Written by Mr. Crumbs.
Just after Christmas this past year, I didn’t eat or drink anything (other than water) for 10 days. 10 DAYS! Was it because there was so much excellent food over the holidays that my body couldn’t digest all that was in it? No. Did I grow a large hump on my back (like a camel), that allowed me to feast off of its fat reserves? Nope. Was I hungry? Absolutely for the first 3 days, but then not so much.
Several months prior, Mrs. Crumbs and myself had decided to fast as a way of detoxifying our bodies – giving the insides (particularly the digestive track) a chance to rest and heal itself. We had never attempted such a feat before and heard mixed reviews about fasting, but we figured it couldn’t hurt to give it a try.
Why fast? What brought on the idea?
Let’s rewind two years to the year 2010 when I had the pleasure of working with a gentleman from Europe who wasn’t too far from his 60th birthday. We talked about a myriad of topics: finance, economics, health, nutrition – pretty much everything under the sun. His views were so wildly different than mine (coming from the other side of the planet), but talking with him helped to broaden my own horizons on the various topics.
One afternoon he shared that in his early forties, he had been diagnosed with late stage prostate cancer. He had been an active biker and ate a mostly vegetarian diet. His oncologist at the time had recommended various treatments, ranging from chemotherapy and radiation to surgery and even the removal the prostate.
Thinking the doctor was crazy – with the slash, burn and cut approach – my dear friend took matters into his own hands and looked into alternative methods of treating and even possibly curing the cancer. One of those methods was fasting.
But wait… he’s survived for nearly 20 years, AFTER being diagnosed with late stage prostate cancer?
He embarked on a fast of up to 40 days, consuming only water. He was determined to fight his cancer naturally (against the advice of his doctor). Now approximately 18 years from his original diagnosis, his cancer remains in remission and he lives a pretty normal life.
So what changed? He integrated fasting into his lifestyle. He routinely and regularly completes long water fasts and permanently changed his diet to include more wholesome, nutrient dense foods. He keeps a fasting schedule to this day.
Curious and skeptical at the time, I began combing the web to validate his fascination and love of fasting. Article after article, page after page was filled with testimonials of people who love fasting. They raved about the health benefits, spiritual benefits and so on. You’ll even find that some declare fasting will cure cancer, HIV/Aids, acne, depression and fibromyalgia. Whether or not this information is true, I have no idea.
Despite all the nitty gritty details that the web will produce, my gentleman friend had exposed me to something I thought I’d never try: fasting.
Immediately after researching the benefits, I boldly declared to Mrs. Crumbs, “I’M GOING ON A 7 DAY FAST!”
(She thought I was crazy.)
No, I didn’t have cancer. And in reality, I just wanted to try it since the benefits seemed great, and there were virtually no risks. I started out doing the “Master Cleanse” aka, the lemonade diet.
The Master cleanse is when you basically make homemade lemonade (with fresh lemons) and add cayenne pepper to the mixture. You drink this mixture for the desired length of the fast (usually 10-14 days or so, in order to detoxify your body. I believe the original formula has you do a “salt water flush” early in the morning and drink a laxative tea in the afternoon.
I found this protocol unpleasant. While some love the taste of this concoction, the cayenne pepper made me gag and the laxative tea had me up at 3am. My first attempt at fasting lasted 3 days before indulging in a burrito (and I STILL remember how amazing that burrito was) from a local taco shop.
Fast forward to the fall of 2012 and the idea of fasting resurfaced between myself and Mrs. Crumbs. Unable to shake the idea of “not eating” for a week or more, we both decided to fast after the holidays. My plan was a 7-10 day water fast, hers was a modified 5 day smoothie fast. I chose to water fast for several reasons:
- Water fasts are generally the quickest way to detoxify. Some even consider this the only “real” way to detoxify your body and bring it back in check.
- Water fasts are the most difficult. I thought if I could go ten days on water alone, alls future fasts of juice or smoothies would be easy in comparison.
Benefits of Water Fasting
Fat Burn
After your body has uses all the excess calories, it begins burning fat. By default, when you burn fat, you lose weight. Fasting merely to lose weight is a highly debated topic. Because your metabolism slows to a crawl, you must be EXTREMELY careful when you resume eating. Otherwise the weight will come right back. However, if food is reintroduced properly and in moderation, keeping the weight off is possible.
High Blood Pressure
This was one of the main reasons I chose to complete a fast this year. My blood pressure had been creeping up towards the 130/80 range, sometimes slightly higher. Fasting quickly brought it down to the 115/70 range. It fluctuates depending on the day, but bringing it down 15 points was nice!
Mental Clarity
This is probably a side effect of your body not working very hard (and thus causing immense relaxation), but you are able to think much more clearly when fasted compared to regular eating habits. Decisions were easy to make and “stressful” situations were much more manageable. I found that fasting helped me to put things in perspective.
