21 Day Water Fast

[merveilles]

I went on a 10 day water fast last month. Now I want to try this for 3 weeks.. I'm starting today.. Does anyone have any advice? Just thinking about this makes me hungry.

[Tanja]

Originally Posted by merveilles

Does anyone have any advice?

Have you done a thorough research about fasting?
10 is okay, but three weeks seems pretty long to me, I really hope you have all the facts.

[Wes]

As has been said in other posts on this subject, and as the previous user said, be sure to get all the facts.

The body just cannot survive on water alone. It needs a specific daily input of vitamins, that just are not present in water, and being deprived of them erodes your health, sometimes significantly. Fasting, unlike what some people think, does not mean not eating; it means eating the minimum necessary. Bottom line: you may even make the 3 weeks, but most likely the real costs will be far greater than the actual benefits.

[ginkgo]

Well it sounds like you may have the common sense to do it. Christians do 21 day fasts since people in the bible did that. The 2 people on this forum that tried 40 day fasts both disappeared into the ether after a few days.

Here is a webpage on fasting with quotes from 19 MDs about fasting. One of them says that fasting is profoundly simple and simply profound.

Those 2 people mentioned above both said that they were doing water fasts but were adding strange things to their fasts like salt, broth, bat guana and who knows what else. I just read that one country's main export was bird droppings.

[ginkgo]

Originally Posted by Wes

As has been said in other posts on this subject, and as the previous user said, be sure to get all the facts.

The body just cannot survive on water alone. It needs a specific daily input of vitamins, that just are not present in water, and being deprived of them erodes your health, sometimes significantly. Fasting, unlike what some people think, does not mean not eating; it means eating the minimum necessary. Bottom line: you may even make the 3 weeks, but most likely the real costs will be far greater than the actual benefits.

Actually these are opinions, not facts. Also where did you learn these opinions-- from other people on forums that were drunk. I am sure that drunks in a bar have discussed fasting. If a doctor says that you have cancer, you can get a 2nd opinion.

Here is a possible discussion of fasting by drunks. I tried fasting for 5 days and almost died (a guy on this forum said this but did not explain further). Well my brother tried fasting and after 3 days he had a dream that he ate a giant marshmallow. When he woke up, his pillow was gone! Forums are not the best source of information. Backing it up with info from books makes it more reliable information.

Knowing that all this is opinion, you can get opinions of the people that are famous for knowing more than the average guy on the street. So this webpage has the opinions on fasting from 19 MDs, scientists, the founders of modern medicine, Mark Twain, Abrahan Lincoln, Jesus and Moses (just kidding but both of them did fast) and 2 drunks (just kidding).

The opinions of people like the above are better for this subject than drunks in a bar. Now if you are dealing with who would win in a fight between the Hulk and Aquaman, then the drunks in the bar would probably have better opinions and they would state them while saying that they are facts.

[Wes]

Ginkgo, is your goal here just to advertise?

Please, explain to the original asker exactly WHAT is an opinion, so that he can get a real, straight, and helpful information that doesn't end up ruining his/her health. Possibly permanently.

Is it an opinion that the body can't survive just on water? No, fact.

Is it an opinion that the body needs a daily minimum input of vitamins? No, fact.

Is it an opinion that deprivation of vitamins damages the health? No, fact.

Actually, what is your comment all about if not publicizing about a page with supposed experts? You may succeed in getting visits (I would never go see it, after your blatant display of ill-will), but credibility just went down, IMO. In this forum there are REAL people with REAL problems... you might want to be sensitive to that fact, and still help your business, whatever it is.

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by merveilles

I went on a 10 day water fast last month. Now I want to try this for 3 weeks.. I'm starting today.. Does anyone have any advice? Just thinking about this makes me hungry.

Hey Merveilles, how is your fast going?

As to advice, i will agree with the others that reading about fasting and about other people's experiences is valuable. Relaxing as much as possible is good (working as little as possible, especially in the area of physical exertion), warm baths, getting some sun and getting a little bit (but not a lot) of exercise each day is ideal. I and others have posted their experiences herein if you were interested in searching these out. Actually, since it is not always as easy to find as we might hope, this is the link to the thread i started: Beautiful Fast

Originally Posted by Wes

As has been said in other posts on this subject, and as the previous user said, be sure to get all the facts.

