Water Fasting

[ginkgo]

As far as REAL NATURE's concerns, that is why someone should not fast for 7 months. A fat guy was fasted 7 months and still had more fat reserves but died. An MD says most people can fast for a month. I read that site about the sad side of fasting. The doctor said that he had a deficiency of vitamin B-12 and vitamin D. This is not caused by fasting but by a diet that lacks those things. If you fast and only eat jelly beans, you will have problems due to this diet. The site below has a page on SUPERIOR NUTRITION which specifically warns people about vitamin D and B-12.

I am a big fan of fasting. My longest fast was a pure water fast of 22 days. I did it that long to beat all the ones doing it for 21 days which is a duration of fasting mentioned in the bible. Here is a site that has quotes from 17 MDs about fasting. One MD says that fasting is profoundly simple and simply profound! See this site: Lemonade Diet and Fasting

[lysetskilde]

I have originated The Triple Breath, it make strctured water/ healing water and normally it is used by people who want to be healed and maybe it can be useful in Water Fasting, it is very helpful in many other cases, you can let me know if you want to try and I will see what I can do about it. I can se that many a re interested in this matter.

[rutgersSK]

Links, because it must be thousands of times that I've read posters on various boards speak out against fasting without any knowledge whatsoever on the subject...

Shelton: The Hygienic System Vol III; Fasting and Sun Bathing
Digestive Reading 5
INHS Water Fasting article - What to expect on your first fast
The Health Benefits of Water Fasting by YoungLady
Effect of starvation and very low calorie diets on protein-energy interrelationships in lean and obese subjects
Sect. 6, Ch. 9: Fasting
http://nutrition.jbpub.com/discoveri...metabolism.pdf
^start at the end of page 23 (of 28) for this one

I admit these might not be the best sources, but although I can't go through and find them right now, there are many more where these came from, including scientific journal articles. The truth behind all the opinions, as far as my research has shown, is that most people can fast for many weeks, and during that time the body burns primarily fat but also a small amount of muscle. Our bodies are programmed to conserve MUSCLE while fasting, not fat. Fat is our energy reserve, meant to be stored and burned in times of food scarcity to prevent our organs from being catabolized. However, fat can not meet the body's requirements completely while fasting, so a small amount of muscle will still be used throughout the fast. This will occur any time weight is lost while restricting energy, even if it lost on a conventional diet. The idea that our bodies burn muscle and conserve fat while fasting is completely idiotic. However, fasting DOES lower the metabolism in an attempt to slow the rate of tissue loss, thus prolonging survival time by making fat stores last longer.

That said, fasting can have some unpleasant side effects, and I agree 100% with the assertion that it is not an ideal tool for weight loss. But PLEASE cut the "omg you're fasting, you're going to burn all your muscle and die" crap, because it's disgustingly uninformed, and I'm sick of reading it. I fasted for 26 days on water only under the care of a very well known nutritionist, Joel Fuhrman, to alleviate chronic, severe migraines. Needless to say, I didn't die, and after following the fast with a natural, plant-based diet, I was nearly cured of my migraines. Still, I'm not going to say this would be the case for everyone. I'm only 20, and have always eaten well and been fairly active. If you're interested in fasting, I highly recommend reading Dr. Fuhrman's book "Fasting and Eating for Health" - very sound advice, practical and scientifically-based. Then you can decide for yourself whether or not it makes sense for you to fast. Just be informed before speaking out either way. Thanks

[ginkgo]

I left a link to a website which has some info from Joel Fuhrman's book. It also has a quote from the New England Journal of Medicine telling that fasting is excellent for weight loss. It also has an MD explaining that the fatter someone is, the less their metabolism slows down while fasting. The body is smart enough to know to slow down metabolism in a thin person but not in a very fat person.