Vision
Yes, your vision can sharpen! An odd, but pleasant side effect. It doesn’t mean you can leave your contacts or throw your glasses in the trash can, but it’s possible for your eyes to function more efficiently.
Cancer Prevention
A 2008 study at the University of California at Berkeley found that eating every other day decreased the rate at which cells produced, an effect known to reduce the development of cancers. In animal models, intermittent fasting was found to reduce cancer growth on the skin and in breast tissue. (source)
If fasting has the potential to treat and even possibly cure cancer, why isn’t this being evaluated more often instead of the latest and greatest drug?
Live Longer
It’s hard to explain the science behind this one, but research shows that those who fast live longer. Does simply going without eating prolong life? Probably not. My guess would be the continuous removal of toxins and allowing the body to rest from it’s daily work.
Detoxify
Isn’t this the new craze? People across the world are jumping on the “let’s deteox and be healthy” bandwagon, shouting for their food to be void of GMO’s and pesticides. What these people don’t realize is that their “fad” is truth – fasting allows the body to rid itself of toxins. Introducing and maintaining a proper diet filled with real and nutritious food really is better for you!
Digestive Function
Your digestive system will love you for fasting. It takes about three days into the fast for your system to completely shut down. Liquids in, liquid out. After breaking the fast (safely and carefully of course), you’ll find that your bowel movements behave as if they’re on steroids. I’ll spare you the details, but it’s pretty incredible!
These are just a few of the benefits of fasting. I encourage you to do more research on this topic yourself if you truly consider attempting a water fast.
My Personal Experience With a 10 Day Water Fast
Days 1-3. The first few days were rough. It was during this time that the detoxifying symptoms were the worst. There was hunger, splitting headaches… it was rough. I am a coffee lover (as most parents are). Nothing beats pouring a hot cup of freshly brewed coffee into a ceramic mug, sipping the java goodness before starting the day. I attribute the pure misery of days 1-3 to caffeine withdrawal. At the same time, Mrs. Crumbs cooking dinner for the kids and knowing I couldn’t eat was brutal.
Days 4-6. These days were relatively easy. By this time my digestive system had shut down and the hunger pains had disappeared. My tongue was often coated with a thick white film. This is apparently normal and another detoxification symptom. I started losing weight – 1 – ½ pounds per day – but there was no problem going to work, playing guitar at church or performing any other daily physical function.
Day 7. I will never forget this day – ever. This was the most miserable day I have ever lived on planet earth. I came home from work feeling great, not hungry, thinking clearly… And then my life was flipped upside down. My wonderful wife pulled a freshly baked loaf of rosemary bread from the oven. I was immediately angry and I wanted that bread. But it wasn’t even possible at this point.
You see, once your digestive system shuts down (around the three day mark), it takes a few days to bring it back up to speed. You do this by very slowly introducing food to your digestive system… drinking juice for 1-2 days, fresh fruit for another couple days, steamed vegetables for another day or two… taking anywhere from 7 – 14 days to bring your digestive system back up to fully operational. Eating any solid food while in a fasted state can lead to severe discomfort and even hospitalization!
Back to the bread… I wanted that bread so much that I had to go upstairs, take a shower and wait for everyone to finish eating dinner. I simply could not bear even LOOKING at the bread!
Day 8-10. These days were almost an exact replica of days 4-6. By the end of day 10, I had lost 15 pounds and was ready to eat again.
All in all, I enjoyed my 10 day water fast. It was challenging, but the health benefits were well worth it. My digestion improved, blood pressure was lowered and I may have reduced the possibility of getting cancer. I plan on doing it again later this year, and probably continue to fast at least once or twice a year from now on!
Have you attempted any sort of fast? What was your reason? How long was your fast?
This post is shared at (Sun) This Chicken Chick, (Mon) Natural Living Mamma (Tue) Cooking Traditional Foods, Premeditated Leftovers, Granny’s Vital Vittles, Real Food Forager, Like a Mustard Seed (Wed) This Chick Can Cook, Gastronomical Sovereignty, Natural Mother’s Network, Kelly the Kitchen Kop, Day2Day Joys, Frugally Sustainable (Thu) Beyond the Peel, GNOWFGLINS, The Nourishing Gourmet, Thank Your Body (Fri) Green Thickies, Food Renegade, Allergy Free Alaska, Small Footprint Family, My Cultured Palate
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. While fasting provided a great benefit to me, it is not for everyone. If you consider fasting, please consult with a medical professional. For those with health problems, fasting can be dangerous. At the same time, fasting may help. Please research the topic objectively and speak with a professional before attempting.
I have wanted to try a 10 day fast (without the Master Cleanse protocol) but keep getting a lot of negative feedback. But reading this article– twice even- has convinced me to give it a try. I am excited to make my plans (buh bye diet coke and coffee!! hello water!)
Hi Rebecca! your fast will be significantly easier if you cut out caffeine well before you begin your fast. Also, many experienced “fasters”, recommend a raw diet 2-3 days in advance to ease some of the detox symptoms in Days 1-3. It definitely makes sense after going through the ordeal.