The body just cannot survive on water alone. It needs a specific daily input of vitamins, that just are not present in water, and being deprived of them erodes your health, sometimes significantly.

Hey there Wes,

You are right that the body can not survive on water alone. Thankfully on a fast, the body is burning its own fat as fuel (along with a much lesser percentage of the weakest and most damaged or diseased tissue) and getting an ample supply of vitamins and minerals daily from the stored nutritional reserves within the tissues.

Originally Posted by Wes

Fasting, unlike what some people think, does not mean not eating; it means eating the minimum necessary.

Actually, the people who believe that fasting means "not eating" are correct! It does not mean eating the minimum necessary, it means eating nothing.

Originally Posted by Wes

Bottom line: you may even make the 3 weeks, but most likely the real costs will be far greater than the actual benefits.

Counterpoint Bottom Line: If Merveilles fasts for 21 days, she will accomplish such an amazing cleanse and revitalization within her body that she will emerge as a virtually new person.

[Barcs]

^Nice post. I'd also like to add that the body CAN survive on water alone, but not forever. That is the reason why we store fat when we eat more calories than we burn. It's not because we're paying the price for being lazy. It is there just in case we ever do end up in a situation with no food around. The body specifically feeds on fat reserves when it goes into survival mode. I know tons of people who do not eat their daily recommended vitamins and still survive. I'm not saying that's healthy, but a fast is a temporary process and as long as you do it properly and listen to your body, chances are the results will be positive.

[Wes]

Hey MightySunTzu... ok, noted. Water fasting is clearly one of those topics where there are many different opinions... in the various threads that are dedicated to it in this forum, there are always many points and perspectives.

As I always say, experience is the best teacher: different things will work differently for each person, according to their specific characteristics. Those who want to try it, can complete it and reach their goals, or simply stop when they feel unconfortable (being responsible is essencial, just like in everything else). All I say is that I wouldn't recommend a "just water" fasting to a friend, for the mentioned reasons, which I still consider valid. If your experience with it is positive, though, I respect that.

Still, these are subjective discussions, as forum readers don't know the actual body characteristics and values of the person. And that's fundamental in ANY diet/fasting program, in my opinion. As in everything, one size DOES NOT fit all.

As for the eating/not eating issue, sure, it depends... there are many kinds of fasting. It can be total or just partial; it can refer to just food, or it can also involve other behaviors considered toxic. Its a vast theme to which each must find a balance that works for himself. Main point, in which I think we all agree: gathering as much information as possible can be helpful. But a forum can be a not so good way to go at it: personally seeking a professional, such as a nutritionist who can offer personalized medical advice, is usually a better way. That's my opinion, at least.

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by Wes

Hey MightySunTzu... ok, noted. Water fasting is clearly one of those topics where there are many different opinions... in the various threads that are dedicated to it in this forum, there are always many points and perspectives.

Hey there Wes,

Yes you are right again. Even among experts there are extreme disagreements on this subject.

As for me i can offer these objective benefits from my most recent fast... and let us ask ourselves this... "if fasting is so bad, why do so many amazingly beneficial things take place?".

1. Very sore foot became completely healed (in the first 5 days). Very sore ankle (when stretched a certain way) became 80% healed. Misc. sore shoulder, neck and back muscles restored to a healthful pain free state.
2. Skin became amazingly soft, like that of a baby.
3. Stubborn growth under eye almost completely disappeared (and completely disappeared within another month or two with healthful eating and exercise).
4. Lungs which struggled with each session of cardio became like new, no longer a hinderance to intense activity.
5. 12-16 pounds of actual fat melted away (over a 30 day fast).
6. Mind became substantially more clear (this one point is admittedly less objective).
7. Sweat and breath became clean smelling.
8. Sense of smell greatly enhanced.
9. Energy levels greatly increased.

These are off the top of my head. There are many additional benefits seen and unseen. I would nearly bet my life that my blood pressure and cholesterol levels were optimized, that any pre-diabetes or pre-cancerous cells were reversed, that all of my organs and my blood (and my every cell) were fantastically purified and rejuvenated.

Originally Posted by Wes

As I always say, experience is the best teacher: different things will work differently for each person, according to their specific characteristics. Those who want to try it, can complete it and reach their goals, or simply stop when they feel unconfortable (being responsible is essencial, just like in everything else).

Agreed again. I always recommend that people take a fast a day (or a moment) at a time.

