Brain Shuts Down During Fasting - Help!

[DonBradley]

Fellow Mormon Dialoguers--or is it Dialogists? Dialogians? Dialogicians?...,

I've had some good experiences in my life with fasting, but comparatively not that many. The main reason for this is that, while I'm neither diabetic nor pre-diabetic, my blood sugar during a fast usually drops low enough that my brain semi-shuts down; and it's hard to feel very spiritual or enlightened through a mental fog.

Help! Among the millions of fasting Latter-day Saints, there must be a great, great many who've experienced this, and many who have experienced it and then figured out how to mitigate or eliminate the problem.

Here are a couple surmises I have on how things that would help:

1. Make sure I get enough sleep when beginning the fast, since adequate sleep improves the body's blood sugar control.

2. Eat healthy fats and very slow-breakdown carbs for dinner before beginning the fast.

That's all I've got. I'm going to try those, before my next fast. But I could sure use any insights that anyone else has.

Have any of you reading this had a good experience with fixing the low blood sugar problem during fasting, or do you happen to know of things that would help?

The problem isn't that bad today, relatively. (At least not yet: I still have a few hours to go!) But near the end of church I found myself having trouble thinking through some fairly elementary things, and I'm having trouble right now with thinking clearly enough to make good plans.

Don

P.S. Naturally, if I've made any silly mistakes in this post, these should be attributed to my low blood sugar and not to me! ;-)

[Calm]

I was told decades ago (by a BYU nutritionist so she knew what that implied) I was not allowed to fast due to hypoglycemic issues (that were looking back more likely caused by sleep deprivation than glucose tolerance issues). So my fast is either of other tangible or nontangibles that by avoiding allow me to focus more on the Spirit (avoiding the board for 24 hrs for example) or doing a partial fast and allowing a glass of milk or small amounts of fruit juice to extend my physical ability to avoid large amounts of food so that most of the physical effects of the fast are present without becoming extreme. I know many who are diabetic who adjust in much the same way.

I would suggest if you want to continue a whole physical fast, then you might go on a diabetic board and ask how they extend their ability to skip meals when necessary.

[Deborah]

Don I have the same problem. I have found I really need to plan and that means eating a good heavy meal that will last before beginning my fast. Also getting a good night's sleep helps, but being an insomniac it's hard to do. I usually start my fast early Saturday so that I end up eating earlier the next day. Not as easy to do when you have late meetings.

In any case I think the spirit of the law is more important and if you do have health issues or are pregnant you can do what Cal suggested and have a partial fast, ie just enough to keep you from fainting. The hard thing for me is liquids because my throat is always dry and I often have to take sip of water just so I can keep from coughing or even talk.

[tagriffy]

Of course, there is the obvious advice of consulting a physician. You may not be diabetic or pre-diabetic, but the symptoms you are experiencing while fasting may indicate another physical problem that needs to be dealt with.

[Calm]

Here is a forum specifically devoted to fasting, you may be able to get some answers from people there: http://www.fitnessthroughfasting.com/

[The Nehor]

I have the opposite problem. I can not eat for two days and barely notice. My problem is I forget it is Fast Sunday but since on the average Sunday I do not eat before dinner anyways it comes out the same except for the lack of prayer.

[rpn]

I admire your desire to fast better. But please consider that if it is not requisite that we run faster than we have strength, if we do the best we know to prepare (I'd argue dehydration issues are the most critical to resolve, and maybe electrolytes), and our bodies simply don't cooperate with our expectations for a desirable fast, then our offering is still sufficient to Him. What I'm saying is that it isn't bad that what you experience isn't a spiritual high. What you will gain is the blessing that comes from doing your personal best.

Have you fasted for no reason other than to give your body a break before? If you have, then you might do it again, consciously seeing how the body reacts by the hour to that kind of a fast. And then I'd try it with a food fast, but not a water fast, to see if that makes a difference. As for the fog part, try Alpha Brain, and see if that helps (because what you are experiencing may be the lack of certain nutrients).

[MorningStar]

I have to drink a lot of water while I fast or I'll get a migraine.

[halconero]

My favourite fast is actually do a breakfast to breakfast! It gives me energy to start the day and keeps me focused.

[Duncan]

What's wrong with you healthy people?! Last time I fasted for 24 hours I got violently ill, so I was heck, next fast sunday I am giving up something else! like potato chips or Mike and Ike's

Edited June 2, 2013 by Duncan

[Garden Girl]

Alas... due to health issues, I've had to give up regular fasting. Because of long-term meds, I test my blood every three months. I usually eat about 10:00 PM the night before, and test at the lab about 10:00 a.m . the next morning... by that time I'm starting to get light-headed, weak and the shakes, On a couple of occasions I've had to ask to be taken before some other patients because I've been very weak and shaking badly... not good. As soon as the test is complete I practically run to the cafeteria and get orange juice, etc.

