Has anyone here tried fasting?

Freiheit

Hi a lot of talk now about how fasting helps to regenerate the immune system. I'd really like to try a 2 day fast as it suggests. Has anyone here tried it and how did they feel?
danke
Kate

link_2007

Did two days back when I was in college - not by choice.

I felt like ****e

Oryx

How is it meant to help the immune system?

Freiheit

i think your body perceives itself as under attack, well getting weak and regenerates in response....

Oryx

Oryx wrote: »

How is it meant to help the immune system?

He must be referring to the recent publications
http://news.usc.edu/63669/fasting-triggers-stem-cell-regeneration-of-damaged-old-immune-system/

Cuddlesworth

Meh, in 2 months there will be another study that says fasting does damage to your system. Its just a new health fad.

oq4v3ht0u76kf2

I posted this in another thread last year:

http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057042158/1

Me, in another thread wrote:

For what it's worth, I've done a couple of eighty hour fasts - I'm not sure what the correct name for them is per the "fasting community" but all I had during the eighty hours was water and a teaspoon of salt every day (for some reason sodium was deemed important during the fast).

Hunger comes in waves but generally dissipates pretty quickly once you're drinking lots of water. The hunger waves did feel a little more "intense" during the middle of the fast but that was probably just the psychological peak between "I've just started fasting" and "nearly there, I can eat soon" rather than anything physiological.

I continued training and working during the fasts but as my "normal" diet is low-carb (<20g/day) I am pretty well keto-adapted so my primary energy source was still there (body fat... I have plenty).

My main motivation for the first one was just to see if I could do it... motivation for the second was to measure the impact on IGF-1 (it dropped, as expected).

I won't lie, the first meals after both fasts were pretty excellent but at the same time I felt like I could probably have gone on a couple of days more.

Fourteen days sounds pretty rough though... if I was committing to that I'd want some hard data pre- and post-fast so I could see what the impact was and whether it was worth it.

There you go. Totally anecdotal experience from a stranger on the Internet who's done ~24% as long of a fast as you're planning.

rusnakova

I think it's best to pick a weekend or a few days when you don't work and don't do too much exercise. It also helps when you can focus on doing something you really enjoy - maybe staying in nature, reading, whatever YOU like.

I did two days and it is not so difficult, although it is uncomfortable, especially when you go to bed hungry. But the hunger pangs disappear quickly.

I would say fast is a really good way to cleanse your whole system - however, I am not sure about the effect of short term fasts (although they definitely allow your body to rest for a while, especially if you've been eating/living poorly), if you have a serious condition you want to heal, I would find a specialist on fasting and do it under their supervision.

Also, from my experience, it's easier when a few days before the fast, you try to eat more fresh fruit and veg, and start your fast in the evening, not in the morning after eating some heavy food the night before.

Fingers crossed!

generic2012

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

Meh, in 2 months there will be another study that says fasting does damage to your system. Its just a new health fad.

Doubt it.

Oryx

rusnakova wrote: »

if you have a serious condition you want to heal, I would find a specialist on fasting and do it under their supervision.

This, in my opinion, is when something interesting and possibly good for you, becomes something dangerous. Regardless of how beneficial fasting may be to your immune system, recommending it as a 'cure' for 'something serious' is bordering on crazy.

Freiheit

I've no serious health conditions, 5.1 cholesteral but that's hardly serious. I'd try it for an 12 or 18 hours first...will speak to my G.P. soon...am quite fit and like experimenting with new things....

runawaybishop

Freiheit wrote: »

I've no serious health conditions, 5.1 cholesteral but that's hardly serious. I'd try it for an 12 or 18 hours first...will speak to my G.P. soon...am quite fit and like experimenting with new things....

Surely you fast for 12 hours on a regular basis anyway?

Freiheit

I think though you are still required to consume a few saches for essential nutrients during fast days. Does anyone know a doctor or somebody who I could contact about this?.

generic2012

Freiheit wrote: »

I think though you are still required to consume a few saches for essential nutrients during fast days. Does anyone know a doctor or somebody who I could contact about this?.

Dr. Oz

FTA69

Your body needs fuel to function adequately and you should provide it with good, healthy fuel on a regular basis. I don't see how depriving yourself of this is going to help you in any way.

Exercise, abstain from excessive booze and fags and eat good food. People overthink this concept way too much.

generic2012

FTA69 wrote: »

Your body needs fuel to function adequately and you should provide it with good, healthy fuel on a regular basis.

Most people's bodies are wrapped in a perfectly adequate fuel, and far too much of it.