Originally Posted by Wes

All I say is that I wouldn't recommend a "just water" fasting to a friend, for the mentioned reasons, which I still consider valid. If your experience with it is positive, though, I respect that.

As i respect your opinions.

Originally Posted by Wes

Still, these are subjective discussions, as forum readers don't know the actual body characteristics and values of the person. And that's fundamental in ANY diet/fasting program, in my opinion. As in everything, one size DOES NOT fit all.

This also is true. From my perspective a water fast will be phenomenally beneficial to the vast majority of people. For others with unique circumstances, it could be the wrong path.

Originally Posted by Wes

As for the eating/not eating issue, sure, it depends... there are many kinds of fasting. It can be total or just partial; it can refer to just food, or it can also involve other behaviors considered toxic.

Again i agree with you . While fasting by the strictest definition means not eating anything and drinking only water, it is common to use the word more liberally, ie: "juice fast", "fruits and vegetables fast", "a fast from watching television".

Originally Posted by Wes

Its a vast theme to which each must find a balance that works for himself. Main point, in which I think we all agree: gathering as much information as possible can be helpful.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by Wes

But a forum can be a not so good way to go at it: personally seeking a professional, such as a nutritionist who can offer personalized medical advice, is usually a better way. That's my opinion, at least.

Fair enough, but this can be a bit tricky. It could be a lot different with nutritionists, but it is amazing how little the average medical practitioner (doctor) knows about fasting... and as well, if one wanted to entertain a little bit of conspiracy thinking, it is interesting to consider that allowing ones body to heal by taking a break from eating would specifically take business away from these individuals. A conspiracy theorist might say that perhaps doctors know a lot more about the benefits of fasting then they care to share.

[ginkgo]

Originally Posted by Wes

Ginkgo, is your goal here just to advertise?

Please, explain to the original asker exactly WHAT is an opinion, so that he can get a real, straight, and helpful information that doesn't end up ruining his/her health. Possibly permanently.

Is it an opinion that the body can't survive just on water? No, fact.

Is it an opinion that the body needs a daily minimum input of vitamins? No, fact.

Is it an opinion that deprivation of vitamins damages the health? No, fact.

Actually, what is your comment all about if not publicizing about a page with supposed experts? You may succeed in getting visits (I would never go see it, after your blatant display of ill-will), but credibility just went down, IMO. In this forum there are REAL people with REAL problems... you might want to be sensitive to that fact, and still help your business, whatever it is.

Your statements are meaningless since they are missing something. So I can ask-- can a person go without breathing without damaging themselves? Whoever answers this question is wrong and a fool.

It is missing something. Anyone can hold their breath for 10 seconds with no damage to their health. A person can survive without any water or food for a whole minute easily. Maybe even an hour. Just kidding. Your question is missing the time element for them to be true or false.

Can a person go without sleep? That question is meaningless. It is missing the time element. It is like a bottle of medicine that says "Take 2 tablets!" When the guy sees that on that bottle he will wonder was the guy who made that label drunk or on drugs. What does that label mean? How often should the take 2 tablets? It is missing the time element.

[Tristan Bull]

Originally Posted by merveilles

I went on a 10 day water fast last month. Now I want to try this for 3 weeks.. I'm starting today.. Does anyone have any advice? Just thinking about this makes me hungry.

May I ask why you want to fast in the first place?

[Wes]

ginkgo: the information that answers your statement is right at the top of the thread, one just needs to read it all... the time frame that was being discussed was 3 weeks. But point taken, you disagree with what I said.

I think various elements are relevant when thinking about fasting, as we've been discussing (which doesn't take away from the fact that most people can probably extract benefits from moderated and responsible fast, as said by MightySunTzu): the how, current body characteristics, the amount of physical work one has to do daily while fasting, the weather conditions of the place that we live in (which influences the whole organism and the amount of effort and energy consumption)... all these and others can be very relevant to making or breaking a fast, especially when considering long periods of time. And as Tristran Bull asked, the why also plays its role. All of this is what makes this such a subjective and heated debate

Each will have its own personal experience, and MightySunTzu posts an interesting one. Overall, I don't usually have a bad opinion about doctors: I've been fortunate that the most of the ones I met have been more concerned with their patients getting better and NOT coming back than the opposite. But no doubt, I've also seen one or two of the other kind. And unfortunately those can really cast a shade on the good work of others.

