I do a 4-day fast once a month. The effects have been kind of miraculous. I am now younger, slimmer, and fitter than I was. I started fasting to get my high blood pressure under control. It worked. My blood pressure is now very good. (Tested just now: 124/83.)
Was it easy for you ? I want to try so badly but feel like I will fail because I like to eat too much....lol How do you prep and get up the willpower?? I can easily do IF though as long as 16 hours but I know that the 72 hr fast is much better. All tips appreciated! Thank you.
Was it easy? Yes and no. You don't actually feel hungry, so there's no need to worry about that part of it. Your hunger kind of gets turned off. That good, by the way, because fasting also resets your appetite for when you are not fasting. I don't really have any desire for snacking anymore.
You can build up to longer fasts. You can start with one day. It does get easier as you start to adapt. It gets easier every time you do it. For me one day is very easy.
From what I've learned, four days is the maximum you should do because after that you start going into starvation mode, which is not good.
Ideally it would good to take some time off to fast so that you are not stressed.
A good resource is the YouTube channel Pottenger's Human.
Thanks for the speedy reply ! I will start off small. I know I can do a 24 hour one pretty easily since I have had to do them for colonoscopies before. Then maybe a week or two later try for 48 then 72.... thanks for the tip. I will keep you updated.
You can start a soft entry to a fast in some simple ways.
* time restrict your eating to an 8 hour window
*have intro days of eating "clean", meaning removing processed foods, artificial ingredients, sugar, wheat, caffeine.... These days allow you to feel like you are eating heartily, but removing the foods that are more likely to provoke the hunger pangs. I often eat filling but cleansy things like watermelon, vegetable puree or chunks in chicken broth, fresh juice of carrot and celery and apple and such. I'm a vegetarian, so I guess I don't worry about meat. Salads and vegetables can be flavored easily with a little salt or soy or miso. You'd be surprised how much a few spices can make you feel really excited about simple foods.
I did a month long cleanse which began sort of like this once. I was determined to stop anytime I felt like it, but I felt fantastic. I was energetic and so alert.
And it is surprising how quickly your body adapts and even physically changes. You'll see yourself suddenly looking healthier, even losing the fat handles more quickly than would seem possible. At least that is how it is for me.
Psychologically it can be a bigger hurdle. I like to eat to feel that I'm letting go of the busyness of the day or to feel grounded. It takes a repatterning to reshape how you deal with those needs and urges.
Oh, I also emphasized to drink tons of water first thing in the morning and at other times. You can add psyllium if you like. I have also found taking magnesium before bed crucial to keep the plumbing in good flow.
"This is a mainstream book, so you can expect the inclusion of the usual “cholesterol is bad” narrative"
I am so glad you pointed this out Unbecoming, and added links for those open minded enough to follow.
I confess that when I read the mindless regurgitation of the cholesterol bad myth, especially from people who otherwise have some good points, it makes me call into question the other things they say. I don't like throwing the baby out with the bathwater and do find it very disappointing that these fallacies are perpetuated almost everywhere, thereby becoming accepted as fact and ever harder to escape.
During a fast, my son was there, I told him what I was doing. Day 1 piece of cake, day 3 hard, could think of nothing but food, day 4 eased myself into a 300 calorie meal. Lost 12 pounds. Ate lightly the rest of week and started again that weekend. Same stats, never got far over 3 days.
To my shock and awe my son looked into fasting and tried it. He's Type 1 at 313 pounds. In 3 months he was 264. His doctor was stunned as was I. Same doctor who told him to cut back on salt. He has eliminated his slo-mo insulin at night and drastically cut back on his fast acting.
He intermittent fasts during his work week now and does a 3 day fast come weekends, good thinking, because weekends he and his wife would blow it out with pizza deliveries, wine & beer drinking only on weekends. Now that's gone. Together they lost 80 pounds. This life style change has affected their son as well, no more junk food in the house, oh the horror of it all.
Fasting is perceived as such a drastic measure to some, most, until you try it. It's amazing. At the end you can smell things you didn't smell before. You feel sharp as a tack, nothing hurts. Your knees work better. Your body reacts and tells you, "ahh NO, I don't think so", to crap food that was the norm that you have now eliminated. It was the same for me when I was chelated. I could taste the chemicals in food that chelation had eliminated and my body would react very negatively if I dared to eat those chemicals again. Fasting does the same. Your body feels pure and well.
