Fasting what to expect

madloveju

Ok so let me first start with this: I am not a physician and I am not at all recommending this particular diet. This forum is just to share my day to day experience with water fasting so that others who may decide to do this are aware of some of the things to expect. I am 34 year old female. I am 5'2" 239.5 lbs. My goal is 125-140 lbs. I work as a receptionist so my day is pretty sedentary. I have two beautiful children, and a wonderful husband and I had a great upbringing. I do not suffer from depression I just simply LIKE TO EAT. I have noticed that certains foods do create a sort of high for me and I think that may be why I have become so addicted. I have tried diet pills, and low carb, and low calorie and so far have not been able to follow through with any of them. I have noticed pains in my body caused by my weight and I have noticed it is affecting my physical relationship with my husband. Now that I have gotten all of the BS out of the way on to the fast:

This is Day one: So far today I haven't eaten anything. I am forcing myself to drink water because I believe it is more essential now than ever before because I am not eating. I also had an iced coffee from McDonalds. Coffee is another addiction I have and I plan to ween off of it through this week. I have tried going cold turkey before and got the worse headache imaginable. SO ... I said all that to say, so far I am ok... Its lunch time and I can smell my co-workers food, but I am going to finish this day strong... I will check in tomorrow.

madloveju

Okay fp fam so last night I did not finish strong. By the time I got home from work I had the work headache imaginable. So when I got home I ate some chicken and rice thinking the headache was caused by lack of carbs/sugar... or whatever. After I ate I still felt bad. So I am starting a new this morning, but I am still considering this day two. I can't believe I wasnt prepared for that yesterday. I have done low carb before and I always get a headache and feel tired, I suppose I had such tunnel vision I lost sight of it. Anyway I am ready for it today. So if you are following me and you want to take anything away from this post, I would recommend don't cut food cold turkey escpecially your carbs. Ween yourself off of food.

Day Two: Today I weighed myself and I was down to 238.5 lbs, 1 pound less than yesterday. I think it is primarily water weight because my BMR is 1700 cals a day and I would have to cut 3500 cals for a pound there is no way I did that yesterday, so I am calling it water weight. Anyway today I am going to take a different approach. I am going to consume small amount of calories probably about 600 cals. I will continue to drop 100 cals a day until I am having just water. The goal here is to have my body focus on the fat reserves for energy. So I will check in tomorrow fp fam.

j_belchr

that's not healthy at all. your body is going to think your starving to death and cause you to hold on to more weight or to gain it all back when you start eating. remember you are a human and humans need food to live. carbs are brain food you need them for your brain to work. you have a headache because your not eating anything nutritious for your body. why don't you try eating salads for lunch and dinner with protein in them and oatmeal for breakfast.

Shawshankcan

Either op is a troll or an idiot. Hard to tell some days.

Snip8241

So, you had a miserable day and couldn't do just the water. Are you surprised ? Why not trying to log your food, eating at a deficit and exercising?

You cannot do a water fast for the rest of your life. Why not learn how to live your life while you lose?

toofatnomore

<" I will continue to drop 100 cals a day until I am having just water. The goal here is to have my body focus on the fat reserves for energy. So I will check in tomorrow fp fam. ">

This will yield disasterous results...Please research here via search...The weight loss process is a slow one...Wishing you well, however, just don't do what you are stating...

dfranch

So your plan is to eat 600 cals today then drop by 100 until you're at 0. so in a week you're planning to eat 2100 calories. That's not sustainable or healthy, probably even dangerous.

malibu927

What will your children/husband think of you when you're losing your muscle, hair, and health because you aren't eating?

Also, VLCDs are not allowed on the forums.

jeffpettis

So how long do you plan to do this?

How long do you think this is sustainable?

How will you keep from gaining the weight back, assuming you actually lose any actual fat in the process?

What is your body supposed to use for fuel while you are doing this?

And last but not least, WHY?

pinkiezoom

Seems a very dangerous way to lose weight, and have a think about what might happen when you have to start eating again! Your organs need food not just water, as someone above has said, your body will go into starvation mode! Be careful.

jeffpettis

Seems a very dangerous way to lose weight, and have a think about what might happen when you have to start eating again! Your organs need food not just water, as someone above has said, your body will go into starvation mode! Be careful.

This would not be considered starvation mode (which is a myth), this would be considered starving...

dazwan

Are you not drinking coffee at the same time? As you've already experienced, coffee withdrawal gives the nastiest symptoms. I'd say giving up caffeine is harder than nicotine, either eat less or give up the coffee, don't do both at the same time.

