Fasting

fitnessluvr

fitnessluvr

Cathlete
Tomorrow I am going to attempt my first 1 day fast. My body feels like it is just sick of food (I think I am on sugar overload). Anyone else fast on a regular basis?
 
I fast and pray on a regular basis for spiritual reasons. I fast occasionally to recover from a food allergy crisis. I am allergic to seafood, mushrooms, and soy. I am also very sensitive to MSG. If I eat something that triggers a bad reaction, a 24-hour fast with plenty of spring water followed by a short Daniel fast (fresh fruit, raw or lightly steamed veggies, organic beans, and raw nuts) is the fastest way to detox. If this is your first experience with fasting, I suggest starting with a juice fast if you own a juicer. You could also wait until you are good and hungry and eat fresh fruit and salads for a few days. Be careful with fasting if you have any health issues or a history of eating disorders. Bless your body with plenty of pure water and rest during your fast. In my experience, waiting until I am really hungry before eating again and choosing whole foods is the best way to get back on track after too much party food.

Blessings,
Heather B.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV).
 
I dont fast. I dont know enough about the benefits but my perception is that it is difficult to distinguish between "fad fasts" and fasts that have well researched benefits.

I prefer clean eating to fasting.

The aim behind most fasts seems to be detoxing, so my view is why "tox" in the first place?

I think a cold turkey switch to clean eating may be too much for some people, so raw-food (fruit and veggies) and juice "fasting" for a day, followed by a period of cleaner eating (where you gve up one type of junk food, then a one-day raw-food/juice fast followed by a period when you eliminate one more junk food-group could be a way to gradually eliminate junk food from the diet (the weaning approach to cleaning the diet vs the cold turkey, overnight switch).
 
I would never be able to Fast either...Im just not capable of going that long without food.
When I feel crappy though (like the above poster) I perfer to eat salads, fruit and water...instintly I feel better. Its probably all in my mind;)

Lori:)
 
I've done a few fasts in my life, of different kinds.

Back in the 70s, I did a few juice fasts, and a three-day water fast (with enemas--what good is 'detoxiing' if things aren't moving out?). One juice fast was after I had my wisdom teeth removed, and I juiced for something like 3 days, then did a raw-food diet for another 3 or so.

I also have known people who fast once a week.

A couple of summers ago, I did a week or so of juicing and 100% raw foods.

A one-day fast is not much of a problem for most people, but anything much longer and you should plan well (including how to transition out of the fast).

Dr. Fuhrman recommends fasting for allowing the body to heal itself more easily, as the energies are going to repair rather than digestion. He has a book out on the subject.
 
In September, I started intermittent fasting (IF) a few days a week for 16-20 hours. I know it's a concept that's pooh-poohed by some, but found it to work better for me (mentally AND physically) than the "must-eat-six-small-meals-a-day" regimen...which was making me just hate food and eating in general.

It does require some discipline in that you don't break your fast with crappy food. I actually find that I crave good foods to break the fast with.

If the complete one day fast is a little overwhelming at first, you can try a shorter one to start with.
 
I have done a few 2 day "cleanses". I only eat raw veggies and fruit for 2 days (no juice, coffee). I only drink water and some decaf tea. I do this when I am out of control with my eating. I do it for a cleanse of sorts, but more to show myself that I have control over my eating. I feel like I can do anything once I have done this for 2 days!

If I do a workout over the 2 days, I eat a bit of protein/complex carb before the workout (1/2 a whole wheat English Muffin with peanut butter).

I usually drop a few pounds over the 2 days (3-5lbs.), but it most of it usually comes back, so I don't do this for weight control. That part comes every day with my eating and workouts!
Jenn
 
I've been considering this e-book and audio files after Skwigg's blog review. The price is holding me back $77.

I need to take off my holiday pounds, or transition from my winter body to my summer body(take your pick):D I sort of like the idea of creating my weekly deficit in one or two days.

Anyone read this book? Would this be considered fad dieting?
http://www.eatstopeat.com/?hop=skwigg
 
fit44 said:
I've been considering this e-book and audio files after Skwigg's blog review. The price is holding me back $77.

I need to take off my holiday pounds, or transition from my winter body to my summer body(take your pick):D I sort of like the idea of creating my weekly deficit in one or two days.

Anyone read this book? Would this be considered fad dieting?
http://www.eatstopeat.com/?hop=skwigg
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Hi Cynthia - I haven't read "Eat Stop Eat", but have seen it referenced on the blog where I got a lot of my info on intermittent fasting. That's basically what the book is about.

The blog I read is: http://www.modernforager.com

Here's a link to Scott Kustes' (the blogger's) review of the book:http://www.modernforager.com/blog/2008/09/05/what-im-reading-eat-stop-eat/

Scott also did a six-part series on his blog about fasting, if you're interested: http://www.modernforager.com/blog/2...to-your-body-when-you-fast-energy-production/

ETA - Post about Kustes' IF success story: http://www.modernforager.com/blog/2008/03/04/my-intermittent-fasting-success-story/
 
Good luck, Cynthia! :D

I usually do a condensed window fast from 8pm to 12pm, about 16 hours, a couple times during the week and a longer fast on Saturdays, maybe 18-20 hours. I think I'm usually busy doing fun stuff on Saturdays, so don't notice hunger as much.

