Thoughts On Fasting?
DesOdhi
Posts: 84 Member
Just wondering everyone’s thoughts on weekly fasting. For example, eating properly and normally for 6 days a week. Then, on the 7th, just drinking water to rest your digestive system. A lot of people in my health class were talking about it. No one seems to know if it’s good for your body or not. I would prefer genuine and honest opinions, as well as FACTUAL answers. However, genuine and honest does not mean rude or disrespectful. Thanks in advance.
9
Replies
-
If you want to do this, I don't see why not. But your digestive system does not need a rest, that is hokum.17
-
Ok, thank you. Not really looking to do it. Just being inquisitive at the moment.Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink wrote: »If you want to do this, I don't see why not. But your digestive system does not need a rest, that is hokum.
0 -
Healthy adults can fast for a day without any ill effect, physically. But most people in our part of the world get hangry when they have to wait for dinner. Imagine handling a whole day! Your heart and your lungs don't need breaks. Your digestive system doesn't need a rest, either. If you can eat properly and normally for 6 days a week while fasting for one day per week, great. More likely you'll end up bingeing on day seven. But if you can eat properly and normally for 6 days a week, you probably don't need to fast for a day.6
-
I knew someone who put their dogs on this type of fast. He said he did it for their longevity. UGH0
-
If fasting one day a week works for someone to control their calories I don't think there's anything dangerous about it. I don't know of any benefit to resting your digestive system, I don't think that's really a thing.
1 -
I developed significant gastritis on a two day a week fast regimen. Cured by same calories split evenly across the week2
-
There are a few scientific studies on the benefits of fasting, although there aren't a whole lot. Most seem to agree that longer fasts are the ones that have the most potential for benefits like autophagy.
Here's an interesting article: https://news.usc.edu/63669/fasting-triggers-stem-cell-regeneration-of-damaged-old-immune-system/4 -
Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink wrote: »I knew someone who put their dogs on this type of fast. He said he did it for their longevity. UGH
Poor dogs
4 -
Just wondering everyone’s thoughts on weekly fasting. For example, eating properly and normally for 6 days a week. Then, on the 7th, just drinking water to rest your digestive system. A lot of people in my health class were talking about it. No one seems to know if it’s good for your body or not. I would prefer genuine and honest opinions, as well as FACTUAL answers. However, genuine and honest does not mean rude or disrespectful. Thanks in advance.
There's certainly no harm in fasting one day a week, plenty of folks fast for religious reasons and have for probably forever.
But why would your digestive system need a break? Does your respiratory system or your circulatory system need a break? Should we not walk for 24 hrs every week to give our legs a break? Not being rude, I've just never understood where the idea that this one particular part of your body needs a 24 hr break comes from!19 -
I can go about 4 hours without eating during my awake hours. It sure doesn't seem very "fast" to me.13
-
My mother has a 36-40 hour fast every Friday and has done it for years. Not for digestive rest, but she uses it for personal religious reasons. She feels it helps get herself into a good mood and that it helps her focus her praying. Last time I tried it on purpose all I could think about was how my stomach wouldn't shut up. My prayers now include thanks that I am able to eat what I need to function at my job every day!
I don't believe it has any benefit or detriment to the digestive system itself, but I haven't read into any specific studies. In terms of weight loss, I assume it would work similarly to 5:2 or another intermittent fasting protocol. It's merely a way to reduce overall calorie intake.
6 -
Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink wrote: »I knew someone who put their dogs on this type of fast. He said he did it for their longevity. UGH
That is so sad! Poor dogs waiting for supper for it to never come 1 -
@kimny72 Okay, maybe I’m a bit mistaken but I had assumed I made it pretty clear that I didn’t know much about the topic, which is why I am asking the question. So, if you would like to ask questions, this is not the thread to do so. Not being rude, of course, just not sure how your response has benefitted this thread in any way.10
-
As long as you can control yourself on the days you are not fasting, then it can work very well in terms of building a calorie deficit. Just don't give your digestive system too much time off or it'll become lazy and sleep all day
2 -
My mother has a 36-40 hour fast every Friday and has done it for years. Not for digestive rest, but she uses it for personal religious reasons. She feels it helps get herself into a good mood and that it helps her focus her praying. Last time I tried it on purpose all I could think about was how my stomach wouldn't shut up. My prayers now include thanks that I am able to eat what I need to function at my job every day!