[James81]

Personally, I don't think it's a good idea to do such an intense fast so soon after doing a 10 day fast.

Fasting is great for cleansing your body, but doing these monstrous fasts back to back is probably going to have detrimental effects on your body.

IMO, you should probably only do a lengthy fast (i.e. anything over 3-5 days) at most once or twice a year. Once a year seems about right.

If you want to do habitual fasting, then a 2 or 3 day fast on a monthly basis is probably the most you want to do.

But more importantly, you shouldn't be doing ANY fasting until you consult a doctor and make sure you don't have any health issues first.

EDIT: Oh and gingko, if you're thinking about responding to this, please don't because I pretty much skim right past your posts at this point. Just thought I'd save you some time.

[Beuford]

I feel 3 weeks is too long. Perhaps a once in a lifetime experience, so I won't say never do it, but if you are doing it merely for the benefits of fasting, then, although this is coming from reading not my own experience, a week is probably enough. So since you posted this something like 12 days ago, maybe you can report back in so we know you are alive?

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by Beuford

I feel 3 weeks is too long. Perhaps a once in a lifetime experience,...

I am just curious what you are basing this on... and why should a 21 day fast only be done once in a lifetime?

Originally Posted by Beuford

so I won't say never do it, but if you are doing it merely for the benefits of fasting, then, although this is coming from reading not my own experience, a week is probably enough.

What literature is telling you that a week is enough to thoroughly cleanse and restore the body? Though i will agree that a 7 day fast will accomplish a phenomenal amount of good, from all i have read - unless an individual started out exceptionally clean - a cumulation of 30-60 or more days is generally necessary to fast to completion, ie: to completely eliminate toxemia from the body, experience a powerful return to genuine hunger, to no longer have the coated mouth which had accompanied the faster as long as toxins were continuing to be eliminated, and a return to sweet breath.

In my own experience, i did 10 days, waited about 3 months, then did 30 more days. Though i fasted to completion, it was not the type i was hoping for. In my type, i ran out of something essential before running out of toxins (Fear not, i am still alive and well!... my body let me know in no uncertain terms that it was time to eat) Though i experienced a powerful and unrelenting return to genuine hunger, my mouth was still coated. So even after these 40 days (10+30), though my body was amazingly cleaner as evidenced in many ways and perhaps very close to being completely cleansed, it was still not entirely done with the work.

[koneall]

I've done fasts up to ten days. In a fast the body goes into ketosis as fat is released from the stores and used for energy. But at the same time the body is breaking down muscle. The Krebs cycle requires a small amount of glucose to keep it spinning. It gets the glucose from muscle tissue. So anything more than ten days and you begin to lose muscle mass. Also I found I did better if I took sodium in the form of bullion cubes dissolved in hot water. Without it, I eventually developed cramps.

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by koneall

I've done fasts up to ten days. In a fast the body goes into ketosis as fat is released from the stores and used for energy. But at the same time the body is breaking down muscle. The Krebs cycle requires a small amount of glucose to keep it spinning. It gets the glucose from muscle tissue..

Hi koneall,

I agree with all of the above.

Originally Posted by koneall

So anything more than ten days and you begin to lose muscle mass. Also I found I did better if I took sodium in the form of bullion cubes dissolved in hot water. Without it, I eventually developed cramps..

This is where we begin to respectfully disagree. Actually we are losing a small amount of protein tissue from the very early going, i would say within about 24-48 hours of the onset of the fast, once the stored carbs have been exhausted. There is nothing magical about the 10 day mark bringing with it an increase in muscle burning. In fact, the 2nd and/or 3rd days are where protein burning peaks as the body is making its transition into ketosis (fat as fuel) and from here there is a precipitous drop. Thus, the tenth day and beyond burn far less protein than this 2nd or 3rd day. Once the body has made this move into ketosis, fat : protein is burned at about 10:1 and at no point does this ratio become any less protein-sparing unless and until the body was to complete the fast and then begin to starve, something the body would be screaming intensely, unmistakably and unrelentingly at the faster to avoid, a powerful phenomenon i have been fortunate enough to excitely experience first hand. When the fast is completed, the need to eat becomes all-encompassing.

