My water fast

[Eric Kramer]

Hi all, I am on day 1 of my water fast Anyone else starting out today? My goal is 14 days no food and come out looking like I did 10 years ago. 14 days... wow, hard to imagine but going to focus just one day at a time.

I'm doing this mainly for weight loss, I'm 47 and weigh probably (no access to a scale right now) around 265 pounds And to think I used to be thin even into my 30's ... my god I have let myself go!

It's close to lunch time but no hunger problems yet because sometimes I skip breakfast and even lunch on work days. Night time I am an enourmous eater .. so I'm bracing my self for tonight.

The plan is simple, only water and imagine horrible stuff whenever I see food (maggots, etc.,) to try to psyche myself away from food thoughts. I'm not sure if I will exercise ..... have to see how it goes.

Anyone have a guess as to how much weight I will lose per day?

[Apopohis Reject]

Well I'm not about to make any guesses Eric, but I will tell you I am now into my 7th. day of a water fast, which will, if all goes to plan extend to around six weeks.

There are a couple of points I will make here for you.

1. It's not so important during the early stage you are right now, but after a few days, you really shouldn't be doing any heavy exercise at all. This can be quite detrimental to your health and (I believe) also impact negatively on your weight loss expectations.

2. You really need to drink copious amounts of fresh water each day. This will help flush out of your system all the toxins as well as keep the hunger pains at bay. I am drinking around 6 to 7 litres per day myself, which means I need to keep the loo in sight. I try to drink only non-fluoridated water.

3. Try and keep a positive perspective on what you are doing and why. People can tend to become quite melancholy whilst on a water fast, which does not help within yourself nor those around you.

4. Be aware that your breath will be quite off whilst on the fast, so always maintain a healthy respect for anyone with whom you may be conversing.

5. When you come off the fast, do so slowly. First day only drink diluted fruit or vegetable juices for 2 meals, then full strength for another 2, then fruit for 2, then vegs for another 2. Then only have light meals for a day - avoiding meat, dairy and carbs.

6. Be prepared that your eyesight may appear to be failing whilst on the fast. Not sure why this happens, yet it will return (perhaps better than previously) soon after the fast.

Hoping you all the best in you experience.

[Eric Kramer]

Originally Posted by Apopohis Reject

Well I'm not about to make any guesses Eric, but I will tell you I am now into my 7th. day of a water fast, which will, if all goes to plan extend to around six weeks.

2. You really need to drink copious amounts of fresh water each day. This will help flush out of your system all the toxins as well as keep the hunger pains at bay. I am drinking around 6 to 7 litres per day myself, which means I need to keep the loo in sight. I try to drink only non-fluoridated water.

Hoping you all the best in you experience.

Apopohis, thanks for the post, I'll use you as inspiration! Evening of day 1 was very difficult, my hunger was ravenous! Surprisingly, when I woke up this morning for day 2 ... I'm hungry but it is more tolerable. I keep motivation by looking at my fat belly lol

I'm going to head to Walmart later today and pick up a good supply of distilled water (drinking tap [flouridated] water right now.

A few questions: 1) was there a particular day that your hunger just went away like I have heard? 2) how do you deal with the bad breath, do you keep a small bottle of mouth wash with you, any tricks to share? 3) What is your primary reason for fasting?

[Apopohis Reject]

Originally Posted by Eric Kramer

Apopohis, thanks for the post, I'll use you as inspiration! Evening of day 1 was very difficult, my hunger was ravenous! Surprisingly, when I woke up this morning for day 2 ... I'm hungry but it is more tolerable. I keep motivation by looking at my fat belly lol

I'm going to head to Walmart later today and pick up a good supply of distilled water (drinking tap [flouridated] water right now.

A few questions: 1) was there a particular day that your hunger just went away like I have heard? 2) how do you deal with the bad breath, do you keep a small bottle of mouth wash with you, any tricks to share? 3) What is your primary reason for fasting?

Hey Eric,
I've gone through around 50 litres of water so far, so that might give you some idea of how much I drink of the stuff in any case.

