Merged Intermittent Fasting -- Good Idea or Not?

Fasting... water only.

Over the years I have fasted for various time periods, the usual time being for seven days... water only.
My longest fasts so far have been on two separate occasions a year or so apart one for 13 days and one for 16 days. Water only.
Pure filtered water at room temperature. It is important to remain positive and stay away from negative influences. Moderate exercise is beneficial.
 
We used to fast all the time when we were little kids... For Communion. Back then before the changes made by Pius XII, we had to fast from Midnight till after the service, which was 8-9 AM on school days.
Not a biggie... And they provided us with breakfast.
Of course, that's not much longer than most folks wait for breakfast....
I guess they didn't want Jesus bumping up against a sticky bun.

Anyway, I remain somewhat skeptical. We know that individual metabolism and activity levels vary wildly. The caloric requirements of a sedentary office worker and a laborer are going to be rather different.
As well, we know that the body is pretty flexible, likely as a result of our evolutionary heritage. It's set up to "eat it if you got it", or likewise to slow down if you don't. This can be frustrating to those who try to control weight by diet alone....Eat less, and the body obligingly says "OK, I can get along on that.."
Seems to me that I've seen many studies indicating that fasting in moderate amounts is not particularly harmful, but likewise not particularly beneficial.
Accounts like "I feel more energetic" tend to be awfully subjective, and may be due to other things.
 
People have different metabolisms. Some, like myself, can do fine without food for several days at a time. Others suffer horribly.
I used to do long fasts during a spiritual-longing phase of my youth.
It nearly led to an eating disorder, as I would tend to binge at the end. I just got very hungry, and thought about food all the time.

There's some evidence to suggest that a state of 'being hungry', as long as it isn't malnourishment, is something of an ideal state of health. But it's tough; especially if one is surrounded with easily obtained food.

I kept a pet shrew for awhile; not reccomended...it was the hungriest thing I've ever seen!
Talk about a high metabolism! They don't even live a full year, and can starve to death in a few hours.
 
Once all food which has been consumed has been dealt with, the body can then concentrate on healing.

When fasting, stress is dangerous. If stress becomes unavoidable then end the fast.

Exercise is still needed, how much is a personal decision, but one must remember to not over tax the body.

My last extensive water only fast ended on 23 October, 2011... it is time for another. I have communicated with my body as to what to expect, and am looking forward to it.

Today is day one, and my aim is 26 days. That will be ten days longer than I have fasted in the past. If I am not feeling up to it at any time I will end the fast earlier.
 
All the best with that project, but may I respectfully suggest you have medical supervision, Janadele?

Kumar said:
You do about ask science of everything but why don't discuss science(physiological effects) of fasting? You are just discussing different experiances which may not be common.
Click to expand...

Sorry not to be clear, Kumar.
The fact is, I didn't understand what you were saying in your post.
If you want to learn about the the physiological effects of intermittant fasting, there have been some links posted up in the thread.

Kaylee said:
...Just curious, what do you do on your days off? Do you stick to your work schedule, or do you switch to the more typical schedule? I could see trying to do the latter esp if you are making plans with friends/family -- but that would probably wrec havoc on a hormonal level. Based on what I've been reading lately that seems to be very important, perhaps almost as important as keeping track of calories.


I had to look that up. You do eat the most interesting fruits and vegetables (I recall your other posts about this as well). If you don't mind my asking, what part of the world do you live in? :)
Click to expand...

My work schedule is so skewed it's impossible to stick to. But just to show you how weird it gets, we have a run of 5 days with exactly the same schedule. Today's the fourth day and yesterday we had two no-shows! They'd spun completely out of control and had to be called in!


Kaylee, I'm in Spain, so we have wonderful citrus fruit.
 
I once did a 10 day water fast. I only lost 10 pounds, but then I was quite lean to start with.

I get a kick out of product ads wherein you ingest something and lose 20 pounds in 6 days or some nonsense. Myabe if your starting weight is 300+...
 
For UK people at least a little advice on "nutritionists" from Dara O'Briain
Here's my favorite little fact. If anyone is ever described to you as a nutritionist, just be slightly wary, right? What they're saying may be perfectly true, but "nutritionist" isn't a protected term. Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist. "Dietician" is the legally protected term. "Dietician" is like "dentist", and "nutritionist" is like "tooth-i-ologist."
Click to expand...
 
Janadele said:
Once all food which has been consumed has been dealt with, the body can then concentrate on healing.

When fasting, stress is dangerous. If stress becomes unavoidable then end the fast.

Exercise is still needed, how much is a personal decision, but one must remember to not over tax the body.

My last extensive water only fast ended on 23 October, 2011... it is time for another. I have communicated with my body as to what to expect, and am looking forward to it.

Today is day one, and my aim is 26 days. That will be ten days longer than I have fasted in the past. If I am not feeling up to it at any time I will end the fast earlier.
Click to expand...

I've done 18 days.
My advice, however disgusting, is that enemas are important.
Otherwise, various toxins stashed in fat cells tend to line the colon walls, with no normal means of being excreted.

This is especially relevant when fat people fast.
They can become auto-intoxicated.
 
quarky... that I have not tried.

I am slender. The reason I fast is to rest the body and allow for natural healing.
 
quarky said:
I've done 18 days.
My advice, however disgusting, is that enemas are important.
Otherwise, various toxins stashed in fat cells tend to line the colon walls, with no normal means of being excreted.
Click to expand...

quarky, dear chap, you're surely ******** us.
 
3rd day of my water only fast :)

Further to my previous posts... another important routine when fasting is to rinse mouth and throat and clean teeth regularly.
 
Further to my previous posts:

This is now my ninth day and feeling great, as I have done from the beginning :-)

As an alternative to the room temperature filtered water from the foil container, I am now slowly sipping an occasional coconut water, (which is packaged in a cardboard container and contains only the water from young green coconuts ... a different product altogether from the coconut milk from mature coconuts). Also as an alternative, an occasional warm filtered water with peppermint, chamomile, lemon and honey, or apple cider vinegar with honey and cinnamon. Daily Q10 and krill oil capsule.

I exercise daily at a comfortable pace, usually from two to four hours... including walking on the beach and along the riverside.

My environment is safe, secure, comfortable, warm and peaceful... which is preferable when fasting. I do not have medical supervision, as I do not see the need nor the advantage.

Provided I continue to feel up to it, I have now set my goal for 40 days and 40 nights.
 
Janadele said:
coconut water, (which is packaged in a cardboard container and contains only the water from young green coconuts ... a different product altogether from the coconut milk from mature coconuts).
Click to expand...

It's not the age of the coconut that's significant. Coconut water is the liquid in the middle of the coconut (very refreshing); coconut milk is extracted from the flesh of the coconut. Older coconuts do have less coconut water, true, so in practice coconut water may be primarily extracted from immature fruit.
 
pakeha, I started on water only, then as per my previous post, on my ninth day introduced the daily Q10, krill oil capsule and occasional alternative drink as posted above. :)
 
Of course, zooterkin.
I live so far away from coconut water I'm sure my mind just tuned it out so as not not to experience impotent envy.
 
Janadele said:
pakeha, I started on water only, then as per my previous post, on my ninth day introduced the daily Q10, krill oil capsule and occasional alternative drink as posted above. :)
Click to expand...

Hi, Janadele.
All the best on your fast. Please don't let pride make you go longer than your body can take!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom