Is a 3 day fast safe?
Replies
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TavistockToad wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Why do you think your body needs a break from digesting food.... That's what it's designed to do. Does your heart need a break from beating?
Our hearts get a break at night, when we sleep, right? Since our metabolisms shut down while we're sleeping (which causes us to gain weight when we eat right before bed), our hearts must be taking a break.
Our metabolisms don't shut down when were sleeping. It's also a myth that we gain weight because we ate right before bed (one I used to believe) We gain weight because we eat more calories than we burn, regardless of the time of day.Tacklewasher wrote: »TavistockToad wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Why do you think your body needs a break from digesting food.... That's what it's designed to do. Does your heart need a break from beating?
Our hearts get a break at night, when we sleep, right? Since our metabolisms shut down while we're sleeping (which causes us to gain weight when we eat right before bed), our hearts must be taking a break.
No to both. Your heart slows due to less activity, but it still continues to work. And I have no idea why you think we gain weight when we eat right before bed. Meal timing is irrelevant to weight loss. You continue to digest food and do everything else your metabolism does while sleeping. It's also the time your muscles do a lot of repairing.
It was absolute sarcasm.
O)ops, sorry. Totally went over my head lol.
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Thanks so much for your suggestions! I tried the Chia seeds with apple sauce suggestion and lots of water. No movement yet so I will get a laxative shortly. Unfortunately I can't see my doctor for a couple weeks because I'm out of state visiting a few family members before the next college semester starts. No I'm not eating a high fat diet. I'm eating a high fiber diet with lots of fruits, veggies, and healthy whole grains. No processed/junk foods.1
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Talk to your dr. Once this bout is resolved see a dietician if you can not prevent recurrences on your own.0
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Relaxingmind wrote: »Thanks so much for your suggestions! I tried the Chia seeds with apple sauce suggestion and lots of water. No movement yet so I will get a laxative shortly. Unfortunately I can't see my doctor for a couple weeks because I'm out of state visiting a few family members before the next college semester starts. No I'm not eating a high fat diet. I'm eating a high fiber diet with lots of fruits, veggies, and healthy whole grains. No processed/junk foods.
Maybe you need more fat then?5 -
Coffee sometimes helps me.0
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Relaxingmind wrote: »Thanks so much for your suggestions! I tried the Chia seeds with apple sauce suggestion and lots of water. No movement yet so I will get a laxative shortly. Unfortunately I can't see my doctor for a couple weeks because I'm out of state visiting a few family members before the next college semester starts. No I'm not eating a high fat diet. I'm eating a high fiber diet with lots of fruits, veggies, and healthy whole grains. No processed/junk foods.
If you still don't go you could find an urgent care.2 -
TavistockToad wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Why do you think your body needs a break from digesting food.... That's what it's designed to do. Does your heart need a break from beating?
Our hearts get a break at night, when we sleep, right? Since our metabolisms shut down while we're sleeping (which causes us to gain weight when we eat right before bed), our hearts must be taking a break.
Our metabolisms don't shut down when were sleeping. It's also a myth that we gain weight because we ate right before bed (one I used to believe) We gain weight because we eat more calories than we burn, regardless of the time of day.Tacklewasher wrote: »TavistockToad wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Why do you think your body needs a break from digesting food.... That's what it's designed to do. Does your heart need a break from beating?
Our hearts get a break at night, when we sleep, right? Since our metabolisms shut down while we're sleeping (which causes us to gain weight when we eat right before bed), our hearts must be taking a break.
No to both. Your heart slows due to less activity, but it still continues to work. And I have no idea why you think we gain weight when we eat right before bed. Meal timing is irrelevant to weight loss. You continue to digest food and do everything else your metabolism does while sleeping. It's also the time your muscles do a lot of repairing.
It was absolute sarcasm.
O)ops, sorry. Totally went over my head lol.