Also, there are so many different types of fasts out there. You can start out with an easy one, or jump straight into the extreme. I prefer the smoothie route, while Mr. Crumbs is usually more extreme.
If you visit youtube, you’ll find a lot of personal testimonies and video diaries of people attempting all sorts of fasts – even up to 40+ days (to extreme for us). Some of them are really encouraging and will help keep you motivated.
Good luck with your fast!
I’m chicken! I don’t think I’ll ever do a fast of any kind. I only “fast” when I have to go for a blood test my doctor has prescribed.
Signed by,
Human Spammer,
Leona
Leona,
The mental point of view going into the fast is crucial. It seems hard, but if you keep your purpose at the forefront, it becomes MUCH easier. That and spending lots of time outside of the kitchen! ~Tiffany
Very informative posts! Mr. Crumbs touched on the process of reintroducing solid food. Did you have to follow the same protocol with the smoothie fast?
Theresa,
Reintroducing foods after the smoothie fast didn’t require nearly the protocol as a water fast. Since the digestive system doesn’t shut down 100%, there’s no need to “introduce” foods from the start again. However, my system was used to liquids in no more than 2 cups at a time, so in this regard, portions had to be small and the food had to be pure and simple. I concentrated on small portions of solid fruits and vegetables the day after and had one slice of homemade bread at dinner that first day as well.
Lesson learned – we had a family dinner two days after my fast ended and I ate two onion rings – the fried batter did quite a nasty number on my system, and it was strange (in a good way) to have difficulty digesting when my stomach is usually made of steel. Next time I plan to avoid fried foods altogether for at least a week. Sticking to produce, whole grains, rice and small portions of meat would be ideal. ~Tiffany
Thanks for sharing your story–I found it quite interesting!
Thanks Kirsten!
This is so interesting. I love reading about fasting and I have tried a couple of times to fast for 36 hours but got so tired that I struggled to look after my baby. I have done a couple of smoothie fasts but in the future I do want to try water fasting again. I’m currently pregnant so I may have to wait a few years, but I totally agree, why wait until you’ve got cancer, prevent it while you can!
Katherine,
The mere idea of water fasting leaves me tired! I wonder if fasting affects men differently than women? My husband says the first few days were the hardest, mostly because your body is used to something (eating regularly) and it’s no longer getting it. I guess similar to withdrawals from a drug addiction, though not nearly as dangerous. Anyway, once he was past day 3, it was smooth sailing. Until the bread of course.
Congratulations on the pregnancy! ~Tiffany
I would love it if you shared this with Healthy Vegan Fridays, a blog hop co-hosted by 3 bloggers. I’m sure our readers would really enjoy this. You can submit a post from Friday to end of Tuesday:
http://www.greenthickies.com/healthy-vegan-friday-30/
Thanks for the invite Katherine – I shared!
Yes it is funny isn’t it. I wonder if men are naturally supposed to fast more often than women.
Thank you for sharing this with Healthy Vegan Fridays. Check back on Friday to see if you were one of the Top 3! We hope to see you again this week. You can submit a post from Friday to end of Tuesday:
http://www.greenthickies.com/healthy-vegan-friday
i’m not sure how i feel about this. i think the key to being healthy is eating right, moving your body more than you sit and avoiding scary GMO and chemically laden foods. surviving a week on water is not good for anyone. your body needs to eat and it needs calories. just my thoughts…
thank you for sharing with us at the wednesday fresh foods link up! i hope to see you again this week with more seasonal & real/whole food posts! xo, kristy.
I found your post very interesting, but I do agree with Kristy. Having a history of anorexia in my teens I feel fasting is never a good idea – although I appreciate some people do it for religious reasons. It does seem that it works for you, and clearly it worked for the gentleman you recommended though.
I apologise, ‘recommended’ should read ‘mentioned’!
Few questions about this post ffirst of all while I appreciate some concerns regarding anorexia I disagree that this post at all is intended to promote that the benefits of fasting have been well recognized and documented. I have a few questions I assume you did not exercise during thisbutdidyou stretch? And also I wonder if green tea decaf coffee along w water thank you!!
Ozlem,
We’re pretty convinced that there are significant benefits to water fasting, but you’re right, given the stigma that it has in society, the benefits (from scientific sources, not personal experiences) are not well documented.
There was no exercise at all during this fast. Simple stretches would have been ok, but my husband chose not too. He has tendonitis in his knee and was trying to allow that to rest as well. He had a glass of decaf tea (we had chamomile in the pantry) every couple days, just for variation. I don’t think that having one each day would detract much, if any, from the integrity of fasting (or the effects) since tea is herbs and pretty much water anyway.
