What I Learned From My First 60-Hour Fast
Fasting is something I had always been curious about but never fully committed to—until now. After watching Limitless with Chris Hemsworth and Dr. Peter Attia, I decided to put myself to the test. Could I push my body into fat-burning mode and finally shed some stubborn weight?
The experience was not what I expected—but in the best way possible.
Why I Decided to Try a 60-Hour Fast
I’ve been working out consistently for over a year, eating a healthy diet, and yet—some areas of stubborn fat refused to budge. It left me wondering: Was my body still relying on glucose instead of fat for energy?
I suspected the answer was yes—so I wanted to test how quickly I could enter ketosis, the state where your body burns fat instead of sugar. To track my progress, my husband ordered a Keto-Mojo meter to monitor blood glucose and blood ketone levels.
With research in hand and a game plan in place, I committed to 60 hours of no food, only water, tea, coffee, and electrolytes (hello, LMNT).
What Happened During the Fast
Here’s how my body responded over the course of 60 hours:
Day 1: The Mental Challenge Begins
The first 24 hours were all about mental willpower. I wasn’t physically hungry, but my brain was obsessed with food.
I drank plenty of water, tea, and coffee.
LMNT electrolytes helped keep my sodium and hydration in check.
Exercised at the gym—light weights and ended with walking on the treadmill at an incline of 15 with a speed of 3 for about 20 minutes.
By nighttime, mild hunger pangs kicked in, but they weren’t unbearable.
Day 2: Entering Ketosis
This was when things got interesting. By the morning of Day 2, my body had entered mild ketosis, meaning it had started burning fat for energy.
Blood glucose dropped slightly, but I still felt fine.
Ketone levels began rising, confirming that my body was shifting to fat burning.
Mental clarity improved—I felt sharp.
No real hunger, just a slight energy dip midday
Light exercise by walking on the treadmill.
Evening hunger pains were real
Day 3: Deep Ketosis & A Surprising Discovery
By the start of Day 3, I was in moderate ketosis. My blood glucose dropped to 68 mg/dL, which triggered a warning on my Keto-Mojo monitor for hypoglycemia.
I had no symptoms of low blood sugar, but it made me pause.
Research suggested I might have been fine, but since this wasn’t under doctor supervision, I didn’t push my luck.
I ended the fast slightly early at 60 hours instead of 72.
What I Learned From the Experience
Fasting for 60 hours was eye-opening in more ways than one. Here are my biggest takeaways:
I Have Strong Willpower – The hardest part was mental, not physical.
Ketosis Happened Faster Than Expected – By Day 2, my body had fully shifted into fat-burning mode.
Mental Clarity Was Unreal – My focus and alertness improved noticeably.
Fasting Might Be the Key to Fat Loss – Since my body can burn fat for fuel, I’m now testing a Mediterranean keto diet.
Fasting Is a Powerful Tool—but Should Be Done Safely – I want to incorporate fasting into my lifestyle, but with a plan to keep my hormones balanced.
What Science Says About a 48+ Hour Fast
Fasting isn’t just about weight loss—there are major metabolic and cellular benefits happening behind the scenes.
Here’s what research says about fasting beyond 48 hours:
Ketosis: Your body switches to burning fat for energy.
Autophagy: Your body recycles and repairs damaged cells.
Lower Insulin: Insulin levels drop, making fat more accessible for energy.
Increased Growth Hormone: Helps with muscle preservation and repair.
Boosted Mental Clarity & Alertness: Thanks to increased norepinephrine.
Lower Cortisol Levels: Potentially reducing inflammation and stress.
Many experts believe that a 48-hour fast can be done safely 1–2 times a month—but it’s always best to consult a physician before trying extended fasting.
Would I Do It Again?
Absolutely. Despite stopping at 60 hours instead of 72, I consider this fast a huge success.
It helped me understand how my body fuels itself.
It gave me the confidence to push my limits.
It showed me that fasting is a tool I want to use in my lifestyle.
Next up: Testing how my body responds to a keto-Mediterranean diet and shorter intermittent fasts.
Curious about fasting? If you’re struggling with insulin resistance or stubborn fat, fasting might be worth exploring—but always with the right research and medical supervision.
