Discussion
All hypothetical.
But let's say someone is 110 kilos, and gets hungry when they eat. They just decided to not eat and let body use the fat stores.
Enough to last 40 days.
I understand things like vitamins etc and muscle loss. But it is stored energy that can be used surely?
Not a total fast sone calories a day, maybe 500 max.
But let's say someone is 110 kilos, and gets hungry when they eat. They just decided to not eat and let body use the fat stores.
Enough to last 40 days.
I understand things like vitamins etc and muscle loss. But it is stored energy that can be used surely?
Not a total fast sone calories a day, maybe 500 max.
Difficult but not impossible, infact theres quite a healthy community on Reddit who regularly engage in different forms of fasting.
The longest I have done is 3 days, beyond that point you have to actively manage activity and electrolyte levels, other than that as you have stated your body will use up stored energy in the form of fat and, unfortunately, muscle.
Obviously it is also a mental battle
but the benefits of long-term fasting is continually being researched - in particular the effects of autophagy (cleaning up of old cells within the body).
The longest I have done is 3 days, beyond that point you have to actively manage activity and electrolyte levels, other than that as you have stated your body will use up stored energy in the form of fat and, unfortunately, muscle.
Obviously it is also a mental battle
but the benefits of long-term fasting is continually being researched - in particular the effects of autophagy (cleaning up of old cells within the body).I pretty much did this 7 years ago now.
I went onto 600-800 calories a day for 9 weeks (i.e. 63 days). All I had was 3 or 4 Slimfast shakes a day, and water.
Started at 86kg and endup up at 69kg (so 17kg down). And my belly went from 44" to 37.5".
Over those 7 years it crept to 88kg in April this year. I'm now 78kg and steady at that weight. I'd be happier at 70kg.
It's actually simple because there's nothing to work out; just drink the milkshakes and that's it. You don't need to worry about counting calories, or what you are eating and drinking, or working anything out.
It's simple, but it's not easy.
I went onto 600-800 calories a day for 9 weeks (i.e. 63 days). All I had was 3 or 4 Slimfast shakes a day, and water.
Started at 86kg and endup up at 69kg (so 17kg down). And my belly went from 44" to 37.5".
Over those 7 years it crept to 88kg in April this year. I'm now 78kg and steady at that weight. I'd be happier at 70kg.
It's actually simple because there's nothing to work out; just drink the milkshakes and that's it. You don't need to worry about counting calories, or what you are eating and drinking, or working anything out.
It's simple, but it's not easy.
snuffy said:
I pretty much did this 7 years ago now.
I went onto 600-800 calories a day for 9 weeks (i.e. 63 days). All I had was 3 or 4 Slimfast shakes a day, and water.
Started at 86kg and endup up at 69kg (so 17kg down). And my belly went from 44" to 37.5".
Over those 7 years it crept to 88kg in April this year. I'm now 78kg and steady at that weight. I'd be happier at 70kg.
It's actually simple because there's nothing to work out; just drink the milkshakes and that's it. You don't need to worry about counting calories, or what you are eating and drinking, or working anything out.
It's simple, but it's not easy.
How active are you during these fasting periods? Do you have an active job, go running/cycling or anything? I've felt "light headed" after a 10 mile run when I hadn't eaten for about 24hrs beforehand, so wondered how that would rectify itself after several months of not eating much.I went onto 600-800 calories a day for 9 weeks (i.e. 63 days). All I had was 3 or 4 Slimfast shakes a day, and water.
Started at 86kg and endup up at 69kg (so 17kg down). And my belly went from 44" to 37.5".
Over those 7 years it crept to 88kg in April this year. I'm now 78kg and steady at that weight. I'd be happier at 70kg.
It's actually simple because there's nothing to work out; just drink the milkshakes and that's it. You don't need to worry about counting calories, or what you are eating and drinking, or working anything out.
