The Slow

My Journey Into Fasting

By Greydon Square

So, about four and a half months ago, as I approached 250 pounds, I decided to start fasting. It was a part of an overall lifestyle overhaul and it sounded simple enough: “just don’t eat for a certain amount of time”.

Right?

Turns out, it’s not that simple when you norch. For the uninitiated, this means I partake in cannabis, and when the munchies hit, it feels like a war between my willpower and my stomach. My first attempt was supposed to be a full 24 hours.

I made it to 18.

Painfully. It was brutal. I told myself I’d try again in two weeks but I wasn’t looking forward to it. And when THAT day came, I barely made it through. The night of, I couldn’t sleep at all, I kept waking up wondering if more time had past. But finally, I did it. I finished my first active 24-hour liquid fast.

A couple weeks later, I was actually excited to try again. This time I hit about 30 hours and now I was chasing progress like a new personal record. I thought, “Let’s see if I can knock out a 36.” I started preparing mentally and physically, and when the time came, I actually crushed it. After this, I decided to go back to a 24-hour fast just to test how it felt. Nothing. Literally didn’t even notice I fasted a whole day. My body had already begun to adapt.

So I started watching fasting experts online, people who’d been doing this for years. They were talking about electrolytes, vitamins, mineral balance, and I realized I’d been raw doggin this whole time on nothing but water and norch.

So, I made some adjustments. I added vitamins:

B12, Zinc, CoQ10, Vitamin C, K2, D3, a multivitamin, and fish oil.

The difference was night and day. I could think clearer, move smoother, and sustain longer.

Now, every other Thursday, I fast. Sometimes 24 hours, sometimes 48, I’ve even completed a 60. My next goal is 72 hours. From what I’ve learned, that’s something you only do once a quarter, because 60 hours already feels like walking on the edge of consciousness. Even with electrolytes and salt water, it’s brutal.

When your body flips into ketosis, you feel it. It’s very binary. I remember lying in bed one afternoon during a 36, weak, hungry, tired, and suddenly it was like my body said, “Alright, survival mode: Engaged.” And just like that, everything changed. My energy returned, my focus sharpened. I could hear my body saying, “Burn everything! We need it all!”

Then I norched.

Finally the break comes. When I begin to eat again (which isn’t as fun as you’d think) I start with a fruit smoothie mix of some type, gentle on the stomach, but then slowly reintroduce more solidified protein. It’s a strange feeling knowing your body has been feeding on itself for days.

Now, fasting is just part of my lifestyle rhythm. Sometimes I’ll be at a tech expo, realize I’m mid-fast, and think, “Well, guess I’m doing this one on water and vitamins.” And somehow, I’ll have more energy than if I’d eaten twice that day. It really IS a cheat code for clarity.

I weighed in this morning at 216.9lbs.

If you’re thinking about trying this, start slow. Hydrate. Study. Watch people who live a similar lifestyle, and operate at your pace. Most importantly, do it with a battle buddy. Shout out to my fasting family Dizchord and E-Incarnated, for keeping me accountable.

I plan on writing a song about fasting as well. Probably will be in the same sonic vein as “Grasshopper”.

Anyway, back to the startup grind. Manifest Software and Majestic Comics are both pushing hard toward their respective launches and I’ll have more to share about that in my December substack article.

Until then, take care of your body, and take care of your mind.
It’s the only starship you’ll ever helm, and YOU are that pilot.

With love and focus,

Fleet Captain
Greydon Square
Majestic Comics | Manifest Software