I always find the hunger pains reduce greatly once food is out of my system, which for me is usually after day 2, but they are replaced with a less severe pain that keeps reminding you that your stomach is still there, calling you to satisfy it. This is not hunger as we understand it, but rather a need to add water, which quells that ache for 5 or 10 mins, then more water etc.

I've been fasting for many years now, however I must say not often enough during those years. I used to fast for 3 or 4 days per week around 12 years ago, and should never have stopped that practice, but I was fasting during the weekend and that is the hardest time, with friends, parties and such.

You should find yourself recognising quite a pleasant sensation, a well-being of sorts as you go, which is like "Wow, I can have control over my weakness for being a food junkie". This is very valid, for being a slave to food and your taste buds might seem like fun at the time, but deep down surely eats away at your self respect.

2. As for bad breath; this seems to reduce after around day 5 or 6, I guess as the toxins in your body are being progressively cleansed out. You still tend to have a reasonably unpleasant taste in your mouth, but others appear to be less aware of any odour. Keeping a small bottle of mouth wash on you should help with your self confidence, but I've never found it necessary, for I just try to me mindful of others and maintain awareness of wind direction and distance. I've had people offer me mints before, however. LOL

3. My primary reason for fasting this time around is quite a little different to the past, which in turn has been a mixture of that spiritual well-being of having control over my slave-master hunger and for weight control. Originally, around 20 or so years ago, I started because I went to a health retreat and at one of the talks heard how it is very good health practice to fast for a day or two per week, just to give the body a rest from all that digestion etc. activity, which is quite hard work, especially as you get on in years.

This time around, I'm fasting purely for spiritual reasons, which I will happily explore with you if you desire, but please be forewarned; I could easily fill several textbooks on this aspect. In short however, I believe we are a slave to our many varied emotions, such as hunger, and I am convinced that through this process, this will be turned around - that is; my emotions will become subject to my choices, once I've faced them down - to the death. Which is the reason why this time I've decided to extend this to a little under 6 weeks.

I know this all sounds radical, and I guess to some degree it is, but I feel so assured in this that my determination is rock solid. BTW, I'm expecting a few major surprises after it's all over, but I'm reticent to express anything about these at this stage, for fear of being laughed at.

All the best to you Eric.

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by Eric Kramer

Hi all, I am on day 1 of my water fast ... My goal is 14 days no food and come out looking like I did 10 years ago. 14 days...Anyone have a guess as to how much weight I will lose per day?

Hi Eric and welcome to fasting,

Starting at 265 and this being apparently your first longish fast, i would anticipate about 20 to 40 pounds of loss overall in 14 days with water-only (which includes the temporary losses) and 16-32 pounds of enduring loss in a fast of this duration. The losses will be higher in the beginning and lower towards the end, largely because the early losses will include a fair amount of temporary water and intestinal content losses (though some enduring water loss will accompany the fat loss as a part of the overall bodily down sizing).

"Enduring loss" assumes a whole new way of eating after the fast is broken than the choices which led to your current situation and would ideally include a lot of whole veg and fruit (or maybe a lot of veg and not much fruit as another option) and no refined sugar, refined grains, veg oils and artificial ingredients. PS: i didn't mean for my "choices" comment to come across in any way judgingly, just as a matter of fact.

Originally Posted by Eric Kramer

I'm not sure if I will exercise ..... have to see how it goes.

The above numbers assume no exercise at all (or 5 minutes per day), but can be increased somewhat substantially with a lot of exercise if this was what you decided to do. I have mentioned in other threads that it is common among Russian fasting experts to recommend 3 hours per day of walking or other exercise while partaking in a water-only fast.

I don't know your situation or how possible or realistic this would be, but if you were to walk briskly for 3 hours per day you would probably hit 10 miles and at your size this would likely be about 1800 additional calories burned which equates to a half pound (of almost predominately fat). Such an amount of exercise every day over 14 days would bring forth 7 additional pounds of loss, so instead of 16-32 you would be looking at 23-39 pounds of enduring loss. If weight loss is your primary objective in this fast, lots of light-med exercise can help a lot. If 3 hours is not feasible, then i would recommend as much as possible.