Too be fair, it's not the stupidest thing I've seen posted here.1 -
Is the high fiber diet new? A lot of people take a while to adjust to an increase in fiber. Gradual increase is generally recommended. Also make sure you are getting plenty of water with that fiber. And check to see if you are hitting you fat goal (look at it as a minimum to achieve, more is okay so long as you are within calorie goal).
Lots of people suffer from traveler's constipation (or diarrhea, depending on the person). Is this something that has only occurred since you've been away from home? It could be related. Drink more water, try a laxative (I like milk of magnesia; its gentle and usually produces a movement by the next morning, when taken before bed). I would avoid stimulant laxatives (exlax), since they tend to be harder on your system. If the problem persists after getting back into your normal routine, seek medical help. Also, if a laxative fails to help, go to a local urgent care. It could be something more serious.0 -
TavistockToad wrote: »Relaxingmind wrote: »Thanks so much for your suggestions! I tried the Chia seeds with apple sauce suggestion and lots of water. No movement yet so I will get a laxative shortly. Unfortunately I can't see my doctor for a couple weeks because I'm out of state visiting a few family members before the next college semester starts. No I'm not eating a high fat diet. I'm eating a high fiber diet with lots of fruits, veggies, and healthy whole grains. No processed/junk foods.
Maybe you need more fat then?
This.0 -
TavistockToad wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Why do you think your body needs a break from digesting food.... That's what it's designed to do. Does your heart need a break from beating?
You are really comparing our hearts beating to our bodies digesting food? You clearly don't know the research on how or why fasting is beneficial, or the increase in cellular development when one is fasting due to not having to work so hard to constantly digest food. So, I won't waste my time.0 -
msalicia116 wrote: »tiptoethruthetulips wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Did you actually read the OP's post? It's about constipation. Are you saying fasting helps with your constipation?
Did you read mine? Her subject asked about fasting. Her post talked about constepation. I responded with 1. what happens to me in regards to fasting, and 2.how I handle constepation personally because of the highly dense fiberous food I eat that gets me that way.
Do not need your permission to tell her what I do to treat my similar issue. And how fasting has improved my health.
ETA- OP, you asked two questions, which are completely different. So it's difficult to answer them both. Fasting is fine and healthy even. But it is not used to treat constepation. If you have other health concerns, fasting has many health benefits it may be appropriate for, but constepation is not one of them. But because you combined the two questions, I let you know what I do when I have your issue and I'm fasting. But it is already my lifestyle, and not something I'm using to treat your singular issue.
So your two questions posed at once really don't work well in a single comment as you see.
The OP didn't ask two questions. The OP asked if Fasting will help with constipation.
They didn't ask if Fasting is good, and then ask for help with constipation. So your first post is probably very confusing since you originally said fasting helps you.
Yes she did. Her first question, in the subject line, is asking if a 3 day fast was safe. The body of the post was about constepation. Just like I explained in my other post.2 -
msalicia116 wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »tiptoethruthetulips wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Did you actually read the OP's post? It's about constipation. Are you saying fasting helps with your constipation?
Did you read mine? Her subject asked about fasting. Her post talked about constepation. I responded with 1. what happens to me in regards to fasting, and 2.how I handle constepation personally because of the highly dense fiberous food I eat that gets me that way.
Do not need your permission to tell her what I do to treat my similar issue. And how fasting has improved my health.
ETA- OP, you asked two questions, which are completely different. So it's difficult to answer them both. Fasting is fine and healthy even. But it is not used to treat constepation. If you have other health concerns, fasting has many health benefits it may be appropriate for, but constepation is not one of them. But because you combined the two questions, I let you know what I do when I have your issue and I'm fasting. But it is already my lifestyle, and not something I'm using to treat your singular issue.
So your two questions posed at once really don't work well in a single comment as you see.
The OP didn't ask two questions. The OP asked if Fasting will help with constipation.
They didn't ask if Fasting is good, and then ask for help with constipation. So your first post is probably very confusing since you originally said fasting helps you.
