Scheduled Starvation

[Mint]

Has anyone here fasted before? I have heard it is an excellent way to clean out toxins etc. I was thinking about trying a 48 hour fast just to see what it is like. A coworker of mine performs one weekend fast a month and swears by the therapeutic effects. But he is also a bit of a flake. I am interested in whether anyone has tried it and experienced negative effects. I would like to lose 10 pounds before my trip to Alaska in June which is how my coworker got on the subject of fasting and it piqued my curiousity.

edited to add: I am aware that seeing a doctor before undertaking a fast is important however I am interested in any personal experiences, negative or positive.



[Edited on 5-13-2004 by Mint]

Why would you lose weight to go to alaska? Go to many beaches?

[Mint]

Originally posted by RangerD1
Why would you lose weight to go to alaska? Go to many beaches?

Well, I want to lose the weight anyway. And I will be seeing some friends that have not seen me in a while. And, believe it or not, there ARE beaches in Alaska. They even thaw out in the summer.

Okay let me amend my question. Why would you go to alaska period?

[Mint]

Originally posted by RangerD1
Okay let me amend my question. Why would you go to alaska period?

I can tell you have never been. I and my sisters have visited almost every summer of my life. I have relatives and friends there. There is no place like it on earth. I get almost a feeling of coming home when I step off the plane. And we are spreading my sisters ashes there. Bunch of family and friends in attendance, etc etc. We can't keep her ashes in the closet at my parents forever. Now to find a good pair of goggles and a dust mask for the actual releasing of the ashes. Love my sister but would not be amusing to suck down her ashes. She would find it funny but not me. Yes, humor is a coping mechanism...

.......

[Mint]

Originally posted by RangerD1
.......

Well, you DID ask.

[longshot]

Fasting is not a good way to loose weight.

When your blood sugar hits a critical level, your body begins to eat its lean body mass (muscle) before it eats the fat.

Then, because you are in starvation mode, you will hold onto whatever fat you do eat when you come off the diet. So, you now have less muscle mass, yet you get fatter than before you started fasting.

If this sounds like a good idea, then you should probably try it.

[Miss X]

Personally I wouldn't fast totally for 48 hours, I couldn't handle it. However, as an alternative you could try what I'm doing this week.
Every so often I spend a week just eating fruit and drinking water. I find it quite easy as there are tons of yummy fruits to eat. Last time I did it I lost 8lbs in 7 days and then when I went back to my food optimising diet that I do when I want to lose a few pounds I was losing 2lbs a week till I went back to normal.

Hope that helps a bit! :)

Seriously, the only way to lose weight and keep it off is to eat less and become more active Everything else is secondary and unneccessary.

[Weedmage Princess]

I can't say I've heard anything negative about fasting like that for a short period of time. I've heard a lot of positive things from people who've fasted for a couple of days. I've heard the same thing your co-worker told you, pretty much--great way to clean out the toxants and stuff from your body. I was (am) considering a liquids only type diet for a weekend, but I might start slow and work my way to that. I have a hard time not eating "food."

[Nakiro]

Its actually very harmful, especially at your age.

Yes, it does clean out some toxins. But in order for those toxins to be cleaned out, they first have to re-enter your system.

Toxins, commonly refered to as bio amplifiers, are things like mercury which tend to build up in the human body over time. Depending on your diet, the higher at risk you are of having dangerous levels of these toxins. In particular, those who eat red meat, large game fish, or generally anything that high up on a food chain is at higher risk.

This is because bio amplifiers build up first in the smallest section of a food chain, and as creatures eat these, they tend to pass from one to the next, to the next, and so on and so forth.

When you fast, your body will start to burn fat reserves. These fat reserves contain a lot of these toxins that your body otherwise can't process or get ride of safely. Your fat cells in this instance are kind of a toxic holding chamber. Releasing them all at once (generally by not eating) can cause your body to be flooded with these.

Now, like your friend who has been doing this awhile, this person would be at less risk. But if someone your age, who hadn't fasted before tried it, you'd be signifigantly higher risk. The best way to remove fat and toxins is just healthy eating and regular exercise. This is a slower but safer way to empty fat resreves.

[Mint]

Thanks for the input. I tried skipping lunch today and started getting shaky about a half hour ago. Ran to the kitchen and fixed myself a sandwich. I guess fasting is out. What a wimp.

[Souzy]

Yuck, I had to do that for 3-4 days, for my grandmothers funeral. By the 4th hour, I was going delirious. I have to eat man. Anyway, it's not fun. Why not just cut down on how much you consume? Not eating could not be good for your body.

[DianaBanana]

Fasting is evil. Food=good. :up: Props to food.

[Snapp]

I would die if I didn't eat for a day, let alone a weekend. Okay, so maybe not die, but I'd be crazy-mean.



Props to food.

Damn skippy. :thumbsup:

[DianaBanana]

Hell, I'm hungry even when I'm not hungry...if that makes any sense. :P

[Atlanteax]

Originally posted by Mint
Thanks for the input. I tried skipping lunch today and started getting shaky about a half hour ago. Ran to the kitchen and fixed myself a sandwich. I guess fasting is out. What a wimp.

Yep, weak!!! :smug:

[Souzy]

Pssshtt Atlanteax. Like you're Ghandi or something. :bleh:

I couldn't live without food. Don't feel so bad Mint, diets are against my religion, haha.

[peam]

Look for a book called Master Cleanser, Mint.

It's a diet consisting of lemonade mixed with maple syrup and a touch of cayenne pepper... and it's not nearly as disgusting as it sounds.

Supposedly it works pretty well, most people who fast for a week end up losing around 20lbs.

[Shari]

I'm sorry, but that just sounds disgusting.

I like the fruit only for a week idea. I might have to try that before I go to Kauai this summer.