Also the site has info on the stats of a study of people who did fasting to lose weight telling about the results later on. It was from HUP (U of Penn) hospital which is currently ranked as 3rd best hospital in the country behind Harvard U and John Hopkins U. Joel Fuhrman got his MD from U of Penn.

My chiropractor called him when he was having problems. He had him fast for 12 days (supervision over phone) and switch to a vegan diet. His health problems were gone in 3 months and he lost over 50 pounds.

[escapee]

One MD says that fasting is profoundly simple and simply profound! See this site: Lemonade Diet and Fasting

Just a couple of days there's a taiwanese teenage girl went on lemonade diet for 2 days n got a really bad inflammation/ulcer on her stomarch. She regretted her decision as per interview.

There are plenty of healthy ways to lose weight. I have lost 32 lbs without any "diet" (vegan diet, Atkin diet) and reversed many of my health problem. I know i can easily gain all that back by eating the refined carbohydrate and lots of whole grains without exercise.

[Americanized]

I'm beginning a water fast today, I have completed a 5 day water fast before and I am of the opinion that the Water Fast is the only true fast. May I suggest Dr. Joel Fuhrman's "Fasting for health" as a guide to help you on your way to a revitalized self.

My first fast was quite simply amazing, and I will keep you posted on this one as I go along.

- Ace

Read Fuhrman.

[Americanized]

What are you? An Oscar Meyer Executive? There is CLEAR and VALID scientifically reviewed studies galore for your reading pleasure, all you have to do is look.

May I suggest again Dr. Joel Fuhrman. Simply go to the bibliography, look up the study, and start reading...

Originally Posted by DQueens

no offense, but that idea sounds a little like bull.

there is another word for fasting "anorexia".

yes, it is true that you use energy for digesting (and for walking, breathing, thinking, fighting infections and everything else your body does). but that energy comes from your food, which is why you are eating in the first place.

of course you will lose weight, you are starving yourself, essentially. Your body, muslces and brains are running on nothing other than the fat stores in your body. What is happening is your metabolism is slowing. Your body is breaking down muscle tissues and essential proteins to fuel you. Your immune system is going to be functioning poorly, and you will be lethargic and fatigued, even if you dont realize it.

The body needs food to keep you alive. You are living off of your own bodily tissues, which is an unhealthy and unnatural, highly stressful state for the body to be in.

Maybe you feel "better" but that is because when other tissues such as fat and muscle are broken down, the byproducts that are produced can cause a feeling of eurphoria. This is an unnatural feeling, and does not mean you are being "cleansed" or healthy.

the digestive system needs fibre (from whole grain, fruits and vegetables) to function properly and keep the food residues and bacteria moving through it. Not encouraging intestinal motility is bad for the intestine because it affects the bacterial environment within your gut.

If you want to go on a "fast" to cleanse your body from the toxins you have been putting in it or if you want to shed some extra weight i propose eliminating all saturated fats, simple sugars, fast food, processed foods and drugs such as caffeine and alcohol from you diet. For three weeks eat a diet rich in whole grains (try quinoa, couscous, brown rice, oats, whole wheat pasta... the longer it takes to prepare the less processed and the better). Lots of fruits and vegetables (the darker or more colourful, the better) choose a large variety or something you havent eaten before to give your body a wide variety of nutrients, and protein (if you are going vegan or vegetarian that is fine, but try unprocessed soy products, legumes such as kidney beans etc.) and polyunsaturated fats such as omega three fatty acids. You will be shocked at how much better you feel.

the bottom line is, do what you want with your diet, but keep in mind that fasting for three weeks is not doing your body one ounce of good. all the "evidence" you have written about, stating the benefits of fasting have no scientific or real merit. if you diet is poor to begin with, then make changes to make it healthier, but do not eliminate food altogether and think you are being healthy. The average person needs roughly 2000 calories a day to stay alive and function properly. by denying your body this, you are denying it the right to perform to it's potential and putting it in a state of starvation or metabolic emergency in which it must rely on other unnatural ways to obtain energy.