Yes she did. Her first question, in the subject line, is asking if a 3 day fast was safe. The body of the post was about constepation. Just like I explained in my other post.
It is clear from the original post that the OP was wondering if fasting will fix their constipation. Their whole post was in the context of constipation, the subject header was short and if read in the entire context of the post is in relation to constipation.
The OP is quoted below.I'm very constipated and haven't gone in over a week
I'm wondering if fasting for a few days or so will fix this issue since there will be no other incoming food to digest.
Regardless of all that (and my last post in this thread), hopefully the OP successfully resolved their issue by now.0 -
tiptoethruthetulips wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »tiptoethruthetulips wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Did you actually read the OP's post? It's about constipation. Are you saying fasting helps with your constipation?
Did you read mine? Her subject asked about fasting. Her post talked about constepation. I responded with 1. what happens to me in regards to fasting, and 2.how I handle constepation personally because of the highly dense fiberous food I eat that gets me that way.
Do not need your permission to tell her what I do to treat my similar issue. And how fasting has improved my health.
ETA- OP, you asked two questions, which are completely different. So it's difficult to answer them both. Fasting is fine and healthy even. But it is not used to treat constepation. If you have other health concerns, fasting has many health benefits it may be appropriate for, but constepation is not one of them. But because you combined the two questions, I let you know what I do when I have your issue and I'm fasting. But it is already my lifestyle, and not something I'm using to treat your singular issue.
So your two questions posed at once really don't work well in a single comment as you see.
The OP didn't ask two questions. The OP asked if Fasting will help with constipation.
They didn't ask if Fasting is good, and then ask for help with constipation. So your first post is probably very confusing since you originally said fasting helps you.
Yes she did. Her first question, in the subject line, is asking if a 3 day fast was safe. The body of the post was about constepation. Just like I explained in my other post.
It is clear from the original post that the OP was wondering if fasting will fix their constipation. Their whole post was in the context of constipation, the subject header was short and if read in the entire context of the post is in relation to constipation.
The OP is quoted below.I'm very constipated and haven't gone in over a week I'm wondering if fasting for a few days or so will fix this issue since there will be no other incoming food to digest.
Regardless of all that (and my last post in this thread), hopefully the OP successfully resolved their issue by now.
Got it, and had already added the ETA in that post you quoted with my corrected response. So, no explanation necessary. And I agree, she is the person of interest here, and hope she's feeling better!0 -
msalicia116 wrote: »TavistockToad wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Why do you think your body needs a break from digesting food.... That's what it's designed to do. Does your heart need a break from beating?
You are really comparing our hearts beating to our bodies digesting food? You clearly don't know the research on how or why fasting is beneficial, or the increase in cellular development when one is fasting due to not having to work so hard to constantly digest food. So, I won't waste my time.
Are you hangry?5 -
msalicia116 wrote: »TavistockToad wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Why do you think your body needs a break from digesting food.... That's what it's designed to do. Does your heart need a break from beating?
You are really comparing our hearts beating to our bodies digesting food? You clearly don't know the research on how or why fasting is beneficial, or the increase in cellular development when one is fasting due to not having to work so hard to constantly digest food. So, I won't waste my time.
