Year Four, Day 190: Autophagy and the Beauty of Intermittent Fasting!

I am thrilled to say I have lost another pound!  That makes a total loss of 14 pounds since I began intermittent fasting about 10 weeks ago!

I have done a bit more research, and it all points to fasting as a tool for weight loss, better health and longevity! 

The process of autophagy, in particular interests me. This is the  process in which "the body begins to clean out the old, unwanted, and unneeded cellular material, as well as fixing and recycling damaged parts." https://medium.com/zero-fasting/fast-your-way-to-autophagy-a8eb08c0dc7a

It is also the desired state in intermittent fasting when your body is burning stored fat.  

"While autophagy is very difficult to measure outside of a lab environment, many experts agree that the autophagy process initiates in humans after 18-20 hours of fasting, with maximal benefits occurring once the 48–72 hour mark has been reached."  https://medium.com/zero-fasting/fast-your-way-to-autophagy-a8eb08c0dc7a

This makes quite a bit of sense to me. From my humble fasting experience, I feel best after at least 19-20 hours of fasting. I have not quite made it past 24 hours. Clear headed, energetic.  I am pleased with my results so far.  I think by making this a lifestyle, I will discourage the yo-yo effect of years past!

The beauty of intermittent fasting is that you can tailor it to your lifestyle. I normally always stop eating at 2:30.  I usually begin eating at 10:30 a.m. Sometimes I have a large eating "window" though. Like the mornings I go to breakfast with my mother. Who is the queen of the early birds!  I eat at 6:30 a.m. and then again before my window closes at 2:30.

When I attend a social function (which is rare for this interoverted hermit), like a birthday party, baby shower, or wedding, I forget about the fast. But I go back to my normal schedule the next day.

For example, my adorable, precious granddaughter, Grace celebrated her second birthday last week. So for that day I just ate like a normal person. I even had a cupcake and chips! I closed my eating window at 8:00 p.m. Then I got back on intermittent fasting train the next day.

I only gained 1 pound!

But I felt a bit sluggish the next day. I probably had a carb hangover.

I am at the library right now. It looks like a monsoon outside the window. I might stay and read for a bit before I head to the gym. Yesterday, I was babysitting my granddaughter when my daughter called in a panic. She said there was a tornado warning. Not too far from the house! She and her husband were at dinner when they got the text alerts. I didn't get one on my phone. I hunkered down with Grace, away from the windows. I mentally thought of a plan. There were candles in the kitchen. My cell phone was charged.  I would just cover her until it passed.

But it didn't touch down near us. There is speculation whether it touched down at all. Some meteorologists are calling it just a funnel cloud.

But it was good practice in responding to extreme weather.  We don't get much of that around here!

Aside from my success in weight loss, I am doing pretty well with daily exercise. And daily prayer. I am still having trouble with my emotions. Mostly anxiety.  Especially social anxiety. I am fine with family and friends. I am especially confident in my teaching role and playing the piano. But small groups of people still give me angst.

I have a counseling appointment tomorrow. That scares me a bit. But I feel like I am ready to move forward. To find some coping tools for life, rather than the long, arduous task of figuring out what is wrong with me and how I got like this.

I think I am just fine the way I am. I am getting counseling to help myself interact with others.  Pretty much doing this for them.

I am such a giving person, after all!

On that note. Happy Rainy Monday!

Talk soon!

Love,

Zita

P.S. Here are my most recent hooping videos! Days 139 and 140!