[freshstart]

Hello

I am interested in starting a water fast but I have never fasted before and I am a smoker. I want to quit smoking and start water fasting. Advice please.....

[MikeM]

Originally Posted by freshstart

Hello

I am interested in starting a water fast but I have never fasted before and I am a smoker. I want to quit smoking and start water fasting. Advice please.....

I went on a 4 day water fast last Easter. I picked that time as it is a 4 day weekend in Australia.

Tea and cigiarettes are a big addiction for me and especially tea. Withdarawal from both is strong but much stronger with tea, after about a day and a half. I decided on the fast to also not smoke and of course tea was out.

During the 4 days of fasting the withdrawla symptoms for both cigarettes and tea were very reduced. However, I found the desire to smoke was very high and I think that was because of boredom. But as I said, the physical withdrawal symptoms were greatly reduced.

Mike

[wakemenow]

Well, I differ from most of you in that I did try one 3-day lemon water-fast and did so for weight loss reasons. And it helped. I had been exercising regularly, then tried the fast, followed by a low-carb diet temporarily. But I cheated on the water fast a little, allowing myself a few sips of an Atkins shake each day and plenty of green tea. Worked out pretty well for me and I wouldn't mind doing it again on rare occasion for no more than 3 days at a time.

~A

[jjclark]

wow a three day water fast... very interesting. I've never actually tried a water fast before.. I have done a complete fast (no water, no food) on many occasions, but never longer than a day or two.

[Adrienne]

Originally Posted by jjclark

wow a three day water fast... very interesting. I've never actually tried a water fast before.. I have done a complete fast (no water, no food) on many occasions, but never longer than a day or two.

I think that is called a dry fast. I dont do that. I fast for a few days at a time on just water and i like it. I just finished a 3 day fast.

I also find i feel better if i fast one day a week. I still have energy that day, sometimes a ton because i am not using that energy to digest my food.

Adrienne

[absvan]

Okie....you guys have got me thinking. I would like to give water fasting a shot becos of the benefits like it removes wastes, toxins and also get rid of body fat.

But I am into weight lifting though currently in my cutting down phase. So I want to make sure that I dont loose my muscle mass. My question is that how long should you fast to see an effective fat loss??

Or may be I should start off with one day...?? Any thoughts??

[Jim]

Originally Posted by absvan

Okie....you guys have got me thinking. I would like to give water fasting a shot becos of the benefits like it removes wastes, toxins and also get rid of body fat.

But I am into weight lifting though currently in my cutting down phase. So I want to make sure that I dont loose my muscle mass. My question is that how long should you fast to see an effective fat loss??

Or may be I should start off with one day...?? Any thoughts??

Absvan, you're going to lose muscle plain and simple.

The muscle simply will not survive without caloric intake. The muscle will be the first to be sacrificed, as your body will try dearly to hold onto the fat for future needs.

So in the end, you've lost muscle, while maintaining a disproportionate amount of body fat, all the while lowering your metabolism (less muscle means less calories burned).

[Amadeus]

Um, that is simply not true Jim. You'll lose a little muscle mass the first few days, but research shows that you will primarily use fat and bad tissue during your fast unless you are below 5 percent body fat.
Think about it, not only does research prove what you are saying is not factually, but look at it from a biological stand point. If what you are saying is true about using muscle as energy, why would the body use the muscle instead of the fat first? Why would the body save the fat if it knows it can use the muscle as a last resort? The body would evolutionarily save the muscle in case of a fight or flight situation.
I've had my fat and muscle percentages measured before and after a three week water fast. I hardly burned any muscle during the fast (less than a quarter percent) and burned over 4 percent body fat.

[ginkgo]

First there is a story about lemonade fast and ulcers. That fast was originally used to cure ulcers. Walking is good for cardiovascular health but many have died of a heart attack while walking and sleeping. So that means that sleeping and walking are dangerous activities that can kill you so you should avoid both.

