Intermittent Fasting: 2 Months Later
Alright, I set my timer for 20 minutes. Let’s see what I can write…
I thought I’d send along a quick update on intermittent fasting since my last post. Since then, we battled Influenza A. I fell first on Easter Monday, and all of the kids fell one by one over the course of a few weeks. Fortunately, there was no vomiting or GI stuff involved with this strain for our family. Unfortunately, we had some seriously high fevers. Our 2 boys got up to 106.8, and I got up to 104.
I overdid it taking care of everyone else the first day I was fever-free, and I had a major setback. I listened to my body and lengthened my eating window as I recovered. It took me several weeks to feel up to resuming my 5-hour eating window.
After a few weeks of resuming my 5-hour eating window, I felt ready to add exercise back in to my routine. I’ve been getting on the Peloton most mornings for half an hour. Emma Lovewell is my girl!
Every Sunday night, I have Philip take pictures of me in some form-fitting workout clothes and a dress. I also record measurements for my bust, chest, waist, hips, arms, and thighs. Every morning, I track my weight using the Happy Scale app. I love the app because it shows my TREND instead of making me concerned about the daily ups and downs. Weighing daily is counterintuitively easier because I know that so many things can influence whether I am up or down from the previous day. Keeping my eye on the trend is so much more helpful. There’s something about knowing I’ll have a daily check-in, too. Taking weekly pictures and measurements helps me to make sure the scale isn’t my only way to track progress. I am absolutely gaining muscle mass since I started intermittent fasting and cycling again.
Intermittent fasting is my new lifestyle, and I don’t plan to change it. A few friends have asked if I will ever take a “cheat day” or “day off.” My answer is a simple, “No.” Instead, I’ll plan to extend my eating window or add an indulgence in now and then. For example, this last Sunday, I decided to join my family in donuts and got an apple fritter. Not calling it a “cheat day” or “day off” helps me to stay committed to my goals.
My Sjogren’s symptoms are nearly gone! I have so much more energy. The brain fog is gone. Other improvements: increased saliva/tear production, GI regularity/less pain, fewer headaches, and menstrual cycle lengthening (and PMS symptoms gone—just ask Philip!).
As I mentioned last time, Philip and I talked in February about getting back in “fighting form,” and our physical health is just one component of that. Philip has been intermittently intermittent fasting for a few years, but he hadn’t been doing Gin Stephens’ “clean” fast (drinking only plain or sparkling water or black coffee during the fast). When he noticed how quickly I was seeing results, he started doing a clean fast until the mid-afternoon. He is experiencing the same results, too. I love having an in-home accountability partner!
One of my favorite parts of intermittent fasting is the spiritual component. As a Catholic, I like to offer my daily fasts for particular intentions. I ask God to do what He wants with them. Since I’m married and have 6 children this side of heaven, I dedicate my fast for each day of the week to one of my family members and their intentions. Philip gets Sunday, Jane gets Monday, etc. The kids love having their own special days for me to pray for them! In addition to particular family members, I ask others for their prayers, and I remember those intentions by name when I feel pangs of hunger or am going through a difficult moment during the day. Those intentions become my why.
My 20-minute timer just went off. I’ll pop in a few side-by-side pictures from Day 0 (March 10) next to last night (May 5).
Slow and steady, mindful and deliberate, day by day wins the race! Let me know if you have any questions about intermittent fasting!