7 Day Water-Only Fasting - Good Idea or Absolute Craziness?

Blue Cat on 27/03/2020 - 19:45
Last edited 27/03/2020 - 19:59

Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I have some sources saying that Australia will go into full lock-down (only allowed to go supermarket and back home) starting Monday, with announcement to be made this Sunday's evening.

So if we will be 2 weeks in quarantine and without jobs, I am thinking to do a 7 day water fast, where for 7 days I will drink only water and eat nothing.
I have no medical conditions and take no medications, not overweight, no dietary limitations or allergies etc. and I am doing this purely in an attempt to get rid of my acne that has been plaguing me ever since I was 14 years old.

We will be at home, so I can stay in bed the whole time I am fasting to avoid problems doing physical activities.

I have tried many fad, non-fad and weird diets before for weeks (for health and skin reasons, some helped, some didn't) so I am not worried that I won't have enough willpower to pull this through.

Just wondering, has anyone tried this before and can give some advice? Maybe some GPs here that want to call me retarded and convince otherwise?

Poll Options

  • 258
    Do it and see what happens.
  • 147
    Do NOT do it, you will not get any benefits from it at all!
Health & Beauty

Comments

  • Boioioioi on 29/03/2020 - 11:38

    Bro go see a dermatologist. I had really bad acne I could not get rid of at all for years, tried every over the counter treatment there is. Got a GP referral for a dermatologist (Then medicare will give you $70 of the cost back.)

    Dermatologist prescribed me some medication and a treatment plan, acne went away within a month. Now I'm just continuing treatment so it will not come back for good!

    No offence but I think your plan is not smart. Don't get yourself needing hospital care when they're already overloaded. Seems like a silly way to weaken your immune system too. If you get corona your body will need energy to fight it off.

    Finally, how will this be a long term solution? You can't starve yourself forever.

  • Kirsty327 on 29/03/2020 - 12:55
    +2

    Done it. I have done up to 12 days before but don't recommend that for your first one. Google "water fasting" and look for the scientific articles for an idea of what happens in your body. Yes, you lose some protein from your muscles so you will need to exercise afterwards, but the amount lost is less than most people think especially if you are resting.

    I won't recommend either way, but I do recommend reading a lot about it and making your own informed decision.

    My tips if you decide to do it:

    Before starting, detox 1 week from any drugs you normally have - including caffeine & alcohol. Also limit the sugary/carby & processed foods that you have in the week before to get your body ready. Do don't want to be feeling withdrawal symptoms while you are doing this.

    The first day & sometimes the second day is very hard to deal with the hunger. You need good willpower to get through this day. Try to find a lot of activities to distract you - gaming or puzzles or something where you use both your hands and brain is good. Drink a lot of water to help your stomach feel not completely empty and have it at different temperatures for some variety. Worst case, have a shower and a nap.
    Try and drink so much that you need to use the toilet a lot on these days. Better to get your last meal out of your body before the digestive system shuts down, or it will stay in your intestines for a week.

    After about 30-40 hours, your digestion shuts down and it becomes much easier. You will have a burst of energy starting about day 3 when your body realises it can use ketones (from your body fat) for energy. DO NOT DO INTENSE EXERCISE like weight lifting or HIIT once you get this energy, as that will encourage faster protein breakdown.

    Your tongue will be white & furry each day. This is a sign of detox and I like seeing it happen, but it tastes terrible. Get a tongue scraper to clean it a few times a day.

    Listen to your body. There are a few signs that you should start eating again even if you haven't made it to your 7 day goal. Remember the goal is an arbitrary number you picked, and since you haven't done this before you don't know what your body can handle.
    Start eating again if:
    - it's the middle to end of day 3 and you are still hungry
    - your hunger went away around day 2 or 3 but came back (and I mean hunger like pain in your stomach, not cravings in your head)
    - if you get muscle cramps
    - if you feel very weak
    - if you get symptoms of coronavirus because you will probably need food for strength to fight it.

