Is fasting healthy?

[CroMagna]

I want to embark on a 30 day fast starting tomorrow morning. Several people have tried to talk me out of it. But I've read many articles praising it. I was wondering if it would be safe to just go ahead with it.

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by CroMagna

I want to embark on a 30 day fast starting tomorrow morning. Several people have tried to talk me out of it. But I've read many articles praising it. I was wondering if it would be safe to just go ahead with it.

It really depends on several variables CroMagna. A lot will depend upon how well you have been eating which will have contributed to the quality of your nutritional reserves. In general and in my opinion, fasting is safe, though for certain conditions it is contraindicated. 30 days is a pretty agressive goal, so it would be great to learn all you can either before you fast or in the early portion as you are underway... partly because it will give you a warm sense of peace as symptoms arise that you "already know" are to be expected and are nothing to be concerned about. Reading fasting literature while i am fasting is one of my favorite activities. Your level of experience is another factor.

After a certain number of days, having a qualified fasting supervisor (natural hygienist, holistic Dr. or otherwise) could make a lot of sense, checking your vitals, electrolyte levels and such... just to make sure everything is ok. In a 10 day fast, i would never consider such supervision for myself, but i want to be careful not to make that decision for others. In a 30 day fast, i would strongly consider it.

You may have seen the post, but i am now 10.6 days into a fast which i hope to go (and anticipate going) 20-30 days: Beautiful Fast

You are talking about water-only, or? What kind of fasting experience do you have? When do you think you would start it up?

Best wishes,

Mighty Sun Tzu

[CroMagna]

Hey! Congrats on your fast. Do you want to be fasting buddies? Also are reliable websites on fasting?

Here's one I found: Losing Weight-Weight Loss In A Healthy, Easy and Fast Way

[ginkgo]

MightySunTzu has mentioned the biggest danger of fasting whether he knows it or not (he got light headed doing it). That is getting up from lying down. Since blood pressure goes lower during a fast (greatest thing for people with high blood pressure [hypertension]), a person can get up too fast and pass out and fall and break their neck. So always get up very slowly while fasting or if on a lemonade diet.

Second biggest danger is about 2% of people have potassium levels drop too low after 10 days of fasting and that can kill you. Professional fasters remove person from fast when that happens. You can try fasting for a few days the first time and build up to longer if you want. See this site for more on Fasting and Lemonade Diet. People taking medications (drugs) should not fast. For more on that, talk to your doctor who is drugging you.

As far as people trying to talk you out of it, misery loves company. I was in Japan for a Boy sout Jamboree. We were caught it a typhoon. The others hated me during it. Why? They would all stand in the dining tent complaining whereas I would be in my tent some of the time reading the 2 big books that I bought in Japan. They hated that. The devil tried to talk Jesus out of fasting. During fasting your breathing expands since you have more abdominal space.

[Amandaaa]

I want to embark on a 30 day fast starting tomorrow morning.

^Me too!!

Are you thinking about water fasting or juice fasting...?

[newdad]

Are you fasting to lose weight? If so, this is not a healthy way to lose weight.

[James81]

If you are fasting to lose weight, then be prepared to lose all that weight and feel really good about yourself, only to gain it all back plus some when you come off of it.

[CroMagna]

Originally Posted by James81

If you are fasting to lose weight, then be prepared to lose all that weight and feel really good about yourself, only to gain it all back plus some when you come off of it.

I thought if I switched my diet once I came off the fast then I would maintain the weight loss.

[CroMagna]

Originally Posted by ginkgo

People taking medications (drugs) should not fast. For more on that, talk to your doctor who is drugging you.

I'm on medication.

[James81]

Originally Posted by CroMagna

I thought if I switched my diet once I came off the fast then I would maintain the weight loss.

I mean, it's a good thought and there is some logic to that, but the reality is usually different.

The most successful dieting practices involve a shift in the way you view health and fitness. The most successful people I know are the ones who approach dieting from the sense of being fit, not losing weight.

In order for lifelong, permanent change to happen, you have to cause a shift in your beliefs FIRST and then your behaviors will follow. Shifting your behaviors and then hoping that your beliefs will follow is only sporadically successful.

Approaching this as a way to chunk off a lot of weight in a short period of time suggests that you don't view this as a lifelong effort. If you viewed it as a lifelong effort, then you would realize that you have the rest of your life to lose the weight and it's not so crucial to get the pounds off fast, but it's MORE crucial that you establish the habits that will eventually lead you to your target weight.

Fasting will do nothing of the sort to establish good eating habits. Why? Because you aren't eating ANYTHING. Essentially you are delaying your eating for a number of days, and when you come OFF the fast, your tendency will be to revert back to what you knew before the fast. The difference being that your metabolism will have slowed down more than it was before you went on the fast and if you come off the fast, fall into your old eating habits, then not only will you gain the weight back, you will gain MORE back because your metabolism will be slower for a period of time afterwards and you'll gain more fat than you were before you started the fast.

