Fasting

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  • ls_66
    ls_66 Posts: 395 Member
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    Fasting throws you for a spin for sure... I fasted every Friday for 40 days (lenten) and it was a little challenging at the beginning... this was not done for loss purpose, what I'm finding very helpful is slowly replacing (started with 1 a week) regular meals with either raw vegetable and or fruits, I'm also throwing in the mix juicing you will be surprised by the benefits of raw fruit and vegetables.... whatever you do slowly ease yourself in...
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
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    Fasting is not healthy. I've done fasting for good causes (to win money for poor people in Le Caire and for mentally ill people in central Africa). They were 47 hours long.

    Fasting to win money for poor people strikes me as a very poor reason to fast, and no one here is talking about fasting for 47 hours. The longest fast some people do on IF is 24 hours and it's not even a full day without eating. They'll typically fast from dinner on day to dinnertime the next day.

    A long punishing fast would make sense maybe if you were on a hunger strike and protesting some unjust regime . . ..
  • chris1816
    chris1816 Posts: 715 Member
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    Fasting is not healthy. I've done fasting for good causes (to win money for poor people in Le Caire and for mentally ill people in central Africa). They were 47 hours long.

    Fasting to win money for poor people strikes me as a very poor reason to fast, and no one here is talking about fasting for 47 hours. Maybe if you were on a hunger strike and protesting some unjust regime . . ..


    Shhhhhhhhh
  • practically
    practically Posts: 6
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    Thank you. I almost cried when I read your post, that is exactly what I do and then I eat crap and wonder why I can't stay eating healthy
  • duetwithjosh
    duetwithjosh Posts: 121
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    I just wanted to say to the op, this guy here? Hes the one you need to listen to on fasting. I've seen several of his posts around the site and hes done extensive research on fasting and has implemented much of it. As a religious person, I fast on occasion for religious reasons, but all too often, people do fasts hoping for overnight astronomical weight loss and don't do it properly. There is a way to fuel your body extra efficiently the days prior heavy on the nutrients and vitamins, and work up to long fasts very slowly. Talk to this guy here, he knows his stuff.

    Haha, thanks! There are extensive literature and case studies about IF online... so I spent nearly an entire day reading a lot of it during my first fast. My 'psychological hunger' had me pretty ravenous, so I had to distract myself by learning about the good I was doing for my body. If anybody has any specific questions, I'll see if I can comb back through my history for citations.
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
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    I just wanted to say to the op, this guy here? Hes the one you need to listen to on fasting. I've seen several of his posts around the site and hes done extensive research on fasting and has implemented much of it. As a religious person, I fast on occasion for religious reasons, but all too often, people do fasts hoping for overnight astronomical weight loss and don't do it properly. There is a way to fuel your body extra efficiently the days prior heavy on the nutrients and vitamins, and work up to long fasts very slowly. Talk to this guy here, he knows his stuff.

    Haha, thanks! There are extensive literature and case studies about IF online... so I spent nearly an entire day reading a lot of it during my first fast. My 'psychological hunger' had me pretty ravenous, so I had to distract myself by learning about the good I was doing for my body. If anybody has any specific questions, I'll see if I can comb back through my history for citations.

    She seemed to go out of her way to insult me, but as long as people get information ....
  • duetwithjosh
    duetwithjosh Posts: 121
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    Your body will NOT even CONSIDER going into 'starvation mode' and slowing your metabolism inside of 72hrs with little or no caloric intake. This has been proven by study after study after study. ALONG WITH THE REST OF WHAT I SAID.

    So again. Total BS.

    Yup. True 'starvation mode' (or more accurately, 'famine response') is when carb and fat stores are completely depleted after a long period of extreme calorie deficiency, and you start metabolizing lean tissue and muscle. Not remotely gonna happen in 24, or even 72, hours.

    Fasting does, of course, affect the metabolism. With one and two day fasts, these effects are entirely temporary and upon breaking your fast your metabolism returns to normal. (And can be partially offset by upping your activity level during fast days.) Beginning with three day and longer fasts, your metabolism *can* be more chronically depressed. But a lot of that can be avoided by breaking your fast properly, and maintaining activity levels while fasted. Still, you're looking at diminishing returns after 24 hours, so unless you have some very specific health reason for fasting longer than a day, stick to 24 hours (once or twice a week).

