MY 3 DAY FAST

Last week my husband and I fasted for 69 hours.  I am not a "fast-er."  This was my 3rd fast in life and the longest I've ever gone. We decided in advance when we would start, with no definitive end time; we said we'd agree when we'd had enough.  Honestly, while I was ready for dinner on day 3, I truly believe I could've gone longer but CAN does not mean SHOULD, right?  

• Why did I fast?

* Gut health. 

I did a GutZoomer test and have a LONG list of problems, which are a daily frustration.

* Inflammation.

I literally felt inflamed, puffy, and not great overall.

* Autophagy.

That's a fancy word for cellular renewal.

• How did I feel?

Having my husband do this with me reinforced the truth that we need accountability and help doing hard things.  We were in this together and I needed to be able to both commiserate and stay committed.

While I had reduced energy from late afternoon onward, I had ZERO energy dips that ALWAYS happen to me after eating lunch.  Every day I woke up feeling like a reset button was pressed; it was as if each morning was minute 1 of my fast. 

We did afternoon walks in place of dinner to distract us, which took as much mental energy as physical.  Skipping dinner was tough.  We were definitely ready for bed early and I slept great.

I had a lot of work to do each day, so staying busy is THE way to go.  I felt productive and distracted.  I still did my daily walks, got 10-17k steps daily, and lifted weights as normal.

I had times when I wanted/needed to sit a bit more so I listened to my body.  I had 2 bouts of nausea, but electrolytes immediately fixed that.

I prayed throughout each day, asking the Lord to be my satisfaction, my fulfillment. Without God, I can do nothing.

• Should YOU fast?

While I personally completed a 69-hour fast for specific gut and metabolic reasons, I want to be clear that I do NOT generally recommend extended fasting for most women over 30.

Research shows that prolonged fasting can disrupt female hormones, potentially affecting menstrual cycles, thyroid health, and fertility.

It can also elevate cortisol, increasing stress on the body and impairing recovery.

For women with a history of disordered eating, fasting can easily become a gateway to unhealthy restriction or obsession.  I do not know if I lost weight as that was not my focus.  Women often choose to starve to get skinny . . . no, no, and no.

Additionally, as we age, maintaining lean muscle becomes more important, and extended fasting without adequate protein intake may contribute to muscle loss over time.

Every woman’s biology is different, and while fasting has benefits, it's not a one-size-fits-all tool—especially for women navigating hormonal shifts, stress, and long-term metabolic health.

• Benefits of my 69- hour fast:

* Fat burning

* Enhanced energy

* Mental clarity

* Cellular cleanup

* Lowered insulin level

* Reduced inflammation

* Resilience & discipline

* Improved gut lining

* Better immune system function

* Starving my overgrown and imbalanced bacteria

* Zero bloat

I'd love to hear YOUR thoughts / questions on fasting.