Is there a problem with completely fasting without anything but water on fast days?
This topic contains 12 replies, has 6 voices, and was last updated by PT65 9 years, 6 months ago.
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Hi, Irasi and simcoeluv. I’m on my third day of 5:2 and was all geared up to do the water fasting on fast days, but I came across this warning on the site: http://www.thefastingdietplan.com.
“No one promoting this fasting diet plan should tell you to not eat two days a week. If the body doesn’t get enough nutrients weekly, it starts building a more durable fat, which is made for long-term safety, and is harder to lose. Not eating for two days on an regular basis will build this type of fat and will make it hard to slim down if that is your desire. If you wish to do a true fast, please consult a doctor or clinic and do so with their assistance and monitoring.”
The thought of a “more durable fat” makes me hesitate to go for the whole day fast, but clearly simco has not seen such a thing. Wondering if anyone else has, or if anyone has seen articles substantiating the claim of this super-fat?
Hi PT:
I read the post and, as usual, the comment is a statement of fact with absolutely no support of any kind. Like “The sky is always dark green.”
Water fasting has been done for centuries without creating ‘durable fat’. I am not familiar with any human (or animal) fat that is classified as ‘durable’ because of fasting (or any other dietary regime).
My advice is to do 5:2, do one day water fasts if you want – its up to you – and not worry about creating a new species of fat in your body if you do. If you really are worried about creating a new fat in your body, just don’t do any water fasts! 5:2 works fine without them, just more slowly because you are cutting out fewer calories than you do with water fasting.
Good Luck!
Ha! Thanks, simcoeluv. True, there was no support for that statement. I’m going to go for the water fasting on fast days, trusting that I won’t end up a hybrid human of some sort. I am going to dig around and try to find out what he’s talking about.
I did watch another BBC documentary, “Why Are Thin People Not Fat?” where the idea was introduced of a kind of fat that is more difficult to lose. But the context was obesity. I’ll try to find out more in relation to fasting.
Hi PT:
I’ve posted the link to Why several times – I think it is a good watch for anyone who is fat and wondering why: http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/why-are-thin-people-not-fat/
Also, if you are interested in the history and recent state of longer term fasting, all written in a very enjoyable way, here is an article from Harper’s: http://charleycropley.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/FASTING-ART-Harpers.pdf
Clairelv, your intuition jives with others, it seems. I’ve been doing some investigating, and there are other reasons (besides the suspicious hybrid fat argument referenced above) to consider limiting the fast time to a maximum of 24 hours.
Brad Pilon, author of Eat, Stop, Eat (recommended in The Fast Beach Diet), argues here that it’s very important for the body to have sufficient recovery time after a fast, because fasting is stressful for the body. http://www.niashanks.com/intermittent-fasting-doing-it-wrong/
Though my tendency is to “go for it” and fast as long as possible, I’ve experienced adrenal fatigue in the past as a result of that approach to life, and I’m learning to moderate.
The other thing is that I’ve only fasted one full day so far (I’m on the second fast day now) and am already almost to my goal, so there’s no need to be extreme. This approach seems to work well and quickly, so why push it to potentially dangerous levels?
Also, I applaud you, Clairelv, for expressing your feeling about it. While I’m a big believer in substantiating claims with scientific facts, I have also learned that our intuition is a very important and wise life tool. We scoff at it and ignore it to our peril. So thank you. You’ve helped me take a second look at my tendency to push myself too hard. I can sit back and watch my body respond happily to a more moderate approach. 🙂
PT65 – I have respect for Brad Pilon’s observations about fasting, but do you know if he offers evidence for how long it takes to recover from fast days? I have been doing 2 36-hour fasts a week for a month and have lots of energy and feel great! I do focus on eating high nutrient foods on my feast days and take vitamins. I don’t feel I’m damaging myself in any way.
Hi
really interested in this fasting lark. Well into 4th 24 ish fasts in a row, though 24 is a bit of an anomally. Managed 26 hours the first day, but ate late, 24 hours the next, 23 yesterday as ate earlier, 21 today, ate earlier again, but to suit OH. Thats not counting the actual time I take to eat, which can be less than 5 minutes, as hunger and 300-400 calories does not take long!, but I have a small glass of milk about an hour later.
Ive done 3 x 36-40 hour fasts in the previous 6 weeks, and 4:3 during that time.
Ive increased walking from 2 to 5 miles a day.
The effect is as follows: No hunger at all, until I start plating my meal. Im not cooking for my boys, but am handfeeding an animal fresh chicken and catfood throughout the day, so handling food. Also shopping for food. I have the energy of a durecell bunny, except at night I go to bed much earlier and sleep better. Slight headache all week but I think that is caffeine withdrawl, just two coffees all week. Just had first cup of tea, its gone.
Im taking each day as it comes, no target for the day or the week in mind, planning to ease up at the weekend, but half hearted about even this, no huge goal in mind, except for a 5lb target for June. My weighloss tsrget was originally around 3 stone, though quickly moved to about 4 stone in a year.
Last week was a week off from 5:2, wine and a few treats after six weeks of abstainence, doing fast beach.
Before 5:2 Iwas a first breakfast and second breakfast kind of gal, I ate too large portions and have a sweet tooth. Not a binger, but could cheerfully eat a packet of chocolate digestives in a couple of sittings, and if I made chicken liver pate, could have it for every meal. With loads of bread.
On 5:2 Ive managed well, and prepared for breaks, though first break found weight gain disheartening, second break was fine.
I read the piece Sim suggested above a while ago, and that started me thinking about longer fasts, though I consider 40 hours as swimmimg in the shallow end, but its the energy levels and all around well-being I feel that has me experimenting about what works for me.
So I think there is no harm in trying complete fasts, if the notion is there, but its just one option. I see real benefits for myself, so will explore this further. Im certainly not promoting it as a must do, but fasting has been done for centuries, and you dont die if you dont eat for a day or two – or longer.
And how can the fat already in your body turn into a different type of fat?
kmgga, I’ll post here what he says in the blog post I linked to above, but I think his recommendations are about long-term fasting. Plus, I really do believe each of us is the best judge of our own capacity. I might not worry about doing what you’re doing except that I’ve experienced adrenal fatigue from depleting myself in the past, so I’m a bit more cautious now. My mistake at that time was not honoring the many stressors that were going on in my life at once. I’m used to being very resilient! But now I have a better understanding of how stressors can combine and end up depleting my stores. I think it quite possible that you and others may be in a position to handle more stress without depletion.
Maybe until clinical trials are done comparing the effects of both approaches, we just need to keep a close eye on ourselves and be alert for signs of stress. And, as you’re doing, be vigilant about eating the healthiest foods when we are eating. (Though I know that word “vigilant” might be opposed to the spirit of this way of eating!)
So, here’s the quote from Brad Pilon. It’s followed in the blog entry by talk about stress recovery. Here’s the link again, if you want to read the whole thing: http://www.niashanks.com/intermittent-fasting-doing-it-wrong/
“Secondly, my general rule is the longer the fast the longer the recovery time that’s needed before the next fast.
“My rough template looks like this:
5-7 times per week – fasts should be between 12 and 16 hours long.
3-4 times per week – fasts should be between 16 and 20 hours long.
1-2 times per week – Fasts should be between 20 and 24 hours long.
1-2 times a month – Fasts should be between 24 and 72 hours long.
Any longer than this and you’re looking at something you should do every other month at the most, and if it’s much longer than 72 hours you should consider doing so under medical supervision.”
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