It's simple, but it's not easy.
boyse7en said:
How active are you during these fasting periods? Do you have an active job, go running/cycling or anything? I've felt "light headed" after a 10 mile run when I hadn't eaten for about 24hrs beforehand, so wondered how that would rectify itself after several months of not eating much.
My job is a desk job, and I work from home all the time. The first few days is hard, as you'll feel tired and possibly have headaches. So being at home is handy as I could have a lie down on the bed. After a few days the headaches pass and I got used to the hunger feeling. Generally, I'd go to bed feeling very hungry, but would feel ok again in the morning.I'd also go walking most days, 3-5 miles. Again, not at the start, I started walking 2 or 3 weeks in.
When I did it again this April, it wasn't for such a long period, and it wasn't as extreme. I had 3 shakes a day and then in then in the evening I'd have say a couple of eggs, some cheese, or some chicken.
One big thing about weight loss like this is that often the hardest is social; social things nearly always revolve around food and drink. So just forget doing anything whilst following such a low calorie diet. It's also hard at home if you don't live on your own because, for me, for example, my wife doesn't want to eat in front of me and equally it's not great because she's eating on her own.
So certainly interaction with others also forms a large part of weight loss, especially very strict diets.
boyse7en said:
How active are you during these fasting periods? Do you have an active job, go running/cycling or anything? I've felt "light headed" after a 10 mile run when I hadn't eaten for about 24hrs beforehand, so wondered how that would rectify itself after several months of not eating much.
Before I respond to your question, I've mentioned before on here how I think fasting's great.For proper exercise eg a 10 mile run, 2 hours of tennis, big lifts at your limit, I would eat beforehand. I've not had problems doing say 20 minutes of moderate exercise towards the end of a 24 hour fast eg 50% of 1RM deadlifts/functional training or 20 minutes of fast-paced walking (to the pub!).
I followed a guy on youtube for a while, I think he did over 100 days - lost a pile of weight - all he did was bone broth drinks and vitamin supplements I think.
If you have enough fat it is possible to do a very extended fast so long as you manage your vitamin and mineral intake, I think the record is over a year?
Every now and then I'll do 2-3 days, I actually find it easier after the first 24 hours and become reluctant to start eating again.
If you have enough fat it is possible to do a very extended fast so long as you manage your vitamin and mineral intake, I think the record is over a year?
Every now and then I'll do 2-3 days, I actually find it easier after the first 24 hours and become reluctant to start eating again.
I've done a few, my longest being 14 days. I just followed a guide which IIRC meant I took a vitamin tablet and some electrolytes each day. Honestly once you are past the initial hunger stage (for me, days 1, 2 & 3) it becomes quite easy and TBH i felt great on it. No afternoon slump, I slept better, etc.
I carried on going to the gym but only did very light exercise. I don't felt like I lost a great deal of strength.
The amount of people who will tell you that you are mad, unhealthy, unnatural etc is quite high! To my mind have extremely abundant high sugar food available year round is most likely not the ideal situation either. After all we store fat for a reason.
I carried on going to the gym but only did very light exercise. I don't felt like I lost a great deal of strength.
The amount of people who will tell you that you are mad, unhealthy, unnatural etc is quite high! To my mind have extremely abundant high sugar food available year round is most likely not the ideal situation either. After all we store fat for a reason.
Pete102 said:
Difficult but not impossible, infact theres quite a healthy community on Reddit who regularly engage in different forms of fasting.
The longest I have done is 3 days, beyond that point you have to actively manage activity and electrolyte levels, other than that as you have stated your body will use up stored energy in the form of fat and, unfortunately, muscle.
Obviously it is also a mental battle but the benefits of long-term fasting is continually being researched - in particular the effects of autophagy (cleaning up of old cells within the body).
I was actually reading in Reddit about it.The longest I have done is 3 days, beyond that point you have to actively manage activity and electrolyte levels, other than that as you have stated your body will use up stored energy in the form of fat and, unfortunately, muscle.