I fasted for 3 days (water only). It was difficult. At the end, I never felt better mentally & physically. I was 45, now 90, no cane, drive, live alone in a tri-level. I'm going to fast again.
About 3 years ago now, I stepped on the scale at 220 pounds (6’ male) with a miserable mind and random aches and pains. I wrote that number down, and then I quit eating for 10 days. Over that 10 days I lost a good bit of weight, but more importantly, I saw clearly the prison that is the insulin/glucagon roller coaster. I have been a pretty consistent ketogenic dieter ever since, though I do a carb bolus a handful of times a month to support vigor and exercise capacity. Take the zero. You’ll discover it’s a portal out of this hell.
I’ve done a couple of 3 day fasts before. I found that physical hunger was not the difficult part, but rather the mental aspect of eating. My body didn’t feel that hungry, but my mind really wanted to eat. It proved to me that eating is actually addicting, so it’s the mental aspect that needs to be overcome while fasting, not hunger. I also felt very clear minded during and after fasting.
Thanks for the timely article, I’ve been wanting to do another 2-3 day fast but need to carve out some time for it.
Very interesting article, thank you. I've done many forms of fasting since I first learned about it from the works of Herbert M. Shelton. Lately, however, I've been most interested in a fasting protocol notably absent from this article, that of "dry fasting". I have come to suspect that this modality is a powerful missing piece of the health puzzle and would be interested in your take on it.
I don't know about dry fasting protocols, but to stay alive I had to dry fast about 6 days and it was very very hard for me. I love to water fast, but it's a struggle to dry fast, even with infusions...
Funny that this article came out on day 1 of my 3 week water only fast. I had never done fasting before but did a three week water only in January for medical reasons. Found great benefits to it and attempting another one now as a book end (hopefully) to my holistic cancer journey.
I read Fung’s book as part of my research on fasting although I didn’t find it as compelling as the write ups from the godfather of fasting, Rupert Sheldrake. There’s also a great doc about fasting that is worth your time:
Since I’m attempting a three week water fast, some people are jointing me for legs of that trip for various reasons and I have a signal group open for support, questions, and concerns. It’s only going to be active from today til September 23rd and we’re avoiding other topics that have nothing to do with fasting. If anyone is interested:
For those interested I can recommend The Phoenix Protocol Dry Fasting book by August Dunning. The TLDR isn that water interferes with the benefits of fasting. Dunning’s book makes a compelling argument.
I found it is important to break a fast at breakfast.
The reason is the sleep cycle and ensuring it is completed. Many of the mentioned benefits occur during sleep.
I have noticed the weight loss side in particular relies on this to break down the fat cells as discussed, but more than that also occurs, because the blood vessels, lymphatic system and celluar framework is also recycled at the same time. Because the whole lot is removed, rebound style gaining weight afterwards is difficult, as the body needs to use energy (food) and resources to rebuild the framework to support the fat cell development.
You know this process is in effect, as a very slight feeling of low level bruising is felt, around days 3-4 of a 5 day fast, especially around the natural fat centers like the stomach.
Another benefit of the 3-5 day fast is almost touched upon by this article. The liver.
I have found that with alcohol, my ability to tolerate, process, and not get hungover is like I am 20years old again immediately after a fast. A 3day fast before a big event weekend works very well.
“Interest in therapeutic fasting waned with the advent of modern pharmaceuticals but has seen a resurgence in recent years as research has uncovered its potential benefits for conditions like obesity, diabetes, and neurological disorders.”
Did it wane, or was it purposefully pushed out along with other common sense practices? Rockefeller medicine was installed with a hammer and the allopathic brainwashing was forcefully inserted by all available means.
“has seen a resurgence in recent years as research has uncovered its potential benefits for conditions like obesity, diabetes, and neurological disorders.”
Research, or permission has now been granted by the hip doctor Gods? The ailment underneath them all may be turning your brain off and giving authority to authorities.
I do a 4-day fast once a month. The effects have been kind of miraculous. I am now younger, slimmer, and fitter than I was. I started fasting to get my high blood pressure under control. It worked. My blood pressure is now very good. (Tested just now: 124/83.)
Was it easy for you ? I want to try so badly but feel like I will fail because I like to eat too much....lol How do you prep and get up the willpower?? I can easily do IF though as long as 16 hours but I know that the 72 hr fast is much better. All tips appreciated! Thank you.
Was it easy? Yes and no. You don't actually feel hungry, so there's no need to worry about that part of it. Your hunger kind of gets turned off. That good, by the way, because fasting also resets your appetite for when you are not fasting. I don't really have any desire for snacking anymore.
