Today is day 1 of my first 5-day periodic fast of 2014. The next 5-day period will be mid-March. The rest of the time I eat normally - but sensibly.The regime is the same as I experienced last year during the USC trial. 5 days eating only laboratory-designed foods made to deliver low calorie but high nutritional content. I am starting on a Sunday because I know it will be an easy day at home and the finish day will be Thursday. Back to normal Friday and, while it will involve easing back into regular food, I will be able to resume a social life and dine out in the evening. A treat.Starting weight 179.0 lbs (17.8% Body Fat) BMI 25.1 as measured on a Withings scale.
My stats can be followed in detail here via Fitbit.
0700 -- The days started with a black coffee (the only external food/drink allowed) and 2 x 8oz glasses of water.I am going to try to stick to my usual morning routine which includes an approximately 1.5-2.0 miles dog walk/hike/run. About 0.5 mile of this is a steep climb through a canyon trail - my daily dose of intense aerobic activity.Water #3 - 8oz
1000 --Meal #1
Energy bar: Ingredients: Almond Meal, Macadamia Nut Butter, Honey, Pecan, Coconut, Flaxseed Meal, Coconut Oil, Vanilla Extract, Sea SaltSupplement: DHA Omega-3 (from algal oil) 200mg1200 Black coffee + water #4
1430 -- Meal #2
Vegetable soup: Ingredients include, rice flower, dried onion, inulin (chicory fiber), dried tomato, dried carrot, salt, dreid red pepper, dried leak, potato starch, olive oil, basil, spinach powder, parsley.Supplements: NR-1 -ingredients include a large range of vitamins and minerals.Water #5+6
The soup comes as a powder which is mixed with a cup of water and slowly heated. I prefer this (for convenience) to those I used during the clinical trial, which were frozen.The meal easily satisfied me. So far today I do not feel like I am fasting - in fact it feels like there is quite a lot of food to get through. My usual non-fasting regime involves two substantial meals a day and a tiny lunch - so today feels like I'm actually snacking away, more frequently than I need to. But I am making such to eat all the food because I know the portions are small and I need the nutritional content. There next four days may not be so easy.1700
Meal #3 - afternoon snack. Energy bar + chamomile flower tea.
1930
Meal #4 - dinner.
Water #7+8I was not particularly hungry but had the final meal anyway. I left a few kale chips. The pumpkin soup is good, tastier than the vegetable at lunch. I left me feeling satisfied although the salty aftertaste is not great.
So, day #1 was easy. I was tired for much of the day, which was spent at home, although a long work day and a late night yesterday are probably to blame for that. Interestingly, when I am tired I usually turn to food, even though I don't need it. Today I did not feel the need to do that, although I was focussed on the special meals and mentally prepared not to eat much.
No headaches today which I remember suffering the first time I did this regime. Plenty of water helps. I suspect tomorrow will be a little harder.