Not to mention that designing yourself to a 30 day fast without ever having fasted before is kinda risky. Mainly because you don't know that you can go 30 days without eating. During a fast there are a couple of phases. First, your body will feel hunger for the first 24 hours or so. Then your body will switch to burning fat and you won't feel the hunger. Once the fat is burnt, you will become hungry again....which means that you are entering a dangerous zone for your body and need to start eating again. You won't know when that last phase will happen, so relegating yourself to 30 days can be dangerous if you shift to that last hunger phase before it's up and you force yourself to go the full 30 days.

Fasting is great for you, but I'd suggest starting with a 3 day fast at the very most at first. I've done 3 day fasts and even they can be difficult.

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by CroMagna

Hey! Congrats on your fast. Do you want to be fasting buddies?

Sure, sounds good. Let us conquor the world together .

Originally Posted by CroMagna

Also are reliable websites on fasting?

Some of the ones i like are these:

The Health Benefits of Water Fasting

Fasting

Benefits of Water fasting | Water Fasting Tips, Water fasting weight loss and How to do Water Fasting

http://www.besteverarticles.com/arti...ing/Page1.html

and the following is an excellent resource from Dr. Shelton who fasted 40,000 patients: Shelton: The Hygienic System Vol III; Fasting and Sun Bathing

Some other good books include Bragg's, Fuhrman's and Cott's among others.

You still haven't answered my questions :

You are talking about water-only, or? What kind of fasting experience do you have? When do you think you would start it up?

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by ginkgo

MightySunTzu has mentioned the biggest danger of fasting whether he knows it or not (he got light headed doing it). That is getting up from lying down. Since blood pressure goes lower during a fast ... a person can get up too fast and pass out and fall and break their neck. So always get up very slowly while fasting...

Yes Ginkgo raises a good point. While i am aware of the danger, i have experienced it so many times... and accomodating it (by getting up slowly when it is present) has become second nature so i overlook it as a danger for me. But it's true, it needs to be mentioned as something to be cautious about.

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by newdad

Are you fasting to lose weight? If so, this is not a healthy way to lose weight.

Whether he is fasting to lose weight or not, weight will be lost and fasting is indeed healthy, immersed in many extraordinary benefits.

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by James81

If you are fasting to lose weight, then be prepared to lose all that weight and feel really good about yourself, only to gain it all back plus some when you come off of it.

James, this can be very true and certainly is true in many instances, but it really can be avoided with proper nutrition and exercise after the fast. I was able to lose 7 pounds of fat in a 10 day fast (about 100 days ago) and keep off every ounce. Of course the 13 pounds of water weight and alimentary canal contents came back, but i fully anticipated this.

Originally Posted by CroMagna

I thought if I switched my diet once I came off the fast then I would maintain the weight loss.

Cro, you are absolutely right.

Originally Posted by CroMagna

I'm on medication.

What medication are you on?

Originally Posted by James81

I mean, it's a good thought and there is some logic to that, but the reality is usually different.

James you are right about this. A person has to have a good plan with strong resolve in order for it to work. Nutritious eating and exercise post-fast is essential if the fat loss in a fast is to be maintained.

Originally Posted by James81

The most successful dieting practices involve a shift in the way you view health and fitness. The most successful people I know are the ones who approach dieting from the sense of being fit, not losing weight.

In order for lifelong, permanent change to happen, you have to cause a shift in your beliefs FIRST and then your behaviors will follow. Shifting your behaviors and then hoping that your beliefs will follow is only sporadically successful.

I agree with you 100%, every word.

Originally Posted by James81

Fasting will do nothing of the sort to establish good eating habits. Why? Because you aren't eating ANYTHING.

While it is primarily true that in a wrong fast, "Fasting will do nothing to establish good eating habits", in a right fast, the individual decides how he will eat after the fast, make resolutions such as the elimination of processed sugar and the fast is very powerful in helping a person to shape and cement these goals. A fast also reawakens a persons desire for natural foods... but this too can be easily shattered by ignoring what the body wants and eating cookies. The bottom line is that when done properly, a person can maintain all of the fat loss encountered in a fast and indeed continue to burn more fat with nutritious eating and exercise. In most cases, the majority of the weight would be lost in the nutritious eating phase.

Originally Posted by James81

Approaching this as a way to chunk off a lot of weight in a short period of time suggests that you don't view this as a lifelong effort.

This is not necessarily true. If Cro's plan is to eat nutritiously and exercise after the fast (and as a lifestyle) there is great benefit in utilizing fasting as a tool. If used correctly, it can really jump start a person in the right direction. The cleansing and healing benefits alone make this so. The extra fat loss is a nice perk. But again, i agree with you 100% James that the fast has to be followed up with a healthy lifestyle or the benefits of the fast would soon waste away... including the fat loss.

