What I learned during a 14 day fast.

It's 7 am on a Monday morning, three hours before I break a 14-day fast, and I can't remember the last time I looked forward to a meal this much. While I've tackled 7-day fasts in the past, this is the longest I've ever gone without food. So, why did I choose to embark on this two-week self-starvation journey, you might wonder? Well, there are a few compelling reasons, with my health and overall well-being topping the list.

After battling illness earlier this year, my diet spiraled out of control, consisting mainly of freezer meals and convenience foods. Once I had fully recovered, I took a 10-day trip to my home country, Ireland, where I indulged in all the comfort food I grew up on. Irish Breakfast became a daily ritual, and I savored every bite of Shepherd's pie and my sister's delicious cooking. Unsurprisingly, I put on around 20 pounds this year, thanks to a combination of freezer food and my culinary adventures in Ireland.

However, it wasn't just the weight gain that bothered me; it was how I felt. My energy levels plummeted, and I couldn't shake off a persistent feeling of lethargy.

On Labor Day, after consuming some food that didn't sit well with me, I decided to embark on a 7-day fast. Although the initial days were challenging, I drew strength from my previous fasting experiences and braced myself for the inevitable mood swings and boredom.

By the time I reached day 7, my mood had stabilized, and I felt surprisingly good. I had even managed to hit the gym three times that week. It was then that I decided to push my limits further and extend the fast to 14 days.

In just two weeks, I went from weighing 222.8 pounds to 198.8 pounds, shedding a total of 24 pounds. Surprisingly, the most challenging aspect wasn't the hunger itself; it was dealing with other people's reactions. I've faced this before when I quit alcohol at a young age, and the sudden change was met with skepticism and judgment. People would give me odd looks when I opted for water over a drink, questioning whether I had a drinking problem. "My only problem right now is your intrusive questioning", I would think.

However, when I tell people about my fasting journey, the reactions are even more visceral. "Are you crazy? You must eat something! Not even juice?" If only people understood the myriad of benefits that fasting offers, from its ancient roots in various religious and cultural traditions to its increasing recognition as a treatment option in the medical community, albeit with limited support from Big Pharma.

During self-induced starvation, your mind plays tricks on you as your survival instinct clashes with your willpower. The most intense battle occurs in the first three days. However, as your body adapts, your liver shifts its focus to processing body fat, and your ketone levels soar, transforming you into a fat-burning machine. The intense hunger fades, replaced by a strange sense of euphoria.

When I am on my usual keto / low carb diet (aside from this year's debacle) I check my ketone levels regularly. The highest I ever got to was 1.5 mmol/L. Here is my reading this morning.

My current reading would typically signify Diabetic Ketoacidosis. Fortunately, my sugar levels remain low, and my doctor has been closely monitoring my progress. It goes without saying, though: do not attempt such a fast without medical supervision.

So, what have I learned about myself and my career during this fast? When you're in survival mode, your mind becomes incredibly focused. You zero in on what truly matters and tune out distractions. My work became significantly more efficient, as I tackled lingering tasks on my to-do list. I became calmer, more patient, and gained a clearer perspective on my career, allowing me to plan for its improvement and expand my network.

Beyond weight loss, fasting offers countless health benefits, including a phenomenon known as 'autophagy' (literally "eat thyself"), which selectively dismantles and consumes undesirable components of your body, starting with fat. Cancer cells, in particular, suffer during fasting, as they cannot utilize ketones for energy, unlike healthy cells. As glucose becomes scarce, cancer cells become vulnerable to the immune system, which undergoes significant repair during a fast.

Fasting has been linked to improvements and even cures for various conditions, including arthritis, cancer, asthma, and more. It's a practice with deep historical roots, notably in Siberia, where fasting clinics have flourished. I highly recommend watching this documentary about the Siberian fasting clinics - https://archive.org/details/science-of-fasting-hd-t-1b-08-x-gv-rs

While I feel like I could continue fasting for another week, I've decided to pause for now. I'm growing weary of water and coffee, and I want to enjoy time with friends and family without the fast becoming the focus of conversation. I've made reservations for breakfast at 10 am with my family at my favorite La Jolla breakfast spot. I'm very much looking forward to it. ??