I don't believe it has any benefit or detriment to the digestive system itself, but I haven't read into any specific studies. In terms of weight loss, I assume it would work similarly to 5:2 or another intermittent fasting protocol. It's merely a way to reduce overall calorie intake.
Yes, I agree. I’ve only really ever heard of people using it for religious reasons. I just wondered if anyone had any actual health benefits of doing it. Thank you for your response.
0 -
Haha, EXACTLY! I don’t see how people do it.fitoverfortymom wrote: »I can go about 4 hours without eating during my awake hours. It sure doesn't seem very "fast" to me.
1 -
That’s ridiculous. I hope someone informed them that dogs eat when they’re hungry in the wild. They don’t “fast for longevity.”Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink wrote: »I knew someone who put their dogs on this type of fast. He said he did it for their longevity. UGH
1 -
So, what I’ve pretty much gathered today, there’s no actual internal benefits to fasting. It’s either a religious or weight loss based. Thank you! I was really wondering.BruceHedtke wrote: »As long as you can control yourself on the days you are not fasting, then it can work very well in terms of building a calorie deficit. Just don't give your digestive system too much time off or it'll become lazy and sleep all day
0 -
Sorry to be the one to rock the boat, but there IS benefit to fasting. Even IF will help to reset your metabolism to a leaner, meaner, more efficient machine. Have you seen the long-term Rhesus Monkey Research on minimal calorie deficiets? I know we're not monkeys, but it's worth pondering...........
https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms1406330 -
i was listening to one guy and he said fasting is one way to use glycogen so the body starts using fat. He is a weight trainer on you tube. His name is gravity training zone. He intermittently fasts.11
-
@kimny72 Okay, maybe I’m a bit mistaken but I had assumed I made it pretty clear that I didn’t know much about the topic, which is why I am asking the question. So, if you would like to ask questions, this is not the thread to do so. Not being rude, of course, just not sure how your response has benefitted this thread in any way.
I think those questions in those posts were rhetorical anyhow.8 -
My thoughts are that it is not magical and there is nothing more to it than skipping a meal. If it helps you control your calories in a given day then its ok but fasting itself is not some magic that will do anything beyond, skipping a meal. I use it as a tool to maintain a calorie deficit because I dont eat breakfast and eat a bigger lunch/dinner. Works for my lifestyle.3
-
@toxikon good article
@kimny72 It is well documented that after a day of heavy weightlifting or a hard workout, you DO need to give those muscles a break of at least one day to rebuild and recover before stressing them heavily again.
The main benefit of fasting is that when your body has used all the easy glycogen stores if there is no new food intake, the body starts looking internally for things it can burn for the energy it needs. Prolonged fasting (4-5 days) allows the body an opportunity to kill off damaged and mutated cells, and also creates a large drop in white blood cells, which are regenerated upon re-feeding. Some people will do an extended fast of 3 to 5 days twice each year.
Most people find several days of no food too hard, so another option is "fasting mimicking diet", which Dr. Valter Longo created to allow cancer patients to have the benefits of a 5 day fast while consuming small regulated diet, around 500 calories per day. He has found that fasting may mitigate some of the harmful effects of chemotherapy and in his mice studies, fasting and chemo working together gave 100% cancer-free mice.
One other thing you will hear about is intermittent fasting. This could be not eating every other day, or only picking one or two days out of the week (5/2) to fast. Many of the intermittent fasting diets also allow this small amount of calorie intake even on fasting days.
I have just started time-restricted eating, with 16 hours of no food and only eating for 8 hour window each day. This should help me lose weight and control blood glucose. See Dr. Satchin Panda reference below and there's another 2-part interview with him on bulletproof radio. https://blog.bulletproof.com/satchin-panda-part-2/
I've been listening to Dr. Rhonda Patrick and she has a lot of interest in the medical benefits of fasting on healthspan and lifespan. https://www.foundmyfitness.com/episodes
For extended fasting, watch the Dr. Valter Longo & Dr. Guido Kroemer episodes & for time-restricted eating watch both of the Dr. Satchin Panda episodes.24 -
I think fasting one day a week is no big deal, depending on the person may be beneficial or may not (more to do with the mental effects). But NOT beneficial based on resting the digestive system, which doesn't need to rest.
