Water Fasting...What's your experience?
awildwomanatheart
Posts: 89 Member
Hi Everyone,
So recently I've been researching water fasting. Not just for my health, but I also feel very drawn to it for other personal reasons as well. An overall reset lets say. I was just wondering if anyone here has ever done one, and if so, what was your experience? In addition:
How long did you fast for?
What were your pros/cons?
Overall, how did you feel during and after it?
Would you do it again, why or why not?
Just hoping to gain some insight, so that I can make a well informed decision. Thanks so much. I hope you all are having a great day and your journey is awesome
So recently I've been researching water fasting. Not just for my health, but I also feel very drawn to it for other personal reasons as well. An overall reset lets say. I was just wondering if anyone here has ever done one, and if so, what was your experience? In addition:
How long did you fast for?
What were your pros/cons?
Overall, how did you feel during and after it?
Would you do it again, why or why not?
Just hoping to gain some insight, so that I can make a well informed decision. Thanks so much. I hope you all are having a great day and your journey is awesome
51
Replies
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In all seriousness, can someone please explain to me how starving yourself for days on end is ok if you call it water fasting?65
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I involuntarily water fasted when I had a stomach virus and couldn't keep anything down (including the water). After two days, I passed out.
Why would anyone want to voluntarily put themselves through that?38 -
Your body doesn't need resetting. It does need nutrients. Which come from food.34
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I can't believe people are still bought into this myth16
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I once fasted an entire workday by accident. I was very hungry and tired after.10
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Yeah, that just sounds like a really bad idea and potentially dangerous depending on how long you plan to deprive your body of nutrients. I would think it definitely wouldn't be done for your health since there's not any health benefits I can think of by doing this.9
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Your body doesn't need a reset.
Research is important-- FoodBabe, David Wolfe, and Gwyneth Paltrow are not researchers. They're charlatans at best and harmful at worst. I'm not saying you got your info from these types of snake oil salesmen; Just be careful where you get your info from.20 -
Try a cabbage soup diet day instead. Much easier and it gives nutrition.56
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TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »Try a cabbage soup diet day instead.
lol wut15 -
TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »Try a cabbage soup diet day instead. Much easier and it gives nutrition.
You're out of your mind.12 -
Hey, it's better than water only. Cabbage, carrots, onions, garlic, chicken broth. Just for a day, not a big deal24
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I've done broth fast for a day or two when I've had inflammation from eating things I'm allergic to (accidentally). Had the usual headache and fatigue, but it did let the inflammation heal without further irritation (aka eating hurts). Can be hard on insulin though esp if done for long periods of time. I can't really think of a reason to do it other than for stomach upset. If you're looking for a psychological reset, eating fruits, veggies, protein and drinking lots of water works just about as well.9
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TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »Try a cabbage soup diet day instead. Much easier and it gives nutrition.
and gas.
seriously though - no. 8 -
gebeziseva wrote: »TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »Try a cabbage soup diet day instead.
lol wut
I feel like this comment came straight out of the 80's, or whenever the cabbage soup diet was all the rage. Hopefully, it was just a sarcastic remark.3 -
gebeziseva wrote: »TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »Try a cabbage soup diet day instead.
lol wut
I feel like this comment came straight out of the 80's, or whenever the cabbage soup diet was all the rage. Hopefully, it was just a sarcastic remark.
not sure what you mean. It stands for "laughing out loud. What?"4 -
I don't want to steal a thread, but cabbage soup for a day is not unhealthy. Carrots, broth, onions, garlic, and i forgot white beans for protein.
It's better than water only, and you know OP is going to do the water fast anyway. Giving options.18 -
gebeziseva wrote: »gebeziseva wrote: »TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »Try a cabbage soup diet day instead.
lol wut
I feel like this comment came straight out of the 80's, or whenever the cabbage soup diet was all the rage. Hopefully, it was just a sarcastic remark.
not sure what you mean. It stands for "laughing out loud. What?"
I was referring to the cabbage soup suggestion. I was agreeing with your response to that comment.2 -
When I was a teen, my mom started celebrating Yom Kippur. Without going into details, it's a 24 hour fast. I did it with her every year until I moved out. It was awesome because we could go get an awesome huge dinner once the 24 hours was up, but it was just miserable the whole fast. Hungry, headaches, fatigue...And that's only one day!
I can't imagine what it would be like for longer than that. I really don't think there are many pros aside from maybe that your stomach will shrink, but that happens when you eat smaller portions anyway and you're not starving at the same time.4 -
We have a lot of Muslim employees. When they do their fasting(keep in mind they still eat at night) many of them struggle to function through the day. As soon as sundown hits they all are allowed to take a break and eat. Fasting isnt a solution. Its harmful to your body and if you dont eat at all your body will go into starvation mode abd any weight you lose you will gain back as soon as you eat.24
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@awildwomanatheart
I have fasted throughout my life—most regularly, when I was in my 20s and I fasted two (separate) days per week (24 or 36 hours each time). I also did a week's water fast during this time. I would get headaches (I think, in retrospect from sugar withdrawal) and a bad-tasting, dry mouth, and felt hungry, naturally, but those were the only negative side-effects. I went to work (office job) as usual on the fasting days.