Originally Posted by Eric Kramer

The plan is simple, only water and imagine horrible stuff whenever I see food (maggots, etc.,) to try to psyche myself away from food thoughts.

Interesting idea, good luck with that .

Originally Posted by Apopohis Reject

1. It's not so important during the early stage you are right now, but after a few days, you really shouldn't be doing any heavy exercise at all. This can be quite detrimental to your health...

I agree with this assessment. Running bad, walking good, laying in bed very good.

Originally Posted by Apopohis Reject

2. You really need to drink copious amounts of fresh water each day. This will help flush out of your system all the toxins as well as keep the hunger pains at bay. I am drinking around 6 to 7 litres per day myself, which means I need to keep the loo in sight. I try to drink only non-fluoridated water.

It is a common misconception that we need excessive amounts of water to help flush the toxins out and the preponderance of experts recommend drinking only to thirst. Excessive water actually interferes with the optimal resting, cleansing and healing that takes place in the body while fasting.

Hunger is kept at bay in ketosis whether we drink a lot of water or not, in fact many people report that less water intake makes them less hungry. I definitely agree that fluoride is highly toxic and in no way intended for the human body... and this truth is intensified during fasting.

Originally Posted by Apopohis Reject

5. When you come off the fast, do so slowly. First day only drink diluted fruit or vegetable juices for 2 meals, then full strength for another 2, then fruit for 2, then vegs for another 2.

This gradual transition needs to be in proportion to the length of the fast and this description sounds like a great plan in breaking a fast of 3 days. With a 30 day fast you would thus want to multiply this by about 10, generally 1 day of juicing for every 4 days of water-only and then 4 days of fruits/veg for every day of water+juice.

Another important factor is how well we feel upon breaking the fast. Nausea would require even greater caution, feeling great and with a voracious appetite would require a little bit less, and a return to genuine hunger (RARE) would require immensely less caution.

Originally Posted by Eric Kramer

I'm going to head to Walmart later today and pick up a good supply of distilled water (drinking tap [flouridated] water right now.

This is a great action to take. Pure distilled water is the ideal especially when fasting.

Originally Posted by Apopohis Reject

A few questions: 1) was there a particular day that your hunger just went away like I have heard? 2) how do you deal with the bad breath, do you keep a small bottle of mouth wash with you, any tricks to share? 3) What is your primary reason for fasting?

For me i often wake up at about 1.5 or 2.5 days with no physical hunger whatsoever. I believe it was more like 2.5 days in the early fasts and 1.5 days in more recent years (as perhaps my body became better at switching over into ketosis).

What i do for breath is brush my teeth, gums, tongue and mouth as many times per day as necessary and have been told through human before and after tests that this does the trick. I use only water because flavor of any kind can confuse and interfere with the optimal fasting process and can also tend to keep the sensation of hunger from going dormant. It's thus not good to introduce taste which includes tea... or anything to digest which includes vitamins/minerals.

Originally Posted by Apopohis Reject

I always find the hunger pains reduce greatly once food is out of my system, which for me is usually after day 2, but they are replaced with a less severe pain that keeps reminding you that your stomach is still there, calling you to satisfy it. This is not hunger as we understand it, but rather a need to add water, which quells that ache for 5 or 10 mins, then more water etc.

I dare say that this is not a call for water and if left alone it will probably go away. A call for water is as follows, first call, 2nd call and final call before inviting trouble: When thirsty we will feel this first in our mouth, then in our throat if thirst is allowed to deepen... and incidentally if we let it get beyond this, we will likely begin to see drying skin.

In addition to being ill-recommended for other reasons, forcing water down beyond thirst can actually be very unpleasant and uncomfortable and i would thus encourage you Apopohis good sir to give drinking only to thirst a try. You may be well delighted with it as i was when i first learned about it and made the switch... and water drinking went from being a highly unpleasant chore to one of the most delightful experiences life has to offer .

Originally Posted by Apopohis Reject

2. As for bad breath; this seems to reduce after around day 5 or 6, I guess as the toxins in your body are being progressively cleansed out. You still tend to have a reasonably unpleasant taste in your mouth, but others appear to be less aware of any odour.

