Starting a 30 Day Juice Fast 09/05/2012! Support needed!

So my boyfriend watched FSAND a few months ago and became inspired to incorporate juice into our lifestyle. We were thinking maybe replacing 1 or 2 (on occasion) meals a day with juice. My concern is the cost aspect. How much would you say you spend on the produce for the juice every week? I'm in college and unemployed (looking for a job though) and we're only living off of his 20k a year income, so money is a big concern.

I have 40% water weight right now so I wouldn't mind getting that number down too.

40% water weight is too low already, you don't want it lower! the ideal hydration level for a woman is 50-60%. Water is not the enemy, you're MEANT to be made of it

B. She is not at risk for ketoacidosis. You have to have Diabetes type 1 in order to have ketoacidosis.

you're right, she's not in ketoacidosis, and i'm pretty sure nobody said she is.
she's in ketosis, which means her body is breaking down fat for energy, and producing ketones as a byproduct.
it's different.

B. She is not at risk for ketoacidosis. You have to have Diabetes type 1 in order to have ketoacidosis.

you're right, she's not in ketoacidosis, and i'm pretty sure nobody said she is.
she's in ketosis, which means her body is breaking down fat for energy, and producing ketones as a byproduct.
it's different.

Phynyxfyre implied that she could die due to ketoacidosis. Yes, she is producing keytones but why is that bad? The only thing that i have ever found in relation to keytones is that it could potentially cause kidney stones but that is normally associated with eating a HIGH protein diet, via Atkins diet. Unless you think becoming a vegetarian is bad for your health then I really don't see anything wrong with this. Just throw in some tofu and she'll be fine.

This thread is very interesting and entertaining. So much misinformation and fear mongering going on in here. However, I must admit that I was a little shocked at first that the OP was willing to go on a 30 day fast but after reading it a bit more it's not really that bad as it doesn't sound like a true fast. What she has really done is become a vegetarian for 30 days. She is still getting carbs from vegetables and fruits, so all she needs now is to add some tofu for protein.


Below, I want to set the record straight on some misinformation

A. She is not destroying her metabolism. There is no known disease associated with eating a low calorie diet or fasting but there is a disease associated with eating too much food and it's called Diabetes Type 2. Diabetes Type 2 literally means that your metabolism is destroyed forever but i would caution the OP from losing 40% of her weight too fast as I said earlier.


B. She is not at risk for ketoacidosis. You have to have Diabetes type 1 in order to have ketoacidosis.

In reguards to your (A) - I do believe the under eating/not eating (which essentially what a fast is) fit the bill for anorexia nervosa. Not a doctor, but that is a disease associated directly with those two things

My comment was in reference to the claim that she is destroying her metoblism. You are referring to a psychological eating disorder. That eating disorder can also be fixed.

I would like to state for the record that there are different types of ketoacidosis and it is not only in people with diabetes. That type is called diabetic ketoacidosis. There is also alcoholic ketoacidosis, which is a similar state but the cause is different. All that is meant by ketoacidosis is that the body pH lowers ( becomes acidic) as a result of the breakdown of fats in the body (ketosis). When your body becomes too acidic, the lungs work to reduce the acidity, as well as other organs begin to function differently in order to bring the balance back. (homeostasis) This can happen on fasts, fad diets, simple malnutrition, etc.

When there is a metabolic (dietary) reason for high acid in the body, the lungs try to balance with alkalosis (raise the pH). Your breathing changes. I am not implying that this will definitely happen on her fast. I don't think vegetarianism or veganism is bad. I do think that unless you have talked with a doctor or nutritionist or at least done loads of research on the topic and possible side effects, that it is worth it to hear someone say "Here is when to be concerned, otherwise more power to you!" Which is what I hoped to convey.

.FYI juicing resets the metabolism to a better point...this is proven by science..

I would love to see this research. Can you please send the citations to the journals so we can all learn about this?

.FYI juicing resets the metabolism to a better point...this is proven by science..

I would love to see this research. Can you please send the citations to the journals so we can all learn about this?

That phrase sounds really bold but there is some truth what was said.


Link to wiki of a whole host of research papers on fasting and it's positive effects on the body. I have yet to run across a paper that says fasting is detrimental to someone's health.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermittent_fasting


Go to time 24:50 to listen to the analogy in laymen terms from Professor Valter Longo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pfna7nV7WaM&feature=youtu.be

I am on day #3 of my juice fast. Feeling pretty good. For 70 days I have been logging on MFP and have dropped 20 lbs from eating 1,200 calories and walking. I gave up coffee when I started healthy eating and logging on MFP. I cook all of my meals and don't eat processed foods so I was pretty much set for this 10 juice challange with myself. I can add powder wheat grass for fiber and if so whey for protien. I have no headaches and no metal taste in my mouth as of today. My daily juice calories total 800 or more and sometimes I add an avocodo for added healthy fat and calories.

The thing that has struck me the most about this thread is your amazing positive attitude, even when confronted with naysayers.

Your attitude is an inspiration and I loved it when you wrote "I do read everything, I'm just not responding the way you had hoped". Beautiful.

I think people are forgetting that if you live to 86 then a month is 1/1032 of your life.




