My goals - and my way to achieve them

Status
Not open for further replies.
Soelberg94

Soelberg94

New member
Hi everyone,
Long time, no see.

So, I decided to do a water fast.
I've done it before, 2 times. The 1st time I needed to stop on day 4, because I was sick and needed to take some antibiotics (medicine) and couldn't fullfill it. The 2nd time was only for 2 days.
My goal is, this time to continue as long as I can - until it gets too much or until I reach my goal. I think it's gonna be about a month - about 28-35 days. It might sound like a really long time - yes. But I'm also overweight and there's alot of stored fat to be burned :)
I've read a lot about it, and I think it's the best option for me.

I plan to write down, each day, how it's going, which symptoms I have, how much I've lost and so on...

Day 0:
I had a "pre-loading"day - I've read that it should be good to do this. I ate a lot of candy, ice cream and so on.

Day 1 (yesterday):
Starting weight: 99,3 kg
Currently not experiencing any symptoms. I had a very little bit of headache and was a bit tired when I came from work.

Day 2:
Weight: 95,8 kg - I'm well aware, that it's propably only water weight.
I woke up with a really bad headache. I took some pain killers and drank some water - the headache more or less dissapeared. I have great energy at the moment. Hope to see, how I feel tommorow. The 1st time I fasted, I got really bad on day 3 and 4. This time, I planned the 3rd and 4th day on a weekend, so I could relax and sleep - no preasure.

I'll keep you updated. :)
 
Day 3:
Current weight: 93,8 kg
I didn't get as much sleep as I'd like to. I had a headache and was really tired. I didn't have a lot of energy, so I've spent most of the day on the couch. I have some cramps, but I might take some Taurine - it might help.

The hunger isn't too bad - I'm not really feeling any.
 
I think a long-term(anything longer than 2-3 days) water fast is dangerous. Here is just part of one article I found. Most articles I read said basically the same thing. Please don't do this xo
"Short-Term Problems
Without calories or other nutrients from food, you'll likely feel tired and lethargic on a water fast. You may also feel dizzy and lightheaded and experience headaches, low blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms, according to the American Cancer Society. The organization also notes that these effects can make driving or operating heavy machinery more dangerous than usual and that fasting can even increase the risk of an attack in people who suffer from gout. In addition, a water fast might make gallstone symptoms worse.
Long-Term Complications
If your water fast lasts for days or longer, the risks grow dramatically. You may compromise your immune system and organ function, possibly damaging the kidneys and liver. The length of time it takes to develop severe side effects depends on how well-nourished you were to begin with, along with other factors, and it isn't clear exactly how long people can live on water alone, according to Dr. Alan D. Lieberson. Although Lieberson states that some hunger strikers have reportedly lasted up to 40 days, there are no guarantees that you could survive that long without food.
Weight Fluctuations
A water fast may lead to rapid initial weight loss, but the numbers on the scale can be deceptive. Severe caloric deprivation causes muscle and water loss, so much of the weight isn't coming from fat. Your metabolism will also slow as your body tries to conserve energy, so you'll start burning fewer calories than you did in your solid-food days. Once you start eating normally again, the pounds will pile back on quickly -- and you may even wind up weighing more than you did when you started your fast.
Staying Nourished
To meet basic nutritional needs, most women need at least 1,200 calories per day, and most men need at least 1,500 calories per day, according to Harvard Health Publications. To lose weight the healthy way, get those calories from fresh, unprocessed foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole-wheat bread, brown rice, fish and beans. Then, exercise regularly to help prevent muscle loss and burn more calories, helping you slim down faster. This method will eliminate the risks that come with fasting and help ensure that the weight stays off for good."