Originally Posted by James81

Not to mention that designing yourself to a 30 day fast without ever having fasted before is kinda risky. Mainly because you don't know that you can go 30 days without eating.

Cro has not mentioned his prior fasting experience yet. That's something i asked about earlier. If indeed he has never fasted before, 30 days will be an astoundingly difficult accomplishment.

Originally Posted by James81

Once the fat is burnt, you will become hungry again....which means that you are entering a dangerous zone for your body and need to start eating again. You won't know when that last phase will happen...

This is actually not true. A return to genuine hunger is accompanied by the most unmistakably powerful feeling of hunger imaginable. There is no chance a person fasting only on water could miss this signal.

Originally Posted by James81

Fasting is great for you, but I'd suggest starting with a 3 day fast at the very most at first. I've done 3 day fasts and even they can be difficult.

If Cro has never fasted before, I agree with you again James that this is a more suitable goal. Or even a day at a time after this to see how it goes. But even just a 3 day water fast will provide an immense cleanse.

[aggie]

all of this talk about fasting is very interesting...i have never fasted, except when i was sick and couldn't eat. i have a very fast metabolism and am comfortable eating small amounts several times a day...i get shaky and downright cranky if i miss eating when my body needs it...because of blood sugar drop....plus get lightheaded or headaches...so it has all seemed like something i could not do even for a short period of time. i guess it depends on why you want or need to do it...someone told me once that if you had elevated to a higher sense of being you would need to eat less and less...the body following the elevation of the spirit i guess. which i really think is true...there is great spirituality connected with really intense lengthy fasting...i think for 30 days you would have be in special peaceful surroundings, etc...i mean, you couldn't like commute and go to work, etc...could you? i have also heard about fasts that include different allowed fluids besides water....i don't know...i don't live to eat, and i don't get crazy if i can't have something for a length of time....but i guess i am not there yet...i enjoy eating...especially the social aspect of it...and feel i eat a fairly healthy diet. i honestly think if you can attain that goal safely and it brings some kind of heightened awareness it is great...kind of like a ghandi type person...or closer to being like Christ intended us....just my opinion....

[MightySunTzu]

Hi Aggie,

Nice post

Originally Posted by aggie

all of this talk about fasting is very interesting...i have never fasted, except when i was sick and couldn't eat.

The body naturally prefers not to eat when sick. Why? Because it is the fastest, most effective way to heal. but the majority of people will encourage a sick person to eat by saying "come on, you have to eat something to keep up your strength".

Originally Posted by aggie

i have a very fast metabolism and am comfortable eating small amounts several times a day...i get shaky and downright cranky if i miss eating when my body needs it...because of blood sugar drop....plus get lightheaded or headaches...so it has all seemed like something i could not do even for a short period of time.

I have a fast metabolism too and i also eat several meals per day. I don't get shaky and cranky when i begin to fast, but i do get lightheaded which is a common symptom of a body in detox as are headaches. If you were ever interested in fasting, i believe you could minimize these symptoms with a pre-detox which would include only fruits and vegetables (mostly raw) for 1 or more days then only juice (mostly raw and live) for 1 or more days before stepping into a deeper cleanse consisting of water only.

Originally Posted by aggie

i guess it depends on why you want or need to do it...someone told me once that if you had elevated to a higher sense of being you would need to eat less and less...the body following the elevation of the spirit i guess. which i really think is true...there is great spirituality connected with really intense lengthy fasting...i honestly think if you can attain that goal safely and it brings some kind of heightened awareness it is great...kind of like a ghandi type person...or closer to being like Christ intended us.

I also believe that a fast can be very powerful in this way if a person's heart is in the right place and if he/she is seeking.

Originally Posted by aggie

i think for 30 days you would have be in special peaceful surroundings, etc...i mean, you couldn't like commute and go to work, etc...could you?

Peaceful surroundings would be ideal and a person would likely achieve the very best results, but it is not the only way a fast can be done. In most instances, you could indeed commute and go to work... and still emerge from the fast with astounding benefits.

Originally Posted by aggie

i have also heard about fasts that include different allowed fluids besides water....

A true pure fast is the abstention from all but water. But yes there are modified "fasts" including juice only or even fruits and vegetables only... or the master cleanse or lemonade diet to name a couple of others. As cleanses go, water only detoxes the fastest, about 3 times as fast as juice only and perhaps 10 times as fast as fruits and vegetables only.

Originally Posted by aggie

i enjoy eating...especially the social aspect of it...

You and 6 billion other people . It is a short term commitment and sacrifice to those who decide to undertake it. The social eating will be there when we get back .

