Fasting

[h2orowe]

Is fasting dangerous? I mean fasting as in no food, but plenty of water. The other day I fasted for 24 hours, and I'm thinking about going for 2 days, then move on to 3 days, then move on to 4, then eventually a week. Would that be dangerous? At the least, I want to be able to go 3 days.
The reason I'm doing it is to basically test myself, no real reason. It's not to lose weight or anything, because I know that muscle is the first thing to be eaten when starving yourself.
What's the longest you've fasted? I think my cousin went for 65 hours, but that was because he had no money for food.
When you fasted why did you?

[Osucka]

alot of other crap thrown in you don't need but my story is on my homepage in my sig. It wasn't to lose weight but it was preparation to get used to not eating much.

BTW, were you ever on 4ch/b/ because I think you and I had a fake battle (prompted by SR and the new fake /b/) maybe a year or two back unless I'm mistaken. You're pic reminds me of that kid is all.
If none of that makes sense, disregard.

[El_CJ]

Yes, about a year ago. The story is, I was just too cheap to buy anything, and too dumb to use an alarm clock.

So, assuming I had dinner the original night at 7:30 like I normally do, it was... 64 hours. Unless I can't add, which is a distinct possibility.

Why? Slept in until 7 (had to leave at 7), had to go to school. My ride had judo that evening, so I read a book. I got home at midnight, had to get up at 6, so I went right to sleep. Slept in again, went right to school, was too poor to buy something at school, ride had a fraternity meeting. I read a book. I got home at midnight, went right back to sleep. Woke up at 10:30, and ate. I'm very easily distracted, and can ignore my body like a mofo.

[h2orowe]

alot of other crap thrown in you don't need but my story is on my homepage in my sig. It wasn't to lose weight but it was preparation to get used to not eating much.

BTW, were you ever on 4ch/b/ because I think you and I had a fake battle (prompted by SR and the new fake /b/) maybe a year or two back unless I'm mistaken. You're pic reminds me of that kid is all.
If none of that makes sense, disregard.
Nah, I don't go on 4chan, haha. I'm scared of it D: Is /b/ safe? I've been on 4chan like once or twice, though, and this board I use has a lot of 4chanians so I know a bit of the board names.. /b/ is random right?

[I Like Shinny!]

I've never fasted before. I'll get to hungry and give in. I've shamed my family. :gloomy:

[Osucka]

Nah, I don't go on 4chan, haha. I'm scared of it D: Is /b/ safe? I've been on 4chan like once or twice, though, and this board I use has a lot of 4chanians so I know a bit of the board names.. /b/ is random right?
No! Not safe! Never go! BAD! :frypan:

[Overkongen]

Me was in army. Made hard 5-day trip. Get one ration for first four days. Hard at first, but after while, tummy get used to empty. Not hungry anymore. Not gud 4 brain, tho.

[Candyvan Stan]

It might wipe out the progress you've made losing fat over the months if you do it too often, that's for sure. Your metabolism will slow down and your body will think you're being starved and therefore conserve more fat.

[Trump]

I can't. My blood sugar will drop and I'll get that weak shaky feeling. Not devastating, but annoying enough to not do it.

[Kass]

Is fasting dangerous? I mean fasting as in no food, but plenty of water. The other day I fasted for 24 hours, and I'm thinking about going for 2 days, then move on to 3 days, then move on to 4, then eventually a week. Would that be dangerous? At the least, I want to be able to go 3 days.
The reason I'm doing it is to basically test myself, no real reason. It's not to lose weight or anything, because I know that muscle is the first thing to be eaten when starving yourself.
What's the longest you've fasted? I think my cousin went for 65 hours, but that was because he had no money for food.
When you fasted why did you?


TALK TO A DOCTOR! Fasting for a day is probably no big deal. People do it all the time. Fasting for longer than that should only be done under the supervision of a doctor. At some point, your body begins consuming itself for the energy to keep you systems functioning.