~Tiffany
Hi I have done fasts in the past but they were more like raw food or smoothie fasts, not straight up water. I want to try this for ten days but have knee and hamstring tendonitis. You said your husband has knee tendonitis?…how did his knee react to the fast? Did it get worse or better? I’m worried it will make my injuries worse or that i may loose muscle mass which could put even more pressure on my tendons..any thoughts??
Hi Michelle,
How did you get tendonitis? A fast probably can’t hurt or make tendonitis worse – it may actually help, by allowing your body to rest and heal itself (again I’m not a doctor).
I’ve struggled with patella tendonitis know for just over a year due to running/biking almost every day. During the fast, most of the irritation went away, but that also could have been a result of resting.
I’ve made adjustments to my bike, and stretch daily now, which has greatly helped with the tendonitis.
Do you stretch often?
A great resource for knee tendonitis is http://eccentric-exercises.blogspot.com/ – I may build a slant board to help…
Hope that helps !
I take my hat off to you, I could never go that long without food. I have tried, but my energy levels go through the floor and I just can’t operate anymore effectively. I have tried eating only 500 calories every other day, which works better for me and is supposed to offer similar beenfits. Thank you for sharing your fasting eperience with us and I hope to welcome you over at Seasonal Celebration again today! Rebecca @Natural Mothers Network x
Rebecca,
My hat tips to my husband as well. You’ve piqued my interest on the every other day limited calorie idea – thanks for the tip! ~Tiffany
[...] 10 Day Water Fast from Tiffany @ Don’t Waste the Crumbs [...]
[...] 10 Day Water Fast from Tiffany @ Don’t Waste the [...]
This was very interesting. I’ve recently been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and have been looking into fasting because it is supposed to be helpful for long term care and healing of the colon. After reading Dr. Fuhrman’s book on fasting I would be scared to undertake a 10 day fast on my own. He very much favors a medically supervised fast as in some cases your potassium levels or other things can go wrong and you need constant monitoring to know you need to stop. Now my problem is how does one find a doctor to supervise a fast? This doesn’t sound like something a fmaily doctor would be in favor of.
Holly,
I don’t know if you’ll find a regular MD doctor willing to supervise you during a fast, but you may have better luck with a holistic doctor or naturopath. I know my husband felt comfortable starting because he was is relatively good health, but he listened to his body when it came to physical activity and his body made it clear when it was time to stop. I don’t know I’d recommend undertaking a fast without supervision given your diagnosis, but making phone calls to local holistic doctors couldn’t hurt! Best of luck – please keep us updated on your progress! ~Tiffany
Last year during Lent I did a full 40-day fast. I had always wanted to do it, but I never thought it was possible for me. I two days before Lent, it was decided, and I dove in fully committed. I had absolutely NOTHING but water — LOTS of it — and Eucharist at daily Mass. I had long been off of caffeine, I don’t drink anything but water (then and now), but I concur that the absolutely worst days were the first three, day 16, and day 30. On those days, I surely felt blessed to survive another day. On days 16 and 30 I overdid things in my daily schedule. I did too much activity and literally collapsed in a dizzy spell. After day 10 I recall feeling much like you describe your days 4-10, but I very much needed to move more slowly when standing and walking. I felt decent, but the energy wasn’t there to do much physical activity at all. Water was at my side and physically on me at all times. Will I do it again. I don’t think so. For me I set out on a spiritual journey that I feel led to; I wasn’t looking for it. Though I lost 40 pounds that I could stand to lose, but wasn’t actively seeking to lose, I lost what seemed like a ton of hair. I thank God that I was blessed with an extra thick head of hair. It is growing back, but most of my hair is probably 4 inches long, everything else is around 15 inches. It has been difficult to contend with during the last year! Health-wise, I feel GREAT. After the fast, I never felt better. My diet totally changed. My last meal before the fast was ooey-gooey pizza topped with everything toxic, today I eat nothing by fruits and vegetables, beans and greens, and lots of them! I definitely feel healthier and stronger than ever — though it did take me several months after the fast to regain my strength again. Now I’m doing well. Since then I have only attempted 1 and 3-day water fasts.
Diane,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your story! 40 days is a HUGE undertaking and you’re only the second person I know to do it – congratulations for making it through! My husband felt great after his, but I can only imagine how wonderful it felt to make it through nearly 6 weeks, even though it does take time for your body to recover from that type of trial. And such a 180 from your old diet too – incredible! Your story makes me want to try a 3-day fast! (Baby steps for me.