    When you are ready to start eating again, begin with things that are easy to digest. I like to start with broth or a thin(not creamy) soup, then some fruit & cooked vegetables. Don't have a big meal on the day you start eating again - best to leave animal products until the second day.
    If you have interest in starting an elimination diet this is the perfect way to do it. Just start with plain foods and then add back in a different food type every couple of days and monitor your skin to see if a particular type makes you break out.

  • heysoph9 on 29/03/2020 - 15:43

    I had my wisdom teeth out 3 weeks ago and post-surgery, I was so nauseous I couldn't eat for 5 days (well I tried mooshed bananas etc but just threw them up again). Only had water for the entire time. Don't think it helped acne.
    Turns out penicillin was not my friend - once that was out of my system, ate like a dog.

    Pros were I had amazing abs and flat stomach, negs were constant headaches, nausea, dizziness, etc. Even lying down didn't help - but that was probably the penicillin talking.

    TMI - other neg is completely messed up bowel movement timing.

  • bizarredeal on 29/03/2020 - 18:15

    What's your usual diet?

  • PixelPaul on 29/03/2020 - 19:29

    i do a 18 hr fast 2 times a week. It kinda just means i skip breaky.
    And i have noticed it doing good for me. nicer skin and better weight management among other things

    try looking at this: https://thefast800.com/

  • bazza1980 on 29/03/2020 - 22:24

    I have some sources saying that Australia will go into full lock-down (only allowed to go supermarket and back home) starting Monday, with announcement to be made this Sunday's evening.

    Time to get some new sources OP

  • Mechz on 30/03/2020 - 01:36
    +1

    I just became the 200th person to click yes on your poll just to see if you live or end up on the news.

  • Hybroid on 30/03/2020 - 01:39

    Something to ponder: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/15/wii_death/

  • mohan76 on 30/03/2020 - 01:43

    you may start with one meal a day for first 2 days.
    we do 6 days fasting every year. you should be fine , take 1 or 2 black pepper per day with water

  • vindictus on 30/03/2020 - 06:28
    +2

    All the normies in here amazed that extended fasts are a thing and thinking they're dangerous.

    You'd need to go much longer than 7 days for it to be dangerous, unless there's health conditions which there's not. Fasting is demonstrably healthy and extended ones are recommended by experts at least a few times a year

  • MementoMori on 30/03/2020 - 08:52

    I did a 5 day one. It was great.

    Go for it.

    Also, checkout Kyles 'snake diet'

  • Tnetennba on 30/03/2020 - 08:54

    Extended fasting can be more dangerous than intermittent fasting, but can indeed be safe if done properly. With a fast as long as 7 days, you will need electrolytes and essential vitamins or you may get very unwell. Also a lot more water than you're currently used to.

    I would highly recommend (and swear by) intermittent fasting. The exact formula you go for will be up to you, there are things such as 16:8 (16 hours fasting, 8 hour window to eat), 18:6, 20:4, or simply do OMAD (one meal a day).

    Others recommend 5:2 (5 days normal daily intake ~2000kcal, 2 days limited to 800 kcal, with at least 1 day in between). I did this for about 3 months late last year and lost about 15kg and have switched to OMAD and lost about 5-6 more. Though I have been extremely lazy lately with non-stop bushfire smoke and now COVID demotivating me lol. Also I hardly exercise, at most a 30-45 min walk during lunchtime since I wasn't eating lunch anyway.

    There have been many studies on the safety of intermittent fasting and it has been consistently found to be safe since the nutrients in the one meal you do eat (for example) are plenty to sustain you for a whole day. Exercise is actually recommended and most people find they have more energy, not less.

    And from an OzBargain perspective, you've made the right choice to look into fasting - the only kind of diet where you save money and don't actually eat anything!

  • ChurchMouth on 30/03/2020 - 11:26

    I think your age should be a factor. If you are still young near your 20s I wouldn't consider it a good idea to go that long, especially considering you have probably tried other fads like low carb. I tried paleo/LC in my early 20s and that's when I developed toe nail fungus in 6 of my digits which plagued me for 5 yrs+

    My acne seems to be subsiding(extended clear periods on my face) at the ripe old age of 30. It felt like it really impacted my youth eg less dating and confidence but overall I like who I am now as result of all those experiences. It probably helped motivated me to get a good job and I still had and have great romantic relationships where it becomes clear in that setting that acne isnt a worry (for me it's how people who dont know me well perceive me as unhealthy that bothers me). FYI I subscribe largely to a way of eating which is first and foremost getting enough carbs and nutrition and avoiding certain things like overconsumption of seed oils and iron. Taking the best bits from ray peat and Nathan hatch I would say.