This has not been my experience and probably varies from situation to situation. I believe in most cases bad breath will accompany the faster to the bitter end in the longest of fasts, fasting to the elimination of all toxemia being the exception.

Originally Posted by Apopohis Reject

3.

This time around, I'm fasting purely for spiritual reasons, which I will happily explore with you if you desire, but please be forewarned; I could easily fill several textbooks on this aspect.

How about the article sized version?

Originally Posted by Apopohis Reject

In short however, I believe we are a slave to our many varied emotions, such as hunger, and I am convinced that through this process, this will be turned around - that is; my emotions will become subject to my choices, once I've faced them down - to the death. Which is the reason why this time I've decided to extend this to a little under 6 weeks.

I know this all sounds radical, and I guess to some degree it is, but I feel so assured in this that my determination is rock solid. BTW, I'm expecting a few major surprises after it's all over, but I'm reticent to express anything about these at this stage, for fear of being laughed at.

Sounds pretty awesome. I'd be interested to hear what develops.

All the best to both of you!

[Eric Kramer]

Originally Posted by Apopohis Reject

I've been fasting for many years now, however I must say not often enough during those years.

If it's not too personal a question, how old r u now?

Originally Posted by Apopohis Reject

You should find yourself recognising quite a pleasant sensation, a well-being of sorts as you go, which is like "Wow, I can have control over my weakness for being a food junkie".

No nothing pleasant yet. A little light headedness that passes quickly. I'm a bit pleased that my hunger isn't ravenous, especially being evening of day two when at night is usually when I pig out. I certainly don't feel in control of anything right now, more of a struggle over the temptation of food versus reaching my goal. I'm trying to dissasociate the aching feeling in my stomach with the mental process of eating ... thats tough. I could go in the kitchen and eat a LOT right now, but instead I'm typing out this message .. and that's a positive thing.

Originally Posted by Apopohis Reject

This time around, I'm fasting purely for spiritual reasons, which I will happily explore with you if you desire, but please be forewarned; I could easily fill several textbooks on this aspect.

I'd like to hear about it.

Originally Posted by Apopohis Reject

BTW, I'm expecting a few major surprises after it's all over, but I'm reticent to express anything about these at this stage, for fear of being laughed at.

No laughter from me I assure you.

[Eric Kramer]

Hi MightSunTzu, thanks for your post!

Originally Posted by MightySunTzu

Starting at 265 i would anticipate about 20 to 30 pounds of loss overall in 14 days with water-only (which includes the temporary losses) and 14-23 pounds of enduring loss in a fast of this duration.

The above numbers assume no exercise at all (or 5 minutes per day), but can be increased somewhat substantially with a lot of exercise if this was what you decided to do.

Thanks for the estimates and info on the weight loss, I really appreciate it! I think I'll try some exercise after I'm sure ketosis has kicked in so that I don't aggrivate my hunger (assuming that exercising might make me more hungry at this early stage).

Originally Posted by MightySunTzu

"Enduring loss" assumes a whole new way of eating after the fast is broken than the choices which led to your current situation

I'm completely with you on that one. I plan to spend this time fasting thinking of all the bad food choices.

I can only speak for myself but those that are so against fasting for weight loss and say just do a regular diet and not fast, they irritate me. When I'm this overweight, losing one pound a week and taking months for a gain that is hardly noticeable seems to be hopeless and that feeds upon itself in a self defeating loop. If I can get down to a reasonalbe weight I feel it will be much easier to accept a new lifestyle of food choices.

Originally Posted by MightySunTzu

What i do for breath is brush my teeth, gums, tongue and mouth as many times per day as necessary and have been told through human before and after tests that this does the trick. I use only water because flavor of any kind can confuse and interfere with the optimal fasting process and can also tend to keep the sensation of hunger from going dormant.

I think I'll stick with brushing with baking soda. Hopefully, that won't interfere with the hunger from going dormant.

Hunger has been kicking up tonight ... strange, sometimes I swear the hunger moves from my stomach to my mouth (as wierd as that sounds). I'm just hoping I can fall asleep tonght. I'm hoping when I wake on day three the hunger will have disapeared/reduced, like I experienced this morning.