Ketones, a product of ketosis can accomplish many of the tasks that the body had been relying on glucose (from protein) to perform in the 2nd and/or 3rd day, so through this feature, after the brief transitional period, the conservation of muscle is greatly heightened. After ketosis has set in, the body primarily continues to convert tissue to glucose only to fuel the brain.

Let it be restated that the body in its immeasurable intelligence will preferentially burn the most diseased or otherwise damaged tissue first, so often the 1:10 tissue burning aspect of a fast can be lifesaving and should thus be welcomed.

[Barcs]

But a forum can be a not so good way to go at it:

I disagree. I learned almost everything I know about fasting from people on this site who have experienced it themselves, and it changed my life. I'd much rather seek advice from somebody who's experienced and gone through the process than a doctor who most likely has not and makes money off of people healing themselves unnaturally. It's a basic conflict of interests. You should still check with your doctor before fasting, however, because some conditions can have negative effects.

[DerekMB]

Wouldn't recommend it but If you do do it please at least take your vitamins. B vitamins are especially good if you want to burn off energy/calories as they are a "metabolizing fuel source".


If you really want to lose weight though you could try cutting out fat from your diet. Ever check the nutrition facts on your food? I'd bet money that if you cut out almost all fats, except the essentials like omega 3's, 9s, and Linoleic acids, and excercised or did some kind of strenous activity regularly, you would lose weight better than fasting. Actually I think fasting might actually gain weight, at least after you start eating again as, in some people, the body gets tricked into thinking it's starving and then will try to store up any food and energy it gets as a response.

Essential fatty acids can be taken in supplement form, but marijuana/hemp is the best source if you can get some- just eat the seeds - apparently you can't eat too many and a tbsp a day is recomended. If you can get a supplement of this kind (Flax seed for ex.) then you won't need to risk consuming any more fats from normal foods and can just eat carbs and protein. Carbs for raw metabolic energy like ATP and synthesis thereof and protein for your muscles. Take your other vitamins too. Sports drinks are great for their potassium and sodium content. Most People, westerners included, don't get their necessary potassium. Banana's are especially good for this and I would recommend eating them often, at least one a day really. Phosphorous is also extremely important, so make sure you get that too.

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by Barcs

^Nice post. I'd also like to add that the body CAN survive on water alone,...

Hey there Barcs,

Thanks and yes i agree that the body can survive on water alone, but only because it has nutritional reserves it can call upon in the form of fat, protein tissue (primarily for conversion to glucose), vitamins and minerals. I'm pretty sure you knew that's what i meant, but i am clarifying this just in case .

A fast is not the time to be taking vitamins. To say it one way, this would really mess with the mojo of the fast... to say it another way, it would no longer be a water fast (it would be a kind of vitamin-cocktail "fast"). A water fast is a time to allow the body to rest from all such digestive processes and utilize what it needs from what is already there.

Originally Posted by Barcs

... but not forever.

Indeed not. The nutritional reserves will carry us only so far. I ran out after 29 days and 16 hours. I wholeheartedly believe that going that distance was unspeakably good for me, but going say 5-10 days longer (5-10 days in actual starvation mode) would have brought irreparable damage, perhaps even death. Thus the difference between fasting and starving is that in the former you have nutritional reserves to meet all of your needs and in the latter you don't (something essential has been exhausted).

Additionally, i can't imagine anybody (who has a choice) with the kind of willpower it would take to resist eating for any appreciable amount of time once the fast has ended and starvation has begun. Once this critical point has been reached, the DEMAND to eat is so intense as to be ALL ENCOMPASSING... and is said to grow greater and greater with each passing hour until the the individual finally relents. For me, fasting for 29 days and 16 hours though certainly challenging was relatively simple compared to going the next 8 hours resisting this fantastically powerful demand to eat.

Originally Posted by Barcs

... a fast is a temporary process and as long as you do it properly and listen to your body, chances are the results will be positive.

Here again we agree. Nobody is suggesting that fasting should be done every day of the year. It is a seasonal endeavor, a relatively brief period set apart to cleanse, purify, rejuvenate and revitalize our systems... and in between, during the vast majority of our days, we should be eating healthy foods and rebuilding our nutritional reserves.

[ginkgo]

Originally Posted by MightySunTzu

Indeed not. The nutritional reserves will carry us only so far. I ran out after 29 days and 16 hours.

I had asked you this on post for your fast but saw no answer to it. Didn't you look at your tongue? When you had true hunger was your tongue coated or clear?