) ~Tiffany
With my 40-day fast I had a lot of time to think about my next meal! Literally! That, and I did a lot of praying and reading when I would normally be eating. With such a long fast my sense of smell was in overdrive. I was smelling foods that I truly struggled to remember having smelled before. That clearing of my sinuses, along with other positive physical changes (like my back and feet stopped hurting, and I seemed totally detoxified in every way) changed my thinking on food. I read of the health benefits of foods, I discovered DrFuhrman.com, and I decided to stay totally free and clear from every food that has harmful effects. I literally donated all food in my kitchen pantries, refrigerator, and two freezers. I should have thrown it in the garbage for the toxic waste that it was! Anyway, no milk, meat, cheese, butter, flour, sugar, etc. Nothing processed, ever, out of a family box or bag. Nothing remade unless I make it. Let me tell you, my first meal after the 40-day fast was freshly made tomatoes juice. Next I have freshly squeezed orange juice. My senses were in overdrive. My eyes told me what I was drinking but my mouth tasted these things pure for the first time. I had new tastebuds … everything was awesome … still is, but not to that degree. And that’s when the 3-day fast seems appropriate for me, when delicious natural foods have slightly lost their melt in my mouth deliciousness. Once detoxed to this degree, I didn’t want to waste the time and revert back to my old ways with food. I have a new lease on life
“If fasting has the potential to treat and even possibly cure cancer, why isn’t this being evaluated more often instead of the latest and greatest drug?”
The love of money is the root of all evil. Who would profit from the fasting approach? THAT’S why it’s not being evaluated on a large scale. Sad but true.
Kinzie,
I totally appreciate your honesty.
Thank you! ~Tiffany
I am actually planning on doing a juice fast, using freshly juiced fruits and veggies. I decided it would probably be best to do when I don’t have to worry about going to work every day, so I’m starting the fast on spring break, when I take my vacation. I still haven’t decided exactly how I’m going to do the fast though. On rebootwithjoe.com there are about 4 or 5 different methods of juice fasting. One of them you eat only fruits and veggies before the fast, and start replacing meals with juice. I only have 8 days off, so I figure I should start weaning myself of caffeine now and I’ve been trying to eat more veggies with my meals. My goal is to loose some weight and when I come off of the fast, to start eating a plant based vegan diet. I’ve been a vegetarian for over a year now, so I’m hoping the switch won’t be too difficult.
Your blog entry was pretty helpful. It further validated my decision to do a fast. And it’s also made me realize I need to be careful when I start adding food back into my daily diet.
Dr. Joel Fuhrman at DrFuhrman.com, though he supervised Joe in the referenced documentary, said that HE DOES NOT APPROVE of juice fasting for as long as Joe did in the documentary. The reason was that there was too much muscle wasting. Additionally, he said, in the long run it is eating the proper foods consistently and exercising regularly that ultimately determines your long-term weight and good health.
On water fasting, Dr. Fuhrman says, “Total water fasting, is more aggressive and a more effective therapuetic intervention for certain conditions, such as ulcerative colitis, lupus, asthma and hypertension, but they have similar effects. Water fasting is generally done for shorter periods of time, and my main objection to juice fasting is that because it supplies glucose and people can function longer, they are encouraged to fast too long, without a protein source. When I was 20 years old, I water fasted too long as I trusted the health advisors supervising my fast, and I almost died from fasting that long, and it took me years to regain my strength, but that still would not make water fasting of more reasonable lengths not beneficial.”
No one but God and His angels supervised my 40-day water fast, and I can tell you that I surely felt near death at times — and I truly felt cared for by angels!
It was brutal — and I was stubborn to finish in no less than 40 days after I started. I would not recommend a long-term fast of any sort. The physical consequences after a long fast are not good, and long-term physical damage could occur. I didn’t ask, but no one could tell me differently before my fast — I was head strong — but I would be too scared to do it again. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t do it again — it is dangerous. Peace and prayers for your journey, d
Diane,
Thank you for the thoughtful and concerning input to Crumb readers! We all appreciate it! ~Tiffany
Amy,
Weaning yourself off of caffeine and eating a more plant-based diet before hand is a good way to prepare your body for the fast. I haven’t looked into juice fasting specifically, but I think it’s great that you’ve decided beforehand how long your fast will be – 8 days. You may want to aim for more vegetables than fruit during the fast, only because the high concentration of sugar in the fruits will be greatly multiplied in each glass of juice, plus the large amount of juice being consumed. Go slow when you eat again and always listen to your body! ~Tiffany
Thanks for the helpful advice!
You’re welcome!
Thanks for sharing your experience! Very inspiring indeed. A 10 day water fast has long been on my mind, although haven’t attempted one yet. My longest fast was a 6 day grape diet, I ate just grapes for 6 days. The original plan was to go on a grape fast/feast for 21 days, but being socializing and being around food, and people asking “may be you can just have one bite” led to my downfall. So I can toally relate to how you wouldn’t want to be around food while fasting. These days I have just incorporated fast into my daily routine. I eat one full meal a day (salad and baked sweet potato for dinner), and juicing and smoothies for breakfast and lunch. This has pretty much helped me free myself from addiction to various kinds of processed food, etc. The amount of lightness, joy and peace is just amazing.