So I've had to make peace with Heavenly Father on this... I still give my fast offering, and spiritually approach F&T meeting as always.

GG

[captain-jack]

I get terrible headaches when I try to fast just two meals. I can eat until I feel as though I have a distended stomach the night before, but my body digests everything at night while I sleep so I am already starving in the morning. I've found that sipping water throughout the day can help a little, but it doesn't do much. I have come to the conclusion that I will try to do a full day but if I am feeling like garbage before I leave for church, I eat just one piece of toast. Enough to keep me functional, and I hope that the Lord understands.

[cdowis]

Just develop diabetes, and you don't have to worry about it.

[tyler90az]

I was given sound advice by my Bishop, "if you can not focus on what you are fasting about drink a glass of water." That would apply to food also.

[williamsmith]

When I used to be physically and mentally fit, I HAD to drink some water during fasts simply because it was physically necessary when being active.

I would also recommend that some fruit juice also helps when the brain needs some pick-me-up.

The rule is to simply pay attention to your needs. I would also recommend that maybe you shouldn't be "thinking" during your fast.

One of the reasons for fasting is to give your body and mind a break and flushing. Sitting and meditating/breathing might also be valuable to you.

[Tacenda]

When I used to be physically and mentally fit, I HAD to drink some water during fasts simply because it was physically necessary when being active.

I would also recommend that some fruit juice also helps when the brain needs some pick-me-up.

The rule is to simply pay attention to your needs. I would also recommend that maybe you shouldn't be "thinking" during your fast.

One of the reasons for fasting is to give your body and mind a break and flushing. Sitting and meditating/breathing might also be valuable to you.

I use to take fasting quite seriously, even wondering if gum was breaking my fast. I'm very different now. But this is good to know.

[CV75]

Fellow Mormon Dialoguers--or is it Dialogists? Dialogians? Dialogicians?...,

I've had some good experiences in my life with fasting, but comparatively not that many. The main reason for this is that, while I'm neither diabetic nor pre-diabetic, my blood sugar during a fast usually drops low enough that my brain semi-shuts down; and it's hard to feel very spiritual or enlightened through a mental fog.

Help! Among the millions of fasting Latter-day Saints, there must be a great, great many who've experienced this, and many who have experienced it and then figured out how to mitigate or eliminate the problem.

Here are a couple surmises I have on how things that would help:

1. Make sure I get enough sleep when beginning the fast, since adequate sleep improves the body's blood sugar control.

2. Eat healthy fats and very slow-breakdown carbs for dinner before beginning the fast.

That's all I've got. I'm going to try those, before my next fast. But I could sure use any insights that anyone else has.

Have any of you reading this had a good experience with fixing the low blood sugar problem during fasting, or do you happen to know of things that would help?

The problem isn't that bad today, relatively. (At least not yet: I still have a few hours to go!) But near the end of church I found myself having trouble thinking through some fairly elementary things, and I'm having trouble right now with thinking clearly enough to make good plans.

Don

P.S. Naturally, if I've made any silly mistakes in this post, these should be attributed to my low blood sugar and not to me! ;-)

Just fast for shorter periods -- I'm sure the Lord understands. Unless you can confidently and successfully override the science of fasting with tthe spirituality of it--in which case consult with a sympathetic dietician (or an extremely reliable nutritionist).

[pmccombs1]

I've had some good experiences in my life with fasting, but comparatively not that many. The main reason for this is that, while I'm neither diabetic nor pre-diabetic, my blood sugar during a fast usually drops low enough that my brain semi-shuts down; and it's hard to feel very spiritual or enlightened through a mental fog.

Another thing to consider is electrolyte imbalance. This can cause weakness and fatigue. Prior to a fast you might consume a sports drink to see if that helps tide you over.

I should note that when occasional fasting is practiced purely for health reasons, it is always accompanied by an increase in hydration. While abstaining from food for a day can help cleanse your body, going without water even for a relatively short time can be dangerous to your health.

I realize that a religious fast has a different purpose than a health-based fast, but I think the rules can be adjusted to accommodate what your body can reasonably cope with and still retain the spirit of fasting. Otherwise, it's just a rules-based fast and won't help your health or your spirituality.