Fasting is a great way to quit smoking. You lose some muscle mass while fasting but everday you are losing some muscle mass and gaining other muscle mass. In 7 years, none of the muscle mass you have now will be left. After a few days of fasting your body goes into ketosis and burns fat.

The muscle you lose will be the most diseased and poorly formed in your body since that is what the fasting body likes to consume. If you have a lot and it is a danger, the body will decide to consume it instead of fat. Fasting is known a God or nature's bloodless operating table. When the fast is over you will gain the muscle back easily since the body has increased assimilation abilities after a fast. I forget the name but a champion bodybuildler fasts and wrote an article for it in one of the muscle mags.

As far as better assimilation, consider this. You need to get some work done but you are getting tired of doing it. So instead of pushing your self, you take and nap or get a good night sleep and then you can do the work better. Fasting gives your body and digestive system a well needed vacation and after it works much better.

[Bloggeries]

40 Day Water Fast - Day 3

Interesting, on topic and happening now...

[Bloggeries]

Not much interest?

Anyways on day 2, might have a coffee though and will eat dinner tonight probably. Not eating for 1 full day which included 18 holes of golf in the heat and walking was awesome. Maybe I'm crazy but I also played zen like golf, didn't get mad when I had to wait and generally felt really good. Realized how much energy I'd use on a daily basis for digestion. Going to eat better and slower. I found this albeit just 1 day to be very enlightening.

[Adrienne]

Blogg..
I am interested on what you have to say. I do a 48 hour fast every week and really like it.. tho it is hard sometimes...

i am working up to doing a longer fast but i am not sure how that will work within my life and all the activites i do. I do have to say i like the 48 hour fasts.. i look foward to reading more about it
adrienne

[Amadeus]

I don't like the idea of a 48 hour fast every week. I think that is too much too soon. I think a 4 day water fast every month would do you better. The idea is to detox your body. I think you are depriving your body of valuable nutrients to do this every week. I also think you are using it as a weight control tool. Not a good idea.

[nespeculate]

Hi all ... I found these threads useful in formulating my own fasting plan. Since last Tuesday, I have fasted on water with lime, and some fresh squeezed orange juice (maybe 2-3 cups per day, spaced out to keep my metabolism stoked). The first couple of days, I found that I still needed my daily Sugar-Free Red Bull (don't ask), but haven't touched that sauce in nearly a week.

By the way, my purpose for fasting: cleaning the system out and weight loss.

As of Saturday, I experienced a horrible case of constipation, and took a Fleet Phospho-Soda to clean me out. That was, as I see it, an uncomfortable mistake. I was RETAINING water for a full day after taking it, even though I was going, um, liquid #2. And chugging water. I felt terribly, and literally, drained. Luckily, after that, it has been nothing but smooth sailing, and my energy level has gone through the roof. Looking back: I should have done an enema instead.

I tried 3 full days of only water (Thurs-Fri-Sat), but that wasn't working for my energy level, and I experienced little to no weight loss over 3 days! Adding a bit of OJ for me has stoked my fire, contributed to steady weight loss, and helped me walk 4 miles per day.

At this rate, with this clarity of outlook and newfound reliance on my own body to provide for me, I can see why people would fast for extended periods of time. As is, since I am including some juices, I would like to accomplish a 40 day juice and water fast. At this rate, I can't see why I wouldn't make it.

PS - I AM a health care professional, I DO work 40+ hours a week, and I am CERTAINLY faced with temptations. But so far, so good!!!!

Thanks for reading!

[Adrienne]

Originally Posted by Amadeus

I don't like the idea of a 48 hour fast every week. I think that is too much too soon. I think a 4 day water fast every month would do you better. The idea is to detox your body. I think you are depriving your body of valuable nutrients to do this every week. I also think you are using it as a weight control tool. Not a good idea.