[CroMagna]

Originally Posted by MightySunTzu

You are talking about water-only, or? What kind of fasting experience do you have? When do you think you would start it up?

I'm talking about water only. I have very little fasting experience, I once fasting for 3 days. I want to start up tomorrow. I'm gathering that a 30 day fast would be a bad idea for a beginner, so should I start with a 20 day fast?

[JSB]

Originally Posted by CroMagna

I'm talking about water only. I have very little fasting experience, I once fasting for 3 days. I want to start up tomorrow. I'm gathering that a 30 day fast would be a bad idea for a beginner, so should I start with a 20 day fast?

I'd start with 5 days if it were me.

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by CroMagna

I'm talking about water only. I have very little fasting experience, I once fasting for 3 days. I want to start up tomorrow. I'm gathering that a 30 day fast would be a bad idea for a beginner, so should I start with a 20 day fast?

Since you have fasted 3 days, at least you have an idea of what you are getting yourself into. I would shoot for one day at a time, perhaps with 20 or 30 days in mind as a hope. If you reach 30 days, great and if not, you can be happy with whatever number of days you achieve .

Good luck with it CroMagna! I hope it goes well for you.

[Gazi]

2 MightySunTzu

You have hijacked this thread from CroMagna

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by Gazi

2 MightySunTzu

You have hijacked this thread from CroMagna

haha, hey man, all are welcome . I reply only to the questions and comments i feel i can contribute to.

Peace

[Gazi]

Originally Posted by MightySunTzu

I reply only to the questions and comments i feel i can contribute to.

Peace

Its a nice gesture ... keep doing the good work . . i was just joking

[CroMagna]

Originally Posted by MightySunTzu

Since you have fasted 3 days, at least you have an idea of what you are getting yourself into. I would shoot for one day at a time, perhaps with 20 or 30 days in mind as a hope. If you reach 30 days, great and if not, you can be happy with whatever number of days you achieve .

Good luck with it CroMagna! I hope it goes well for you.

Thanks man. I'm gonna shoot for 2 weeks.

[CroMagna]

I have another couple of questions: apparently after the ketone phase, when you have ravenous hunger, that means you have to break the fast. How long would it take for that to occur? Also what can you do about the ravenous hunger if in breaking the fast you're supposed to drink juice for a day or two?

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by CroMagna

I have another couple of questions: apparently after the ketone phase, when you have ravenous hunger, that means you have to break the fast. How long would it take for that to occur? Also what can you do about the ravenous hunger if in breaking the fast you're supposed to drink juice for a day or two?

Well, the ravenous hunger is just the primary and overwhelming symptom indicating that it is time to break the fast. The body is not demanding steak and potatoes... juice will satisfy this hunger. The number of days could vary greatly. I know a guy who reached it in 55 days over 2 fasts of 25 and 30 days with about 3 months of nutritious refeeding in between. A girl on youtube reached it in 23 days, but i don't know how much she fasted before this to contribute to the overall cleanse. YouTube - day21-24 of 30day water fast In the first 2 minutes of this video, she describes the feeling of "genuine hunger" that she experienced. I have also read that in rare cases it could arrive very early, in under ten days. I also believe that once a person achieves this, their next fast perhaps 3 months later could find a return to genuine hunger in 2-7 days.

[CroMagna]

I'm 2 full days into the water fast. I feel fine, but I just read a post on water fasting where someone named ken nubo tried it for 2 days and almost died. Now I'm nervous about continuing. Any pointers would be appreciated.

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by CroMagna

I'm 2 full days into the water fast. I feel fine, but I just read a post on water fasting where someone named ken nubo tried it for 2 days and almost died. Now I'm nervous about continuing. Any pointers would be appreciated.

I'd be curious to see the post. If you are wary, you should probably stop.

[Daffy Duck]

The body can go for a month or more without food as long as you have water. It won't be the most pleasant experience but if you're generally young and healthy you'll likely be alright.

If you feel fine, then you're likely good. I'm not so sure about fasting for 30 days... it all depends on the person's health situation. You can probably go another day or two without worry if you're feeling well.

[CroMagna]

I guess the signal will be if I start feeling faint? I won't just abruptly drop dead or something.

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by CroMagna

I guess the signal will be if I start feeling faint? I won't just abruptly drop dead or something.

I have felt intermittently faint for 14 days . That is perhaps the most common fasting symptom of all.

Are you able to post the story you were talking about? I'm curious to know what "almost died" means exactly. If a person really did almost die by fasting for only two days, i am betting he had a condition for which fasting was contraindicated or he was suffering from malnutrition when he started. Familiarizing yourself with the fasting literature would give you a solid rock to stand on and you wouldn't be so easily shaken by a single story such as this one... because you will have read about thousands upon thousands of positive experiences.