Post: #1

In the recent months, I had been reading about water fasting and its many health benefits, so I decided to give it a try.

My diet is already pretty natural and well balanced and I´ve been lifting weights for more than 10 years, so my health is pretty good.
However, I wanted to see what benefits I could get from fasting.

Last week, I fasted for 3 days, starting on thursday and breaking the fast on sunday.

On the 1st day I felt fine, but with a bit of hunger. My urine was dark and my breath foul.
I lost a lot of water weight from glycogen depletion.

On the 2nd day, I woke up feeling very well disposed and energetic, with no hunger at all.
My urine was still dark, but less than before.
I looked in the mirror at the end of the day and I could see I was more ripped, for the body had clearly used fat as fuel throughout the day.
My mind was very clear and my perception was enhanced. I went for a walk in the park and had a mini mystical experience (very similar to drinking a small dose of ayahuasca or magic mushrooms), in which I could sense the sun as the source of life and nourishment for not just plants bul all creatures on the planet.

On the 3rd day I woke up feeling dizzy and light headed and very, very hungry.
My urine was very clear and my body gave off a pleasant odor, similar to a herbal perfume. My tongue had a pinkish colouration. My eyes and pupils looked very bright and beautiful.
Since I was feeling very lethargic and hungry, I concluded my body had finished the detoxification process and so broke the fast with fresh fruit and honey (funny how I had no desire at all for industrialized foods or meat of any type).

On the whole it was a very interesting experience.
I was a bit disappointed that my body had finished the detoxification process so quickly, because I wanted to fast for a longer period.
However, I knew the importance of listening to the signals the body sends and not to remain fasting longer than required.

Besides the water loss through glycogen depletion, muscle loss was minimal or nonexistent.

The experience was so positive that I intend to repeat it every 3 months or so just as a means of physical and mental purification and maintenance.

Post: #2

I did 3 days water fast two times this autumn. The first one was a lot harder, I got pretty dizzy and nauseated on the second and third day. In hindsight it was probably low blood sugar, so on the second try I would just take a coffee spoon of honey on second and third day and it worked like a charm.

Post: #3

Yeah, I felt a bit nauseated at the beginning also (but not hungry), but I think it´s because of the detoxification process.
However, when the hunger returned on the 3r day I knew it was a sign that the purification was complete and it was time to resume eating.

Post: #4

I find it strange that your urine was dark colored. How much water were you drinking per day during your fast?

Quote:Besides the water loss through glycogen depletion, muscle loss was minimal or nonexistent.

Are you still lifting? Did you notice any strength loses after your water fast?

Post: #5

Yea how much water did you drink each day during your fast?

Also, did you lose any weight during your fast?

Post: #6

FretDancer,

I was drinking about 4 litres of water, since I was feeling very thirsty during the fast.
I attribute the dark colour of the urine to the fact that the body (and the kidneys in particular) is getting rid of toxins and impurities. I also had bowel movements on all 3 days of the fast, despite not having eaten anything.

By the way, I just came back from the gym and I noticed that, yes, I lost a bit of strength (I performed 1 less rep in each set, using the same weight as before).
This implies there was a slight muscle loss, which I´ll recover in 1 week at the most.


Reactionary Tree,

I lost a lot of weight during the fast, most of it water through glycogen depletion, which I am already recovering since I started eating again.
There was a very, very minor muscle loss.

Post: #7

So you just consume water and nothing else? Do you lose any strength from it? I'm concerned about that.

Post: #8

There was an interesting thread on here a while back about fasting.
It was talking about how a three day fast is very beneficial for your immune system.
When you are in a fasted state for a few days, your body starts a process called autophagy, which is essentially recycling old cells. Its like a cell clean up.
There was a large series of posts on the website Marksdailyapple, where he outlines many proven and possible benefits of fasting, I find it fascinating.
Back in the day, fasting was likely something that occurred pretty often, at least for a day or two.
Nowadays, most people can't stand being a little hungry.
Ive seen people in class talking about how they can't focus because they are just "starving" because they got up late and didn't eat breakfast. This is all mental. Your body and brain will function 100% fine in a fasted state for a few days.

Post: #9

Here's a good video on fasting.







This guy went above and beyond and dry fasted for 3 days. He didn't eat or drink anything. The guy is 40.

Post: #10

Its very interesting and now has been backed up scientifically..

http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014...ts-cancer/

Also i just watched this recently..the results speak for themselves..

Post: #11

(12-08-2014 10:42 AM)Brazilianguy Wrote:  FretDancer,

I was drinking about 4 litres of water, since I was feeling very thirsty during the fast.
I attribute the dark colour of the urine to the fact that the body (and the kidneys in particular) is getting rid of toxins and impurities. I also had bowel movements on all 3 days of the fast, despite not having eaten anything.

That is a lot of water. That is a strange phenomenon for sure. I am an Intermittent Faster and my urine would never be dark colored if I drank 4 liters of water. But then again I have never done a full water fast, I am tempted to try it and see for myself but I want to read more about your experience.

Quote:By the way, I just came back from the gym and I noticed that, yes, I lost a bit of strength (I performed 1 less rep in each set, using the same weight as before).
This implies there was a slight muscle loss, which I´ll recover in 1 week at the most.

1 rep less is really minimal. Good.

Quote:Reactionary Tree,

I lost a lot of weight during the fast, most of it water through glycogen depletion, which I am already recovering since I started eating again.
There was a very, very minor muscle loss.

Did you weigh yourself before the fast and after it? Is it possible to have a look at those numbers? Even if it is water weight, etc.

Post: #12

(12-08-2014 04:22 PM)Dhorv9 Wrote:  Ive seen people in class talking about how they can't focus because they are just "starving" because they got up late and didn't eat breakfast. This is all mental. Your body and brain will function 100% fine in a fasted state for a few days.

It's not mental. It's due to blood sugar crash after not consuming carbs which most people usually constantly drip-feed. Eat a low carb diet and you can eat in a 6 or 8 hour window without that going crazy feeling, which is not actually hunger.

Post: #13

I agree that is part of it, but I do think a big part of it is mental. If you are waking up in the morning and you are not obese, you shouldn't really be having such a big blood sugar crash.
Some people just can't deal with the feeling of being hungry because they are always used to having food in their bellies, and they don't really know what true hunger actually is. So when they miss meals, they think it is some big deal and they just gotta eat.

Post: #14

Pepper mints and chewing gum are great to avoid cravings

Post: #15

FretDancer,

No, I didn´t weigh myself before and after the fast, as I didn´t want to sabotage myself psychologically by getting hung up on numbers.
I am also an intermittent faster and I know how weight fluctuations can mess with our minds, so I prefer to rely on what the mirror shows me as well as the knowledge I have of my own body.