I have read where 24 hours once a week is good to keep gicing your system time to completely empty its self. (see Bragg's guide to fasting).


I am doing the 48 hours ones for a month or two to work up to longer ones. I like the 24 hours and only plan to do a couple more 48 hours ones until i can do 21 day fast, but i wanted a good idea of what i was getting into first..

I have not read anything good or bad about the 48 hour fast, i have read lots of good things about 3 and 10 day. My next goal is a couple more 48s, then a a couple 3 days, then a 10 day then in 6 months or so, to do a 20 day.

Adrienne

[llong]

I'm at Hour 27 of a water-only fast.

So far, so good.

Not sure when I'll break it.

[Amadeus]

Hmm? You shouldn't go into a fast without knowing the day you are going to quit (1 day, 5 days, 3 weeks, 40 days, etc.) You'll be too tempted to give in to temptation if you don't have a set date.

[llong]

Originally Posted by Amadeus

Hmm? You shouldn't go into a fast without knowing the day you are going to quit (1 day, 5 days, 3 weeks, 40 days, etc.) You'll be too tempted to give in to temptation if you don't have a set date.

Temptation to do what? Quit? My goal was 24 hours, which was achieved.

[Amadeus]

O.k, then stop. Fasting is about discipline not a waiting game.

[llong]

No. I will stop when I feel the time is right.

But thanks for telling me what to do.

[Amadeus]

That's fine, but it is not a fast. Are you doing this to lose weight? Do you have a history of bulemia or anorexia?

[llong]

Oh, so now my abstention from food, by choice, for 30 hours was not a fast?

Google: define:fasting

[SnitchyCat]

Woah! I think three week and 40 day fasts with only water like I'm hearing about here, are a REALLY bad idea. Do you know that people tend to die when they don't eat?

BTW, have fun being weak and hungry. Good luck.

That said, fasting can have some unpleasant side effects, and I agree 100% with the assertion that it is not an ideal tool for weight loss. But PLEASE cut the "omg you're fasting, you're going to burn all your muscle and die" crap, because it's disgustingly uninformed, and I'm sick of reading it. I fasted for 26 days on water only under the care of a very well known nutritionist, Joel Fuhrman

Have it known that 26 days is NOT the same as 40-50 days, where irreversible damage to major organs can occur. Fasting may work well for some people. Also, some people may not live as long as other people without food. One guy may be able to live 40 days or even longer with no negative side-effects while another might die. The longer you go the worse your chances. And just because you have a small amount of fat left doesn't mean that you can keep going. Many times people will die from organ damage while they still have small amounts of fat because after a while the whole body starts to basically consume itself. There are some resources also, that cannot be supplied by just fat which necessitates the breakdown of some cells. Also, being under supervision of a nutritionist is good. I wouldn't be surprised if some people died from a weakened immune system when they catch something unexpected, even during a relatively shorter fast.

There have also been people who die because they have some sort of mental belief that they overweight when they are thin as a rail, and for those people their error could be fatal in much less time than a typical individual due to not having any energy stored up. They may not make it three weeks! Other weak individuals or those with certain circumstances may similarly be at risk. I remember reading a book about World War II, about the 6th German army in Russia. They were cornered, and some people there began to die after only a few weeks. (They actually even had some meager rations occasionally.) People didn't even realize why they were dying until an medical expert came to look at the bodies and told them they were starving to death. They did have to deal with extremely cold temperatures as well as other harsh conditions and this undoubtedly affected their lifespan.

I personally wouldn't recommend fasting for such a prolonged period of time to most people... I don't doubt that it can make you lose weight quickly and clean you out quickly and there may even be pefectly healthy ways to do it, but if you don't know what you're doing you may suffer negative consequences. In my opinion patience is usually superior to fasting unless you've got some serious issue of massiveness that interferes with your daily life.

Except I do recommend it to all fat lazy jerks who live off of welfare because they are "too fat" to have a job.