Against All Sane Judgement...I've decided to fast.

[Admiral_Young]

I normally do this once a year. Pick a random week and fast in order to cleanse my system, maybe drop a few pounds and start eating healthy again. Well due to various medical problems that prevent me from exercising on a regular basis I've decided to fast for a potential of two weeks. At first it was gonna be just one but then I decided maybe it would be cool if I fasted all the way to Easter dinner? So today is Day One. A friend of mine completed a two week fast recently himself and dropped fifteen pounds. He was on a strict liquid diet. I drink water and juice when I fast. Anyone else fast? If so for how long and any tips? It becomes maddening near the end of it. I've no problems during the first half of the fast...just when it gets near the end haha temptation starts a calling.

 

[gturner]

Oddly enough, under the fine print of the new health care bill, Snickers bars are not considered food, so you can eat them whenever you want without breaking your fast.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Just out of curiosity... what does your doctor think of these random fasts, given what you've told us so far about your medical issues?

 

[cultcross]

Fasting is a great way to gain a lot of weight. Sure, you'll lose some at first through lower retention of fluids, it will even seem like quite a bit, but your body adapts quickly to the lower intake and it'll level out. Then when your normal intake returns, the body takes time to ratchet everything back up to normal and in that time you'll pile it on.

 

[Admiral_Young]

The doctor doesn't mind. I've asked him about my prior fasting sessions before having them and he said no problem just as long as I hydrate myself. He wasn't thrilled about my decision but said it wouldn't hurt. I have major back and pelvis problems that keep me from exercising normally and am waiting to start physio on it. It isn't maybe the most ideal thing I could do but we shall see. I highly doubt I'll last the full two weeks in the first place. I can handle a full week no problem.

 

[Jetfire]

^
I did a fast on time and then ate nothing but fresh fruits & veggies...whole grains and beans...instead of meat. I only drank water or 100% juice...in one month I lost 20 lbs & lowered my blood pressure. It was great. I need to do it again.

 

[Tan Ru]

How do you function without quality calories for energy?

You must not be diabetic nor have a blood-sugar issue.

I assume that you're pretty young, yes?

 

[Udat]

Give up food!!!!!!! Never!

 

[Lindley]

I don't fast as such, but I am losing weight by reducing my food intake a bit.

Basically, I eat whenever I get hungry; just not much. And after dinner every day, I weigh myself, and try to go to bed weighing a few 10ths of a pound less than the day before.

To counteract the "body becoming acclimated" problem, every so often I just eat whatever and accept the momentary level-off or gain that results before going back to the lighter intake.

When I started this process in January, I weighed around 209. This morning, it was 188.

 

[CaptainStoner]

I'm not totally closed to the idea, but there is something about "cleansing" one's body by not eating that just doesn't make sense to me. I don't think it works that way. It's not like flushing out your car's cooling system.

Avoiding processed foods, sugar, caffeine and other stimulants makes a lot more sense to me.

 

[Kestra]

Seems more sensible to alter one's eating habits on a permanent basis than to just suddenly cut out calories (and nutrition) for a short amount of time. Particularly if it's about weight loss where you actually want to keep the weight off.

I've only ever fasted for religious reasons, and that would be a day or so.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Well I've decided that I'm not going to do a straight up fast like my friend did but this first week will just be a liquid diet and then I'll move on to fruit and veggies next week. I do plan on cutting out meat, dough, sugar, and things like that from my diet. Also purging pop from my diet getting tired of the taste again and moving on to juice. I already drink plenty of water. I'm 30 btw to the poster who assumed I was young...lol.

 

[Nardpuncher]

It's a myth that you cleanse when you fast.
Your body actually builds up more free radicals as you're not eating enough anti-oxidants.

You just feel all Zen-like because you don't have enough blood sugar to feed your brain right.

 

[Warp Coil]

When I was having some stomach issues a couple of months ago, my doctor recommended that I go on a "clear liquids" diet for a couple of days. Essentially it comprised of water, clear liquids/juices, jell-o, popsicles, soup/broth. It was the most painful two days of my life. You get little to no nutrients, few calories, no protein or fiber or anything.

 

[An Officer]

I used to fast every year for the month of Ramadan. That meant no water, nothing. You just hydrated yourself as best you could in the evenings. I felt that my any digestion issues I had used to ease off during, and a while after as well. I hear the liver also benefits, by using that time to cleanse itself. I felt an improvement in the clarity of my skin for example, and lost weight around my middle, so I do think that is true. My concentration levels went up, strangely enough, I guess because you have to be extra aware and conscious of your actions in order to maintain your fast, or else you'll eat something by accident. My fast also meant controlling what you said and did - you are not supposed to argue, gossip, shout, swear, or upset anybody at all, even if you have good reason, which is actually harder than it sounds. My fast was doubly hard, so count yourself lucky that your fast only involves food!

Yes, the last couple of hours of the fast each day were always quite challenging, and you'd feel a bit weak, but I used to just nap it off if I was home early enough, or read a good book to take your mind off the hunger pangs. Working through it is also good - if you're busy, you don't have time to pity yourself. The first few days are tough, but you do adapt, and it does get easier. Towards the end, it's not the hunger that becomes the challenge, you get used to that, but more about missing the stuff you ate and drank for the sheer pleasure and luxury of the taste.

Apart from the weight issue, you might find fasting has more benefits than you thought, it teaches self-discipline, self-awareness, sustained concentration, compassion for those who cannot eat at will as you can, freedom from any ingested addictions you may live with, and a discovery of a core of strength you may have not known you had. All good in my book. Good luck!