My 5.5-Day Water Fast Was the Productivity Boost I KNOW I Needed

My last meal was Saturday evening, June 5. I fasted for just over 5 days and broke the fast this morning. AMA if you’re interested.

Quick FAQ:

Why did you fast? I usually try to do 3-day fasts every quarter or so but hadn’t done one since August. Colin and I just got back from an indulgent 6-week road trip and I started a new contract this week, so it seemed like a good time to clean out and reset.

You started a work contract while on a fast? Yes! I was curious to test my focus. To my satisfaction, I felt on fire all week. Super focused and productive. 10/10 would recommend.

Why would you fast? It’s so good for you. Look it up. Also, I had been having GI issues on and off for almost a year, so I wanted to see if resetting my entire digestive system could help… TBD on that! Finally, I wanted to test my self-control. Could I actually go a whole a week?

How did you break your fast? With a small green smoothie, half an apple, and two almonds. Couldn’t consume much more just now.

Did you have any cravings? Not really. I started visualizing a turkey sandwich with apples, onion chutney, and arugula on sourdough something fierce on day 4, but not out of hunger. More out of…missing tasty things in my mouth. It was similar to missing the beach.

Why did you stop your fast? I planned to do 6.5 days and break my fast Saturday night. But I woke up unusually grumpy today although I had been fine all week, and was too lightheaded to perform optimally with my work. These were signs I needed to adjust my plan. Colin suggested a green smoothie, so I went for it. No regrets. Plus I have a virtual meal today with my client and I really wanted to be present and enjoy it. With a turkey sandwich.

Did you supplement with anything? Absolutely. Pure water fasts can flush out all your electrolytes and drain you of energy. No bueno. I had rehydration packets with a glass of water 2x daily for sodium, potassium, and magnesium (0 cals), freshly-squeezed lemon water with cayenne 2x daily (170 cals total), and bone broth occasionally if I felt weakness (180 cals total). So that’s 350 calories in 5 days, which kept me going really well.

How much weight did you lose? No idea. I don’t own a scale and didn’t do this for weight loss. My priorities: biohacking and experimentation, testing my self control, curious about focus and productivity, and getting back to a good rhythm after six weeks of chillin’.

Was anything weird? I felt more cold more often.

Would you do it again? Heck yes. I got so much time back this week not having to think about cooking or eating.

How do you feel now? Downright amazing. Bright, energetic, and excited to do it again in a few months.

The Day By Day Play

Day 1 (Sunday): The hungriest day. It wasn’t unbearable, just annoying. I was so used to eating so it was odd to not be able to look forward to a meal. Spent day recuperating from our road trip.

Day 2 (Monday): Similar to Sunday. But had super productive day, worked with my client on an exciting project, and finished lots of grad school assignments. Hunger pangs subsided by 4 pm. Overall, great day. Also, I had a tiny poop. It was cute.

Day 3 (Tuesday): Occasional hunger pangs but nothing I couldn’t ignore. Started new contract and felt phenomenally productive, focused, and on fire. Barely noticed any hunger or curiosity about food.

Day 4 (Wednesday): Had some lightheadedness in the morning. And also after sunning mid-day by the pool, which can cause dizziness even when you’re full. Almost called Colin to come help me walk back but I handled it. No actual hunger. By nighttime, I entirely forgot I hadn’t eaten. Literally no feeling of hunger. Just brain fog towards evening. Cured with cuddles. But again, super productive at work. And had a very tiny poop again. Like the size of a small Brazil nut.

Day 5 (Thursday): Woke up lightheaded and weak. Took a poop! A larger one than the previous two. Drank some bone broth and electrolytes. Felt stronger but experienced stomach cramps — achy ones, not bloaty/indigestiony ones. Drank more electrolytes. Productive at work. Totally into it. Thinking super clearly. Great focus. Had more bone broth and felt cramps again — hmm maybe lay off the bone broth? And wow just took another big poop! Where the heck did that come from? Finished the evening out strong. No real hunger. Seriously, I’ve felt way hungrier between lunch and dinner, or mornings on regular days, than on day 5 of a water fast. I think I don’t remember what the experience of hunger feels like.

Day 6: Woke up super weak. Interpersonal skills not on fleek. Colin is over it. Dizzy in my morning shower. Thought about breaking the fast a bit early. Colin agreed, and voilà! Felt instantly recharged from a very small green shake, a couple of almonds, and half an apple. Took a large-ish poop almost immediately. Gosh, I must have had all kinds of gunk just lodged in there like a golf ball in a garden hose. See? The benefits and mysteries of fasting! That tiny amount of sustenance powered me back up to peak capacity, as if I’d been eating all week. Seriously, this feels like a video game power-up, when you’re dragging toward the finish line and suddenly there’s a mushroom.