You can build up to longer fasts. You can start with one day. It does get easier as you start to adapt. It gets easier every time you do it. For me one day is very easy.
From what I've learned, four days is the maximum you should do because after that you start going into starvation mode, which is not good.
Ideally it would good to take some time off to fast so that you are not stressed.
A good resource is the YouTube channel Pottenger's Human.
Thanks for the speedy reply ! I will start off small. I know I can do a 24 hour one pretty easily since I have had to do them for colonoscopies before. Then maybe a week or two later try for 48 then 72.... thanks for the tip. I will keep you updated.
Yeah, just go by how you feel. If it doesn’t feel right, then just stop the fast and try again later. It does take a while to adapt, so be patient.
Good advice...... Thanks again.
You can start a soft entry to a fast in some simple ways.
* time restrict your eating to an 8 hour window
*have intro days of eating "clean", meaning removing processed foods, artificial ingredients, sugar, wheat, caffeine.... These days allow you to feel like you are eating heartily, but removing the foods that are more likely to provoke the hunger pangs. I often eat filling but cleansy things like watermelon, vegetable puree or chunks in chicken broth, fresh juice of carrot and celery and apple and such. I'm a vegetarian, so I guess I don't worry about meat. Salads and vegetables can be flavored easily with a little salt or soy or miso. You'd be surprised how much a few spices can make you feel really excited about simple foods.
I did a month long cleanse which began sort of like this once. I was determined to stop anytime I felt like it, but I felt fantastic. I was energetic and so alert.
And it is surprising how quickly your body adapts and even physically changes. You'll see yourself suddenly looking healthier, even losing the fat handles more quickly than would seem possible. At least that is how it is for me.
Psychologically it can be a bigger hurdle. I like to eat to feel that I'm letting go of the busyness of the day or to feel grounded. It takes a repatterning to reshape how you deal with those needs and urges.
Oh, I also emphasized to drink tons of water first thing in the morning and at other times. You can add psyllium if you like. I have also found taking magnesium before bed crucial to keep the plumbing in good flow.
What type of Magnesium do you use.? What`s the best kind ?
Sounds like a wonderful regimen. I however like meat so I`d have to do it a bit differently . Thanks for your input .
Thank you so much!
"This is a mainstream book, so you can expect the inclusion of the usual “cholesterol is bad” narrative"
I am so glad you pointed this out Unbecoming, and added links for those open minded enough to follow.
I confess that when I read the mindless regurgitation of the cholesterol bad myth, especially from people who otherwise have some good points, it makes me call into question the other things they say. I don't like throwing the baby out with the bathwater and do find it very disappointing that these fallacies are perpetuated almost everywhere, thereby becoming accepted as fact and ever harder to escape.
Good work.
During a fast, my son was there, I told him what I was doing. Day 1 piece of cake, day 3 hard, could think of nothing but food, day 4 eased myself into a 300 calorie meal. Lost 12 pounds. Ate lightly the rest of week and started again that weekend. Same stats, never got far over 3 days.
To my shock and awe my son looked into fasting and tried it. He's Type 1 at 313 pounds. In 3 months he was 264. His doctor was stunned as was I. Same doctor who told him to cut back on salt. He has eliminated his slo-mo insulin at night and drastically cut back on his fast acting.
He intermittent fasts during his work week now and does a 3 day fast come weekends, good thinking, because weekends he and his wife would blow it out with pizza deliveries, wine & beer drinking only on weekends. Now that's gone. Together they lost 80 pounds. This life style change has affected their son as well, no more junk food in the house, oh the horror of it all.
Fasting is perceived as such a drastic measure to some, most, until you try it. It's amazing. At the end you can smell things you didn't smell before. You feel sharp as a tack, nothing hurts. Your knees work better. Your body reacts and tells you, "ahh NO, I don't think so", to crap food that was the norm that you have now eliminated. It was the same for me when I was chelated. I could taste the chemicals in food that chelation had eliminated and my body would react very negatively if I dared to eat those chemicals again. Fasting does the same. Your body feels pure and well.
Great story, thank you!!
Thanks for sharing your great story
I fasted for 3 days (water only). It was difficult. At the end, I never felt better mentally & physically. I was 45, now 90, no cane, drive, live alone in a tri-level. I'm going to fast again.
I have been intermittent fasting my whole life and didn’t know it. Funny. Thank you
Same with me...I always had to argue with those that insisted that breakfast was the most important meal of the day.