Um OK. Links please as my GI doctor who is an expert in all things digestion doesn't believe we ever need to take a break from digesting unless medically necessary (IE a severe gi disease flare)4 -
Relaxingmind wrote: »I'm very constipated and haven't gone in over a week I'm wondering if fasting for a few days or so will fix this issue since there will be no other incoming food to digest. If I just fast and keep drinking water, will it all eventually have no choice but to come out? Please don't suggest an enema. I've tried them but they only work a little bit. I need to be fully cleaned out. My stomach hurts
@Relaxingmind Have you pooped yet?2 -
Hopefully you've been relieved of your situation, but I'll give you my TMI experience I had with constipation. When I had arthroscopic knee surgery three years ago, I was given a morphine, which is a good to give you constipation unfortunately, along with lots of Zofran (more constipation inducing medicine) to combat my nausea and vomiting I get from anesthesia (never helps anyways
) and no matter how much water I drank, I could not go. I was to your point, in lots of stomach pain because I couldn't go. I had tried laxatives and even tried magnesium citrate. My stomach and GI was very aggravated because all the medicine was in there to help me go and it wasn't working. I could feel the BM, but it wouldn't come out. It turns out I was compacted due to the medicine with extremely hard stool at the bottom of my GI tract. Thankfully because it was so close to exiting, I was able to take some gloves and uh....dig it out. It was not the best experience 
but once that compaction was removed, it was like a waterfall lol. All the stool behind the compaction was soft, due to the constipation meds I took to hopefully get things moving. I wouldn't recommend "de-compacting" yourself, but I was in pain, I could barely walk to the restroom due to the knee surgery and pain from the constipation and didn't think I could wait for someone to drive me to urgent care or the ER. If you're still having issues, I think you might be compacted and you might need to make a trip to urgent care or your GP. 3 -
OP...take miralax. You never opened your food diary, so it's hard to see where the problem lies (eg, too little fat, too large of a deficit, not enough fiber, not enough liquids). Fasting can make constipation worse...
Have you been diagnosed with IBS?
Is the high fiber diet new? Did you wean into the high fiber?
How high is your fiber?
What about your fats? How many grams are you consuming daily?
Abdominal massage, applying a heat pad to the abdomen really helps me when I am constipated.
:laugh: I like you.TavistockToad wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Why do you think your body needs a break from digesting food.... That's what it's designed to do. Does your heart need a break from beating?
Our hearts get a break at night, when we sleep, right? Since our metabolisms shut down while we're sleeping (which causes us to gain weight when we eat right before bed), our hearts must be taking a break.
And for some, even the brain takes a holiday!
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cerise_noir wrote: »OP...take miralax. You never opened your food diary, so it's hard to see where the problem lies (eg, too little fat, too large of a deficit, not enough fiber, not enough liquids). Fasting can make constipation worse...
:laugh: I like you.TavistockToad wrote: »msalicia116 wrote: »Fasting helps me. I eat a lot of salad and steamed vegetables, and that ends up causing problems for me unfortunately. When I fast, I drink a ton of water, take a supliment, and give my body a break from constantly digesting food. Fasting has changed my health entirely.
Why do you think your body needs a break from digesting food.... That's what it's designed to do. Does your heart need a break from beating?
Our hearts get a break at night, when we sleep, right? Since our metabolisms shut down while we're sleeping (which causes us to gain weight when we eat right before bed), our hearts must be taking a break.
And for some, even the brain takes a holiday!
Mine certainly has been taking more frequent breaks.1 -
diannethegeek wrote: »Relaxingmind wrote: »I'm very constipated and haven't gone in over a week I'm wondering if fasting for a few days or so will fix this issue since there will be no other incoming food to digest. If I just fast and keep drinking water, will it all eventually have no choice but to come out? Please don't suggest an enema. I've tried them but they only work a little bit. I need to be fully cleaned out. My stomach hurts
@Relaxingmind Have you pooped yet?
I sure hope OP is okay! It must be very uncomfortable. 0 -
Hey, I'm back everyone. Update: miralax did not help as neither did prune juice and laxatives. BUT... something that did work (which I plan to stick to) is warm water with lemon. I drink it after waking up, before meals, and before bed.1
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Relaxingmind wrote: »Hey, I'm back everyone. Update: miralax did not help as neither did prune juice and laxatives. BUT... something that did work (which I plan to stick to) is warm water with lemon. I drink it after waking up, before meals, and before bed.
That"s great!0 -
I'm glad you have found relief!0
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I would see a doctor and drink a lot of water. Eat some vegetables. Fasting that long merely sets you up for binging on foods that might actually cause constipation instead of the vegetables you need0
This discussion has been closed.
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