In September 2022, I did a 72-hour fast.

Yep.

No food for 3 days.

It seems crazy.

But it’s more natural than you might think.

Fasting has been a part of our culture since the dawn of our species.

We have evolved through the Fast → Feast cycle.

Only in the last few hundred years have we replaced it with binging and overconsumption.

We all know the body is capable of not eating for up to 3 weeks.

But it’s capable of much, much more…

After being sick of his weight, Angus Barbieri decided to start fasting.

He did it for for 382 days.

But unlike Angus, I didn’t do this to lose weight.

So why did I fast?

One day I found myself falling deep down a YT rabbit hole.

And I came across a Andrew Huberman podcast on fasting.

I was hooked.

I then discovered Peter Attia, Thomas DeLauer, David Sinclair.

All medical professionals who specialise in longevity and fasting.

I absorbed as much info as I could.

The benefits they described were fascinating and almost unbelievable:

• Fat loss

• Reset habits

• Reverse aging

• Build discipline

• Detox mind and body

• Reduced risk of cancer

• Extreme focus / “Hunter State”

I mean,

Reverse aging and lower risk of cancer sounded pretty fucking cool…

Plus I like the idea of getting in touch with our evolutionary roots and pushing my limits.

So I thought I’d give it a go.

I set the date, and soon it was upon me…

The Experience:

As the day arrived, I was nervous.

I wasn’t sure what to expect.

For the next 3 days all I planned to consumed was:

• Water

• Black coffee or tea

• A solution of lemon juice, salt, maple syrup and cayenne pepper (for electrolytes).

That was it.

I was pretty confident that I would be fine, I had read tonnes of testimonies from people saying it was safe to do.

But that didn’t ease the tension.

As I went to bed that night, I lay awake and questioned why I was doing this.

At this stage of my life I was pretty lost.

Unsure what to do with my life and riddled with bad habits.

I wanted to change but was finding it hard to.

I felt I needed to take radical action.

I suffered a lot over those first 2 days.

Whilst the challenge was very tough physically (hunger pangs, feeling weak) it far tougher mentally.

I was at constant odds with myself.

Battling that voice we all have in our heads.

I was going against a lifetime of routine and habit.

It was probably the hardest things I’ve ever done.

I went through waves of feeling terrible to suddenly feeling amazing and at peace.

At many points I wanted to quit.

But I’m so glad I didn’t.

Because I never expected the experience to do what it did.

Physical Benefits:

Ketosis:

Ketosis is when your metabolism starting burning fat for energy instead of glucose (carbs). 

I reach ketosis around 40 hours in.

Suddenly the pangs of hunger were gone and I felt more energy than I had in my entire life.

It felt amazing.

Autophagy:

Autophagy, meaning “self-eating,” is a process in which old/damaged cells are regenerated into new ones.

Essentially an internal cleanse for your body.

Several animal studies suggest that autophagy may help protect against diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, and heart disease.

It may have been placebo,

But after the experience - I felt like a new person.

Not only was I buzzing to have completed the 3 days;

I was also leaner.

I felt fresh and renewed.

People commented that I looked healthier, that my skin and eyes were brighter.

Fasting also had some crazy psychological benefits for me…

Psychological Benefits:

1. Discipline:

Fasting built so much willpower for me. I won the battle of my mind by going without a basic need and that felt great.

2. Resetting Bad Habits/Addictions:

Going without food proved to me that I could conquer any vice I had.
If I could go 72 hours without food, then cutting out everything else became easy, almost laughable, in comparison.

3. Gratitude:

During the fast, I experienced a deep sense of gratitude.
Not only for food, but for life itself.
It put into perspective what a blessing it is to never be hungry, when millions of others are starving.
I opened my eyes to all I took for granted.
Clothes, shelter, family, friends, safety.
It was truly enlightening in this way, shifting my perspective and changing me for the better.

4. Focus / Hunter State:

Now this was pretty crazy.
Around 48 hours in,
Something happened.

I woke up and I felt fucking AMAZING.

The ketosis meant I was no longer hungry and my senses had become heightened:

• Vision clearer

• Hearing sharper

• Fully present

• Extreme clarity

I went out for a morning walk and was acutely aware of everything around me.

Any small movement or sound, I was taking it all in.

I was completely present in that moment.

I had found myself in the state of a hunter and I felt an insane drive and purpose coursing through me.

It was exhilarating.

I obviously didn’t need to hunt.

So I was free to direct the focus on whatever I wanted.

This focus as well as the cathartic cleansing I was experiencing meant I had an opportunity to really take look at my life.

Where I was and where I wanted to be.

Everything was clear.

So I set goals.

Planned.

Worked.

I didn’t need to stop for food breaks.

I just hustled personal work for the entire day.

It was magical.

The time on that final day flew by.

I almost didn’t want it the fast to end.

But at midnight I had my first meal.

And it was the most amazing piece of chicken I had ever eaten…

Hope you enjoyed this piece, I had fun writing this one. Drop me a message if you want to know anything more about my experience or advice.

HENRY
MMM V1.3