Obviously it is also a mental battle
but the benefits of long-term fasting is continually being researched - in particular the effects of autophagy (cleaning up of old cells within the body).It is weird how we see food as fuel, it you have fat that is fuel as well.
I've fasted in the past 5 days. Tbh myself I just can't eating when I start so thought maybe give intermittent fasting a go. I work out the gym as well cardio.
I can't afford fat jabs just looking at others options and thoughts. I know people say fasting is dangerous but also read so much about it being so natural to humans as well.
Edited by Gt6turbo on Tuesday 8th July 11:35
budgie smuggler said:
The amount of people who will tell you that you are mad, unhealthy, unnatural etc is quite high! To my mind have extremely abundant high sugar food available year round is most likely not the ideal situation either. After all we store fat for a reason.
I fast for 16 hours every day (posh way of saying I skip breakfast) and normally do a 24hr fast once per week. Even then I get people saying I'm crazy.40 days in a row is pretty extreme though. I would aim for something that is a bit more sustainable, after all, a 'diet' has to last for life unless you want to end up back where you started.
Gary29 said:
40 days in a row is pretty extreme though. I would aim for something that is a bit more sustainable, after all, a 'diet' has to last for life unless you want to end up back where you started.
That's always the issue that people (normally in the diet industry, so they have a vested interest in people being fat) use to argue that rapid weight loss doesn't work.It's makes no odds how quickly or slowly you lose weight, it will obviously go back on if you return to eating the same way as you did before (i.e. the way of eating that made you fat in the first place).
As you say, a diet is for life.
And indeed, the word means "diet" two things; "diet" as in what you eat and "diet" as in changing what you eat in order to lose weight.
I've done 2 and 3 day fasts before now. As in total fast - nothing at all other than water. I dont think I could do that now however.
And also I've done the 10 day Maple Syrup diet twice. Once problem with that is that you stop s
tting, so after maybe 5 or 6 days, you need to take some laxatives.
And also I've done the 10 day Maple Syrup diet twice. Once problem with that is that you stop s
tting, so after maybe 5 or 6 days, you need to take some laxatives. I think more education of how many calories you actually need. Like it says 2.5k for an average man. But if you do nothing it will be nearer 1.8k a day.
Food is so calorific as well nowadays. If they said eat less to solve fat problems people would be up in arms, but it is energy, it is as simple as that. Fat is stored energy, fasting just uses it up.
Food is so calorific as well nowadays. If they said eat less to solve fat problems people would be up in arms, but it is energy, it is as simple as that. Fat is stored energy, fasting just uses it up.
Gt6turbo said:
I think more education of how many calories you actually need. Like it says 2.5k for an average man. But if you do nothing it will be nearer 1.8k a day.
Food is so calorific as well nowadays. If they said eat less to solve fat problems people would be up in arms, but it is energy, it is as simple as that. Fat is stored energy, fasting just uses it up.
I've often wondered about that myself. It used to be 2.5k for a man and 2k for a women, but lots of things have started just saying 2k regardless.Food is so calorific as well nowadays. If they said eat less to solve fat problems people would be up in arms, but it is energy, it is as simple as that. Fat is stored energy, fasting just uses it up.
But, really, 2.5k? It's not like most people are working down a mine or in a field all day. Most people sit at a desk all day.
And I'm not sure people need 3 meals a day either. At home, we often just only 2. And the same on holiday; a decent hotel breakfast will keep you fine until the evening - no need for lunch.
But 3 meals a day is again more of a social / accepted norm. It's just not needed.
Capitalism is based on buy/eat more.
I think for someone who works in an office, 5.9 would be around 1700 calories a day no exercise.
How many have a meal that is less than 600 and forget drinks etc. it quickly adds up.
Like bread is 150 calories a slice plus butter that's getting in 400 before even adding something.
I think for someone who works in an office, 5.9 would be around 1700 calories a day no exercise.
How many have a meal that is less than 600 and forget drinks etc. it quickly adds up.
Like bread is 150 calories a slice plus butter that's getting in 400 before even adding something.
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