Also have you tried Sun gazing…..it is awesome, do look it up in my blog
also check out my youtube channel if you feel drawn to
cheers,
Raw fit sungazer
Thanks for sharing your experience too! Is there any reason why you chose grapes for a fast/feast? ~Tiffany
I’ve fasted before and love it. Day 3 is always the hardest! I start fantasizing about food. I smell food everywhere and get cravings. I’m on day 3 right now…. ugh.
But this is the motivation I needed to stick to it! Thank you so much!
Hang in there Cali! You can do it! Think of how great you’ll feel when you’re done! ~Tiffany
Hello
Amazing self motivation well done
I’m sure your intention wasn’t too loose weight but did you and how much ? Did you put it back straight away .. Also I assume your skin is looking amazing when to went back to normal food did this effect your skin in any way ?
THANKS
Hi RT – Thanks !
I lost a total of about 15 lbs. during the fast. The majority of it during the fast, and a few lbs. post fast – since you have to reintroduce foods slowly.
Yes, my skin looked great after the fast. A few skin spots that I’ve had for years cleared up, and the whites of my eyes got a little whiter. My eye doc told me I had Pinguecula, which is normal yellowing of the corners of the eyes – probably from sun exposure. He said it was permanent – well, the majority of it went away
Just shows that the body can fix itself if you let it.
Anyhow, I put the weight back on in about 2 months. Being a pretty lean already (full time bike commuter) I didn’t want to stay so thin – but for those doing it for weight loss – it is possible to keep it off permanently.
I managed to do three days by the 4th day I was dizzy …. I want to try again and try and have the 3rd and 4th day fall on a weekend !
Could you actually tell you have lost a stone (clothes any looser) – I hear all this water weight business and never know how much this would be etc
Thank you for getting back to me – This is the most recent post I have seen and with someone who is actually reply and I have been attempting to do this a few times good to know someone who experience it is a message away lol:)
Any advice on keeping this weight off ?
Thanks
To keep the weight off – you’d have to completely change your diet post fast. The idea of a detox, is to purge the bad from your body, and start fresh, reintroducing good foods into your diet. To me that means lots of fruits veggies, and non processed foods. Lots of people have shared there story via YouTube – keeping a daily video diary of their fast – I found those stories encouraging to watch. Some doing it for weight loss, others for health benefits.
If you were dizzy by the 4th day, your blood pressure may have been to low. When I started, mine was about 130/80 – however, by day 9 of the fast, it had been as low as 99/59. It was monitored it several times a day with a blood pressure cuff. During that time, I’d have to stand up slowly, otherwise the lights went out
Yes, you could definitely tell I had lost weight. For me it was an unpleasant side effect. I weigh 145, and had dropped to around 127-130 range. People often asked if I was ok, or thought something was wrong, because I looked like a stick. Everyone has different goals, but weight loss was not something I particularly wanted – as the fast caused me to lose muscle mass as well.
Disclaimer: My sister is an RN, who I consulted with daily through the fast. If you are thinking of doing one – please do consult with a medical professional (as I am not one).
Great article Mr. Crumbs, it reinforces my strong mental state as I am now on day 3 of my water only fast. I’m not totally new to water fasting as I’ve tried it several times over the years yet I am rusty as I haven’t successfully fasted for the past 4 years now. When I ‘was’ successful I would fast twice a year for 7 days. Thanks for reminding me that its gets better after today. I agree that around day 4 of my previous fasts my hunger totally dissipates and my energy level increases. Personally I fast for weight control but I also enjoy the benefit of reminding my mind and body what true hunger is versus food cravings based on being inundated with eating and food from every aspect of life in the United States. I also want to stress the important of exercise and eating healthy in general. No one should partake in a water fast as a quick fix to lose weight without changing to a healthy lifestyle. What sparked my reemergence into a fasting regimen was a 20lb weight gain from what I’ll call ‘still okay with taking my shirt off at the beach’ weight and 35-40lb total weight gain from the lean ‘ideal weight’ I maintained when water fasting twice a year along with exercise and healthy low carb eating. The first 20lbs of the gain was directly related to not exercising as much (due to an ankle bone and tendon injury) and eating a lot of carb heavy meals, increasing my alcohol intake, and eating late. The next 20lbs of weight gain was due to being totally immobile for 4 months due to having surgery on the tibia/fibula in the ankle area and tendon repair, followed by another 4 months of partial immobility while I engaged in physical therapy. Thankfully as of last week I lost the 1st 20lbs already. How I loss the 1st 20lbs is important to note because I had initially attempted a water fast at the very beginning but I failed and couldn’t clear 24hrs because I had not prepared by body and mind through proper exercise and healthy eating. If anyone out there is about to embark on a fast it’s important that you’ve already reached a certain level of discipline illustrated by your mental and physical health. If you’re not ready in those aspects you will most likely fail. Even if my some miracle you succeed in a 4-10 day water fast, it’ll be far less enjoyable and you’re likely not to keep the weight off. I’m not saying you have to mimic me and lose 20 before a fast but losing at least 10 pounds (if your weight loss goal is 20lbs or higher) through exercise and diet would better prepare your body and mind for the fast. If all you want to lose is 20lbs or less I still encourage you to lose the 1st 5-10lbs through exercise and diet.