It is possible that you did not not run out of reserves and still had some left. If you flip a coin it can come up heads or tails. So what you mentioned was one possibility. The other possibility is that you did not run out of reserves but all the toxins in your body were gotten rid of so there was no reason to fast anymore.

Say you are pouring some juice into a glass. Now say that it gets full but you keep pouring it. It will spill all over the place. So there is no need to keep pouring if the glass is full. So your body may have (or may not have) gotten rid of all the toxins so it was time to stop the fast.

Ideally the body has gotten rid of all the toxins before his reserves run out when he has true hunger and the tongue can help determine that.

What can also happen that is not ideal is that body still has more toxins to get rid of but the person has run out of reserves. So he has to stop even though there is still more work for the fast to do.

So do you know which of the above was the case? Do you know if your tongue was clear or coated when you had true hunger? An M.D. was fasting a fat guy. It took 8 months for the guy to run out of the reserves of something and he died. He did not run out of fat. Dr Fuhrman never fasts someone over 50 days.

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by ginkgo

I had asked you this on post for your fast but saw no answer to it. Didn't you look at your tongue? When you had true hunger was your tongue coated or clear?

It is possible that you did not not run out of reserves and still had some left. If you flip a coin it can come up heads or tails. So what you mentioned was one possibility. The other possibility is that you did not run out of reserves but all the toxins in your body were gotten rid of so there was no reason to fast anymore.

What can also happen that is not ideal is that body still has more toxins to get rid of but the person has run out of reserves. So he has to stop even though there is still more work for the fast to do.

So do you know which of the above was the case? Do you know if your tongue was clear or coated when you had true hunger?

Hey there Ginkgo,

Yes i kind of vanished from the site for a few months there. In response to your question, this is what i had mentioned above:

Originally Posted by MightySunTzu

In my own experience, i did 10 days, waited about 3 months, then did 30 more days. Though i fasted to completion, it was not the type i was hoping for. In my type, i ran out of something essential before running out of toxins (Fear not, i am still alive and well!... my body let me know in no uncertain terms that it was time to eat) Though i experienced a powerful and unrelenting return to genuine hunger, my mouth [including my tongue] was still coated. So even after these 40 days (10+30), though my body was amazingly cleaner as evidenced in many ways and perhaps very close to being completely cleansed, it was still not entirely done with the work.

[DerekMB]

All that stuff you said sounds good and all and yeah I want to try it but there's still one issue:

How exactly does forcing your body to consume itself become beneficial? Specifically I mean. Is there some sort of connection between starving and feeling good? Cuz that's what it sounds like.

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by DerekMB

All that stuff you said sounds good and all and yeah I want to try it but there's still one issue:

How exactly does forcing your body to consume itself become beneficial? Specifically I mean. Is there some sort of connection between starving and feeling good? Cuz that's what it sounds like.

Hey there Derek,

It's really all about giving your body a rest from the rigors of digestion. Your body is then able to take the energy it would have been expending on this enormous task and re-channel it into the worthy and often neglected endeavor of cleansing and repairing itself.

When you say "forcing your body to consume itself", you make it sound kind of bad , but when you consider that it is primarily excess fat and the worst kind of diseased or damaged protein tissue that is consumed, it's really quite a good thing to allow our bodies to make these unwanted parts of ourselves disappear.

As to what is forced, i perceive it this way: "A fast forces your body to cleanse and repair itself". In the absence of the massive digestive chore, it really has no other choice.

[ginkgo]

Originally Posted by DerekMB

All that stuff you said sounds good and all and yeah I want to try it but there's still one issue:

How exactly does forcing your body to consume itself become beneficial? Specifically I mean. Is there some sort of connection between starving and feeling good? Cuz that's what it sounds like.

I was doing lots of fasting without weighing myself. People were asking about weight difference so I weighed myself when I started the fast. Then 4 days later, I weighed myself before I broke the fast. I gained one pound, not eating for 4 days! This is not common since many lose a lot of water weight due to their body getting rid of a lot of salt.

As far as why to do it, this site lists the many benefits of it including an MD who said that it saved his life.

