Thoughts on fasting

Not for a long period of time, but for a day or two to jump start your diet.  I never thought they were a good idea, but now I'm starting to think that a day or two to kind of "reset" yourself doesn't seem so bad.

I found this http://www.beachbody.com/product/supplements/ weight_loss/2day_fast_formula.do

but the ingredients look suspicious.

Has anyone fasted before?  If so, how did you do it?

It doesn't reset you at all. In fact a day of healthy eating will reset your body much better and you will feel much better. Fasting is only for people who have EXTREME amounts of weight to lose, so much so that it presents them with a major health problem, and also people who do it for religious purposes.

I don't think there is a such thing as jump starting a diet. You just choose to eat a healthier diet and save some small room for your treats (as it should be in moderation) and excersice not just for weightloss but for your heart too.

Fasting just breaks down the nutriants your body needs to survive on. If you loose any weight from that, it'll just be because of starvation mode and your body will eventually starve and take nutriants from muscle or you'll end up bingeing and backtracking bc of your "jumpstart".

Not worth it.  Dieting is easy, it just takes a while. remember to count your cals and fill up on fiber and protein to keep you full throughout the day and prevent overeatting once you finally get a chance to eat.  I always have a few snacks on me throughout the day and it makes things easier.

Good luck (don't fast!).

Like mperic says, I think you'd be more likely to get very hungry then binge - not a great start to your diet.

The 7lbs the product claims you can lose will be water weight, which is what happens at the start of a crash diet. When you begin eating again, the water weight will come back.

Our bodies don't need to be cleansed. They're amazing machines which are efficient at eliminating toxins without the help of such "supplements" - which humans have existed without for thousands of years. Personally I think all cleanses/fasts etc are just money-makers for the dieting industry, but can be very harmful to your health.

You'd be better off just eating well.

Thank you merylwhite!  I'm almost at the point where these 'quick win' weight loss threads have me beat.  You can only repeat yourself so often before you wonder if it's doing any good.  I guess we have to remember that there are new members coming to CC every day who haven't heard our mantra yet.

Once gain.....  OTC diet pills, supplements, and other gimmicks for quick weight loss are just that, gimmicks; something put out there by people who just want your money.  Very few are FDA approved, and even those have a tendency to provide only temporary results.

To jump start your diet, eat clean and exercise.  By eat clean, I mean try to cut out as many over-processed foods as possible (nix the excess salt, fat and preservatives), and eat a balanced diet of fruits, veggies, lean protein, etc.  If you're sedentary, then start walking!  If you're somewhat active, then boost your activity level.

The results will be much longer lasting then a supplement.  See my profile pics as proof that a clean diet and exercise work. 

 everything posted in this thread really made me laugh....  I am a former marathin runner.  The only reason I'm a former marathiner and not a current one is because of a stress fracture from running 50 miles a week for 4 years.  So eating clean and exercising is not a crazy new concept to me. 

Since I can no longer run 50 miles a week it has taken its toll on my body seeing as though I used to eat between 3000-4000 calories a day depending on how hard and what I was training for.  The issue now is that I am having a very hard time adjusting to running only 5 miles a day 4 times a week and only eating half the calories I am used to eating.

Just a little FYI... treating people like they're stupid because they're new isn't very inviting. And fasting and cleanses are highly regarded by holistic doctors as long as they're done properly.  It's not a quick fix or gimmick in all cases.  I've always avoided them because it isn't safe to fast when you're about to go run 10 miles.

Thanks for the advice. Very helpful.

Original Post by sugarshocked:

Thanks for the advice. Very helpful.

Just a little FYI: Don't create a forum post if you don't want advice. That's kind of what they're there for...

Original Post by sugarshocked:

Just a little FYI... treating people like they're stupid because they're new isn't very inviting. And fasting and cleanses are highly regarded by holistic doctors as long as they're done properly.  It's not a quick fix or gimmick in all cases.  I've always avoided them because it isn't safe to fast when you're about to go run 10 miles.

Thanks for the advice. Very helpful.

I didn't get the impression anyone was treating you as if you were stupid. You don't have much profile / history, so it's not unreasonable that people assumed you were new.

My impression of cleansing and fasts is mixed; I have a mother who swears by them, but personally I don't think they're good for a whole lot.  If it's for a religious or similar purpose, by all means go for it (and I think that's when a holistic doctor would most recommend it), but as far as weight loss I think you are better off making changes you can stick to in the long run.  It sounds like you already know a lot about fitness, so you just need to figure out healthy changes that you can stick to.

Take your twenty dollars and buy some fruits and veggies if you want to be healthier.

A realiable Holistic doctor doctor will give you a plan to eat healthier based on your personal situtation and blood work, not give you a potion and leave you on your own.

Original Post by sugarshocked:

 everything posted in this thread really made me laugh....  I am a former marathin runner.  The only reason I'm a former marathiner and not a current one is because of a stress fracture from running 50 miles a week for 4 years.  So eating clean and exercising is not a crazy new concept to me. 

Since I can no longer run 50 miles a week it has taken its toll on my body seeing as though I used to eat between 3000-4000 calories a day depending on how hard and what I was training for.  The issue now is that I am having a very hard time adjusting to running only 5 miles a day 4 times a week and only eating half the calories I am used to eating.

Just a little FYI... treating people like they're stupid because they're new isn't very inviting. And fasting and cleanses are highly regarded by holistic doctors as long as they're done properly.  It's not a quick fix or gimmick in all cases.  I've always avoided them because it isn't safe to fast when you're about to go run 10 miles.

Thanks for the advice. Very helpful.

