Water Fasting...What's your experience?

OliveGirl128 · July 2017

lemurcat12 wrote: »

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.

My husband does a 36 hour 'famine' every year as part of a church thing, and his experiences have been similar to yours-the worst thing for him was that caffeine is not allowed and that's really rough for him-the first thing he did coming off of the last one was chug 2 cans of diet Mountain Dew

OP, I've done various IF protocols and back during my weight loss phase I did ADF, and rotated between maintenance calorie level days and then very low calorie days (under 500 calories). Going through that definitely taught me what true hunger really was vs eating for other reasons. Also, a common discussion on the ADF forum I hung out on was the spiritual aspect that happened a lot, but I never experienced anything like that. I also never went a complete day without at lease a few hundred calories and I ALWAYS hit maintenance or even higher calories the next day.

edit: grammar

OliveGirl128 · July 2017

Agathokakological · July 2017

I have had an absolutely incredible amount of success water fasting. This is what I did... Within the first hour of waking up I would drink at least 1L of water. After that I would have a nice balanced breakfast. Then I would water fast until lunch when I ate another pretty balanced meal. Then water fasted until dinner time where I would yet again eat a nutritionally balanced meal. I would then water fast until I went to bed.

That's it. Super simple and pretty easy to follow. Best of luck!

In all seriousness though, water fasting is not ideal in my opinion, for me personally. Here is some info. It’s just snippets. I’ll link all 3 articles below. Do your research and be sure to read arguments on both sides before making any decisions. No one can tell you what to do with your body, and don’t let anyone make you feel bad about the decisions you do make. They’re not affecting them, they affect you.

“Although some fasting practitioners insist on a water only fast, most specialists agree that fruit or vegetable juice fast is safer and as effective as water fast.” - Fasting for Health

“Over a 30 day water fast a person generally loses a maximum of 1-2 pounds of muscle mass. This conservation of the body's protein is an evolutionary development that exists to protect muscle tissue and vital organs from damage during periods of insufficient food availability.” - Buhner

“Water fasting helps your body reach ketosis more quickly than dieting.” - Group

“Fasting is a great way to reset your system and experience some fantastic health benefits, but it’s not a way to cheat basic biology. Don’t expect to live a life of overindulgence and let the occasional water detox cancel out the damage.” - Group

Fasting for Health - http://www.geocities.co.jp/Beautycare-Venus/2032/english/paper.html

Buhner - https://cdn.preterhuman.net/texts/body_and_health/The Health Benefits of Water Fasting.pdf

Group - https://dreddymd.com/2017/07/05/the-health-benefits-of-water-fasting/

awildwomanatheart · July 2017

Agathokakological wrote: »

I have had an absolutely incredible amount of success water fasting. This is what I did... Within the first hour of waking up I would drink at least 1L of water. After that I would have a nice balanced breakfast. Then I would water fast until lunch when I ate another pretty balanced meal. Then water fasted until dinner time where I would yet again eat a nutritionally balanced meal. I would then water fast until I went to bed.

That's it. Super simple and pretty easy to follow. Best of luck!

In all seriousness though, water fasting is not ideal in my opinion, for me personally. Here is some info. It’s just snippets. I’ll link all 3 articles below. Do your research and be sure to read arguments on both sides before making any decisions. No one can tell you what to do with your body, and don’t let anyone make you feel bad about the decisions you do make. They’re not affecting them, they affect you.

“Although some fasting practitioners insist on a water only fast, most specialists agree that fruit or vegetable juice fast is safer and as effective as water fast.” - Fasting for Health

“Over a 30 day water fast a person generally loses a maximum of 1-2 pounds of muscle mass. This conservation of the body's protein is an evolutionary development that exists to protect muscle tissue and vital organs from damage during periods of insufficient food availability.” - Buhner

“Water fasting helps your body reach ketosis more quickly than dieting.” - Group

“Fasting is a great way to reset your system and experience some fantastic health benefits, but it’s not a way to cheat basic biology. Don’t expect to live a life of overindulgence and let the occasional water detox cancel out the damage.” - Group

Fasting for Health - http://www.geocities.co.jp/Beautycare-Venus/2032/english/paper.html

Buhner - https://cdn.preterhuman.net/texts/body_and_health/The Health Benefits of Water Fasting.pdf

Group - https://dreddymd.com/2017/07/05/the-health-benefits-of-water-fasting/

Thank you very much for your insight and support in a person's right to make their own decision. I really appreciate that.

ruqayyahsmum · July 2017

BZAH10 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.