Many figures in many different religions and cultures, throughout history have gone on spiritual fasts, a liquid fast is surely healthier, and your body is quite adaptive. Look at the whole "starvation mode" mythos as proof. I've read those studies, and the studies done replicating Nazis prisoners and as far as starvation mode goes, there is just evidence that suggests the less you eat, the more your body will store food (as it doesn't know when it's next meal is coming) and the lower your metabolism will get. And once your body learns to store food as fat, it's difficult to get it to stop. I know enough anorexics and bulimics to know that a diet can have long-term negative effects on your metabolism, but usually these are long term diets, and the harm is caused over years.

This shows that the body is beautifully adaptive to circumstances, but also that these circumstances are generally built up over time.

I also loved it when people call weight watchers a "fad" diet, yet weight watchers works of the same premise of myfitnesspal- low calorie. (If a very seemingly processed and flawed version of calorie counting). A focus on calories has been panned by many experts in the fitness, health and medical fields lately- with many professionals stating that it is better to focus on fruits, vegetables and healthy un-processed foods. With some experts claiming that calorie counting can be inaccurate (which I haven't found it to be in my experience). But that's not really the attitude on myfitnesspal (understandably as this is a calorie counting tool, it can be a very group-think community).

Studies have shown that people who "fad diet" are likely to weigh more than people of the same general grouping who do not, so I can see why people are concerned. But that data, and relying on it, seems like it contains numerous fallacies. Studies also show the importance of a positive attitude on health and well-being, and the negative effects of worrying (something I'm good at). Yet that's not something any of these negative "concerned" citizens who tell you you're being unhealthy- when years of being negative, looking for the worst in situations and over-intellectualising will probably harm my health far worse than my diet does, not to mention my sleeping habits.

Health is more than just food, and a month is a very limited period of time in the grand scheme of things. Having a lower BMI in general is linked to a lot of positive health consequences (not to mention social consequences) as long as it doesn't get too low. If you can detox for a month and lower your BMI then this seems to be very positive. Studies have also shown that you can re-train your habits in approximately this long, so this offers you the potential to re-train yourself into a more healthy lifestyle after having fallen off the bandwagon, so to speak.

But mostly my point is this. There are many studies, and they say many different things- and you can draw your own conclusions and really use them to make any argument you want (as long as you have half a brain). So people shouldn't be condemning you so quickly for things they haven't read, and for information that can inevitably get twisted to any purpose an intelligent person wishes. Most of the people who condemn you have only limited knowledge themselves, particularly when they mention "starvation mode" (which is a myfitnesspal community buzzword). In other fitness communities other buzz words are thrown around. And although it is based on research, it's also based on the ideology that people can't be trusted with their own health (which they can't) so better to keep them safe then to be sorry. It's like the dosage on medication bottles. Two aspirin for a 5 ft girl is different to two for a 6'4 body builder. But better to have uniformity and to prevent anything from happening by giving people clear instructions. People should stop harping on about the instructions so much though. Because the equation as to exactly how many aspirins a person needs for their body weight, age and condition is probably better, if more field-orientated knowledge. People on myfitnesspal are loosing weight slowly towards a long term goal the idea of someone loosing weight short term (after all this effort goes into a long term goal) can divide people. Obviously a long-term goal is going to be healthier and more fruitful long-term, but that doesn't deter from the positive outcomes that often result from other dietary plans. It's like comparing a thesis to an 1'000 word essay. Clearly one is better. But that doesn't mean writing an essay isn't a good start.

Yes, a fruit juice diet isn't a sustainable eating plan. But out of all the food groups to live off, I would certainly choose fruits and vegetables any day. They contain fibre, fats (hello avocado) carbohydrates and (contrary to popular belief) many vegetables also contain protein. While this is hardly the same as the amount in meat, an artichoke, corns, peas or collards will give you enough to suffice. Kale is also a good option when juicing.

There are going to be nay-sayers about any dietary change, but I can't help but think a move away from processed foods and complex carbs for such a small amount of time, in order to 're-set' your attitudes to processed foods and your diet is good.

I wish you much luck on your fruit juice diet!
I'm thinking about starting a kind-of vegan fast (more as a lifestyle re-program and to just see what happens and how I feel then for weight loss) and I might need support with that :S

I personally don't think I could do "just juice" but it will be interesting to see how you go with it.

This study form the Obesity Research Journal shows that very low calorie diets (VLCD) are an acceptable form of weight loss.

http://www.nature.com/oby/journal/v9/n11s/full/oby2001134a.html
"VLCDs have been shown to be very effective in the treatment of obesity. An average weekly weight loss of approximately 2.0 kg in the first 4 to 6 weeks slows to an average weekly weight loss of approximately 0.8 kg over a 6-month period."

A juice fast is certainly a VLCD (under 800 a day) probably 200-300 calorie per juice. If it was me, I would probably substitute some whey protein shakes for juices, but for 1 month, all juice will certainly not hurt you. It is certainly not a long term diet.
The hard part is when you start eating again to not regain the weight. You will have to monitor what you eat very carefully.

You might want to check out the Intermittent Fasting group on MFP where you water fast for limited periods of time. That is what I am doing, and I find it helps to shrink my appetite and gives me better control over what I eat.

bumping for progress

Please don't do this. My girlfriend wen't on a juice diet and ended up in the hospital, she also went into kidney failure because of it, your body can only take in so much when it comes to an excess of vitamins and minerals. I really encourage you to calorie count, exersize and work on weight loss slowly to ensure that you keep it off while staying healthy. It is your choice, I just want you to know the risks. p.s. my girlfriend is still on medication to help her kidneys, it has been 8 years. Please don't do it. :ohwell: