water fast

ascrof
ascrof Posts: 34
edited September 29 in Health and Weight Loss
thinking of trying a 1 or 2 day water fast. any info would be greatly appreciated.....i need to get away from artificial sweeteners and caffeine again

Replies

  • Hollycat
    Hollycat Posts: 372
    :huh: Uhhhhh...great way to shut down your metabolism....just saying. Try just drinking water instead.

    Fasting is one of the things I did in my 20s that contributed to my current situation.

    Hollycat
    :flowerforyou:
  • calliope_music
    calliope_music Posts: 1,242 Member
    what about switching to a more natural sweetener, like honey? or doing a half-caff combo?

    believe me i understand about the caffeine! not sure if you do coffee or sodas or what not, but i've moved to half-caff coffee and so far so good.
  • Avalonis
    Avalonis Posts: 1,540 Member
    Wait, were you saying "Only water, no other drinks" or were you saying "Only water, no food or other drinks"?

    If the former - YES, Water instead of other drinks is much mo betta,

    If the latter - you're gonna kill your metabolism and ruin your energy.
  • RattieLove
    RattieLove Posts: 125
    Wait, were you saying "Only water, no other drinks" or were you saying "Only water, no food or other drinks"?

    If the former - YES, Water instead of other drinks is much mo betta,

    If the latter - you're gonna kill your metabolism and ruin your energy.

    I second this
  • ascrof
    ascrof Posts: 34
    i meant only water and nothing else.....basically i was off all artificial sweeteners and caffeine for like 3 months and now am hooked again....only coffee, haven't had a soda in months.....i just figured it would be good to detox this way.....
  • Toots2012
    Toots2012 Posts: 25
    I dont think that a water only fast would be very wise.....
    Maybe if you decided to cut out all other types of beverages and convert to only drinking water. Now that seems wise-the other idea, not wise.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,331 Member
    I would not go two days, but despite those who say it will ruin your metabolism, it won't. They should take some time and research all the studies that have been done on fasting. For even up to 72 hours a fast will increase your metabolism which makes sense since for generations (up until the last 200 years or so) food was not always available and when you ran out of it you needed to hunt it down requiring all your skill and energy. If our metabolism shut down right away when we are fasting that would hinder us rather than help.

    I fast regularly. Search for fasting and you will find a bunch of threads about it such as this one http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/226488-intermittent-fasting-support-group
  • acaudill042106
    acaudill042106 Posts: 108 Member
    It actaully is a good way to detox...as long as you realize coming off of the water fast may make you sick. If you chose to do it...and I dont recommend it...it takes at least 7 days o detox properly....and a day or two of juice and light foods after the fact. I would only attempt it if you are dead set on a lifestyle change. Because doing it and turning back would be in vain.
  • Avalonis
    Avalonis Posts: 1,540 Member
    I would not go two days, but despite those who say it will ruin your metabolism, it won't. They should take some time and research all the studies that have been done on fasting. For even up to 72 hours a fast will increase your metabolism which makes sense since for generations (up until the last 200 years or so) food was not always available and when you ran out of it you needed to hunt it down requiring all your skill and energy. If our metabolism shut down right away when we are fasting that would hinder us rather than help.

    I fast regularly. Search for fasting and you will find a bunch of threads about it such as this one http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/226488-intermittent-fasting-support-group

    Might work for some people, I know from personal experience (Fasted for a fundraiser for 48 hours) that I felt like crap, had no energy, and my metabolism was slowed. I gained 3 lbs in the next 2 weeks after fasting, and my diet was identical to before.
  • Hollycat
    Hollycat Posts: 372
    If you want a good detox...google Dax Moy elimination diet. Pretty much the gold standard.

    Hollycat
    :flowerforyou:
  • Schwiggity
    Schwiggity Posts: 1,449 Member
    :huh: Uhhhhh...great way to shut down your metabolism....just saying. Try just drinking water instead.

    Fasting is one of the things I did in my 20s that contributed to my current situation.

    Hollycat
    :flowerforyou:

    Your metabolism doesn't shut down that quick. Not that I'm pro-fasting or anything.
  • jeffpettis
    jeffpettis Posts: 865 Member
    i meant only water and nothing else.....basically i was off all artificial sweeteners and caffeine for like 3 months and now am hooked again....only coffee, haven't had a soda in months.....i just figured it would be good to detox this way.....