Im an 80's baby i still remember the gawd damn awful smell from my mothers many dieting attempts

sak20011 · July 2017

is there any real difference between a 24 hour water fast and folks who do one meal a day, assuming they eat their one meal 24 hours apart?

I have fasted for yom kippur--I don't miss the food but the morning coffee with milk is a bummer. I can't say I've felt cleansed or anything after, but I certainly did enjoy breaking the fast.

nomorepuke · July 2017

Looks as if you just wanted validation only. Nobody wins when you personally attack people who showed opposed concerns due to your health. If you're an adult, by all means, do what you want to do. I decided to give my two cents because I always felt bad for people who willingly make themselves experimental lab rats every time new trend comes up. I was over weight and desperate. and I've tried fasting many times. It only left me with eating disorder.
I was offered to advertise some diet pills on my Instagram. I refused mislead people that there's an easy way to get in shape. People don't like to hear that! It's boring and slow but diet and exercise is the only way. Best of luck to you.

spiffychick85 · July 2017

Well I fasted for years....I was anorexic. Obviously you are not coming from that place, but physically there was a certain "high" or "physical lightness" that came from not eating. I'm a very spiritual person and some days I felt like it was deep meditation (this may be why others you know who have done it, enjoyed it or felt altered?). The difference is I was doing this from a place of negativity and feelings of loss of control...so my memories are tainted, but I could see how a small fast would offer mental lightness for others OP

kimny72 · July 2017

awildwomanatheart wrote: »

Agathokakological wrote: »

I have had an absolutely incredible amount of success water fasting. This is what I did... Within the first hour of waking up I would drink at least 1L of water. After that I would have a nice balanced breakfast. Then I would water fast until lunch when I ate another pretty balanced meal. Then water fasted until dinner time where I would yet again eat a nutritionally balanced meal. I would then water fast until I went to bed.

That's it. Super simple and pretty easy to follow. Best of luck!

In all seriousness though, water fasting is not ideal in my opinion, for me personally. Here is some info. It’s just snippets. I’ll link all 3 articles below. Do your research and be sure to read arguments on both sides before making any decisions. No one can tell you what to do with your body, and don’t let anyone make you feel bad about the decisions you do make. They’re not affecting them, they affect you.

“Although some fasting practitioners insist on a water only fast, most specialists agree that fruit or vegetable juice fast is safer and as effective as water fast.” - Fasting for Health

“Over a 30 day water fast a person generally loses a maximum of 1-2 pounds of muscle mass. This conservation of the body's protein is an evolutionary development that exists to protect muscle tissue and vital organs from damage during periods of insufficient food availability.” - Buhner

“Water fasting helps your body reach ketosis more quickly than dieting.” - Group

“Fasting is a great way to reset your system and experience some fantastic health benefits, but it’s not a way to cheat basic biology. Don’t expect to live a life of overindulgence and let the occasional water detox cancel out the damage.” - Group

Fasting for Health - http://www.geocities.co.jp/Beautycare-Venus/2032/english/paper.html

Buhner - https://cdn.preterhuman.net/texts/body_and_health/The Health Benefits of Water Fasting.pdf

Group - https://dreddymd.com/2017/07/05/the-health-benefits-of-water-fasting/

Thank you very much for your insight and support in a person's right to make their own decision. I really appreciate that.

Nobody's saying you don't have the right to make you're own decision. Just giving our opinion and experience. You posted on a public forum, and we have lots of people who come to mfp after wasting their time and energy on fad diets, detoxes, and fasts. It's a shame. Lots of us have been through all of that and have come out on the other side wiser, with the understanding that you don't need any of that crap. If you'd rather learn from experience, have at it. We were just trying to save you the trouble :drinker:

estherdragonbat · July 2017

One day? Sure. I do that seven times a year for religious reasons. (Two 25-hour fasts; 5 run from dawn to dark. There was one last Tuesday; I had breakfast at 3:30 AM to keep me going till 9:45 PM). Multiple days on nothing but water? Not safe. Not healthy. Not a good idea.

mathjulz · July 2017

wolfe1234 wrote: »

@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."

