These Are The Key Takeaways From My 21-Day Fasting Journey
Are you considering fasting in hopes of improving your overall health? Did you know fasting has been practiced for thousands of years and is one of the oldest therapies in medicine? Fasting is defined as the abstinence from all or some foods or drinks for varying lengths of time. It’s a spiritual routine in many cultures and religions and its health benefits have been known to cure several chronic conditions.
Dojo DC founder, Brandon Scott, recently challenged himself to fast for 21 days — consuming zero calories — from sunup to sundown. Check out how it went for the lifestyle x fitness wellness coach below:
Why did you fast?
I felt like I needed a mental and physical reset, considering how much was on my plate, at the moment, in my business and life in general. [It was] something new and immediate that I had never done that would allow me to build discipline as well as resilience as I enter into a new chapter with new goals. I knew that resisting a basic urge to eat and indulge in something so natural and enjoyable would give me unique insight into a higher sense of self-control and focus. Along the way, I hoped to learn how to grapple with my internal dialogue, especially when it was for a reason completely intrinsic to me and not driven by any outside influence. After all, intrinsic drive and faith in progress beyond our current situation is what makes dreams into reality. And I tend to dream enormously.
Were there any rules and/or regulations you created specifically for your fast?
I initially decided to do the sunup to sundown with zero food calories. Basically, I wanted to ease into it and had 4 oz of oat milk when I first woke up in the morning. I wasn’t looking to lose weight in the form of my muscle mass, so I decided that on days where I wanted to lift — I would spring for a Gatorade during my workout and a 0 sugar, plant-based protein shake after. However, after about eight days I was aware that even those small concessions weren’t allowing me to truly push my discipline and focus enough. So, I went to a stricter version of fasting, which is zero calories, only water until sundown. I tried to keep working out but definitely had a harder time with urges.
How did you determine how long you would fast?
I picked 21 days as a minimum with a 30-day limit. Mainly, because it takes 21 days to build a new habit, and I was looking to do exactly that. Renew my mindset and gain new discipline.
What was the most challenging part about fasting for you?
The most challenging part of fasting was trying to override my natural schedule. I’m generally very conscious of my nutrition and the timing of my meals. But doing a fast meant my normal internal scheduling had to be addressed constantly. Trying to override my subconscious programming was precisely the challenge I was looking to work on. The weekends were tough, as things like Saturday morning breakfast, and Sunday brunches are things I tend to maintain without fail. I would also say that every day around 5 p.m. my brain and body really had to battle. Low blood sugar and the exhaustion from my daily activities definitely made me a bit grumpier than usual.
What are some results of fasting people may not be aware of?
The number one thing to realize is even though weight loss is bound to occur in long-term fasting, it isn’t specific to only body fat. As your body quickly runs through its glycogen stores (carbs in the form of stored energy in the liver) it begins to burn fat & protein as an energy source. This means that not only do your energy levels begin to drop, your body composition, and general metabolic processes are affected. Less muscle density and overall fatigue mean you need to be even more aware of taking in quality nutrition in whatever form of calories you choose to eat or drink. As your metabolism adjusts and the hormones controlling appetite and fullness begin to shift, it is still only temporary as your body is craving nutrients and it's very likely that any weight loss will be regained if better habits are not followed.
Did you accomplish what you set out to do with your fast?
The fast was a huge success in my opinion. The long-term commitment to myself and my self-control was well worth it to gain focus for the things I want. Discipline and self-awareness are extremely important qualities for whatever your goals are and I’ve noticed the ability to interject in the automated responses and unconscious behaviors I have.