfast before the sunrise (right now where I live is around 5am) and then after praying (similar to meditation in terms of benefits) I start to work.

I can think really clearly vs the days that I don't fast and also I would say that my productivity is higher in terms of what I achieve. It has the downside that at 5PM or around I'm already without energy and I stop working compared to normal days when I'm okey up to 11pm.

I also pray 5 times a day as is usual, I'm not sure if that is relevant as afaik it has been found to have similar effects to meditation.

Finally I eat dinner and drink around 9PM

Re: Ask HN: Are You Fasting?

#46

Post by Gunnerhead »

raptorraver wrote: post #39

Yes, I'm an Orthodox Christian so bit more than half of the year is fast day. Fast day means that I eat vegan food moderately (with some exceptions, like fish allowed on some days) and also don't use oil when cooking. There are four longer lent periods around the year and each Wednesday and Friday are fast days. Although after some big feasts and before the Great Lent (which is before Eastern) there are weeks that ar…

As a Muslim, this is so interesting. Fasting is such a big part of Islam too, with Mondays and Thursdays being recommended fasting days. Different implementations, sure, but very similar idea and also gives me rhythm in life plus focusing on the spiritual self. Thanks for sharing!

Re: Ask HN: Are You Fasting?

#47

Post by hactually »

ChrisRR wrote: post #24
hactually wrote: post #23

I do 72hrs from Sunday to Weds night (I finished 10 mins ago!). Instead of food I hit the gym or walk the dog. My work is improved IMO - I'm faster, more alert and find it easier to problem solve and focus. I'm a CTPO for a finance and payments company so if it was a negative, I'd know pretty quickly. Happy to connect/chat about it -- even if it's for accountability

Is that with limited food in those 72 hours, or no food at all? I sure hope it's the former!

No food. Limited to diet soda, water and black coffee!

Re: Ask HN: Are You Fasting?

#48

Post by hactually »

throwaway92700 wrote: post #25
hactually wrote: post #23

I do 72hrs from Sunday to Weds night (I finished 10 mins ago!). Instead of food I hit the gym or walk the dog. My work is improved IMO - I'm faster, more alert and find it easier to problem solve and focus. I'm a CTPO for a finance and payments company so if it was a negative, I'd know pretty quickly. Happy to connect/chat about it -- even if it's for accountability

How long have you been following this for? What's your motivation? I've been following a similar schedule (72-96h during weekdays, social activities permitting), primarily for weight loss, but I'm surprised with with how productive I feel compared to normal or even time-restricted eating.

I've been doing it a while and was previously doing Sunday to Tues morning. Me and my partner did Sunday to Friday a few months ago for a wedding and have been sticking with 72 pretty well.

I hit age 40 soon and I think my metabolism has slowed a lot, I still weightlift and run but there's definitely been a shift in what I can eat and stay comfortable with

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