Thanks for your post, hope to hear more from you.

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by Eric Kramer

Hi MightSunTzu, thanks for your post!



Thanks for the estimates and info on the weight loss, I really appreciate it! I think I'll try some exercise after I'm sure ketosis has kicked in so that I don't aggrivate my hunger (assuming that exercising might make me more hungry at this early stage).

You are most welcome. Yes you have to go with your own instincts, but for me exercise in fasting has never made me hungry and it would help to deplete your carb stores faster, leading you more quickly into ketosis and most likely a swifter accompanying hibernation of your hunger sensations. As well in times that i was hungry, exercise actually helped to make this go away and i was thus able to use this as a hunger diminishing tool.

The other benefit is that beginning to exercise sooner would begin to instill the immediate habit. The longer you wait the harder it might be to jump in. But again, with all that said, if you are concerned that exercising before ketosis sets in might bring on more hunger and possibly cause you to break the fast, then for you it's not worth it.

Originally Posted by Eric Kramer

I'm completely with you on that one. I plan to spend this time fasting thinking of all the bad food choices.

Fasting is a great time to do such contemplating and to build the foundation for your future behaviors.

Originally Posted by Eric Kramer

I can only speak for myself but those that are so against fasting for weight loss and say just do a regular diet and not fast, they irritate me. When I'm this overweight, losing one pound a week and taking months for a gain that is hardly noticeable seems to be hopeless and that feeds upon itself in a self defeating loop. If I can get down to a reasonable weight I feel it will be much easier to accept a new lifestyle of food choices.

I agree that there is no more effective way to make a big impact quickly than through fasting and that tiny weekly improvements can be discouraging when there is such a long way to go.

Another factor is that you want to make as much progress as possible while your determination is strongly in place. A person doesn't know and can't predict how determined he will be 8 or 16 weeks from now to continue doing all the right things required to keep burning fat. Hopefully the determination would still be there, but in truth a lot of things in life can interfere so it can't be completely depended upon.

There are misconceptions that rule the airwaves including such notable myths as "you will go into starvation mode and as soon as you start eating again your body will store every calorie as fat". I will say it for the record. FASTING IS A GREAT WAY TO LOSE A LOT OF FAT and is a great way to reset our desires towards the kind of healthful eating and other healthful habits (including exercise) that will help to keep the fat from coming back.

The one good point people who are down on fasting for weight loss have, something that is undeniably true, is that the individual can not return to the previous lifestyle that made them overweight in the first place and expect to keep the fat from returning. But then this is true with any positive results from any method.

Aside from the substantial fat loss benefits, fasting is immeasurably valuable in its ability to cleanse, heal and rejuvenate our every cell. Fasting is therefore immensely worthwhile even if a person has no interest whatsoever in weight loss... and for the person who wishes only to lose weight and doesn't realize s/he wants all of the other benefits fasting provides, those benefits will be provided anyway .

Originally Posted by Eric Kramer

I think I'll stick with brushing with baking soda. Hopefully, that won't interfere with the hunger from going dormant.

Certainly there are far greater violations and it won't be the end of the world. For me i actually find it easier to keep it completely pure.

Originally Posted by Eric Kramer

Hunger has been kicking up tonight ... strange, sometimes I swear the hunger moves from my stomach to my mouth (as wierd as that sounds). I'm just hoping I can fall asleep tonght. I'm hoping when I wake on day three the hunger will have disapeared/reduced, like I experienced this morning.

I hope so too and there is an excellent chance you will wake up with little or even no hunger either tomorrow or the next day. In recalling one of my fasts, i was hungry for 3 days, then had no sensation of physical hunger whatsoever for the next 27. It's almost infinitely easier to keep fasting where physical hunger is completely nonexistent.

Originally Posted by Eric Kramer

Thanks for your post, hope to hear more from you.

My pleasure indeed .

[Eric Kramer]

Good morning! It's day 3 ....

Originally Posted by MightySunTzu

there is an excellent chance you will wake up with little or even no hunger either tomorrow or the next day. In recalling one of my fasts, i was hungry for 3 days, then had no sensation of physical hunger whatsoever for the next 27. It's almost infinitely easier to keep fasting where physical hunger is completely nonexistent.

I'm quite happy that I woke up with a normal sunday hunger level. Meaning, I could easily eat a big breakfast (of course I can usually eat a big breakfast when I'm not hungry) but what I am thrilled about is it's like I haven't been fasting at all ... no hunger buildup and my energy level is either normal or slightly above, which makes me consider that the body using stored energy isn't any less better than "fresh" energy from eating food.

My previous estimate of 265 was wrong on day 1. I found my old analog scale and my weight was approx. 246 (kinda hard to read the dial exactly with my eyes). I weighed myself this morning and it was 240. I'm sure some of that is the different time of day of weigh in and water weight plus colon matter being gone. My ultimate weight would be 190 ... but I'm trying to not set unreal expectations and just see how it goes.

In a couple of days I plan to do the "salt water flush", which is supposed to be superior to an enema, cost effective (salt + water), and not freaky like an enema

Originally Posted by MightySunTzu

I agree that there is no more effective way to make a big impact quickly than through fasting and that tiny weekly improvements can be discouraging when there is such a long way to go.

Another factor is that you want to make as much progress as possible while your determination is strongly in place. A person doesn't know and can't predict how determined he will be 8 or 16 weeks from now to continue doing all the right things required to keep burning fat. Hopefully the determination would still be there, but in truth a lot of things in life can interfere so it can't be completely depended upon.

There are misconceptions that rule the airwaves including such notable myths as "you will go into starvation mode and as soon as you start eating again your body will store every calorie as fat". I will say it for the record. FASTING IS A GREAT WAY TO LOSE A LOT OF FAT and is a great way to reset our desires towards the kind of healthful eating and other healthful habits (including exercise) that will help to keep the fat from coming back.

Wow! I read that over several times, exactly how I feel, you get it! People that don't get it, probably have never been obese. Many years ago when I was never obese, I probably wouldn't "get it" either. Despite some prep work, I already have friends/family attempting to sabotage my fast. It seems that most well meaning people that are the first to push cake on you at a party ("oh just a little won't hurt" = 30 minutes later 2 full servings down the hatch), have never been obese, and have never read up on fasting, turn out to be the most adamant "experts" on weight losss and of course ... the dangers of fasting.

I'm drinking a fair amount of water. Not waiting for the genuine thirst to set in because for me I find that drinking water at least psycologically helps not eat.

I'll tell you what, it does feel good to make it to day 3 morning

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by Eric Kramer

... and my energy level is either normal or slightly above, which makes me consider that the body using stored energy isn't any less better than "fresh" energy from eating food.

Your instincts about this are correct. When weakness is encountered in a fast it is not due to an inferior fuel source (as is commonly believed), it's the result of toxic concentration in the bloodstream becoming greater than normal as the intermediate step in the elimination of this matter. People with no toxemia can fast and never feel weak and there are many examples of this, usually from many decades ago when food, water and air were much more pure.

Originally Posted by Eric Kramer

My previous estimate of 265 was wrong on day 1. I found my old analog scale and my weight was approx. 246 (kinda hard to read the dial exactly with my eyes). I weighed myself this morning and it was 240. I'm sure some of that is the different time of day of weigh in and water weight plus colon matter being gone. My ultimate weight would be 190 ... but I'm trying to not set unreal expectations and just see how it goes.

Ah, good to know that you were lighter than you had thought. Is there any chance you would decide to go longer than 14 days? By the way what kind of fasting history do you have?

Originally Posted by Eric Kramer

Wow! I read that over several times, exactly how I feel, you get it! People that don't get it, probably have never been obese. Many years ago when I was never obese, I probably wouldn't "get it" either. Despite some prep work, I already have friends/family attempting to sabotage my fast.

Well i spoke up before you got hit up by 5 people telling you it's a bad idea to fast for weight loss. You're welcome . By prep work you mean educating people about fasting? If so what kind of information are you sharing? The following are two good condensed sources.