    Just my opinion, but coffee is not really that bad for you. As long as your not drinking a couple of pots a day.
  • Louiselesley
    Louiselesley Posts: 166 Member
    Even the thought of this makes me squeezy.


    I think fasting done properly can be a really good way to detox but by done properly i mean still consuming a healthy amount of calories but doing it via smoothies/other ways.


    water only just.... no. no way.


    just start drinking water as your only liquid and that will flush your body.
  • Louiselesley
    Louiselesley Posts: 166 Member
    i meant only water and nothing else.....basically i was off all artificial sweeteners and caffeine for like 3 months and now am hooked again....only coffee, haven't had a soda in months.....i just figured it would be good to detox this way.....

    Just my opinion, but coffee is not really that bad for you. As long as your not drinking a couple of pots a day.


    Caffiene is second as the most addictive drug in the world. I think that says it all...
  • shellshell43
    shellshell43 Posts: 116
    I did a 24 hour water fast about ten days ago for the same reasons..I was craving sugar way too much and drinking coffee through out the day..just wanted to reset my system and decided to try a quick water fast to see if it would work...it made me appreciate my food when I ate dinner that night and it did get the sugar craving out of my system...I didn't work out the night I began my fast or the evening I ended it so I took two days rest total. I felt it did me good...almost like a clean slate..I understand some people don't recommend it and I am not promoting this practice only sharing my experience.
  • Schwiggity
    Schwiggity Posts: 1,449 Member
    i meant only water and nothing else.....basically i was off all artificial sweeteners and caffeine for like 3 months and now am hooked again....only coffee, haven't had a soda in months.....i just figured it would be good to detox this way.....

    Just my opinion, but coffee is not really that bad for you. As long as your not drinking a couple of pots a day.


    Caffiene is second as the most addictive drug in the world. I think that says it all...

    It's also been shown that coffee in moderation can have positive effects. If someone thinks they can't have it in moderation, that's one thing, but to say that everyone has to cut it out is ridiculous.
  • Mahhafooznit
    Mahhafooznit Posts: 24 Member
    Why avoid coffee. I dont get it.. sure its not the best. but if you look at it this way.
    someone offers you a beer. you say I will have a coffee instead.
    someone offers you a soda/pop, say you will have a coffee instead.
    if your worried about how caffiene effects you have decaf.

    coffee helps prevent bum cancer as per the smart people that do the studies.
    even decaf coffee.

    I think coffee even helps with digestion. at least for me it does.
    coffee helps as appetite suppressant.

    If you want to do something different. for every 1 cup of coffee drink 2 cups of water.
    that will even yourself out so you do not feel dehydrated and tired.
  • shellshell43
    shellshell43 Posts: 116
    I drink one cup of coffee in the morning merely because I like it -nothing addictive, it could be decaffeinated, it doesn't matter. if I didn't have it I wouldn't suffer any loss. Just kind of a morning ritual...routine mostly
  • taem
    taem Posts: 495 Member
    Fasting, or not eating, starts a thing called ketosis. It takes 72 hours for the body to start eating itself, so those that feel like crap the first two days means they are struggling with their body. After 72 hours, you should feel better, but I would still make sure you see a doctor and drink plenty of water. The reason why coffee is bad is because caffeine is a diuretic so it will make you lose water. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_effects_of_coffee. I think there are enough "bad" reasons to stop drinking coffee completely.
  • Balishdear
    Balishdear Posts: 60
    I actually read about a 24 hour water fast tin the most recent addition of Marie Claire. It said that one 24 hour fast will increase the human growth hormone... I can't remember the rest. Although it didn't give any direction as to how to complete the fast. I just tried to do it and I caved 6 hours prior to finishing my fast. I know I can do it, but food just became like gold to me. I past by a vending machine and things that I don't even like became delicious looking to me. AHH! Many people think that a 24 hour water fast will put your body into starvation mode. Nope, do more reading into it. 24 hour water fast once a month will NOT do that.
  • d0llhouse
    d0llhouse Posts: 7
    i'm just finishing up my 5th day of a water fast and so far so good. the third day was the most difficult in terms of hunger/cravings, but this fast is really helping me break my emotional dependence on food.

    as for health, fasting does not make your body shut down
  • jeffpettis
    jeffpettis Posts: 865 Member
    i meant only water and nothing else.....basically i was off all artificial sweeteners and caffeine for like 3 months and now am hooked again....only coffee, haven't had a soda in months.....i just figured it would be good to detox this way.....