Like I stated I’m now on my 3rd day and while I agree with Mr. Crumbs 1-3 day experience, it’s completely bearable and I’m quite excited to enter day 4 and beyond. As far as energy level on day 1 it was hard enough not eating let alone exercise, day 2 brought increased energy as I was so proud I made it through day 1 so I walked a 1 ½ with some light weight training without any noticeable lag for the rest of the day. Today (3rd day) I definitely feel less physically energized, but knowing the physiological changes of fasting, I know that my body is completing its shift over to ketosis starting to use my fat as fuel so it completely energizes my mental state. It basically makes me happy and confident that my discipline has gotten me this far and soon onto the next level. Once I’ve fully entered ketosis I expect my hunger to lesson with increased energy as well. Like I stated before I’ve only gone 7 days in the past but this time I’m shooting for 10 days on this water fast so wish me luck!
Keenan,
Good luck with your fast. Once you get to Day 4 you’ll be smooth sailing !! Since you’ve fasted in the past, you have a pretty solid understanding of the phases your body goes through.
I’m already planning my next 10 day fast. Probably in the next 2-3 months. It’s really amazing how much (mental) preparation it takes to complete one.
I liked your weight loss tip: if you’re fasting for weight loss, to loose the first 5-10 pounds through diet and fitness. Many look at fasting as a quick fix to loose a few pounds, without addressing the cause of weight gain (diet/physical activity) before hand.
Another questions
( there may be more i want to start tomorrow) did you also exercise or was this purely water fast .. I imagine you may have been weak from the fast so it may have been difficult
During the fast were you generally active ?
I have a office based job only do about half hour of brisk walking a day
Thanks for your help
Arti,
I did not exercise during the fast, but had considered doing so before hand. Many people take walks or do very light cardio during water fasts – you just don’t want to overdo it (listen to your body).
Going to work wasn’t difficult (getting out of bed was
… Basically, I just lived life as normal, but without eating. Nothing changed, except I quit riding my bike to work.
Good luck with your fast, and please feel free to ask any questions !
For the good of the thread group just thought I’d report that I’m now on day 5 of the water fast and things are indeed smooth sailing. It’s really about getting through those 1st 3 days because from the very beginning of day 4 my energy has spiked up, the ‘head fog’ has decreased dramatically (almost gone), and as long as I drink adequate water there is no sense of hunger… I think I’ve fully entered into ketosis now.
Keenan – Awesome ! You’re halfway finished ! What’s your plan to break the fast?
Thanks! I really want to do this right and stay in a ketosis state for an additional couple of weeks so I’ll break the water fast with 2/3 additional days of vegetable juicing and water only, then transiting to steamed veggies and lean poultry. I also have some gluten/wheat free crackerbread and seaweed snacks I’m excited to pop open.
Years ago I’ve never gained more than 2 or 3 pounds immediately back after previous fasts (which is great) but this time I want to see if staying in ketosis as I resume eating will prevent that. I’m amazed that I’ve loss 11 pounds of (almost all) fat being only 6 days in! The 1st 20 pounds I’ve loss on my goal to lose 40 pounds took 5 months with diet/excercise. Its looking like I’ll reach the next 20 pounds during this fast! I’ve also been able to exercise 4 out of the past 6 days too with 2miles walks and low weight/3 set/15 reps sessions hitting all major muscle groups so I know I’m losing fat and not muscle. Definitely glad I decided to add this water fast to my training… The only issue I have now is falling asleep at night as I have too much energy. One blog I found recommended a small dose of Benadryl at night as a remedy but I’m on the fence about that.
Well done. It sounds like you have a solid and safe plan for breaking your fast. That’s incredibly important !!
As for Benadryl, I personally wouldn’t take any meds while fasting. It seems to defeat the purpose (in my mind) of being able to detox. However, I’m not an expert by any means. If you are having trouble winding down, maybe read a book for an hour before bed time.
Also, take it easy ! You’re doing great, but don’t over do it on exercise:) I wish you the best of luck on your fast!!
― I Just Have A Question About This… Don’t You Feel Weak After The 4th Day!? Because I Was Doing The Oat Diet But Like Around The 4th I Was Actually Feeling So Weak! Besides I Wanna Know How Much Water Do We Need To Drink During This Process!? We Just Drink Water Right!? No Food Or Anything Like That. Please Answer My Questions I Really Need Them.
Maria,
Yes, I felt weak on the fourth day. I also did not exercise, so it didn’t bother me much. As for how much water to drink, I just sipped on water throughout the day – whenever thirsty. Never did I guzzle it; just kept some nearby to sip on.
Remember, I am not a medical professional. I encourage you to study fasting on your own and know what you are getting yourself into before hand. Talk to your doctor for any concerns or advice. I can only explain my own experience – not someone else’s. What worked for me, may not work for everyone.
