Does anyone here have any experience with fasting? If so, was it a good or bad experience? I just read a book that promotes fasting, and the author makes it sound like a healthy thing to do from time to time. I'm still skeptical so I was hoping to gather from other peoples experiences. Thanks Mike

How it happened is a long story, but I once fasted for 8 days out in the woods in the Wilds of the Siskiyou National Forest. I experienced no discomfort or hunger after the first day. We were hungry for a day and after that we were fine if we didn't attempt any sudden extreme exertion. We were doing a survey of the woods that involved constant cross-country travel on a compas course in very rough terrain, choked with brush, wild blackberries, etc., etc. I lost abut 6 lbs. over the period and felt just great after the first day. Occasional slight dizziness on sudden exertion, that was it. Another time I did it on purpose for a week and felt no different than normal, except for hunger in the first day. From my limited experience it was easier to not eat at all than to "diet." I have no idea whether it is medically "healthy", just that I "felt" fine. (I drank _lots_ of water on both occasions.)

Hi Dave I ffound your post very interesring and I agree that it is easier to eat nothing than to diet. However, I have not done this in recent years and was wondering if you noticed a rebound in appetite and or rapid weight increase after the fast. Did you resume normal eating at the end of the fast or did you gradually add more food. Kabina

Hi Kabina, While there are some benefits from fasting, there are also some highly significant negitives. In the absence of adequate protein, the body has no alternitive but to waste muscle. While a short fast on a rare occasion is certainly not harmful in a significant way Without food for about 40 days generally results in death. Damage and harm is done long before the fatal stage. The Sears\Zone program advocates not going more than 5 hours without food. This is the optimum for overall health. White Light

[quote:d5649ce222="White Light"] Hi Kabina, While there are some benefits from fasting, there are also some highly significant negitives. White Light[/quote:d5649ce222] There are more than enough positives from a short 3-5 or 7-day fast. Aside from a cleansing, there can be the spiritual aspect, whatever your inclination is. It is very clearing. It may not be your cup of tea; HOWEVER, you should not be so adamantly opposed to fasting, nor dismiss it so quickly!!! Keep an open mind.

Hi Whitelight. I appreciate your concern regarding extended periods of fasting. I am fully aware of the dangers.and have only ever fasted for a day or two at a time and would never consider going for longer. I am very interested in hearing how Dave"s body reacted when he retuned to normal eating after a week of fasting and how he went about it. I am not considering doing this myself. Thank you for your concern. Kabina

[quote:a6a685f3bc="Kabina"]Hi Whitelight. I appreciate your concern regarding extended periods of fasting. I am fully aware of the dangers.and have only ever fasted for a day or two at a time and would never consider going for longer. I am very interested in hearing how Dave"s body reacted when he retuned to normal eating after a week of fasting and how he went about it. I am not considering doing this myself. Thank you for your concern. Kabina[/quote:a6a685f3bc] Hi Kabina, Thanks for your post. I am always aware that for every poster there are probably about 50 other readers so the danger needed to be explained. Dave Is an all time good guy and I am sure will answer your questiion. He correctly said he did not know the health effects of fasting. That in mind, I hope this discussion continues White Light

I did a 5 day fast severeal years ago where you drink lots of teas and take special supplements to cleanse the liver. I felt very faint and dizzy (almost high). I caved after the third day, but was working full-time while doing the fast. Perhaps if I was away on a nature excursion, I may have made it through. I did lose quite a bit of weight (fluid), but after 2 weeks it all came back.

According to what I have read, you are only allowed to drink water on a complete fast. The book that I most recently finished says that fasting is a natural way to allow your body to heal itself. The author claims that fasting can actually reverse cardiovascular disease among other things. If anyone is interested, the author's name is Joel Fuhrman. Thanks for all the input. Mike

I would have sworn I posted a reply some time ago, but I don't see it so I must have blow it, somehow. Anyway after fasting for a week, I went back to eating gradually, on the first day I started with orange or pineapple juice diluted half with water, during the morning, straight juice in the afternoon and then some chicken noodle soup late in the evening. Normal diet after that. This was way prezone by years. Actually I never felt any discomfort or problems during or after the fasts. Each time I lost about 5 lbs. and the first time gained it back over about two months time. The second time I was trying to keep down and it took about 18 mos. to come back. I read a book about fasting some 20 years ago and the only thing I really retained from it is that in a survival situation one should eat normally until the food runs out and then, necessarily, fast. Supposedly you can starve to death while on half rations, sooner than if you eat 'til the food is gone and then fast. In fact I think most of us could survive on only water for a month or so if we had to. I'm not advocating this, just saying that in a situation like the Donner party was in, for instance, they probably could have survived for a week after the time the search party came back with help, without any canibalism, tragic. Same for the incident with the plane crash party in the Andes. They would all have lost some weight but would probably have survived, OK. I repeat, this doesnt mean fasting is a good idea for something like losing weight, just that finding yourself in a situation without any food is not quite the problem most people seem to think it is. In a survival situation you can die in a day under hot, dry, weather condions, if you have no water. With lots of water one _survive_ quite along time without permanent damage.

Hi Dave, Thank you for your very informative reply. I find it interesting to read about how fasting affects people differently. I was surprised to read how long it took for the weight loss to return. I have only ever fasted for a day or two at the most and find that when I start eating again, I have an overwhelming hunger which persists until my weight reaches a couple of pounds above what is was before the fast. I am not overweight so I assume this is my body's way of protecting itself in case of a similar situation in the future. Thanks again for taking the time to reply. Kabina