    Just my opinion, but coffee is not really that bad for you. As long as your not drinking a couple of pots a day.


    Caffiene is second as the most addictive drug in the world. I think that says it all...

    It's also been shown that coffee in moderation can have positive effects. If someone thinks they can't have it in moderation, that's one thing, but to say that everyone has to cut it out is ridiculous.

    My point exactly! And since when has coffee been labeled a "drug"? My God people, if we have lost all of our willpower for moderation, then you might as well call all food a "drug", because obviously we all became addicted to it at some point, and now feel the need to lose weight. Like I said before, coffee is not bad for you as long as your not drinking 2 pots a day. Or maybe I'll ask my wife who is a nurse how many caffeine OD's she sees come in the ER everyday.!!! LOL!!!
  • AngieM76
    AngieM76 Posts: 622 Member
    I cant imagine doing this. For me personally, I would be dizzy, weak, have no energy, and would probably be sick. If I go 4 or 5 hours without food and just drink my water, I get a headache and dont feel good.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,331 Member
    I just went 18 hour with nothing but water, was energetic, clear headed and had a great workout. I would have went 24 but my wife came home with a bunch of fresh strawberries and I decided to have my meal earlier.
  • Avalonis
    Avalonis Posts: 1,540 Member
    This is the last thing I am going to post on this topic... if people choose to make bad decisions that are not backed by scientific evidence, there really isnt anything I can say that will change your mind. There is plenty of SCIENTIFICALLY BACKED DATA out there that debunks things like detox programs. Seriously people, you need to do your research!

    With that being said, if you want to hurt your body and use ineffective time wasters, it IS your body. Go for it.

    Here's one:
    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080428170407.htm
    ScienceDaily (Apr. 29, 2008) — Infomercials and Web sites urge us to eliminate the buildup of toxins that supposedly results from imprudent habits or exposure to hazardous substances. But the human body defends itself very well against most environmental insults and occasional indulgences, reports the May issue of Harvard Women’s Health Watch.

    The newsletter reviews some of the most widely promoted detox procedures, including the following:
    Intestinal cleansing: Kits typically include a high-fiber supplement, a “support” supplement containing herbs or enzymes, a laxative to be used daily, and enemas. The aim is to eradicate parasites and expel fecal matter that allegedly adheres to the intestinal walls.

    Foot detox: One method employs a special type of adhesive pad worn on the bottoms of the feet during sleep. Another approach is to immerse the feet for 30 minutes in an “ionic foot bath,” containing salt water and two electrodes that supply a low-voltage electric charge. Both methods claim to stimulate the outflow of toxins through the feet. However, there is no scientific evidence that ionic changes in the environment can stimulate a discharge of toxins through the feet—or any other part of the body.

    Detox diets: A seemingly infinite array of diets is available for detoxifying the whole body. However, studies have shown that fasting and extremely low calorie intake—common elements of detox diets—cause a slowdown of metabolism and an increase in weight after the dieter returns to normal eating.

    The bottom line: If you’re healthy, concentrate on giving your body what it needs to maintain its self-cleaning system—a healthful diet, adequate fluids, exercise, sleep, and all recommended medical check-ups, instead of relying on so-called detox procedures, says the Harvard Women’s Health Watch.

    And here's an even better link from WEBMD. Like it says... if you are healthy, it probably won't hurt you (for short periods) but it will be detrimental to weight loss.
    http://www.webmd.com/diet/fasting
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,331 Member
    Since you are so big on science, have you really researched short term fasts (16-24 hours)? I ask because if a person is healthy, there is nothing unhealthy about it. The best work bringing this together in my opinion is Eat Stop Eat by Brad Pilon, and the stuff at leangains.com Both cite numerous studies that show the value of short term fasts. Here is a very helpful article to start with. http://www.leangains.com/2010/10/top-ten-fasting-myths-debunked.html

    If you don't want to fast or have a negative reaction to it, fine, don't do it. But, stop pretending in and of itself it is unhealthy, it is not and the research proves it. Our bodies are not meant to be in a fed state all the time, but they usually are.
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