Refeeding days 3 and 4: update.
For the third day, I switched to vegetable broth, while on the fourth day I continued with the broth and started eating some boiled vegetables, zucchini, carrots, and potatoes, the same ones used to make the broth. I am continuing to drink gradually throughout the day, but I am not using fasting salts; right now, I am drinking only plain water without additives, though I do add salt to the broth.
No noteworthy symptoms. After recovering from the dehydration, I felt much better right away. I still have the weekend before going back to work, and over the next few days, I’d like to introduce boiled chicken breast and boiled rice, followed by cottage cheese a bit later. Then, depending on how I react, I’ll gradually increase things further. I have to say I’m feeling confident because I’m not experiencing anything alarming.
My weight is at 72 kilos now. That’s an increase compared to the low of 70 kilos I reached a couple of days ago. I imagine it’s due to rehydrating, but it doesn't really matter.
All in all, it was a positive experience. My kidneys are fine, and the weight loss is excellent. It was a physical and mental challenge; I was able to see just how far I could push my body. Ten days is my limit, and I’m happy with that.
I plan to do other fasts because I want to reach 65 kg, but not dry fasts, I think my kidneys have endured enough.
I improvised a bit and definitely underestimated the impact of going without water compared to going without food. Going without food isn't that hard, but going without water becomes grueling after a week. That said, for the first week, I was surprised by how smoothly everything went.
Online sources tend to be alarmist, but I still believe that anyone undertaking this journey needs to recognize the signals their body sends and stop if they start feeling unwell. I might have pushed it a bit too far, it probably would have been better to stop at the end of day eight, but everything turned out fine in the end.
The refeeding process is going very smoothly; nothing to report. I regained my energy as early as the second day of dehydration. I had thought the physical fatigue was due to the lack of food, but in reality, it was the lack of water that was really taking a toll on me.
I hope my experience helps illustrate at what stage of a dry fast, or the subsequent refeeding, difficulties might arise, and that it helps others make informed decisions.
I believe every body reacts differently based on health status, weight, age, and gender. Regardless of the specific resources or information one follows regarding dry fasting, knowing how to recognize your body's limits is the most important thing during both the fast and the refeeding phase.
I am happy with the experience. I truly appreciated the help and support from this sub, and I look forward to reading about others' experiences in the future, including those who manage to push even further.