The Health Benefits of Water Fasting by Stephen Harrod Buhner

Moser: Chapter 3

Of course if you are interested in a whole book, Dr. Shelton who fasted 40,000-60,000 patients has a very good one on line (meaning it need not be purchased)... Very possibly more information than you would ever want to know about fasting:

The Hygienic System: Fasting And Sun Bathing | by Herbert M. Shelton

Originally Posted by Eric Kramer

It seems that most well meaning people that are the first to push cake on you at a party ("oh just a little won't hurt" = 30 minutes later 2 full servings down the hatch), have never been obese, and have never read up on fasting, turn out to be the most adamant "experts" on weight losss and of course ... the dangers of fasting.

Then there are the people whose feelings are hurt because you won't eat the food they made and I tell them i'll take it home and freeze it . Most people do mean well but also most know nothing whatsoever about fasting and attempt to perpetuate whatever myths they believe about it. Fasting is radical in a way, yes, but the same people have no problem accepting open heart surgery for example or the removal of a gallbladder... and which is the more radical?

Originally Posted by Eric Kramer

I'm drinking a fair amount of water. Not waiting for the genuine thirst to set in because for me I find that drinking water at least psycologically helps not eat.

Yes if this helps you psychologically in continuing your fast, it's worth doing. Once you are no longer feeling physical hunger, perhaps you will consider drinking only to thirst and see how you like it by comparison .

Originally Posted by Eric Kramer

I'll tell you what, it does feel good to make it to day 3 morning

Great job!

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by quemans

I certainly don't feel in control of anything right now, more of a struggle over the temptation of food versus reaching my goal.

Yes quemans the key to success is being more excited about (or concerned about) your goal than you are about breaking the fast and even if it's 51% vs 49 that's enough to keep you going.

[DarthVader]

I was on water fast twice so far, once in 2006 and 2010.

The first time I did a water fast was when I was 16 years old. Initially it was hard, I managed to pull it for 7 days and I was amazed to see how fast I was losing weight. I wasn't at home when I did this, I was in a nature cure camp. So I dint have anything else to do other than exercising all day, getting massages, water treatments, yoga & meditation, Trataka, interacting with people etc. After the 7 day water fast I switched to liquid diet- different types of fruit juices twice a day. I lost about 12 kgs of weight in 10 days. I couldn't follow this when I returned home and I gradually put on weight again

The second time I did this, it was for 12 days and I lost only 6 kgs. It was hard the second time :\

After reading your post, I feel like going on a water fast again. Though it's hard, it feels great

[Eric Kramer]

Well, technically I broke it I guess ... but not to me. Sounds confusing I'm sure, here is what happened.

I took some shirataki noodles (the zero calorie/zero carb kind, not the tofu kind) and cooked it in a sauce of soy sauce, mustard, ginger powder, crushed garlic, waldenfoods zero cal dressing, and some vinegar .. which should all be zero calories. I ate it it. Gave me a prolonged stomach ache and bloated feeling further enhancing the fun with bathroom visits (shirataki is considered all fiber, analogous to wood)... but, it did make me feel "painfully" full.

I woke up this morning with no hunger at all and full of energy.

I'm kind of torn between feeling disapointed with the idea of breaking the water fast, and still feeling great because it was a zero cal "meal" because I'm not hungry, which makes me think that there was no interruption in the ketosis process and that whatever tiny calorie count the sauce consited of was so small as to not make a difference to my body (I'm aware that even if it says zero calories on a label can can still have "something").

I'm still feeling good because I'm thinking this detour might have simply helped me through one of the toughest times of a water fast without violating it (although technically violated)... that perhaps it helped vault me into the "easier" days and also took care of what people usually need to do an enema for at this stage.

I plan to continue with only water from here.

Perhaps this would be considered a failure by some but not by others? If you guys think that I totally invalidated the effort stated in this thread, let me know and I'll end posting on this thread (but not give up on my own) ....For myself, I am looking forward to seeing if I can stay on water only without a zero cal detour, but I also don't want to waste space on a forum if this thread has turned into a complete lack of credibility in the eyes of others. I have recieved some very much appreciated help and information in this thread and I was hoping that the thread would provide help to others in the future, but I'm not sure if this "detour" would prove more harm than good by in some way contributing to the breakdown of someone else's resolve.

