Ive tried fasting for 10 weeks. I had to quit for 3 weeks as I became to tired/weak which was just beofre my 2 week summer holiday in late September.

These are my observations:

I had no problem sticking to the 5:2 and found an increase in energy initially.

I am not overweight but have 5/10 visceral fat so wanted to reduce this. I lost too much weight, too quickly for me.

I think the detox effect of the diet put strain on my already sensitive digestion (which improved with a very strict low FODMAP, blood type diet regime).

I found a useful site with a very good collection of supplements and did some research. 4 weeks ago I started taking an adrenal support supplement, Prof. George Birkmayer’s NADH rapid energy pills and a good probiotic.

WOW. I went on holiday to Cyprus and found my energy once more; I even managed to fasta couple of days, EAT WHATEVER I LIKED WITHOUT SYMPTOMS and could exercise for hours. I found I wasnt hungry til mid to late afternoon following a late dinner.

On my return, I still felt great for a few days but as I ran out of the supplements I started to loose energy and simply couldnt do the normal 500 fast day.

I thought about the recent holiday and past experienced with CFS and IBS which I have suffered from for a few years (on and off). I started to think about vitamin D once more (it pops up in my mind from time to time). I had a test last winter (when I am always worse… again another vitamin d issue??) and I was just “within normal parameters”. But what if the “healthy” parameters are not “my parameters” for healthy?

I felt inspired to buy a book by Jeff T. Bowles about vitamin D3 and it rang a few dozen alarm bells. He seems pretty obsessed with vitamin D but has the sort of outward thinking mind we need more of in the scientific world today. Anyway, he talks about The Human Hibernation Syndrome which he believes is rife in the northern hemispheres and is due in most to chronic vitamin d deficiency. He feels it is responsible for typical chronic western diseases (CFS/IBS/diabetes, obesity, etc).

Can fasting and calorie restriction help trigger symptoms of this syndrome in certain individuals I ask myself? I think I may fit into this category as I think about my medical history and experiences…

I am not 100% well but I will be. Perhaps I should not have started the 5:2 diet without being in a healthier place… I intend to continue eating healthy (as I always have… except on my holidays in the sunshine apparently!).

I intend to continue to support my mitochondrial, digestive and adrenal health, and supplement with vitamin D3, vitamin K2, Mg, Ca and vitamin C. I have successfully started fast exercise on my new bike (again for fitness/health and to help develop more mitochondria) and am carefully going to reintroduce the 5:2 diet but may split the 500 cals into 2 small meals for now if I feel like it.

I do not thinkk I will need long term supplementation but I do strongly feel that in order to heal, the body mobilises reserves to where they are needed and if you either already have insufficient reserves when you begin the process or if you need more that you have whilst fasting/healing, then you may push your body beyond what it is capable of at the moment in time. Healing cannot therefore occur to its maximum capibility and perhaps the hibernation theory kicks in (or a famine prepartion version of it!). So in this situation, it would make evolutionary sense to ‘shut down’ the bodys reserves and use valuable reserves (as percieved by the body) to survive rather than thrive. This may make individuals feel tired, depressed even and stay still rather than move around and burn precious energy. This may explain why some sup-optimally-healthy individuals give in on the 5:2… perhaps their bodies simply cannot thrive under those conditions.

For me personally, the experience has taught me to continue to listen to my body and seek to feel better and be healthier. I CAN be healthy and well and full of vitality, I know I just have to provide my body with the appropriate tools and environment (at the appropriate time) required for healing and health!

Overall I feel the 5:2 diet and fast exercise regime has a valuable place in health, weightloss and in longevity and well being. They are tools to be used appropriately and a holistic and individual approach will ultimately be more successful.

Does anyone have experience with vitamin D3 supplementation?