Pre Fast – A Trip Down Memory Lane
Let’s rewind a bit and delve into my history for a bit of context. My weight and I have been frenemies since I was 8 years old, when my dad passed away – a massive trauma that left a lasting impact. Thus began my love affair with carbs which was intense, and sugar was like that bad boyfriend I couldn’t quit.
Fast forward a few years, and I was diagnosed with PCOS. The docs told me I should be grateful for my one kid because the stork would never visit again (joke’s on them – I ended up with four more kiddos!).
After my second little miracle arrived, I had an epiphany: carbs and I needed to break up. I kissed them goodbye, lost 30 kilos through Atkins/keto, and felt like a million bucks. But, you know what they say about old habits; they die hard. Emotional eating waltzed back into my life, and I gained back all those hard-lost kilos (plus some bonus weight, ugh).
Three kids later with 3 bouts of gestational diabetes, I had a major wake-up call and I took a wild leap into the world of health transformations after a not-so-fun date with type 2 diabetes. My rollercoaster of a health journey kicked off with a 3-day egg fast, which quickly turned into a 5-day water fast (not as eggscruciating as you might think!). Then, I hopped on the keto train and eventually leveled up to a strict carnivore diet. By the time I blew out the candles on my 50th birthday cake in March 2021, I was feeling pretty fabulous and had lost almost 30 kilos.
Sadly, life decided to throw me a surprise party of personal challenges, and my weight loss hit the brakes. Even though I kept up with my ketovore (protein-forward keto) diet, I somehow managed to gain back 8 kilos over the last year. Desperate to find a solution, I tried all sorts of fasting, eating, and exercise tricks, but nothing stuck.
Where I’m at Right Now
I’m your friendly neighborhood 52-year-old, recently divorced, peri-menopausal woman with 5 kids (3 still cramping my style at home) and some extra body fat that’s overstayed its welcome. Most days, I feel pretty good – I’m not constantly battling the Sandman, and I have a decent amount of energy. But let me tell you, these hormonal changes brought on by peri-menopause are like an unwelcome party crasher. My cycles are playing peekaboo, and stress is my clingy frenemy thanks to some external people who just won’t take a hint. I can we talk about the weight – yeah nothing is shifting that.
The Decision to Fast
So, what’s a girl to do? I’ve felt the call to do some serious fasting like I did back when I started this journey and when I saw the 30-day fasting fiesta led by Don Clum I took the plunge and signed up. Mostly because, let’s face it – fasting alone is about as fun as a root canal. I’m hoping that connecting with fellow fasters will give me that sense of camaraderie and motivation I need to stay on track. Plus, I’ll be trying a few tricks to help reset my circadian rhythm (fingers crossed it helps with the hormones).
My Goals for the 30-Day Fasting Challenge:
- Kick that stubborn eczema on my scalp to the curb.
- Tame my rebel stomach (hello, bloating and digestive discomfort!).
- Shed some body fat (buh-bye, unwanted fluffiness!).
- Give toxins the boot.
- See what kind of party my hormones are throwing.
- Give my digestion and liver a well-deserved vacay.
- Shake things up and jumpstart the healing process.
The Fasting Game Plan
Now, before you start picturing me as some sort of fasting superhero, let me clear the air: I’m not planning to fast for the entire 30 days straight. That’s right, folks – I’m all about balance and not turning into a hangry monster. Instead, I’ll be experimenting with various fasting tools and techniques to find the perfect formula that lets me fast for as long as I can without feeling absolutely miserable. After all, the goal here is to heal and transform, not to torture myself!
Sharing My Journey
As I brave the treacherous waters of this 30-day fasting challenge, I’ll be documenting my escapades on my Instagram account. Hopefully, my experiences will give others a laugh, a little inspiration, and some insight into the wild world of fasting. I can guarantee it won’t be perfect but it will no doubt be interesting!
My 30-day fasting adventure isn’t just about shedding pounds; it’s about healing, transforming, and finding my tribe of fellow health-seeking warriors. By taking this leap (and maybe tripping a few times along the way), I hope to regain control of my health and inspire others to join the fray. I’m excited to share my ups, downs, and everything in between as I embark on this journey. So, let’s embrace the power of fasting, have a few laughs, and conquer our goals together!
Follow along on Insta
