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3-8-12, Starting a ten day fast

by Heathj
5 replies
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I recently read an article in Harper's magazine about fasting and how there are millions of people that fast on a regular basis, sometimes over 40 days in a row. 40 is that magical number because that was the number of days Jesus (from the bible, not Mexico) fasted.

There is evidence that fasting, when done in moderation, such as a few days every month is very healthy. As for more than a few days at a time, there is a huge debate between experts whether it is healthy for you or not. Apparently there are some rats in some laboratory that are living a very long time from extreme fasting.

Most experts agree that you should not fast for the sole purpose of losing weight, because although you will lose weight....anywhere from one pound to two pounds a day, most of it will return as soon as you start eating again.

However, the fasting experts say that fasting for longer than a few days at a time, does in fact cause you to lose fat and if you use the fast to kick start a diet and do not return to your old eating habits, you will keep most of that weight off.

And then there are a myriad of other benefits, such as detoxifying and resetting your body's various systems.

So for me, this is day one of a planned ten day fast. I say planned, because I have no clue how far I will actually be able to go. At this point I am pretty determined, but if I do in fact start feeling like it is dangerous, I will immediately stop.

I am 44 years old, 6-0 and just weighed myself for a total of 248 pounds. I regularly lift weights, so a lot of the pounds come from muscle mass. However, I do have a belly, that is where I carry all of my fat. I estimate that I am probably about 25 to 30 pounds overweight and my goal is 220. I realize I wont reach that with the fast, but hopefully it gets me pointed in the right direction.

I plan to update this thread daily for the next ten days, posting my weight and how I feel. My last meal was at midnight last night and I normally would be considering eating something right now. So although I'm a little hungry, I'm doing good and feel ready to take this on.
  • Profile picture of the author dgridley
    Good luck.. I'd be more interested in fasting in an effort to clean toxins out of my system.. in any case, be careful and fast responsibly.

    BTW- grapefruit juice is a great way to satisfy hunger cravings and replace fluids.
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  • Profile picture of the author icegin
    Good luck. I personally fast on a daily basis (usually between 16-36 hrs) simply because it keeps me more mentally alert/focused

    You'll find that once you get used to fasting, you either won't get any hunger pangs at all or they'll be very minor and they'll pass very quickly.

    You've stated that you're a regular weightlifter and you want to employ fasting as a means of getting rid of some fat -- have you even visited leangains.com? Seems to me that it would fit very well with your goal and exercise routine. I'm not affiliated with the site and don't follow it personally (though my fasting habit is similar), but a lot of people have had success with it.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Re: 3-8-12, Starting a ten day fast
    Ya aught to see the pizza I'm makin' right now.

    Enjoy your fast.:p
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

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    • Profile picture of the author Heathj
      DAY #2

      Dgridley: I am going strictly water only.

      Icegin: I havent checked out leangains, but I will, thanks.

      HeySal: mmm pizza

      --------------------------------------------

      Just weighed myself, I'm already down to 244. So since yesterday morning, I've lost 4 pounds. I actually think I am not drinking enough water. So that may be part of it.

      I am VERY hungry right now. I work graves and so every fast food joint I passed on the way home this morning set my mouth to watering.

      This kind of sucks and I dont want to do it anymore, but a few friends at work know about it, my wife knows about it and I am posting here, so these things are keeping me accountable................for now.

      I'll go as long as I can, so far, other than feeling very hungry and low energy, I'm doing ok.....I think my brain wants food as much as my stomach does. Hopefully I can make it to day three.

      cheers
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    If you are losing that fast, you do need to drink more - you're not doing much good for yourself losing your water weight - however, now that water is purged, if you drink pure water those toxins are gone.

    Toxins really build up bad in fat so allowing your body to burn that fat out is a great way to detox..............however -- a better method is to kick your metabolism into burning calories instead of storing them in the first place. Most people don't need to cut calories - they need to crank up their metabolism a few notches.

    You should have a juicer if you are going to fast like that - when you feel weak juice some veggies, maybe a fruit here and there, but mostly veggies (organic only when you are fasting) and have a glass of juice here and again. 10 days seems extreme to me for a fast. You may just get a kick back effect you weren't expecting - weight retention because your body goes into starvation mode.

    The safest way to lose weight is to kick your metabolism up --- a few days of fasting should only be for the purpose of detox. You will gain your weight back after your fast because you aren't doing anything to alter your system to burn calories instead of store them. You will burn some of the toxic fat - but you may just be creating a cycle that is going to make it even harder for you to maintain a normal weight later or to lose weight without extreme measures that only work temporarily.
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