Water fasting

I have fasted for 24 hours one day a month since I was a teenager with the exception of times I was pregnant or nursing. My purpose is for spiritual reasons, not weight loss, however I am very familiar with the health benefits associated with periodic fasting that is not extreme in nature.

Since I have been logging on MFP, my weight has consistantly dropped by one pound after this fast, but that is unimportant in terms of the long-term impacts.

1.) According to two recent studies (2008, 2011), evidence shows that people who fast routinely have a lower prevalence of coronary disease.

2.) Another finding of the study was that levels of human growth hormone increased dramatically after the fasting period, as much as 20 times in men and 13 times in women. This hormone is known to be released during periods of fasting, it is presumed in order to trigger the burning of fat stores and protect lean muscle mass.

3.) Fasting gives the body a break from exposure to sugar, allowing cells to “resensitize” to sugar (helping to regulate insulin).

4.) Fasting resets the metabolic rate.

5.) A brief fast enables the body to do a little catch-up on the elimination of bodily toxins, so it is good for the elimanative organs like the colon, liver, kidneys and skin.

These are documented health benefits, but as I mentioned, I do it for spiritual reasons, and can attest that after my fast, I feel more centered, focused and at peace. "I also feel lighter", which I would describe as the opposite of feeling bloated or weighed down.

Pregnant women, nursing women, diabetics, hypoglycemics, those with eating disorders and people who take medications that require food are NOT good candidates for fasting. If a person has not fasted before, the prudent course would be to check with their doctor before they start.

I can't take it.... Exercise as every second you can, don't eat, and only drink water. Does this seriously sound right?

As a side note, when I undertake my monthly fast, I make it a point to take it easy - no exercise at all during that period other than meditative deep breathing.

just be careful about it. there are a few instances in which it's good (my doctor suggested it to me at the start of my new health regime change partly because I was close to being diabetic). make sure you are exercising during that time and working your muscles because it's easy to wind up losing muscle weight. since you're essentially putting your body in starvation mode be careful not to over-eat when you have your first meal, and eat really good to let your body soak up those nutrients, it will store as much of whatever you eat as it can since you've been depriving it. When I did it for 2 days I lost about 11 pounds, exercised every minute of it I could spare, but be prepared to gain some of it back. Do it only if you've really acquired all the information you can about the pros and cons of it.

I'm no doctor, but I drink Dr. Pepper ..... and telling someone to exercise while fasting seems like a dangerous and foolhearty suggestion. Are you trying to get OP killed?