[BlueDreams]

Yep, that's me....my hands will begin shaking, I can get dizzy, can't sing (not enough energy), and it gets extremely hard for me to focus if I go too long, once I began seeing white dots while walking down the stairs. I can't do a 24 hr fast, period. This is probably TMI: but when it lands on a certain time of the month....I simply can't do a food fast.

I've also had some good experiences with fasting....but mostly notsomuch. I have learned to take up more the spirit of the fast than the specific expectations. I'm supposed to have joy while doing it, not fainting spells. So when I feel the dizziness hit in I eat some pretzels or something light to make it to a specific time (usually a lot earlier than most (around 2 or 3) when I can eat something more. Sometimes, when I can't fast with food at all, I try to fast with something else (like the internet..or my computer in general).

With luv,

BD

[Senator]

I've also had some good experiences with fasting....but mostly notsomuch. I have learned to take up more the spirit of the fast than the specific expectations. I'm supposed to have joy while doing it, not fainting spells.

Oh! by all means!. Remember, fasting is given for man, and not man for fasting. So, if fasting is not working for you as intended, then by all means make adjustments. I'm a firm believer in pragmatic obedience.

[Damien the Leper]

Just don't fast! But still donate a fast offering.

[The Nehor]

Just don't fast! But still donate a fast offering.

Do you deduct the cost of the food you ate from what you would normally offer?

[LJP]

I have stopped fasting for several years now because of those precise symptoms. I have tried going over 12 hours but I start feeling nauseated and shaky and sweaty. I use to be a strict faster and did have some nice experiences on occasion. But then I found myself being depressed several days before fast Sunday because I dreaded it so much. Should I feel guilty? I use too but now I hardly even remember that fast Sunday exists.

[thesometimesaint]

If you have any medical concerns follow the advice of your doctor.

[Rain]

I was told decades ago (by a BYU nutritionist so she knew what that implied) I was not allowed to fast due to hypoglycemic issues (that were looking back more likely caused by sleep deprivation than glucose tolerance issues). So my fast is either of other tangible or nontangibles that by avoiding allow me to focus more on the Spirit (avoiding the board for 24 hrs for example) or doing a partial fast and allowing a glass of milk or small amounts of fruit juice to extend my physical ability to avoid large amounts of food so that most of the physical effects of the fast are present without becoming extreme. I know many who are diabetic who adjust in much the same way.

I would suggest if you want to continue a whole physical fast, then you might go on a diabetic board and ask how they extend their ability to skip meals when necessary.

 

I've been a type 1 diabetic for 37 years.  There are all sort of ways to fast - which is a good thing since there are all sorts of conditions.  When I first became diabetic I was on one specific insulin. With it I would likely end up in the hospital if I tried fasting at all. Different insulins, regimens, diabetic meds and other meds take affect blood sugars. Hormones do a few things to my blood sugars that can cause real problems when combined with fasting and once I have those hormones down it seems something or other will change them. If I end my fast near the morning I will likely have low sugar at night.  Better to end my fast later in the day.  

 

In a nutshell I am constantly changing how I fast and use prayer to help me.  Sometimes I go 24 hours, sometimes less.  Sometimes I only take one of my insulins.  Sometimes I fast by eating only the bare necessities and not any extras.  Sometimes I eat a small snack. Sometimes I fast inedible things. You just have to work things out little by little till you find something that works.    

 

Of course, there is the obvious advice of consulting a physician. You may not be diabetic or pre-diabetic, but the symptoms you are experiencing while fasting may indicate another physical problem that needs to be dealt with.

 

I've found little help with that. I've seen a LOT of doctors over the years and few have been lds, none of which worked with me in controlling my diabetes.  While many have gone to lengths to work things with me, none of them seem to understand my desire to fast.  It's as if they are so confused they don't know how to work it.  It's all rather odd.

Alas... due to health issues, I've had to give up regular fasting. Because of long-term meds, I test my blood every three months. I usually eat about 10:00 PM the night before, and test at the lab about 10:00 a.m . the next morning... by that time I'm starting to get light-headed, weak and the shakes, On a couple of occasions I've had to ask to be taken before some other patients because I've been very weak and shaking badly... not good. As soon as the test is complete I practically run to the cafeteria and get orange juice, etc.

So I've had to make peace with Heavenly Father on this... I still give my fast offering, and spiritually approach F&T meeting as always.

GG

One thing you could do is take a small tube of glucose tablets with you.  Then you could just eat them as soon as you get done without the sprint.  

 

Just develop diabetes, and you don't have to worry about it.