Ill have to check out those videos.
 
I'll sometimes do a "modified" fast as others have described. Usually for an entire day or two - only eat fruits/smoothies/veggies (in salads or cooked). It makes me feel so much better. I do this usually on the weekends because I couldn't do it while on my feet working all day.

Just finished a big slice of banana cake with ice cream for my DS 13th birthday, so obviously this weekend was not a "fast" weekend!

Heidi, wondering how she ended up with a 13 year old - ahhhh!!
 
I purchased the Eat Stop Eat e-book and audio files.
I highly recommend the book. Not so sure the audio files are necessary. They go into a bit more detail about the chemistry behind fasting. Pretty boring material and the author/narrator's voice makes me want to sleep. He reads/speaks very monotone:eek:

The book is $39.95, 90 pages. My husband and I both read the book and are excited to make fasting a part of our nutritional lifestyle. It's very simple and seems to have a lot of health benefits.
The only thing I'm finding a bit complicated is calories on days we are not fasting.
It would be easier if we both were at our ideal weight, but we both need to lose our winter pounds. I'm hoping fasting will prevent our winter weight gain in the future. I'm pretty tired of gaining winter, losing for spring and summer. :eek:
Should I reduce our calories on eating days? My husband wants to fast twice a week, I want to fast once a week.
 
fit44 said:
Should I reduce our calories on eating days? My husband wants to fast twice a week, I want to fast once a week.
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I'd say keep calories the same, and try fasting once a week (or once every two weeks--though once a week gets you into a habit that "X" is fasting day), then after a month, decide whether you want to do it more or less often (that way, you and DH somewhat compromise at first, and can both fast at the same time).

I'm on an imposed fast today (Colonoscopy prep requires a day of clear fluids only...well, in addition to the 'purge,' which I'm not looking forward to, LOL!). I picked up a box of a variety of herb teas, and plan to drink those throughout the day. One tip: the day before the fast, put every item of food OUT OF SIGHT. I have to bring my willpower into play when passing by things I left out (like apples!).
 
fit44 said:
Should I reduce our calories on eating days? My husband wants to fast twice a week, I want to fast once a week.
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That's a good question. So much of what I've read is very "try it and see what works for you". Do you log your food at all?

When I started IF in September, I immediately dropped 4-5 pounds of this horrible bloat/water weight that had been plaguing me for about six months. Without any diet modifications, I logged my food for a few weeks to see how much I was eating in general and found my fasting days to be at a caloric deficit (makes sense) and my eating days to be about even - not much excess, not much deficit. I'm not looking to really lose any weight, so I just let this ride.

I did notice something over the holidays. I continued to IF, but my eating was generally horrendous for about four weeks. However, I didn't gain any weight. I doubt that would work long term, but it was nice to not start the new year in my "fat" pants.
 
fitnessluvr said:
Tomorrow I am going to attempt my first 1 day fast. My body feels like it is just sick of food (I think I am on sugar overload). Anyone else fast on a regular basis?
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Egads, no! The only time I fast is when I have to take a blood test to check my thyroid. And those 12 hours without food are awful!!!
 
Gayle said:
I did notice something over the holidays. I continued to IF, but my eating was generally horrendous for about four weeks. However, I didn't gain any weight. I doubt that would work long term, but it was nice to not start the new year in my "fat" pants.
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The only time in my life my weight remained steady was back when I would skip a day of eating. Back then, I was told I was starving myself. Now I realize I was IF! You're not starving if you go 24 hours without food, and it doesn't hurt to get used to the feeling of an empty stomach. It really does put you in tune with how much to eat. I really do know how to do this. I need to get back in the habit. :)
It goes against everything we have been told for sure.
 
Eat Stop Eat is really a doable fast. Really easy to pick up. The only problem i had was to do a breakfast to breakfast fast. Found it easier to do a lunch to lunch or dinner to dinner fast. The book is really very simple to understand but it makes sense to read it first before going into it. Chances are you will be successful when you understand what it is all about.
It is worth trying out.
 
Well I did it! A 6pm to 6pm fast. It wasn't as bad as I thought that it was going to be. I was actually quite patient with my two boys (5 and 2) and my DH. I broke my fast with fruits and veggies, plain oatmeal and peanut butter toast. I slept great and woke up with a lot more energy that I have in a while. I am not sure how often I will fast, but I would like to at least once or twice a month. I also feel like I have lost some water weight and I had no cravings for sugar last night (which was my goal in the first place).

Mindy
 
ITA with everything Heather said!!!!
I also fast (once a month) for spiritual reasons-- though I do think it has physical benefits as well.

I've also read a few of Dr. Andrew Weil's books & he's a proponent of fasting-- in moderation. His studies have shown that in giving the digestive system (and other systems... as you're supposed to be resting) a break your body can focus more intensely on healing & repair. It's an interesting theory.

I found this link on his website...
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA300783

HTH! Good luck with everything! :D
 
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