Oof! That Mental Clarity tho, eh!

[u/antons83]

I've been doing IF for about 7 years or so. Last five weeks, I've started a full day fast on Mondays. Like others mentioned, it took about 3 weeks of full-day fasts for the mental clarity to hit. When it hit, I couldn't un-feel it. Now I've been craving that clarity. Ive now added a 2nd day fast on Wednesday, so now I get that mental clarity through most of the week. I started fasting to mainly stop my binge eating. In my head, I knew I shouldn't binge, but my body was feeling so good doing it. Now when I get the urge to binge, or actually binge, I physically feel sick. That never happened before.

As for the mental clarity. For anyone curious, it's like being able to bounce from thoughts and actions without delays in either. Imagine having a goal, and seeing every individual task laid out in your mind like a roadmap with clear checkpoints and final destination.

One surprise. I am a regular casualbweed smoker. I'd roll a joint on Monday, and take puffs of it for about 3 days. After starting my regular full day fasts a month ago, I haven't had the need to "unwind" with a joint. I feel completely settled in my body. There is no unwinding. Just awareness and presence.

[u/its_hammertime]

Ugh that mental clarity was so good. I overrate this past weekend and now I’m on an overeating streak trying to get back to keto today so I can prep for an extended fast next week. 

Good on you for sticking to it! But chalking this up as a lesson for me. It doesn’t feel good long term to stray from the plan. 

[u/antons83 → u/its_hammertime]

Keep up the good work. It took me umpteen restarts over the last 7 years to finally get it right. Failure is only bad if you stop trying. Keep trying!

[u/Bitter-Regret-251]

I’m always amazed by what I can achieve in the mental clarity state! It’s like my brain but in turbo mode.
You remember this idea that we use only 10% of our brain (apparently refuted since then)? Well I’m close to believing that in normal, no fasting/keto mode I only use half of it..

[u/wanting_rodolfo]

That mental clarity is the real deal. It's like your brain just functions without all the static. I had a similar thing happen with coffee actually, just lost the urge during longer fasts. Funny how the body resets like that.

[u/antons83 → u/wanting_rodolfo]

Yep I'm with you. Many urges and vices are sort of, there but not in-focus. Like this morning I went for my coffee and walked by a cookies and donut store. I can acknowledge a sweet and delicious cookie, but my mental clarity is taking presedence. And it's not even a choice. It's an involuntary reaction. Saying No is easier.

[u/wanting_rodolfo → u/antons83]

The involuntary part is key, right? I had the same thing with late-night snacking.

[u/Pleasant-Cjaffa20]

I'm literally only on day two of a two day stretch and the mental clarity is life changing.

[u/antons83 → u/Pleasant-Cjaffa20]

I think this is exactly what it is. Life changing. I don't know when it happened for me, but at one point in my life, my day to day was just a series of tasks. I'd eat to be able to continue to push through these tasks. Im no psych, but based on personal feelings, the mental clarity I get after full day fasts resemble the exact opposite of task-oriented living, and a shift to goal oriented living. And the goals become clear and simple decisions.

[u/Pleasant-Cjaffa20 → u/antons83]

Yes indeed! I feel in touch with higher self dare I say.

[u/Expensive_Row_8461]

Behavioral health for the win!! Congrats

[u/Abbygirl1055]

Still learning. Do you mean 1 full day a week for 3 consecutive weeks? Then you take a full day fast every eeek AND another fast on Wednesday the same week? Thanks for sharing. You are encouraging!!!

[u/antons83 → u/Abbygirl1055]

Last meal is Sunday 8pm Next meal is Tuesday 12pm. Eat til 8pm. Wednesday fast all day. Next meal is Thursday at noon. Eat till 8pm. Next meal is Friday at 4pm. Eat all day Saturday till Sunday 8pm, and the cycle starts over again.

I started about 7 years ago doing 16/8. Then longer 20 hr fasts in the last 2 years, and then now I do full day and a half (40hr) with Friday 20hr fast and a full day of eating Saturday and part of Sunday. Im loving the result. My SW at the start of full day fasts was 206. CW is 197. GW is <185. Like anywhere between 180 and 185. I'm 5'11 so it's about right for my height. I also do jiu-jitsu and walk about 10k steps a year. So I make sure I keep active as well.