 
cate said:
I think a long-term(anything longer than 2-3 days) water fast is dangerous. Here is just part of one article I found. Most articles I read said basically the same thing. Please don't do this xo
"Short-Term Problems
Without calories or other nutrients from food, you'll likely feel tired and lethargic on a water fast. You may also feel dizzy and lightheaded and experience headaches, low blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms, according to the American Cancer Society. The organization also notes that these effects can make driving or operating heavy machinery more dangerous than usual and that fasting can even increase the risk of an attack in people who suffer from gout. In addition, a water fast might make gallstone symptoms worse.
Long-Term Complications
If your water fast lasts for days or longer, the risks grow dramatically. You may compromise your immune system and organ function, possibly damaging the kidneys and liver. The length of time it takes to develop severe side effects depends on how well-nourished you were to begin with, along with other factors, and it isn't clear exactly how long people can live on water alone, according to Dr. Alan D. Lieberson. Although Lieberson states that some hunger strikers have reportedly lasted up to 40 days, there are no guarantees that you could survive that long without food.
Weight Fluctuations
A water fast may lead to rapid initial weight loss, but the numbers on the scale can be deceptive. Severe caloric deprivation causes muscle and water loss, so much of the weight isn't coming from fat. Your metabolism will also slow as your body tries to conserve energy, so you'll start burning fewer calories than you did in your solid-food days. Once you start eating normally again, the pounds will pile back on quickly -- and you may even wind up weighing more than you did when you started your fast.
Staying Nourished
To meet basic nutritional needs, most women need at least 1,200 calories per day, and most men need at least 1,500 calories per day, according to Harvard Health Publications. To lose weight the healthy way, get those calories from fresh, unprocessed foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole-wheat bread, brown rice, fish and beans. Then, exercise regularly to help prevent muscle loss and burn more calories, helping you slim down faster. This method will eliminate the risks that come with fasting and help ensure that the weight stays off for good."
Click to expand...
Hi Cate,
Yes, there's definitely a health risk - that is, if you have some medical issues, the fast might have an impact on. But for many illnesses, fasting might actually help the illness.
When I first heard about fasting, I was in the same belief - that it could only be unhealthy. But as I researched more online and on YouTube I found out the real truth. Yes, it's dangerous to do. It's not for everyone. But if you're healthy (not have any illnesses) AND have fat on your body for it - it's no problem. A consultation with the doctor might be to prefer, and some monitoring during the fast. I just think, if you listen to your body's signals, it can't go all wrong. :)
 
Day 4:
Current weight: 92,7 kg

Me and my boyfriend played some PlayStation yesterday, and suddenly the night was over. I came to bed late - woke up about 14:00. My headache wasn't so bad anymore, but there was still a little. I didn't have a whole lot of energy, as I slept so little. I spent rest of the day on the couch, watching some Netflix and gaming a little.
I don't have a lot of symptoms. I'm freezing a little bit, but it's nothing a blanket can't handle. Still, i dont feel a lot of hunger. It's not that I'm not feeling like eating or anything - trust me, I could empty the fridge right now.. But most of it is in my head - because we're used to eating all the time.

My reasons for doing this water fast was mainly weight loss, obviously. In my childhood I was always a bit chubby, but not too much. I got older, and was bullied. I was in a very bad place, and stopped eating. I was underweight, and probably suffered from Anorexia. I got some help and became healthy again, but I was still very sad. My doctor prescribed some antidepressants. They didn't help, I got some new ones... I started gaining weight by every new medication they prescribed me. I gained a lot of weight in a very little time. I started binging while watching movies or series.

Years passed and today I've lost about 25 kg naturally, just by working out and changing my diet.
But my weight stalled for a long time now. I've thought alot about water fasting before. One day, I decided that it's time. I had a goal for Summer 2018 - but didn't reach it according to personal reasons. I want this to happen and I want it now.

But another reason for doing this, is also the binging. I know I'm not the only one - you gotta eat something in front of the TV. It's cozy, right? Yes, but also very addictive. Humans aren't build to eat all of the time - we're not supposed to eat every day. It's a privilege, but not something we should do. It's okay once in a while, but it's not something that should happen that often.
 
Day 5:
Current weight: 92,2 kg
I've felt a little bit of hunger. I got sick, so my energy is still low. Spent most of the day watching series.
 
I do think long-term fasting is really bad for your health & can do so much damage. I do a 500 cal "fast" 2 days a week (5:2) & it is much safer & has health benefits. I think you would benefit from seeing a doctor and a nutritionist & getting some guidance.
 
cate said:
I do think long-term fasting is really bad for your health & can do so much damage. I do a 500 cal "fast" 2 days a week (5:2) & it is much safer & has health benefits. I think you would benefit from seeing a doctor and a nutritionist & getting some guidance.
Click to expand...

Well, please do some research. If you can't come up with WHY it's unhealthy, I really don't see the point. I speak from a perspective, where I've researched a lot. I didn't just woke up one day and thought "maybe I should stop eating", lol.
When you've fasted 2-3 days, your body gets in ketosis. That means, it will start burning your fat and not just your water weight. Ketosis has a lot of health benefits.
 
Day 6 (yesterday):
Weight: 91,8 kg.
My weight is still getting down. I'm still sick, and low on energy. I wouldn't say that I'm tired.

Day 7:
Weight: 91,1 kg
Still sick. I easily loose my breath doing stuff like cleaning and so on. Hard to tell if it's from the fasting or the illness. I feel a bit of hunger once in a while, but it's helps drinking something.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top