 And everyone else was supposed to know this... how?  You provide no information about yourself, ask a vague question, and then complain that people provided their opinions, which you asked for.  How was anyone supposed to know you were already into healthy eating?  How was anyone supposed to know you were a marathon runner?  How was anyone supposed to know anything about your situation whatsoever when you didn't say word one about it?  If you want informed opinions, then inform those whose opinions you are requesting.  We're just people trying to help other people who ask honest questions; we're not psychics. 

There is absolutely no excuse for you to be so rude to all these kind people who tried in good faith to offer their help after you came and asked for it, and I hope none of them will hesitate the next time they try to help someone else, who might actually want to read the opinions they've taken the time to ask for.

Original Post by bipolypesca:

  If you want informed opinions, then inform those whose opinions you are requesting.  We're just people trying to help other people who ask honest questions; we're not psychics. 

 

 

 I didn't ask for opinions on how to be healthy or create a proper diet or exercise program.  What I asked was "Has anyone fasted before?  If so, how did you do it?"  So then the information you requested in the above post is irrelevant to the question asked and intent of the post.  If you haven't fasted great.  If you have fasted great, please share your experiences.

don't be rude. Any kind of advice is relavent, whether you want it or not is up to you. This is a forum, don't expect people to not express advice/concern/opinions etc.

Ok - in spite of all the rudeness flying around, here are some thoughts on fasting from someone who fasts:

I do a 26 hour fast at least once a year for religious reasons. While traditionally this fast is done without water, I drink water to avoid getting sick. Before fasting, I make sure I am well hydrated and will typically increase my calories, especially from protein, the day before. Even with these precautions, I am always voraciously hungry for literally days after returning to normal eating. I still crave the same crap I craved before fasting. Based on my experiences, I would not recommend fasting for weight loss. After fasting, while I am "reset" spiritually (because I spend the day in prayer and meditation), I am not "reset" physically.

Instead, if you truly feel the need to reset youself, I would recommend doing a whole foods detox for a week or so - lots of fruits and veggies, whole grains (like brown rice and quinoa), and only organic, hormone free animal products.

I personally have never fasted, and I don't recommend my clients fast either (I'm a trainer).  I do know people who swear by fasting. Everyone is different and we can certainly agree to disagree I do not want to fight or be rude this post is based simply on my observations of clients and those close to me and what I know based on my training.

My clients and friends who do fast tend to have trouble with their weight yo yoing around. As an observer I tend to blame it on the fasting. I notice that after a fast the person fasting feels very hungrier and tends to binge. Hence the yo yo effect.

Whatever you decide to do and skeptical as I am try and stay well hydrated and if you feel unwell stop!

theholla and belladonna - thank you very much for the info.

theholla - your experiences make sense and lead me to believe that a fast would really just have the opposite effect on me.  I guess if i was to do something it would be a cleanse like you describe with fruits and veggies, which I actually have done before and have felt very refreshed and "clean" afterward.

Are you serious? We are giving you advise. We don't need to fast to know it's unhealthy. Jeez...don't get pissed because you didn't hear what you wanted.   Thanks for replying to your post so that I now know if I should tip-toe around you in the future...

(BTW, my bro would fast/jump-start/crash diet and he would always overeat later...so I am speaking from experience. It may not be personal experience but I don't have to ruin my body to figure it out after seeing my brother do it).

Also, fruits and veggies should ALWAYS be a part of a healthy diet.

Hi sugar ,Fasting is a very healthy IF  you do it in the right way .

well I do fast 1 month per year ( Cause iam muslim) , and believe me i feel great when iam doing it .its not because its something I MUST DO , no, I do it because I enjoy challenging my self.

i wake up at 4 am , have a good meal of carbs and protiens +  loads of water , at 7.30pm  i eat small meal, then 2 hours later i eat fruits and shakes .

never felt sick while doing it..i do loose more than 5 kg per month !( and no, i didnt get it back soon after i start eating normally!)

Original Post by water_never_dry:

Hi sugar ,Fasting is a very healthy IF  you do it in the right way .

 

well I do fast 1 month per year ( Cause iam muslim) , and believe me i feel great when iam doing it .its not because its something I MUST DO , no, I do it because I enjoy challenging my self.

i wake up at 4 am , have a good meal of carbs and protiens +  loads of water , at 7.30pm  i eat small meal, then 2 hours later i eat fruits and shakes .

 

never felt sick while doing it..i do loose more than 5 kg per month !( and no, i didnt get it back soon after i start eating normally!)

I'm torn as to whether I consider Ramadan a fast. There is usually no eating during daylight, but most Muslims I know feast at night - and most of them actually put on weight during their 'fast' because of all the partying/celebration that goes on through the night!

My only experience of fasting is with the 40 hour sponsored famine for World Vision, which I've done a few times. But, you're allowed to drink OJ and eat barley sugars, so I did. It helped keep my energy up but consequently I didn't lose any weight, and felt pretty sick from all the sugar.

Even if a fast were performed with only water or only fruits/veges/water, I stand by what I said - they are unnecesary and can be harmful.

I used to fast every 6 months for spiritual purposes, and this is how I did it:

Spend the day before the fast eating only vegetables and fruits and drinking lots of water.

Spend 24-48 hours fasting, drinking only water.

Spend the day after the fast eating only vegetables and fruits and drinking lots of water.

I was always positively exhausted physically during the fast - which didn't really matter because I was not doing much in terms of exertion. I don't know how it would work with a diet, as I've honestly never tried fasting and then dieting. My skin does always look fantastic after a fast though - probably due to the increased hydration.