fasting

Is fasting safe? My mom is on a fast now and she cannot eat for 6+ days. I heard that fasting is not good for young people but if your older then it is fine to do a cleansing fast. I want to do one but i want it to be safe. any suggestions???

Thanks Molly

done correctly it is. otherwise it holds many risks.

I think you can live without food for some daft amount of time like 2 weeks, but you can't live without water for more than 2 days.

I read an article about a martial arts master who fasted every weekend to give his digestive tract a chance to catch up and rest....sounded like a good idea, but I love my food too much to try it

:  '

I suppose if you want to give it a go, set aside one day a week and fast.......Is your Mum's fast a religious thing? I have some indian friends who have to fast as part of their festivals n stuff.

You should consult your doctor just to make sure,it might not be good for your health condition now. Also after you finish fasting ,some people I know said it caused them to binge because they were so hungry so I dont know its up to you but normal dieting might be better. 

yeah, 99.9% of ppl binge after they fast, which just sets you back even further than you were before the fast with weight gain and seemingly uncontrollable cravings.

if you fast, DO NOT eat a huge "last supper" type meal the day before beginning the fast. DO NOT eat a huge "first supper" type of meal the day after finishing your fast.

if you fast one day, you should have one day before and after the fast of eating fruits like apples only. stuff that is light on the digestive system.

if you fast 6 days for example, you should have a day pre-fast eating light fruits, and then about THREE DAYS after the fast of ONLY consuming fruits.

most people fail to do this. the finish the fast, eat a huge meal and give into cravings, and gain back anything they lost, plus more, and ruin any positive attributes that might have come about to fasting. if you are committed to fasting, THEN eating a restricte amount for the next few days THEN slowly upping your cals, sometimes taking up to a week, then i'd say you might be a potential succesdul candidate for fasting.

people say youll gain all the weight back but not if you do it right. my last fast i followed what i suggested to you above with eating very lightly for many days after the fast, and i maintained the weight i lost, like 13 pds. but its not for everyone, only disciplined, because you get some pretty intense cravings post fast.

If she's fasting to lose weight, it won't work. 

People fast for many reasons but it just isn't a good weight loss stragegy.

question if its for religious purposes what does it do to ur metabolism, Like in my religion I fast for one month out of every year ,I eat food but not before the sunsets,so about 5ish,so I know it slows down my metabolism but how else does it affect my body?

If she's fasting to lose weight, it won't work. 


lie.

I don't really think fasting is good for you. I must agree with clairlain, you'll end up gaining it back + when you start eating healthy again.

BG

pinthin - I tried it multiple times over the course of the past 20 years.  It does not work.  You gain back every single pound, plus more, the very minute you go off the fast.

Not a lie dearie, the truth as I know it.

As long as you dont binge afteward. Should you decide to fast you need to eat raw fruits and vegetables and perhaps vegetable broth for at least two days beore hand. After you CANNOT eat regular processed foods. At least not for 3-4 days. You must only eat raw unprocessed fresh vegetables and light fruits. After the third day you may incorporate something like brown rice.

Fasting to loose weight is probably not the best reason. Over the past ten years I have fasted once a year for one month (both supervised and unsupervised). It's all about willpower. Most people love food too much to even bother. We live in a society where our entire lives revolve around food.

If you are 16 or under I would say that this is prob. not the best idea. However, if done correctly...with water only (not juice...thats not a true fast) then you will find many rewards.

fasting can be fatal as in little as 3 days from complications.

not from lack of food or fat. but imbalances in the system.
anything over 3 days should be gone over with a doctor.

i have seen fasting work and not work.
it depends on your body's intake and output if you will gain it back.

most people go back to bad eating habits and put on what they loss plus some because of the lowered BMR from fasting. it can take up to 8 weeks to repair.

if you want to do a safe fast for your age. take one day a week where you eat fruits and veggies raw and without anything on them. and EAT. the food cleans you out/detoxes and supports your growing body.

have water (filtered) only as your beverage that day. that is safe for anyone of any age (as long as they are not on meds. you can get sick of you are on meds). no caffine or soda.

you should talk to your mom about it. its safer and eaiser for her too. it also can promote weightloss just because you are eating good foods. and you dont have to worry about a damaged metabolism.


 

Fasting can be done safely but the safety depends on the length, extent, and frequency of the fasting.

I would say no more than once a week, for 24 hours only, drinking plenty of water.  And obviously certain medical conditions, like diabetes, will prohibit fasting.

Fasting can jumpstart a weight loss.  Obviously some weight will come back immediately but the rest of it will stay off IF you exercise and maintain a healthy diet.  (and keep a daily calorie deficeit.)

Molly, if you're still a teenager, definitely talk to a doctor about fasting if you want to do it on a semi-regular basis.  (Personally, I think your mom is reeeeeally pushing it with 6 days.)

I fast once a week just to give my system a break.  One day a week isn't bad.  It helps me with portion control for the rest of the week.  I always feel great after.  But stick to fruits and veggies the day after a fast.  I haven't noticed any harmful effects.