Happy Wednesday! My planned 48 hour fast went well, thankfully I was able to get out of my work dinner so that meant I could fast without awkwardness or feel guilted into having dinner. 😂 I will break my fast today at my work lunch and then fly home this evening. It really does make trips so much simpler when I use that for my fasting time.
I asked AI about the benefits of fasting and I think it's a pretty great list so I thought I would share. Have you experienced any of these benefits? What does your fasting routine look like? Of you haven't tried it yet, why not?
Benefits of Fasting:
Weight Loss:
Caloric Restriction: By not eating for a period, you naturally reduce your caloric intake, which can lead to weight loss.
Metabolic Shift: Fasting can shift your body from using glucose for energy to burning fat, including visceral fat, which is linked to various health issues.
Improved Insulin Sensitivity:
Fasting can lower blood sugar levels and reduce insulin resistance, which might decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Cellular Repair and Autophagy:
During fasting, your cells initiate autophagy, a process where they remove dysfunctional proteins and regenerate new ones, essentially cleaning out damaged cells to make way for new ones.
Heart Health:
Fasting can lead to reductions in blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglycerides, and inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein, all of which are beneficial for heart health.
Brain Health:
There's some evidence suggesting fasting might promote brain health by increasing levels of BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor), which supports neuron health and may reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
Cancer Prevention and Treatment:
Some studies indicate that fasting might make cancer cells more vulnerable to chemotherapy while protecting normal cells, potentially reducing side effects of cancer treatments. However, this is still under research.
Longevity:
Animal studies have shown that caloric restriction, including through fasting, can extend lifespan. While direct human studies are limited, the health benefits observed might contribute to a longer, healthier life.
Reduction in Inflammation:
Fasting can reduce markers of inflammation, potentially lowering the risk for various chronic conditions linked to inflammation.
Mental Clarity and Focus:
Some people report improved mental clarity and focus during fasting periods, possibly due to the body's increased production of ketones, which are an alternative energy source for the brain.
Digestive Rest:
Giving your digestive system a break can lead to less strain on the stomach and intestines, potentially improving symptoms for those with digestive issues.
Important Considerations:
Hydration: It's crucial to drink plenty of water (and electrolytes) during fasting periods to avoid dehydration.
Not One-Size-Fits-All: The benefits can vary greatly depending on individual health, the type of fasting (intermittent, water fasting, etc.), and how it's implemented.
I don't typically love cooking with cast iron, despite the excellent results they can bring. It's messy and smells up the house. Add to that, the one we have is super old and not very good. We were recently gifted a really good one from Lancaster Cast Iron so today I decided to give it a try. We have a side burner on our Weber so I could do it outside. I sous vide a steak, then seared it in tallow on the new pan. Man it was incredible. What a difference it made from our old one. Super easy clean up too. Below is the pan, of course I forgot to take a picture of the steak haha.
Do you love using cast iron? What are some favorites you make in them?
Yesterday we surprised the kids and brought home a puppy!! They have been begging for one for years and we felt like the time was right to bring one home.
Meet Angus 🐕 He's a Golden Retriever/King Charles Cavalier Spaniel mix. He's 11 weeks old and currently weighs about 8 pounds, he should be around 35 pounds fully grown. I know it will be an adjustment for a while as he gets potty trained etc but we are so excited. 😂 Wish us luck! 🤪
Cheese is good! I ate a block of chipotle oven baked cheese with lunch yesterday and it was divine. I love it, but know that it halts any progress I'm making, and will even trigger eating in excess to where I'll gain weight. It's sad but I have accepted it. If I eat it in small quantities with a meal, it's ok, but I really have to work to keep it in check.
What's your favorite cheese? How do you incorporate it? Do you see negative results when eating it?
Happy Friday!! We are supposed to have a VERY rainy weekend here in Arizona, which is very rare for us. It might even mean that trick or treating is cancelled. 🎉😂 I always trade the kids for their candy anyway so fine by me if we don't even have to go out. Plus Penelope said she's too old for trick or treating and said she'll just skip it and take the money. 🤪😂
Other than that and church we have no plans this weekend, which I am excited about after a busy week. I might go get a day pass at a new gym that has a fancy steam room/sauna and cold plunge.
What are your plans for this weekend?
Happy Friday Evening Family!!
(Oh No! she's back!!) Sing some praises with me; the 2026 harvest is out of the field!! Farmer Hubby finished the corn today, the end in the rain. He ended up leaving a few rows in the field due to wet spots and steep new terraces; but the rest is out, including where the creek flooded and left logs/limbs. He got those picked up today.
You have no idea how grateful and relieved we are. This harvest kicked our behinds. We are getting older and the push and stress were something else. But now we're done. He'll clean up the combine and grain cart and truck and store them away for winter over the next few days/week. Then we'll concentrate on getting the cattle home and then winterizing what needs to be winterized.
Anywho... just wanted to report in that I'll be more "here."
Accountablility
Fresh air/sunshine/exercise/sleep
Not much/none (rain)/walking while doing errands/terrible with leg cramps for several hours.
Food
M1: Coffee and a chicken meat stick
M2: Carnivore...
Good Evening Y'all!! Day 30 of dairy free except butter and no eggs. Day 20 of no coffee. I have almost made it through my first goal. Starting a new goal Sunday. Y'all today was hard. I don't know why I craved so many sweets today. But I stayed strong because I don't want to botch my progress. I forgot to log my 6 little snackum' dill pickles tonight with dinner.
Here's my stats for the day.