As for giving up food entirely, that's just dangerous! Have a look at the 5:2 or similar, you are still getting the nutrition on your normal days and the body can cope for the other 2 or 3 days a week. However, you STILL EAT ON FASTING DAYS! (just 600 calories or so).

TBH, you would see benefits just avoiding McDonalds and stop snacking through the day. Its often pointed out that skipping that daily snickers bar in the afternoon or not having a biscuit/cookie with your coffee can be enough to drop a few pounds as these extra calories add up over a week. Also do you have milk with your coffee? goes without saying that a black coffee has less calories than a cappuccino (which lets be honest is mostly just a cup of hot milk with a tiny bit of coffee)

pinkiezoom

Sorry i am new to this what is VLCD?

pinkiezoom

apologies for my incorrect word usage.

flumi_f

Total fasts or very low cal diets can be hard, are generally unsustainable and should be done under some supervision, if you have never done it before.

If you love to eat and still want to lose weight, look into the 5:2 way of eating. It's a partial fast (500cals) on two choosen days a week and normal eating (maintainance cals) on the other 5.

It's a way of eating and you can lose around a pound a week without much suffering and still eat normal on 5 days. I've been eating like this for 18mths and will continue during maintainance. I have less headaches and infections and have been generally very healthy since I started this. I'm definitely a foodie and this is the only thing that has ever worked for me. I was overweight / obese all of my life. Since Jan 2014 and at the age of 44, I finally reached the normal BMI range.

Just a suggestion.

See http://thefastdiet.co.uk/ and the two 5:2 groups on MFP for more information

pinkiezoom

Seems a very dangerous way to lose weight, and have a think about what might happen when you have to start eating again! Your organs need food not just water, as someone above has said, your body will go into starvation mode! Be careful.

This would not be considered starvation mode (which is a myth), this would be considered starving...

apologies for incorrect word usage, my first time on here!

earlnabby

I used to belong to a church that encouraged members to fast for a day as led by the Lord in order to devote it to prayer. Even THEY said you should not do it for more that a day unless it is extreme circumstances because you need food in order to keep a functional brain and body, and that pregnant women and children should never do it. If lengthy fasting is too extreme for religious extremists, it is definitely not a good idea for regular people.

I did it a couple of times. No problem. I just kept drinking water and chewing gum and got through it just fine, BUT never for more than a day and I really, really enjoyed breakfast the next day.

sullus

that's not healthy at all. your body is going to think your starving to death and cause you to hold on to more weight or to gain it all back when you start eating. remember you are a human and humans need food to live. carbs are brain food you need them for your brain to work. you have a headache because your not eating anything nutritious for your body. why don't you try eating salads for lunch and dinner with protein in them and oatmeal for breakfast.

Actually, fasting speeds up your metabolism.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10837292
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2405717

I think that anyone who thinks we should be in a constantly fed state is insane.

My $0.02 on Fasting .. I do a 24-36 hour fast about every 10 days or so. It's fantastic. You have better mental clarity and more energy. Every Personal best I have ever set for running has been in a fully fasted state.

jabarih

I think this is a good idea. You said you like to eat. Me too. It is almost like we are addicted to food. So in order to overcome your addiction you go cold turkey. I think if you keep it up you will do great! If you get it down to a true fast to where you are only drinking water, read up on how to break your fast because you have to slowly get your digestive system working again. Good luck and keep up the good work.

deluxmary2000

I don't think anyone here is interested in your experience with starving yourself.

Ps - this is a terrible idea.

Another Ps - this is a REALLY terrible idea.

tag624

this sounds like the dumbest idea, I have tried this before, eventually this will lead to binges, and the weight will come back on, plus more, based on your weight you should be eating at least 1600 calories a day

ValGogo

Stop fasting and start lowering your intake. Start seeing how simple it is instead of making it some sinister bugaboo that sits on your shoulder and pushes food into your mouth.

:noway:

Springfield1970

that's not healthy at all. your body is going to think your starving to death and cause you to hold on to more weight or to gain it all back when you start eating. remember you are a human and humans need food to live. carbs are brain food you need them for your brain to work. you have a headache because your not eating anything nutritious for your body. why don't you try eating salads for lunch and dinner with protein in them and oatmeal for breakfast.

Actually, fasting speeds up your metabolism.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10837292
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2405717

I think that anyone who thinks we should be in a constantly fed state is insane.

My $0.02 on Fasting .. I do a 24-36 hour fast about every 10 days or so. It's fantastic. You have better mental clarity and more energy. Every Personal best I have ever set for running has been in a fully fasted state.