I appreciate your thoughts!

[TheWaterFaster]

Originally Posted by Eric Kramer

I'm still feeling good because I'm thinking this detour might have simply helped me through one of the toughest times of a water fast without violating it (although technically violated)... that perhaps it helped vault me into the "easier" days and also took care of what people usually need to do an enema for at this stage.

I plan to continue with only water from here.

Perhaps this would be considered a failure by some but not by others? If you guys think that I totally invalidated the effort stated in this thread, let me know and I'll end posting on this thread (but not give up on my own) ....For myself, I am looking forward to seeing if I can stay on water only without a zero cal detour, but I also don't want to waste space on a forum if this thread has turned into a complete lack of credibility in the eyes of others. I have recieved some very much appreciated help and information in this thread and I was hoping that the thread would provide help to others in the future, but I'm not sure if this "detour" would prove more harm than good by in some way contributing to the breakdown of someone else's resolve.

I appreciate your thoughts!

I was waterfasting for 9 days when a business client offered me a beer (he didnt know I was fasting). I drank the beer with him (it was a big business deal for me). After that I just went back to the fast. The next day I had the symptoms of the fast back again with the coated tounge and the lightheaded feeling when standing too fast. I went on to Day 15. It was like the beer never happened.

So the point is that I would continue on with the fast.

I am on Day 1 of a new waterfast now.

[waterfast]

Originally Posted by Eric Kramer

Well, technically I broke it I guess ... but not to me. Sounds confusing I'm sure, here is what happened.

I took some shirataki noodles (the zero calorie/zero carb kind, not the tofu kind) and cooked it in a sauce of soy sauce, mustard, ginger powder, crushed garlic, waldenfoods zero cal dressing, and some vinegar .. which should all be zero calories. I ate it it. Gave me a prolonged stomach ache and bloated feeling further enhancing the fun with bathroom visits (shirataki is considered all fiber, analogous to wood)... but, it did make me feel "painfully" full.

I woke up this morning with no hunger at all and full of energy.

I'm kind of torn between feeling disapointed with the idea of breaking the water fast, and still feeling great because it was a zero cal "meal" because I'm not hungry, which makes me think that there was no interruption in the ketosis process and that whatever tiny calorie count the sauce consited of was so small as to not make a difference to my body (I'm aware that even if it says zero calories on a label can can still have "something").

I'm still feeling good because I'm thinking this detour might have simply helped me through one of the toughest times of a water fast without violating it (although technically violated)... that perhaps it helped vault me into the "easier" days and also took care of what people usually need to do an enema for at this stage.

I plan to continue with only water from here.

Perhaps this would be considered a failure by some but not by others? If you guys think that I totally invalidated the effort stated in this thread, let me know and I'll end posting on this thread (but not give up on my own) ....For myself, I am looking forward to seeing if I can stay on water only without a zero cal detour, but I also don't want to waste space on a forum if this thread has turned into a complete lack of credibility in the eyes of others. I have recieved some very much appreciated help and information in this thread and I was hoping that the thread would provide help to others in the future, but I'm not sure if this "detour" would prove more harm than good by in some way contributing to the breakdown of someone else's resolve.

I appreciate your thoughts!

Do not beat yourself up about it, just pick up where you left off.

I think in times like these it is important to remember that the benefits of water fasting are Cumulative, so two x10 day water fasts are almost as good as one x20 day water fast. By making a habit of fasting regularly, you will continue to heal your body and improve your health.

I have had many failures to meet my #Days Goal for a water fast in the past.
Being that I have planned to fast for 7 days and broke on day 5 or so.
My determination has only gotten stronger with each failed fast, and I began to realize that they were all actually successful because my health was still improving with them.

To help you get back on your feet, a little known secret that I discovered myself and have made a topic here in the forum on is how to speed up ketosis, for when you would like to make up for lost ground or save yourself some time.

IT IS possible to go into Ketosis within 24 hours!

If you are interested, here is the link to my thread where I talk about it:
Water Fasting - Ketosis in 24 hours!