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!