[seiji]

Aside from sleepytime, I get hungry every three hours. I get terrible stomach cramps around seven hours. If twenty-four didn't kill me, I'd definitely wish it did.
My mother says I'm hypoglycemic. No fasting for me, thanks.

[c-rex]

Is fasting dangerous? I mean fasting as in no food, but plenty of water. The other day I fasted for 24 hours, and I'm thinking about going for 2 days, then move on to 3 days, then move on to 4, then eventually a week. Would that be dangerous? At the least, I want to be able to go 3 days.
The reason I'm doing it is to basically test myself, no real reason. It's not to lose weight or anything, because I know that muscle is the first thing to be eaten when starving yourself.
What's the longest you've fasted? I think my cousin went for 65 hours, but that was because he had no money for food.
When you fasted why did you?

I've always heard you can run into issues off those twenty four hour famine things. Like were you don't eat to raise money. They used to be popular at my highschool. They always said to drink a lot of fruit juice to keep your blood sugar level up.

If you want to test yourseld I'd suggest doing it in constructive ways. Try to force yourself to run further or faster, lift more, talk to a girl, whatever. Fasting reall serves no point except to weaken your body. If you want to test your self control abilities in the food area do healthy fasts were you try to limit yourself from eating bad foods (candy, soda, fast food, etc) for as long as possible. My record was 5 weeks on an all organic diet, but that was before I had a fridge full of beer next to my couch. Now my record is "Hmmm, I haven't had a beer in like 12 hours, I should really do something about that."

[Sock Full of Boiled Dimes]

In a religous sense I am sapposed to fast, but every time I tried I gave up and assaulted some pizza.

How its sapposed to effect the diet I dunno, but I hear if you fast once and a while and limit your portions of food that your stomach shrinks and you actually can't eat as much as you normally would.

[Jetsetlemming]

Don't go longer than your one day, or you'll screw yourself like Micheal said. If you're doing it to try to be spiritual, just meditate instead.

[Kwiz]

So.. forgive me for asking the obvious question, but why are you doing this, Joey?

[Trump]

There is only one reason to fast... religious purification. If you are doing it for any other reason, it is the wrong reason. (I'm not sure I agree with the purification thing either, but that is another topic).

[ellie]

That's incorrect, Trump. There are some medical reasons that call for fasting, but never more than 24 hours. Before having surgury, the patient is asked to fast for a certain number of hours, to prevent complications during anethesia.

Me, I would never want to voluntarily fast. I *need* to eat every few hours. "Fasting" during the night while I'm asleep is fine, but I can't skip breakfast when I get up. I need to eat or I get shakey and have been known to faint.

[Nebosuke]

You can fast for relativeley extended periods of time safely (assuming you have no medical complications like diabetes, etc. I believe something around 90 days was the longest fast under medical supervision), but it's not something that you just do with no preparation. It's something that you should study thoroughly. Try to get access to as much medical (as opposed to philosophical, religious, etc.) information on the subject as possible.

For example, one of the first things you'll need to do is strictly regulate your diet and exercise regimen for several weeks prior to the fast. The reason for this is that your body stores quite a lot of toxins in your body fat, as this is one of the body's alternative methods for removing toxins from the blood stream. After the first few days of your fast, your body will begin to consume your body fat at an accelerated pace, which results in the stored toxins being released into the bloodstream. Assuming you adequately prepared with a specially modified diet prior to the fast, there won't be much toxins in your body fat. You won't die if you skip this step, but it's fairly likely that you'll basically feel like crap (headaches, nausea, etc.).

[Stephy]

Your body needs energy. You get energy from eating certain foods. You need to keep your body going. Your mind needs food to focus and concentrate. Your body is going to feel tricked. Your metabolism will act differently.

Not good. oh and like the poster above stated. Assuming that you have no medical issues involved. But it still could be dangerous, if you're not careful about it.

Was used to fasting before. Not as much now. I never have an appetite anymore. And when I do I eat so much in one sitting and then feel full for almost a day and half.