    I tried to do two fasts a week, but I felt too deprived. I *love* food, and I work in a very foodie-centric office. It's hard for me to say no to the delicious dishes my coworkers always bring in to share. So I've settled on one a week, which I can do without feeling like I'm missing anything.
    She seemed to go out of her way to insult me, but as long as people get information ....

    Yikes! Missed that. Sorry!

    P.s. I am currently 20 hours fasted and just got back from a nearly two hour run... burnt ~1,500 calories according to my HRM. Once you're used to being in a fasted state, energy is simply not an issue.
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
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    She seemed to go out of her way to insult me, but as long as people get information ....
    Yikes! Missed that. Sorry!

    P.s. I am currently 20 hours fasted and just got back from a nearly two hour run... burnt ~1,500 calories according to my HRM. Once you're used to being in a fasted state, energy is simply not an issue.

    Thanks, but obviously, it's nothing to do with you. I haven't belonged to the IF group for long, but I've always found your posts very informative.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,238 Member
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    I've never heard of fasting just 1 or 2 days before. I will look up the Fast 5 book. Thanks!

    That would be one or two 24 hour fasts each week. That is what Eat Stop Eat is all about. The book is worth the read.
  • amruden
    amruden Posts: 228 Member
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    I have been doing this for a while, unknowing there was a term for it.

    Some days have nothing more then water and coffee. I dont feel a need to binge the next day at all. I feel refreshed.
    Eat healthy and go on with my life.

    10086220.png
    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Nutrition Facts For Foods

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/amruden
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
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    Fasting does, of course, affect the metabolism. With one and two day fasts, these effects are entirely temporary and upon breaking your fast your metabolism returns to normal. (And can be partially offset by upping your activity level during fast days.) Beginning with three day and longer fasts, your metabolism *can* be more chronically depressed. But a lot of that can be avoided by breaking your fast properly, and maintaining activity levels while fasted. Still, you're looking at diminishing returns after 24 hours, so unless you have some very specific health reason for fasting longer than a day, stick to 24 hours (once or twice a week).

    This is what I meant when I suggested that your body won't even consider 'starvation mode' within 72hrs. The definition of starvation mode on this forum is incredibly liberal, inaccurate, and highly over used. In a 24hr fast, often...your metabolism speeds up. Adding activity and/or exercise to that just increases the fat burning benifits.

    P.s. I am currently 20 hours fasted and just got back from a nearly two hour run... burnt ~1,500 calories according to my HRM. Once you're used to being in a fasted state, energy is simply not an issue.

    DEFINITELY!! I get my BEST workouts fasted...and that's heavy strength training (I loathe running lol).
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,238 Member
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    To the OP, realize a 24 hour fast is not magic. I see you are at your last 9 pounds. Your goal loss per week should be no more than half a pound a week. If it is higher you will be fighting your body's own survival mechanisms. Not being able to see your food diary it is difficult to make helpful observations, but I have some questions. While at 1200 calories have you been eating your exercise calories? If not you may have issues with going to maintain since 1200 is generally to low for most people if they don't eat their exercise calories. If you googled a TDEE calculator and included your exercise in the activity level you would find the calories needed to maintain your weight. Taking off 15% from this would be a reasonable deficit. It should be close to what MFP gives you including exercise calories. If you have been chronically eating far below that your metabolism has likely been effected. Eating more may help. Probably in the short term you may see a gain, but it would likely be water weight. Another question is how much protein and fiber are you getting? They help you feel full longer than carbs.
  • sezhep
    sezhep Posts: 57
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    This IF thing has got me really interested now..

    BUT

    .. I have a history of eating disorders, and find that as soon as I say "I'm on a diet", my body freaks out, I binge, eat things in quantities I never would have on any other day, and I think it's because my body is stocking up because it doesn't know when it's next going to get any food! (sounds ridiculous i know but it's the only way i can explain). This time round I'm doing okay as I'm making lifestyle choices - going to the gym alot, eating well but not denying myself anything.
    I fear that if I fast, even just for 24 hrs, it's going to trigger a response in me and cause me to binge! and whenever I binge, the first thing I go to do is purge (generally spend 20 mins arguing with myself about it, then when i decide to go to do it, i know all the cals have been absorbed anyway so i don't do it, i just go in a bad mood all day.)