― Okay Thanks (: By The Way ; Did You Gain More Weight After You Stop Doing It Or Are You Still In This Progress!?
I gained most of (if not all) of it back within 2 months – but as mentioned previously: this fast was not for weight loss. I’m pretty thin to begin with, so gaining the weight back was desirable.
It is possible to keep the weight off (if doing it for weight loss), by eating properly post fast.
― That Makes Sense Now. Well Thanks For Answering My Questions.
For what its worth, here is my experience so far with fasting.
I have food allergies but I stubbornly continue to eat those foods, so I know I have toxins built up in my system. I am just finishing up 6 days on the Master Cleanse 10 Day Fast.
The first 3 days were rough with headaches, muscle aches and in general, a feeling of fatigue. However, I slugged through and looked forward to feeling better on the 4th day. The headache did go away, but old injuries from my field hockey days began to bother me at the end of the 3rd day. By the time I woke up on the 4th day, I thought I had thrown my back out. My feet, legs knees and back were cramping horribly. My weight loss, which had been about a pound a day up until then, had ceased and I had even gained a pound. Frustrated at the weight gain and the muscle pain, I wanted to give up, but my pigheadedness would not let me quit. I thought, surely by day 5 I would feel better, but no, still back pain and muscle cramps. I took the dog for a walk that evening, thinking, I needed to stretch my legs out. I was in such pain after returning. I am now at the end of Day 6 and I still have back pain and muscle cramps in my legs. I did a lot of gardening today and my body is in a lot of pain tonight. I’m feeling like I may never feel better again, but I refuse to give up. My stubborn body has to let go of these toxins one of these days, maybe it will be day 7.
The reason I write this is because I did not see any posts from individuals having issues with pain in old injuries during a fast. During a fast, our bodies heal themselves on a cellular level. My old injuries are healing and that is painful. I truly believe in fasting as a means of detoxifying and healing my body, but I just thought people should know about this side effect also.
Mary, thanks for commenting ! Have you fasted before? I know from experience, taking on a 10 day fast is extremely aggressive if you’ve never completed one in the past.
Also, you may be trying to do to much at one time (working out, gardening) when your body is running on reserves. Because you are having strange symptoms (cramps, muscle pain), you may want to consult with a physician – or do research to find out if this is common.
The only thing that I struggled with was low blood pressure and lack of energy. Wish you the best of luck.
Thanks Mr. Crumbs,
Yes, I probably am doing too much, but that is my mo. I laid low today. It is my first 10 day fast/cleanse but not my first fast. I have done 3 day fasts and juice fasts in the past, but the longest I have ever fasted was 5 days. I have felt better today; although, the muscle spasms in my back continue. I’m researching this and pushing through. Thanks for the reply.
Another question after during the fast it’s not that I’m hungry it’s that water has no taste is there any healthy way around this
But still having benefits of cleanse and weight loss
Thanks
Hi RT – you could always squeeze a slice of lemon or lime into your glass of water for a little flavor.
Or before bedtime, you could make yourself a cup of hot tea (decaf – no sweeter
Hi, I’m a personal trainer so don’t really have the option of “resting” during a fast. (Never done one before, considering trying 5 days or something). I don’t have to do anything vigorous but do join in on some exercises when training my clients, if they need the extra encouragement. If I fasted, might this make me feel worse, or even faint?! I obviously can’t let my standards as a PT suffer but really like the idea of all those health benefits and losing a couple pounds. Thanks
Hi Nicky !
I don’t think I’d recommend a water fast if you are a personal trainer simply because you don’t have much energy. If you’re in the gym several days a week coaching people, that might be a little much.
However, if you still want some of the detox and weight loss benefits, you may be ok with a smoothie fast. Mrs. Crumbs (Tiffany) completed a 5 day when I did the 10 day water fast. It’s documented here:
http://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2013/02/5-day-smoothie-fast/
Check that out when you have a moment – if you go this route, and find that you need extra energy, just drink more smoothie ! You’re still giving the digestive tract a break since you’d be on a liquid diet, but with TONS of nutrients.
Hope that helps !
[...] 3: 10 Day Water Fast [...]
I’ve done many water fasts in my life and recommend them to people all the time. I’ve also tried juicing fasts but didn’t care for the amount of extra work required (cleaning up after juicing). Besides, you don’t get the same benefits of a water fast, mainly, giving the digestive system a vacation period to get some serious R&R, heal, and allow all that blood to flood other areas to heal. I drank mostly ozonated distilled water (spiked with minerals) and took a lot of ozone baths as well, but that’s not necessary. Just drink good water, and lots of it, and take it easy during your fast (don’t try to do “too much”) and you’ll find you’re not hungry after the first few days, you have a lot of energy and focus, and you feel GREAT!
Your experience sounds a lot like my husbands’s Mike. Thanks for sharing! ~Tiffany