So I basically eat yogurt, baby carrots and celery, and drink milk or water. That's all. (though I did have McDonalds the day before) Sometimes I might eat a tuna sandwich. I don't eat breakfast or lunch and the stuff I listed above is like my dinner. Mostly because my body is used to eating so little so it is used to it. I even forget to eat sometimes and don't know if I am hungry.

[Duke Luke of Juke]

Joey. I would typically claim that this is all about body-image, but since I know (unfortunately, really) that you've already given up masturbation, and now are considering giving up food, I do believe this is for spiritual reasons. I'll even wrap it up in a nice little package and call it, "spiritual-image" reasons. I think there's absolutely nothing wrong with taking time to try and further develop yourself as an individual, and to generally start to construct what it is that makes you a spiritual individual. I personally believe that we should all have our own set of spiritual doctrines, even if they consist primarily of Catholic or Buddhist, or whatever have you, teachings. But that's another topic alltogether.

As far as fasting goes, I think if you feel it's a good idea, then it's a good idea. I know nothing about the biochemical comings and goings that are involved, I think all of the posters before me have demonstrated the potential problems well enough, but I think from a mental standpoint that whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger. What's never ventured's never gained, or whatever that saying is. If you don't try it, you can't apply it? I don't know. Life's too short to be cautious, anyway. Do what you want to do, enjoy your life.

[Random]

If you do go for it, I'd plan out when you'll stop eating, what the first thing you'll eat afterwards is, and exactly when you'll start eating again.
Set yourself clear boundaries so that you know when you're finished, overwise you can either start eating early (and feel bad later), or say to yourself "nah, not long enough" and prolong it more than needed.

I'd also advise eating something carbohydratey before and after, but then I could be horribly wrong on this count D:

Also, how well you can fast is influenced by how much work you're doing.
Right now, for instance, I could probably pull off a day or two - I'm sleeping for eight to ten hours, and doing very very little the rest of the day. As a result, I'm barely eating anything, and am not usually very hungry.
In comparison, on a normal school day, with a few miles walking, plus learning, thinking, sports, homework, I'd get hungry a lot easier, sleep a bit less, and overall need more food.

Plan out your days as well so that you have something fairly easy to be doing so you don't get bored. Boredom will kill a fast, fast :P

[Trump]

Ahh, I guess when someone says "fasting" I think of it in multiples of days. To me you can't really fast for 8 hours since that's just normal life (like at night). I've never heard of a procedure that required no food for more than that so I didn't even think about it.

[Idlethought]

Chill I like food too much

[haterllnation]

I did for a week, many a time. It was mainly for religious reasons. Now, I don't have to worry about that anymore.

[Black fist]

I can't fast cause I stay up late in ego waffle comercials and bout the third mcdonald comercial you will break down and eat something, skittles is my crack at bout 3 am or Flav- or- ice.

[Druid]

TALK TO A DOCTOR! Fasting for a day is probably no big deal. People do it all the time. Fasting for longer than that should only be done under the supervision of a doctor. At some point, your body begins consuming itself for the energy to keep you systems functioning.

Aweomse. I feel like losing a rib....

[h2orowe]

I think I will talk to a doctor first. I won't fast for a month or two, either, because well.. I just fasted last week. :P I think I might go for 72 hours, not sure.. probably only 48 hours.

[TLab3000]

Hehe, 72 hours...

Hint: Get really everything out of your stomach before you start by any means. It'll be a lot easier. I did it with Glauber's salt, but it's no fun.

I've once fasted for 14 days. But during that time, I didn't only drink water but also a special energy drink: Water + fresh lemon juice + a bit of maple sirup, 1 litre per day. Apart from that, only water or tea made from the lemon peel was allowed.

Hm, I liked doing that, back then. I did it for weird spiritual reasons, but it also felt good to pull through and prove to the world that I can do it ;)

Spiritual reasons, hm, that's rather nonsense to me, nowadays. However, everybody has to make their own experience and decisions.

