Hey guys, so I was flirting with the idea of doing a 2-week fast just to see what it's like. I'm wondering if anybody else has done a fast and how you structured it. I'm also wondering of people's opinion on their experience and how to get the most out of your fasting. Thanks!
I've only done two short 3 day fasts in the past. One was to lose a few pounds, and I just drank water and juices, the other was a gallbladder/liver cleanse, where I only drank unfiltered apple juice. Three days is enough for me, I don't think I'd even want to go over a week.
__________________ "We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." ~Immanual Kant~
I've been practising IF ("intermittent fasting") for about 18 months now, and I've done 3 day fasts in the past. IMHO the IF approach is a practical approach, bringing a multitude of health benefeits which appear to stem from the hormone kick it provides. This is calorie restriction without tears - unlike eating a calorie reduced diet 24/7 = chronic hunger and misery. This simple approach simply calls for skipping one meal in 24 hours, and then occasionally 2 meals when you feel ready to try. Make your own antioxidants - do IF! Can provide more info, links etc if there's interest.
This simple approach simply calls for skipping one meal in 24 hours, and then occasionally 2 meals when you feel ready to try. Make your own antioxidants - do IF! Can provide more info, links etc if there's interest.
Yes, please send me some more information on this bad boy. I hate to say "I want to try" b/c there's no such thing as "try" (you either "do" or "don't"). So I want to DO it! Thanks.
Here's a good place to start - the info here is free.. https://www.fitnessspotlight.com/2008...-start-part-i/
There's quite a bit of info on benefits - perhaps the best summary is by Mike O'Donnell - referenced in this link. Happy starving!
I'm not necessarily trying to lose weight. I guess I'm doing it more for the mental discipline than anything else. And the added bonus of the cleansing of your body is nice as well.
So I'm wondering if the IF regiment or another type of fasting would be good for my goal of "mental discipline." Your thoughts?
The tendency is to look at IF as a kind of "diet" and a smart weight loss plan. This is only partly true - fat loss is rapid, and muscle growth can even be enhanced - subject to resistance work and sensible nutrition when "feeding". Even the skinny amongst us can be harbouring "toxic" fat - visceral deposits, "fatty liver" etc. In that sense, IF provides a "detox". However, the main point is to trigger your longevity genes - a convenient way to describe how calorie reduction triggers a hormetic response to induced oxidative stress. As for mental discipline - much bigger topic - better addressed by the like of Eckhard Tolle. I'll concede that fasting frees up considerable time which would normally be occupied with food related activities!
In the end I'm not trying to PERSUADE you - just thought you might like to explore something less drastic, and potentially more effective in the longer term.
I don't subscribe to conventional detox ideas - see link.
You might find this two-part interview to be of interest. Dr. Krista Varady is one of the preeminent researchers in the field of alternate day fasting.
Fasting is a huge no no! Your body needs food. If you want to lose weight, you don't want to do it by starving yourself.
Yes, you are absolutely correct. Which is why I'm mostly doing it for the mental challenge and the detoxifying effects which may result. I'm the only one who knows my body so I'll have to see what type of fasting regiment I adopt
Fasting is a huge no no! Your body needs food. If you want to lose weight, you don't want to do it by starving yourself.
Look up doctor Julian Whitaker.
He has over 30 years of medical experience, and says fasting for 5 or 6 days will "reset" blood sugar, blood pressure, and will help reduce weight by "re-programming" the body to stop craving fat, sugar, and salt.
__________________
Let Food Be Your Medicine And Medicine Be Your Food.(Hippocrates)
Even fasting for a single day is not good for you, unless you are planning on drinking milk, fruit juice, protein drinks and ensure all day...but that would defeat the purpose of the fast since you are still receiving all the calories you need. I can see obstaining from a certain thing like not eating anything with animal fat for 3 days...but that's not technically fasting to my knowledge. I'm not trying to knock the docs and whatnot, it just doesn't make sense to me. I've always been tought that fasting is bad and I continue to believe so.
Even fasting for a single day is not good for you, unless you are planning on drinking milk, fruit juice, protein drinks and ensure all day...but that would defeat the purpose of the fast since you are still receiving all the calories you need. I can see obstaining from a certain thing like not eating anything with animal fat for 3 days...but that's not technically fasting to my knowledge. I'm not trying to knock the docs and whatnot, it just doesn't make sense to me. I've always been tought that fasting is bad and I continue to believe so.
Can we have some evidence based statements here?
I personally find IF an elegant and moderate approach for the long term. Extended fasts are clearly not! I would like to point out that we all fast when we sleep - unless we raid the refrigerator during the night! Also, even on a 24 hour fast, you do not go a single day without eating - that's only possible by fasting over two consecutive nights. Harry's links point to strong evidence supporting IF/ADF...
I use to fast quite a bit... my longest fast was for forty days.... I ate and drank nothing but water.... but, and I say that loudly...but, this was a spiritual fast. I was praying and fasting for a specific answer to a specific prayer... The bible talks about fasting quite a lot... it brings the body closer to God. It teaches you to say no to self, and it opens you up to more spiritual thinking.... But, not all spirits are good or have good intentions, so its always best to use caution.... Because I am a God/Jesus follower, I kept my music and my reading based on biblical influences. I stayed away from as many outside forces as possible. I found that my thinking was more clear. I was able to write better poetry (IMO) and came up with some great ideas for childrens church which I taught at the time. I found solutions for problems that I couldnt see before.... So many cautions tho... if you do an extreme fast like 40 days, do not, and I repeat, do not, make any real life changing decisions while fasting. write your experiences down. write your reasonings down, but dont be quick to leave your spouse or quit your job while on the fast, as these things might be terrible mistakes..... Another caution would be how to break your fast.... after forty days, you basically have a clean start, like a brand new baby sort of... start back first few days on fresh juices, then a couple days of full liquids, and then a couple days of soft food, and slowly add in normal foods....During an extended fast, this is perfect time to clean out your cabinets...get rid of all that food that you know you arent suppose to eat, and when you are ready to break your fast, buy only the foods that you know are healthy for you....yea it wont be as easy as it sounds, but its alot easier after an extended fast then it is to just jump into a new eating program....
what other type of info are you looking for???? I will tell you how it went with me, but for right now, I have to go and finish decorating this cake...will be back as soon as I can (it will be a few hours)
__________________ God is and all is well
~John Greenleaf Whittier~
Regarding doing a fasting
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