    I guess I would have to look at it differently. Sometimes this happens anyway without me even realising it, if i have got a busy day in university for example, I won't eat until 4 - 5 o clock which is about a 22hr fast.

    Pointless post, just wondering whether anyone has any views on what i should do, or a way to do it without triggering that instinct?
  • Savyna
    Savyna Posts: 789 Member
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    I usually fast for religious purposes and its usually just from sun up to sundown and then I have a light meal in the evening. I think it depends on the person and why they are doing it.
  • chris1816
    chris1816 Posts: 715 Member
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    find that as soon as I say "I'm on a diet", my body freaks out, I binge, eat things in quantities I never would have on any other day, and I think it's because my body is stocking up because it doesn't know when it's next going to get any food!

    Your body?

    It sounds like you are describing something you clearly don't have any ownership or control of.

    Nope, couldn't be -your- body.
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
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    I guess I would have to look at it differently. Sometimes this happens anyway without me even realising it, if i have got a busy day in university for example, I won't eat until 4 - 5 o clock which is about a 22hr fast.

    Pointless post, just wondering whether anyone has any views on what i should do, or a way to do it without triggering that instinct?

    This part is the key. If it's a mental trigger...and you really want to do IF...you just need to stay busy while you're fasting. Most people fast so the majority is when they are asleep...then just go through a normal busy day.

    A 22hr fast is definitely effective, and as long as you are still getting your healthy calories in for the day...you'll be doing wonderfully.
  • duetwithjosh
    duetwithjosh Posts: 121
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    This is what I meant when I suggested that your body won't even consider 'starvation mode' within 72hrs. The definition of starvation mode on this forum is incredibly liberal, inaccurate, and highly over used. In a 24hr fast, often...your metabolism speeds up. Adding activity and/or exercise to that just increases the fat burning benifits.
    I figured that's what you meant--just wanted to shed some extra light on the issue. As you said, there's a looottt of misinformation floating about.
    DEFINITELY!! I get my BEST workouts fasted...and that's heavy strength training (I loathe running lol).

    Running is fun! Have you tried barefoot or minimalist running? I hated running, too, until I tried it without running shoes. Totally different world.
  • soulynyc
    soulynyc Posts: 302 Member
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    i would say that we should all fast.. a day or two during the week. but that goes along with my religious belief. but recently there was an article ....http://www.drmirkin.com/public/ezine022612.html on the benefit of fasting once or twice a week.
  • sezhep
    sezhep Posts: 57
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    find that as soon as I say "I'm on a diet", my body freaks out, I binge, eat things in quantities I never would have on any other day, and I think it's because my body is stocking up because it doesn't know when it's next going to get any food!

    Your body?

    It sounds like you are describing something you clearly don't have any ownership or control of.

    Nope, couldn't be -your- body.

    No, I'm not denying that it is MY body, and my choices. Have you ever had an eating disorder? Do you know the psychological battles that it causes you to have with yourself?

    I'm asking for help, not judgement. So if you don't have anything useful to say, I'd rather you said nothing at all.

    Cheers.
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
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    This IF thing has got me really interested now..

    BUT

    .. I have a history of eating disorders, and find that as soon as I say "I'm on a diet", my body freaks out, I binge, eat things in quantities I never would have on any other day, and I think it's because my body is stocking up because it doesn't know when it's next going to get any food! (sounds ridiculous i know but it's the only way i can explain). This time round I'm doing okay as I'm making lifestyle choices - going to the gym alot, eating well but not denying myself anything.
    I fear that if I fast, even just for 24 hrs, it's going to trigger a response in me and cause me to binge! and whenever I binge, the first thing I go to do is purge (generally spend 20 mins arguing with myself about it, then when i decide to go to do it, i know all the cals have been absorbed anyway so i don't do it, i just go in a bad mood all day.)

    I guess I would have to look at it differently. Sometimes this happens anyway without me even realising it, if i have got a busy day in university for example, I won't eat until 4 - 5 o clock which is about a 22hr fast.

    Pointless post, just wondering whether anyone has any views on what i should do, or a way to do it without triggering that instinct?

    I'm not a doctor. I'm not a nutritionist. I'm not a therapist or a psychiatrist. But I would say that if you have a history of EDs and a fear of triggering some kind of reaction that you should not try IF, or if you do, try a very moderate version under strict supervision of a bona fide specialist who knows you.

    IF isn't for everyone. Nothing is.

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