I fast occasionally for religious reasons and find it helpful. I don't like the idea of full day fasts for weight control, for me, but some use them regularly for that purpose and like them. That's about whether it creates an overall deficit for the week.1 -
Thank you. I’ll keep an open mind and check it out.MonaRaeHill wrote: »Sorry to be the one to rock the boat, but there IS benefit to fasting. Even IF will help to reset your metabolism to a leaner, meaner, more efficient machine. Have you seen the long-term Rhesus Monkey Research on minimal calorie deficiets? I know we're not monkeys, but it's worth pondering...........
https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms14063
0 -
-
i was listening to one guy and he said fasting is one way to use glycogen so the body starts using fat. He is a weight trainer on you tube. His name is gravity training zone. He intermittently fasts.
If you're in a deficit, your body will be using fat whether you're fasting or not.10 -
I appreciate your well thought out and articulate response. I’ll be sure to reference some of your links for my own research.catherineg3 wrote: »@toxikon good article
@kimny72 It is well documented that after a day of heavy weightlifting or a hard workout, you DO need to give those muscles a break of at least one day to rebuild and recover before stressing them heavily again.
The main benefit of fasting is that when your body has used all the easy glycogen stores if there is no new food intake, the body starts looking internally for things it can burn for the energy it needs. Prolonged fasting (4-5 days) allows the body an opportunity to kill off damaged and mutated cells, and also creates a large drop in white blood cells, which are regenerated upon re-feeding. Some people will do an extended fast of 3 to 5 days twice each year.
Most people find several days of no food too hard, so another option is "fasting mimicking diet", which Dr. Valter Longo created to allow cancer patients to have the benefits of a 5 day fast while consuming small regulated diet, around 500 calories per day. He has found that fasting may mitigate some of the harmful effects of chemotherapy and in his mice studies, fasting and chemo working together gave 100% cancer-free mice.
One other thing you will hear about is intermittent fasting. This could be not eating every other day, or only picking one or two days out of the week (5/2) to fast. Many of the intermittent fasting diets also allow this small amount of calorie intake even on fasting days.
I have just started time-restricted eating, with 16 hours of no food and only eating for 8 hour window each day. This should help me lose weight and control blood glucose. See Dr. Satchin Panda reference below and there's another 2-part interview with him on bulletproof radio. https://blog.bulletproof.com/satchin-panda-part-2/
I've been listening to Dr. Rhonda Patrick and she has a lot of interest in the medical benefits of fasting on healthspan and lifespan. https://www.foundmyfitness.com/episodes
For extended fasting, watch the Dr. Valter Longo & Dr. Guido Kroemer episodes & for time-restricted eating watch both of the Dr. Satchin Panda episodes.
0 -
Yea, I pretty much feel the same way. I’ve only really ever fasted for religious purposes, but not a complete fast (no food). More like, no meats or sweets for 40 days. I have no experience with the health reasons for doing it.lemurcat12 wrote: »I think fasting one day a week is no big deal, depending on the person may be beneficial or may not (more to do with the mental effects). But NOT beneficial based on resting the digestive system, which doesn't need to rest.
I fast occasionally for religious reasons and find it helpful. I don't like the idea of full day fasts for weight control, for me, but some use them regularly for that purpose and like them. That's about whether it creates an overall deficit for the week.
0 -
@kimny72 Okay, maybe I’m a bit mistaken but I had assumed I made it pretty clear that I didn’t know much about the topic, which is why I am asking the question. So, if you would like to ask questions, this is not the thread to do so. Not being rude, of course, just not sure how your response has benefitted this thread in any way.
You asked for thoughts and opinions. Those are my thoughts and opinions. Sorry I didn't answer the way you wanted me to
13
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.3K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 424 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions