Water fasting

Oreomilkshakebabe
Oreomilkshakebabe Posts: 16
in Food and Nutrition
I know people have asked this before but I can't find it,
but what are the benefits of water fasting?
I'm a healthy BMI of 19.5 but wanting to drop about 10 pounds. I have fasted before and it didn't do anything and I just was a shaky mess. ( 5 day water fast )

So.. fasting... yay or nay?

Replies

  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
    I think it's a safe bet that most of the people here on MFP are going to discourage fasting.
  • Oreomilkshakebabe
    Oreomilkshakebabe Posts: 16
    I think it's a safe bet that most of the people here on MFP are going to discourage fasting.

    but people are always saying that it's so " great "
  • IronSmasher
    IronSmasher Posts: 3,908 Member
    I think it's a safe bet that most of the people here on MFP are going to discourage fasting.

    but people are always saying that it's so " great "

    I've never heard that. Am I watching the wrong news and reading the wrong exercise, nutrition and medical journals?
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    I think it's a safe bet that most of the people here on MFP are going to discourage fasting.

    but people are always saying that it's so " great "

    No one I know says fasting is great.
    You've tried it and felt crappy - I suggest you pay attention to your own body not to what "everyone says".
  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
    What's so great about it? You feel terrible. You are shaky. You can't think. And you don't achieve any permanent weight loss.
  • aloha311
    aloha311 Posts: 118 Member
    If you are at a BMI of 19.5 and you drop another 10 pounds you will most likely have an underweight BMI. Water fasting isn't good for you and it is a sure way for your body to go into starvation mode.
  • Spanaval
    Spanaval Posts: 1,200 Member
    There is nothing wrong with say, a 24 hour fast. May even have benefits. Not eating for extended periods of time and only drinking water - not recommended. At a BMI of 19.5, you're already pretty low. Are you sure it's weight loss and not body recomposition you're after?
  • overboard101
    overboard101 Posts: 13
    I follow Dr. Joel Fuhrman M.D. on fasting . He's written a fantastic book called "Fasting and Eating For Health". I feel that it is probably the best book i'll ever read regarding nutrition. There are many reasons other than weight loss to fast. The one that I am fasting for first and foremost is to give my liver a break , if there is no food (only water) the fat in my liver is released , as well as the cholesterol in my arteries. Most of my healthy weight friends fast yearly (for a week) for these reasons. I really suggest you get this book, it's a real eye opener. Best of luck with YOUR weight loss journey. PS. you have six weeks of nutrients built up in your system, unless you are down on one, i'm down on Vitamin D so i'm working on that with sunshine!! and there's lots of that to go around. Have a great day. Great post.
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    You should look into the Intermittent Fasting group. The people there practice a less drastic form of fasting, basically, they eat only during a limited window, but they eat their normal calorie allotment.
  • RobynMWilson
    RobynMWilson Posts: 1,540 Member
    If you are at a BMI of 19.5 and you drop another 10 pounds you will most likely have an underweight BMI. Water fasting isn't good for you and it is a sure way for your body to go into starvation mode.

    Pretty much!!

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