Your personal bests, YOU'RE experience. Probably because you weighed less after a fast. That won't work when you're at a normal weight and at your peak fitness. You'll need to fuel to really get moving. You need your liver and muscles to be full of glycogen to do that. No athlete at the Olympics would have been anything but constantly fed to compete. They just use all their calories wisely.

ValGogo

Either op is a troll or an idiot. Hard to tell some days.

Shawshank for president!

Springfield1970

I think this is a good idea. You said you like to eat. Me too. It is almost like we are addicted to food. So in order to overcome your addiction you go cold turkey. I think if you keep it up you will do great! If you get it down to a true fast to where you are only drinking water, read up on how to break your fast because you have to slowly get your digestive system working again. Good luck and keep up the good work.

Brilliant. In fact, dead people hardly weigh anything. Let's all go on the death diet.

While we are on the subject, let's also run our cars without ANY gasoline!! Think of the money we'll save $$$$$$$

TeaBea

Total fasts or very low cal diets can be hard, are generally unsustainable and should be done under some supervision, if you have never done it before.

If you love to eat and still want to lose weight, look into the 5:2 way of eating. It's a partial fast (500cals) on two choosen days a week and normal eating (maintainance cals) on the other 5.

It's a way of eating and you can lose around a pound a week without much suffering and still eat normal on 5 days. I've been eating like this for 18mths and will continue during maintainance. I have less headaches and infections and have been generally very healthy since I started this. I'm definitely a foodie and this is the only thing that has ever worked for me. I was overweight / obese all of my life. Since Jan 2014 and at the age of 44, I finally reached the normal BMI range.

Just a suggestion.

See http://thefastdiet.co.uk/ and the two 5:2 groups on MFP for more information

This^

Why not try something that is sustainable long term. I started intermittent fasting recently. I had been unable to stick to a diet 7 days a week. I got sick of the 1 step forward 2 steps back thing. This allows me 5 normal days and 2 hard days.

Here's some information on 5:2: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/8005-5-2-fasting

deluxmary2000

I think this is a good idea. You said you like to eat. Me too. It is almost like we are addicted to food. So in order to overcome your addiction you go cold turkey. I think if you keep it up you will do great! If you get it down to a true fast to where you are only drinking water, read up on how to break your fast because you have to slowly get your digestive system working again. Good luck and keep up the good work.

Brilliant. In fact, dead people hardly weigh anything. Let's all go on the death diet.

DYEDD?

Springfield1970

I think this is a good idea. You said you like to eat. Me too. It is almost like we are addicted to food. So in order to overcome your addiction you go cold turkey. I think if you keep it up you will do great! If you get it down to a true fast to where you are only drinking water, read up on how to break your fast because you have to slowly get your digestive system working again. Good luck and keep up the good work.

Brilliant. In fact, dead people hardly weigh anything. Let's all go on the death diet.

DYEDD?

Chuckling! Quite loud!

MityMax96

I do LeanGains style Intermittent Fasting.
Doing it over a year now (Started Aug. 6th 2013)

Took me about 7 - 10 days to get used to not eating in the morning (for 16 hrs)

This is normal.

Eventually your body will get used to it.

If you are experiencing problems then......you may not be able to do Intermittent Fasting (whichever protocol)

williams969

I think this is a good idea. You said you like to eat. Me too. It is almost like we are addicted to food. So in order to overcome your addiction you go cold turkey. I think if you keep it up you will do great! If you get it down to a true fast to where you are only drinking water, read up on how to break your fast because you have to slowly get your digestive system working again. Good luck and keep up the good work.

Brilliant. In fact, dead people hardly weigh anything. Let's all go on the death diet.

DYEDD?

:laugh: Thanks, I needed a laugh this morning:drinker: OMG! "It's almost like we're addicted to food"???? Well, duh, that's what keeps us alive. We cannot train our bodies to NOT require or crave it. Please stop it.

TeaBea

I think this is a good idea. You said you like to eat. Me too. It is almost like we are addicted to food. So in order to overcome your addiction you go cold turkey. I think if you keep it up you will do great! If you get it down to a true fast to where you are only drinking water, read up on how to break your fast because you have to slowly get your digestive system working again. Good luck and keep up the good work.

Totally clueless........how does one go "cold turkey" with food? It's not like cigarettes. Food is life sustaining....cigarettes are not.


OP - do you want to lose fat, or do you just want to lose weight? When you starve your body it will have to make choices. Do I fuel heart muscle....or do I fuel a full head of hair? Fast long enough and your hair will start to fall out. Yes, your body is storing fat.....but fat does not fuel 100% of your body's needs. Your body will fuel your brain before it fuels existing muscle mass, which means you will lose fat+muscle eventually. Reducing body fat % is healthy weight loss.