Some effects, as far as I remember:
- You won't be that hungry if your stomach is empty from the beginning.
- The feeling of needing to eat will almost vanish after the first 3 days. If you can do it for 3 days, you can do it for a week!
- After about 4 days, you'll start to stink. Shower as often as you won't it won't stop.
- After another day or two your sense of smell will increase. A bit later, it'll be amazing. Walk through a flower field and enjoy. Walk past dog shit and, well, you couldn't puke, but you'll feel like it.
- In my case, it was a lot easier to fall asleep and to get up in the morning.

What else? Hm. You can do sports, just drink enough water. I think, but this is only my 2 cents, it's good to work out while fasting. Just listen to your body's signals when you do.

We did it as a group of 3 people. I think it's better than fasting alone, actually, I think it's rather important, because you'll be more likely to succeed and others can warn you when they think you're losing it. After a week, your mind can be clouded at times, which happened to one of us, and we had to tell him to eat, again.

Everybody will tell you that once you're finished, you should be careful about what you eat. Not too much acid, salt, or other bad stuff. Don't eat much at once. Your sense of taste will be improved and things will taste different or much more intense. The latter one is true. Apart from that - we all had huge pizzas when we were done fasting - and we really enjoyed it and were all fine with it.

Hm, maybe you should see a doc before you start. Neither of us did, but maybe we just got lucky.
On the other hand, if you listen to your body, I don't think anything bad will happen.

Oh, and if you smoke, keep it at an absolute minimum while fasting.

[MSquared]

- After about 4 days, you'll start to stink. Shower as often as you won't it won't stop.

When you die, you don't start to decompose from the outside, you decompose from the inside. Specifically, your intestines. They run out of things to eat inside the intestines, and begin to decompose the body tissue itself. That's why dead bodies smell. Now when you're fasting, you're still alive, and your immune system is naturally keeping that bacteria in check, but I'm gonna bet that's where and what the smell comes from. I'll pass.

[TLab3000]

Nah.
Had to check wikipedia. It says:

"Once the glucose is significantly used up, the body's metabolism changes, producing ketone bodies (acetoactate, hydroxy-butyrate, and acetone)."

That's what would make you stink!

[Beer Pope]

When you die, you don't start to decompose from the outside, you decompose from the inside. Specifically, your intestines. They run out of things to eat inside the intestines, and begin to decompose the body tissue itself. That's why dead bodies smell. Now when you're fasting, you're still alive, and your immune system is naturally keeping that bacteria in check, but I'm gonna bet that's where and what the smell comes from. I'll pass.

Explain how that makes sense.

[Kwiz]

Explain how that makes sense.

There are a whole host of digestive enzymes and bacteria in there - and there may be bacteria on the skin, but your dermal layers are protective by their nature. So the first things to go are the insides surrounding the intestines and any mucous membranes like mouths and eye sockets.

[MSquared]

Yeah, there are far more bacteria in your stomach and intestines than anywhere else in your body or outside of it. My dad's a funeral director, this is like half his job.

[Urban~Ninja]

I do the 40 hour famine in Aus that raises money, as much water as you want but no eating its pretty hard considering how much i eat on a normal day, and with my fast matablism my body like to be full alot.

Fasting i wouldnt say is dangerous aslong as you keep your body in check, make sure your feeling 100% at all times, then keep yourself healthy. Once you feel anywhat unwell, get some food in YOUR BELLY

[Beer Pope]

There are a whole host of digestive enzymes and bacteria in there - and there may be bacteria on the skin, but your dermal layers are protective by their nature. So the first things to go are the insides surrounding the intestines and any mucous membranes like mouths and eye sockets.

I meant the insinuation that you begin to rot on the inside after enough time fasting.

[Masa the Masta]

Drink listerine. Keel them germs.


Seriously though, fasting for me is not eating until dinner, even after a long day of work.

Fasting when you are bored or have nothing to do is easy, fasting (not purposefully mind you) when you really don't have time and you're working hard all day (Fed Ex box mover) sucks BALLS. Your body feels weak, but I overcome that weak feeling with my mind anyway. On the outside I look like I'm just fine, but I'm struggling to tolerate the discomfort of having no energy and keeping up the same output.

Fasting sucks. :(