I gave myself permission to copy this. Gabriel Cousins, M.D., (psychiatrist and rabbi) says "I often observe in the fasting participants that by four days of fasting, concentration seems to improve, creative thinking expands, depression lifts, insomnia stops, anxieties fade, the mind becomes more tranquil and a natural joy begins to appear. It is my hypothesis that when the physical toxins are cleared from the brain cells, mind-brain function automatically and significantly improves and spiritual capacities expands."

"Here are a few reasons given by Dr Cott (MD and psychiatrist) to fast: "To lose weight the quickest and fastest way, to save money, to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, to sleep better, to digest food better, to save time, to regulate bowels, to learn better eating habits, to get more out of sex and to call attention to social issues." There are many more benefits. Fasting is the most effective way to kill unwanted parasites, bacteria, viruses and fungi."

[James Reno]

I hope you have a good reason for doing this fast. Having lost 30 lbs. eating mostly raw food, I think I would become absolutely skeletal if I went on a fast, plus would not have the energy to work out.

In any event, I hope it goes well for you and you get the benefits you are seeking!

[DerekMB]

Originally Posted by MightySunTzu

Hey there Derek,

It's really all about giving your body a rest from the rigors of digestion. Your body is then able to take the energy it would have been expending on this enormous task and re-channel it into the worthy and often neglected endeavor of cleansing and repairing itself.

When you say "forcing your body to consume itself", you make it sound kind of bad , but when you consider that it is primarily excess fat and the worst kind of diseased or damaged protein tissue that is consumed, it's really quite a good thing to allow our bodies to make these unwanted parts of ourselves disappear.

As to what is forced, i perceive it this way: "A fast forces your body to cleanse and repair itself". In the absence of the massive digestive chore, it really has no other choice.

I see what you mean thanks for explaining.

But...


Last I check there is an order to what the body consumes. First to go are carbs. When carbs are "absorbed" up then comes protein. Fat's last.

So when you starve yourself, under current medical understanding as I personally understand, muscle tissue is broken down and used by the body for energy before fat, as fat is much more difficult for the body to digest into usable energy than the former (Carbs being the easiest/fastest for body to absorb)


So basically I feel I am not willing to risk losing hard earned muscle tissue, even though I want to try this for the health aspects

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by DerekMB

I see what you mean thanks for explaining.

But...

Last I check there is an order to what the body consumes. First to go are carbs. When carbs are "absorbed" up then comes protein. Fat's last.

Hey there again Derek,

You are basically right... the body burns up its stored carbs first then as it is making the transition into ketosis (fat as fuel), it is burning a fair amount of the unhealthiest protein tissue before ketosis takes effect at which point the body has been converted from a carb burning machine into a fat burning machine. Once this transition has been made, the body will burn fat to protein at about a 10:1 ratio.

Originally Posted by DerekMB

So when you starve yourself, under current medical understanding as I personally understand, muscle tissue is broken down and used by the body for energy before fat, as fat is much more difficult for the body to digest into usable energy than the former (Carbs being the easiest/fastest for body to absorb)

Again i want to distinguish between the state of fasting and the state of starving. With fasting, the body has ample nutritional reserves to call upon and the individual is very safe. The body is primarily feeding upon it's own fat, so rather than starving, it is feasting on its own fat stores! In starvation, all or part of these reserves (including vitamins and minerals) have been exhausted and the individual would proceed in grave danger... with clear unmistakable siren blaring signals warning him not to.

Back to normal fasting, only in the very brief transitional period once the carbs have been exhausted, and before the body has shifted into ketosis is protein tissue the primary fuel source... Once in ketosis, protein tissue is burned at a proportion of about 1:10 as compared to fat. And i'll say it again, the body will preferentially take the most diseased and otherwise unhealthiest tissue first.

Originally Posted by DerekMB

So basically I feel I am not willing to risk losing hard earned muscle tissue, even though I want to try this for the health aspects

Each individual must decide for himself, but i feel that my body after this 30 day fast was almost ridiculously primed to build muscle in a system that was fantastically cleansed, revitalized and ready to do everything better.

[ginkgo]

The body does not store excess protein. It gets rid of it. Muscle has a purpose. The very reason for storing fat is so the body can burn it. Why would the body burn muscle when it has stored the fat to burn. They have the same word for fat in food and adipose tissue. Adipose tissue (body fat) is also called fat. But there is protein in food but not in the body. The body has lean tissue. That muscle or lean tissue is not called protein.

Sometimes they call fat people fat but they do not call muscular people proteiny.