The pros were:
1. It enabled me to maintain a healthy weight (even though in retrospect I overate on the other 5 days a week)
2. Everything tasted delicious afterwards! I think the best thing I've ever tasted in my life was a humble pear (the first thing I ate after my week-long water fast)
3. It got me out of the mindset that I ever had to eat at a specific time/day or that I would starve if I missed a meal.
4. It helped me build up a tolerance for hunger.
I wouldn't do it now, as I am on too many medications (for non diet-related health problems) but I regularly skip meals and I don't panic if I have to go hungry. I think (3) and (4) were the biggest benefits and I've maintained those to this day.
I didn't try the week-long fast until I was very experienced at doing the 24- and 36-hour fasts. I would suggest initially trying a 24-hour fast (barring any medical issues) and when you break the 24-fast eat only fruit and raw vegetables for the first two meals.
*Disclaimer: "Visit your doctor before water fasting. If you’re thinking about doing a water fast, consult your healthcare provider. Though fasting may offer health benefits for some people, others should avoid it. Be sure to discuss your medications and medical conditions with your doctor to determine if water fasting is safe for you."
Could your health problems be related to the way you treated your body by starving it?24 -
TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »I don't want to steal a thread, but cabbage soup for a day is not unhealthy. Carrots, broth, onions, garlic, and i forgot white beans for protein.
It's better than water only, and you know OP is going to do the water fast anyway. Giving options.
Well, water for one day really isn't unhealthy either. I'm not sure 24 hours is going to make a huge difference in the grand scheme of anything for anyone, assuming the person doesn't have any existing medical conditions (things like diabetes come to mind). However...water fasting for 24 hours or eating just cabbage soup for 24 hours isn't going to have any benefit either. You might feel terrible at the end of that 24-hour period, but you're not going to have lost weight or created any other health benefits.
If we're talking about fasting for longer periods of time, then it would be time to tell the OP to consult with her doctor.5 -
What would be the point in your mind?
How long are you thinking?
I personally think there's no diet reason to do it (I think it's more likely to be counterproductive) or "reset" reason. If there might be some other benefit to a short term fast for you? Dunno, but not really about fitness or diet, IMO.
My experience, I've done full day fasts on occasion on religious fast days (the way we do them these days, a full fast is not required, but may encouraged if you want to) and I think that can be fine, even beneficial, depending on the point, but I think it's a really bad idea to encourage it as an approach to weight loss.
How did I feel? Like I missed food, but it wasn't horrible or anything (like I said, short term, nothing from dinner to breakfast the day after). I think there can be some benefits to becoming conscious of a lack or various other spiritual elements. There was no amazingness or severe hardship, and it made 0 difference to how I wanted to eat afterwards.4 -
briana_aka_bunny wrote: »We have a lot of Muslim employees. When they do their fasting(keep in mind they still eat at night) many of them struggle to function through the day. As soon as sundown hits they all are allowed to take a break and eat. Fasting isnt a solution. Its harmful to your body and if you dont eat at all your body will go into starvation mode abd any weight you lose you will gain back as soon as you eat.
Of all of the issues regarding water fasting starvation mode is not one of them, because it doesn't exist in that way.18 -
i almost plowed my car into an overpass because I was fasting. Two days in and I was done.10
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My advice is do not try this unless it's doctors ordered for a procedure of some kind. Even then it can be potentially harmful.7
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A post like this shows desperation. I know it's hard. But there's no easier or softer way. Trying to lose weight is a *kitten*. But such is life. If you want to reach your goal, eat appropriately and exercise. Do not harm your body just because some scam artist says a miracle. I agree with the girl above. Unless you're under doctor's close supervision, do not do this for your own sake.18
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nomorepuke wrote: »A post like this shows desperation. I know it's hard. But there's no easier or softer way. Trying to lose weight is a *kitten*. But such is life. If you want to reach your goal, eat appropriately and exercise. Do not harm your body just because some scam artist says a miracle. I agree with the girl above. Unless you're under doctor's close supervision, do not do this for your own sake.
I'm sorry if you feel that way, but I can assure you that in no way, shape, or form am I "desperate". Haha. In all seriousness, it would be absolutely absurd to believe all the weight I want to lose will just drop overnight or with even one fast. Trust me when I say that I am well aware of that fact. I actually find it quite sad that people, such as yourself, would feel inclined to make such assumptions about someone they don't even know. It just goes to prove that it doesn't matter what you post or how you post it, every one will look at it and you in their own way. Alas, to each their own. I appreciate your concern, I do. I'm not following some guru, or trend, I was legitimately asking for the experience of others on such a topic to indeed get all the facts. To be well informed. I have known some individuals who have fasted for both health and spiritual reasons, done properly, they came out of it in a much better state of being than before and still are. So my post wasn't to be "desperate" or ridiculous, I was sincerely just asking for others experiences and thoughts on the matter. If its not your thing, that's fine. Don't agree with it, that's fine too. Personally I haven't made up my mind yet on the subject, hence why I like to research things thoroughly. I can see that the majority of opinion is not for it, thank you for your insights. Hope everyone has a good evening.22 -
@awildwomanatheart I guess it would help to explain why you want to do this water fast, and what you're hoping to accomplish by doing it? 9
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