Yes, I've always naturally left off eating for long spans. I like the energized and clear feeling of being empty.
Have you read the book: starving to heal in Siberia? I haven't read it myself but I talked with people who did this treatment. Very interesting.
No haven't, will look it up.
There’s a lot of good information in the substack https://open.substack.com/pub/fastwell?r=47ae9&utm_medium=ios
About 3 years ago now, I stepped on the scale at 220 pounds (6’ male) with a miserable mind and random aches and pains. I wrote that number down, and then I quit eating for 10 days. Over that 10 days I lost a good bit of weight, but more importantly, I saw clearly the prison that is the insulin/glucagon roller coaster. I have been a pretty consistent ketogenic dieter ever since, though I do a carb bolus a handful of times a month to support vigor and exercise capacity. Take the zero. You’ll discover it’s a portal out of this hell.
I’ve done a couple of 3 day fasts before. I found that physical hunger was not the difficult part, but rather the mental aspect of eating. My body didn’t feel that hungry, but my mind really wanted to eat. It proved to me that eating is actually addicting, so it’s the mental aspect that needs to be overcome while fasting, not hunger. I also felt very clear minded during and after fasting.
Thanks for the timely article, I’ve been wanting to do another 2-3 day fast but need to carve out some time for it.
Very interesting article, thank you. I've done many forms of fasting since I first learned about it from the works of Herbert M. Shelton. Lately, however, I've been most interested in a fasting protocol notably absent from this article, that of "dry fasting". I have come to suspect that this modality is a powerful missing piece of the health puzzle and would be interested in your take on it.
I don't know about dry fasting protocols, but to stay alive I had to dry fast about 6 days and it was very very hard for me. I love to water fast, but it's a struggle to dry fast, even with infusions...
Make sure adrenals are working! Fasting is a stressor
Both Fung and Huberman were and are an inspiration to me - they are the proof in the pudding.
Funny that this article came out on day 1 of my 3 week water only fast. I had never done fasting before but did a three week water only in January for medical reasons. Found great benefits to it and attempting another one now as a book end (hopefully) to my holistic cancer journey.
I read Fung’s book as part of my research on fasting although I didn’t find it as compelling as the write ups from the godfather of fasting, Rupert Sheldrake. There’s also a great doc about fasting that is worth your time:
https://rumble.com/v1p0fba-fasting-movie.html
Since I’m attempting a three week water fast, some people are jointing me for legs of that trip for various reasons and I have a signal group open for support, questions, and concerns. It’s only going to be active from today til September 23rd and we’re avoiding other topics that have nothing to do with fasting. If anyone is interested:
https://signal.group/#CjQKIOPoVoGa08rrd9yIbxru5H16thyztW3Go6cJkb7UtPcZEhB6LzPFEeQ7Uvsmfo-SslBE
For those interested I can recommend The Phoenix Protocol Dry Fasting book by August Dunning. The TLDR isn that water interferes with the benefits of fasting. Dunning’s book makes a compelling argument.
I found it is important to break a fast at breakfast.
The reason is the sleep cycle and ensuring it is completed. Many of the mentioned benefits occur during sleep.
I have noticed the weight loss side in particular relies on this to break down the fat cells as discussed, but more than that also occurs, because the blood vessels, lymphatic system and celluar framework is also recycled at the same time. Because the whole lot is removed, rebound style gaining weight afterwards is difficult, as the body needs to use energy (food) and resources to rebuild the framework to support the fat cell development.
You know this process is in effect, as a very slight feeling of low level bruising is felt, around days 3-4 of a 5 day fast, especially around the natural fat centers like the stomach.
Another benefit of the 3-5 day fast is almost touched upon by this article. The liver.
I have found that with alcohol, my ability to tolerate, process, and not get hungover is like I am 20years old again immediately after a fast. A 3day fast before a big event weekend works very well.
“Interest in therapeutic fasting waned with the advent of modern pharmaceuticals but has seen a resurgence in recent years as research has uncovered its potential benefits for conditions like obesity, diabetes, and neurological disorders.”
Did it wane, or was it purposefully pushed out along with other common sense practices? Rockefeller medicine was installed with a hammer and the allopathic brainwashing was forcefully inserted by all available means.
“has seen a resurgence in recent years as research has uncovered its potential benefits for conditions like obesity, diabetes, and neurological disorders.”
Research, or permission has now been granted by the hip doctor Gods? The ailment underneath them all may be turning your brain off and giving authority to authorities.