WARNING: This is another long one.
Fasting Journal: Day 14
- Subliminals: None (Rest Day)
- Blood Pressure: 107/71 at a 64HR. A good night of sleep and it’s back to normal.
- Temperature: 36.7C/98F. Seems to remain stable. I am getting some chills here and there though.
- Water: 2L/70oz.
- Ketones: 4.8mmol/L
- Glucose: 3.9mmol/L
- Weight: -2.8KG/-6.2lbs weight, of which -1.1KG/-2.4lbs fat and -0.8KG/1.9lbs lean body mass.
- Body Measurements: Hips unchanged, -3cm/-1.2" waist, -1cm/-0.4" chest
Today is measuring day. I will admit I always look forward to it when fasting. See what gains (technically losses) I’ve made. Although I did not look forward to pricking two fingers for the ketone and glucose measurements.
Concerning the ketone & glucose measurements:
Assuming the device is not defective, these readings are very interesting. The ketones should be a lot higher, but that can be explained by the strips simply being unable to measure such high amounts. But the glucose is interesting. I haven’t had carbs in almost two weeks. There’s a few parts of the body that can only function on glucose. As a result, a process takes place called gluconeogenesis to ensure there’s always a minimum amount of glucose present in the blood. Of course, during fasting this means more stuff is being consumed, yay!
Whatever the case, it’s evidence the human body is perfectly capable of maintaining itself even in this state, as long as there’s enough consumables stored (which I have plenty unfortunately). It merely takes a long time for it to fully adapt to it, since our bodies only evolve through stress, when they have no other choice (much like muscle growth). Which is probably why mankind has barely evolved since we invented tools to make our lives easier.
Same principle occurs in neuroplasticity. In people that have suffered a brain injury that caused them to lose partial functionality of their right hand for example, the brain won’t fix it as long as they can still use their left hand. So in treatment, patients are made to stop using their left and and forced to keep trying their right hand. Only then does the brain rewire itself since it has no other choice.
Another example would be scars. A wound is healed only as much as is needed and no more. But if you start derma-rolling over the scar (or stretch marks), it will eventually go away completely. Our bodies are lazy, I guess. Although I’m sure they would call themselves efficient instead.
Concerning weight and body measurements:
As expected, total weight loss is about half of last week. It should remain around this level or a little bit less as my BMR drops slightly due to the lower weight to carry around. I would have hoped for more fat loss obviously, but I can always stubbornly convince myself the scale is simply wrong.
Consider that my scale considers lean body mass to be everything that’s not fat, so that loss does not have to be muscle. Even if it were, it’ll come back rapidly once the fast is broken. Plus, muscle is heavier, so this loss would probably not even be noticeable.
As far as the body measurements go, this is also expected. During a fast, the first fat that goes is the visceral fat, which is the fat situated around the organs. It’s the dangerous fat, since too much of it impairs the correct functioning of the organs. But we don’t see the visceral fat on the outside (well, unless you’re doing an Uddiyana Bandha to creep people out), so visually nothing changes. I expect next week the measurements will be at least slightly improved compared to this week.
Random fact: I learned from an Indian doctor specializing in such things that the bodies of people from Indian descent tend to prefer visceral fat stores, so they may look thinner but can become “fat on the inside” first, before it becomes visible on the outside. Which also put them at much higher risk of health issues.
The Oura is super-confused since I apparently dozed off behind my desk yesterday, so it did not register my very nice 7-8 hours of sleep. Which is sad, I was really hoping it would.
Update: apparently the Oura stops recording once the battery reaches a certain level. That’s kind of silly. I mean, why not simply record until the battery runs out? Instead it has enough battery left to tell me it didn’t record anything. Sigh…
I tried the Muse again as well, and once again it tells me I spent most of that time in an awake state. It’s really interesting that apparently my brainwaves go in a completely different direction to the rest of my vitals, since the Oura, which likely measures cardiovascular stats to determine the sleep stage, tells me my body is asleep. Not to mention I feel well rested and I was most definitely asleep.
I’ve actually reported this to Muse with a request to discuss it with their R&D guys. I doubt they’ll do that, but it’s worth a try. An actual researcher would jump at the opportunity to have another voluntary guinea pig.
I did report the Oura weirdness to those guys. They are more likely to scold me for staying up so late, as they are all about healthy sleeping patterns (it’s pretty much what the ring was invented for).
The last few days there’s been lots of activity in my intestines, combined with burping and feeling like a brief bathroom visit every day. I still remember ye olde days when that happened maybe once every two weeks. Curious to see if it keeps up.
I’m inclined to make a joke about subliminals making people go to the bathroom more often, but people might take it seriously.
My employer sent me a plastic bottle filled with little chocolate bars. It’s like the universe is conspiring against me. #FirstWorldProblems
Reminded me how much I miss the customary whipped cream cakes during all those workplace birthdays. Since we don’t go to the office anymore, no more cakes. But it’s a sacrifice I gladly make.
Guess what? I bought cookies and nuts!
Honestly, I have zero clues why.
It would appear that the weak-ish feeling I have goes away after taking a walk outside. Maybe that’s a difference with before. In previous fasts I had to travel to work.
Going to bed a bit later than I hoped for, there was a process running that I couldn’t afford to stop.
Blending gives it the nice foamy finish. 
I have one of those smaller blenders where the reservoir is placed upside down and after blending turns into a drinking cup.
Now if only they invented a silent blender so you don’t wake up half the neighborhood…
I’ve been considering creating a wooden cover with the same stuff they use on soundproof walls on the inside. I would create openings at the bottom for the air from the blender to escape. Then I can place it on top of the blender to muffle the sound. Biggest challenge is how to turn on the blender…
Well, it is hard to be you. Do I at least get points for trying?
Dr. Berg is another great one. He’s even more meticulous than I am, even measuring the EMF coming from his power cables and cell phone(s). And that powder was designed specifically with this purpose in mind.
I think I found a local pharmacist that sells Potassium. Needed to actually use the scientific names (K, Mg, Ca) but it seems to be good.