Regarding the bolded - headache is a symptom of low blood sugar (or hypoglycemia). So you could say it was "sugar withdrawal," since you were probably reacting to not enough glucose in your blood until your body started using protein for glycogenesis. And since you weren't eating and taking in dietary protein, guess where it was coming from?

DietVanillaCoke · July 2017

The only time you should water fast is under the supervision of a medical professional and because they require you to do it. Yes there's a bunch of people claiming all these magical benefits but there isn't any real science behind any of it to back it up. Doing it for a day or 2 might be fine but I'm not your GP.

I've done a different type of fasting before, 5:2. I actually had really good results with it and I found it was sustainable. There's many ways you can go about reducing calories if your goal is to lose weight or if it's to feel better or be healthier and there are many groups with great information. Just have a look around and you might find something that suits your needs.

Good luck

savithny · July 2017

Our bodies are not computers or smartphones, and we don't "reset."

Not eating for a day, or more, is not some magical "Press the home key and the power button" answer to whatever we feel is wrong with our lives.

Why do we choose THAT metaphor, anyway? Why is it all "we need to RESET" like a computer? You're depriving your brain and muscles of fuel - why not compare it to what happens to a modern car if you run out of gas? Restarting the car after that is more complicated than just starting your car as usual, and there's a chance to do damage to parts of your engine. Why aren't we using THAT as our metaphor for fasting?

For that matter, doing a "reset" on your computer via the power button can cause corrupted data.

The "I need to reset" metaphor doesn't work on EVERY level, and yet people keep using it.

stanmann571 · July 2017

If you're doing a 24-48 hour water fast for spiritual/psychological benefit. Be purposeful and deliberate.

Prepare yourself physically and mentally. If caffeine is an issue, deal with that in the days previous to the fast.

During the fast, take the time you would normally have spent preparing and eating your meals to devote to some other purpose, Pray, meditate, etc.

That is in my opinion one major benefit of the fasting period, the extra time to put towards self growth or spiritual growth.

Afterwards, set aside time to reflect on how you felt before, during, and after. If a "reset" is what you're looking for. take advantage of the experience to reset.

Above all, remember, it's a discipline, not a punishment.

nvpixie · July 2017

I often do Intermittent Fasting 16/8. It's not to "reset" anything, but it helps keep my calories low. Basically, I skip breakfast. There are many threads on MFP about it if you're interested.

CSARdiver · July 2017

I've done a few fasts as part of survival training. The point of this is not to "reset" or "detox", but to mentally prepare you for greater stress under the philosophy "The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in combat".

Physically speaking there isn't much evidence supporting fasts. Mentally/spiritually there are multiple benefits. First and foremost this helps people determine the difference between true hunger signals and habit.

As others have stated this is something you need to prepare for in advance and have a well thought out plan and a goal on what precisely you want to accomplish from this. Implement the plan and take detailed notes, then upon completion review your notes and reflect on this accomplishment and how this will impact you in the future.

cwolfman13 · July 2017

I have water fasted for 24-48 hours for spiritual reasons. I wouldn't do it because of some diet industry woo though...

skyeepieee · July 2017

I wouldn't recommend it because as the people before me said: your body deserves and NEEDS nutrients. I did a 3 day juicing cleanse and I loved it but I have a weird system and I got really weak and almost sick to my stomach after that amount of time and I had to cave. While doing it I wasn't able to work out except for the first day because I was too weak. I lost weight but it was only temporary because it wasn't a lifestyle change, it was a cleanse. I recommend drinking a lot of water on top of eating vegetables and fruits if you really want to do some type of cleanse. The water will reduce your bloating and the veggies and fruits will still give you the nutrients you want. I would look up how long is okay to do that though. I wouldn't say more than 2-4 full days is healthy. I also have used Acai Berry cleanses and I liked that a lot. If I feel really *kitten* then I'll do that but I still eat, it just helps move my intestines quicker and cleanses them out.

Water Fasting...What's your experience?

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