Kelowna

Have you ever tried fasting? Do you know anyone that practices it?

I have been reading a lot on the practice over the past months and have tried a 7-10 day period fasting in the late summer. Now I am about to embark on a 2 week fasting period and looking, I guess for validation /support group etc.
So please respond if you have any stories to share.

chinablue

Don't recommend it. Talk to your physician about whether it is healthy.

coureur

1 or 2 days without food = fasting.
2 weeks without food = starvation.

For me fasting is out of the question. Low blood sugar is surest way to trigger a migraine for me. I'm not about to do anything that is going to give me a migraine.

MomofWildChild

Beyond stupid.

Kelowna

Let me clarify.
I am not talking about not eating at all. I am talking about drastically reducing caloric intake by eating certain fruits and vegetables. No starches, no meat, no sweet fruits etc.
It is still considered fasting.
Yes, a fasting person has to be wached very carefully if on any medications because when our body cleanses itself the chemical reactions may lead to meds needing adjusting. I am not on any medications.
When I tried it the previous time - I felt GREAT after initial couple of days. What was hard for me was making meals for everybody else in the family.
Please do not say it is stupid unless you can validate it.

chinablue

Talk to your doctor about it.

BCEagle91

The longest I've ever done a fast (no food, no liquids, nothing but air) is two days. I do one day fasts from time to time. The one day fasts are not difficult if you're used to them. The two-day fast wasn't difficult at the time though I did it in my twenties and was generally more fit back then.

Kelowna

^^why would you go without water?

great lakes mom

Many years ago I used to do juice fasts of up to 4 days, as well as frequent one day juice fasts. As you probably know, there is a long tradition of fasting, in many cultures. I also felt very good while fasting, after initial hunger pangs subsided. And it was a great weight control tool.

After having kids, and nursing for years after the pregnancies-a time when fasting is not a good idea-I tried again. No way! Fasting tends to diminish concentration as well as energy levels, and I needed all I could find when the kids were young. The nutritional word was that it was not healthy.

But sometime in the last year I found a NY Times article suggesting that there may be some very good reasons for fasting, and giving the digestive system a rest. It also is a way to get some of the calorie restricive benefits as suggested by the life extention researchers. So I have reconsidered, but not taken any action. But they were talking about 1 day a week or so, nothing too extended.

But why two weeks? At a certain point, I'd think decreased intake of various nutrients would start to impact negatively on bodily systems. Lack of calcium and the effect on bone density would be one concern. Also, depending on number of calories consumed during the fast, you do enter starvation mode, and muscle wasting starts to occur. Maintaining muscle mass is very important in aging, for many reasons, and can be hard to build back up. That muscle wasting is also hard on the kidneys.

Anyhow, that is what I remember from various readings-I'm not a nutritionist. I'd be curious as to your reasons for a fast of that length. If memory serves, you're a female around my age-college age kids. I do think some of these things are very different at this age rather than in one's 20s.

MomofWildChild

Beyond stupid. It doesn't take much to validate my opinion. It is medically harmful and has no lasting benefits. So what if you feel "great" for a few days? You are starving your body. I am a competitive athlete and well-versed in proper nutrition. What's the point? Do something sensible if you want to reduct calories and perhaps lose some weight.

somemom

A few years ago a friend wanted to do that lemon juice maple syrup/chili powder fast; I was worried about it and decided to do it with her so I could be taken seriously if I felt it was dangerous. I have to admit, I felt really good. We did it for one week and I may have added some other juice (calories) if I felt I needed it, but mainly once we were not hungry it felt good.

The chili powder was nasty and we took it in capsules and it took me a long time to want anything maple syrup again!

I think the critical factor was taking in lots of fluids and some calories each day so it really wasn't a true starvation fast, more a limiting to liquid only.

abasket

Kelowna, what (besides the feeling good afterwards) is your motivation for doing this? Just curious.

Kelowna

[quote]It is medically harmful and has no lasting benefits.[quote]

Fasting is not medically harmful (I am talking about controlled fasting, no starvation) Very sick people admitted to hospitals are put on fasting diets (with IV fluids, NPO).
Why, when we are sick, the first instinct our bodies have is lack of appetite?

Kelowna

I am after better health. I am 41 and no illness to speak of, some extra weight but nothing too serious either.
I have been reading into this, like I have said, for a while now (different language so sorry, no links ).
Fasting as a cleansing, detoxification, lifestyle changing etc. For example, I would like to eat less meat and stop drinking coffee. I only drink one cup of coffee a day, in AM, but am feeling my "coffee down" a few hour later, craving another "wake me up " drink.
I generally think we eat very unhealthy as a society. Even those of us that consider ourselves (myself included) to eat healthy. We eat too much in general, too much meat, too much starch, not enough veggies, not enough greens.
I have friends that try this fasting diet a couple of times a year and they both (it is a couple) report wonderful results. The guy has been overweight - since started doing this 2 years ago there is no need for BP and diabetes pills. The gal has back problems - reports less pain overall but especially when she is following the diet.
All major religions reccomend fasting, yoga supports fasting, peole who fast periodically are reported to be in better overall health. People who eat less are reported to be in better health. generally calorie restricitng seems to be a goood thing for a human being.
Great Lakes Mom - there is lots of calcium in green veggies like broccoli and cabbage. This is where Asian people get their calcium from.
Like I have said - I have tried it for a little over a week and felt great after the initial phase (during which I felt bad because I was hungry, I did not experience hedaches like most people doing fasting experience at the beginning). I was definitiely less tired, had more energy, required less sleep and was in a great mood (read - was less moody )
I really liked the feeling and would like to incorporate this diet into my lifestyle. Just looking for some support from people who have tried it.
MOWC - since you are very athletic a calorie reducing/fasting diet might not be in your ballpark and I am not forcing you to be interested in it. "Beyond stupid" is an opinion. Thanks for sharing. If you have any knowledge of healthy people that got harmed by controlled fasting, please do let me know.

hmom5

I fast once every quarter for 3 days as a clease and energy boost. You might Google Elson Haas and read his theories and fasting recipe online or get the book.

IMO, two weeks is much too long for a fast. But you don't seem to be really talking about a fast, just a low calorie, veggie diet which is fine.

To me, if I were trying to accomplish what you were, I'd do a short fast and then ease into a healthier diet.

We're pretty extreme--have cut out all coffee, eat almost nothing with additives of any sort at home, use meat very sparingly and eat mostly fish and legumes for protein.

There's a fairly recent book called the 'Instinct Diet", written by the former head of the FDA. I agree with the theory in the book that when you cut out the harmful foods for long enough, your brain chemistry changes and you no longer crave these foods.

A former meat and sweets lover, the sight of a large steak now makes me gag and the dessert buffet at an event last week literally left me thinking I'd feel sick if I ate any.