  • cille745 on 30/03/2020 - 14:17
    +1

    I'll be blunt, if you're not considering roaccutane because of side effects but willing to go on a weeks long fast, you're either not very bright or your acne isn't that bad in the first place

  • Seni0r El Cheapo on 30/03/2020 - 14:54
    +1

    A full-blown lockdown is not happening.

    No need to fast.

    • Blue Cat on 30/03/2020 - 15:07

      Correct, no lockdown, I am back at work and eating as usual.

      • DonWilson on 03/04/2020 - 00:46

        Wait, you piked? Gorram pikers.

    • michaelTito on 30/03/2020 - 16:13

      My source said it will be next Monday.

  • VehemenceThePhoenix on 30/03/2020 - 15:04

    I have tried many fad, non-fad and weird diets before

    … I'm not surprised.

  • 7ekn00 on 30/03/2020 - 16:13
    +1

    Just remember "water" is not really "water" when fasting!

    Once you hit Ketosis (at around the 12 hour mark), you will require SALTS, not just pure water.

    SALTS = sodium, potassium, magnesium, selenium, chloride, etc

    Your one meal a day with 1Kg of beef, the appropriate SALTS came from the beef, did it help with the acne? - Might be more sustainable and you will need at least 30 days eating that way to see any benefit :/

    7

  • Bulk on 30/03/2020 - 16:19
    +1

    I did it for 8 days once. Occasional black coffee and sparkling water to stop the cravings of everything. It really makes you feel mentally tough if you can perservere. Just make sure you take in sodium and magnesium or you will ruin yourself

  • jdawg7 on 30/03/2020 - 17:05

    OP needed to start with current BMI

  • WhoGiveAShxt on 30/03/2020 - 17:54
    +1

    95% people never try 1 day fast. So why would you ask their opinion?

    I don't know your condition. If you are fit and health, without any major health issues, you should be ok to go.

    But at the moment, it might be not very good idea to go on fasting because of the virus. It is unclear that how the fasting would impact your body and immune system if you exposes to the virus.

    • 7ekn00 on 30/03/2020 - 20:26
      +1

      Imuune system is boosted while fasting, it shares a lot of the Autophagy pathways (it is why people lose their appetites when really sick)!

      The science is documented by Professor Yoshinori Ohsumi in his research that won him the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2016 ;)

      7

      • WhoGiveAShxt on 30/03/2020 - 20:34

        The virus is variable , which is still a early day and a lot of unknowns.

        We don't know why it have different impacts and on people with different ages and conditions. It is still a early stage to rule out any possibilities.

        • 7ekn00 on 30/03/2020 - 20:38

          Plenty known, not much shared :P

          92% of deaths are vitamin B12 deficient, 77% are D3 deficient, etc

          7

          • WhoGiveAShxt on 30/03/2020 - 20:45

            @7ekn00: Where do you get your data from, I would like to see it.

            • 7ekn00 on 30/03/2020 - 20:53

              @WhoGiveAShxt: Autopsies from the front line in NYC, as stated - plenty known, just not shared!

              Also note, these are correlations and do not imply causation.

              7

              • [Deactivated] on 30/03/2020 - 21:24

                @7ekn00: Why am I having a strong sense of déjà vue ? Have we had this discussion before?

                If I remember correctly your diet was :

                • No carb eating until you get deep into the ketogenic state. You were drinking a concoction of mainly NaCl + other trace elements, KCl and magnesium citrate in H2CO3
                • followed by 1 meal/day to maximise daily autophagy
                • and 3-day fast monthly to supercharge autophagy

                Is that correct?

                P.s: Are you a scientist with a degree in chemistry?

                • 7ekn00 on 30/03/2020 - 22:19
                  +1

                  @[Deactivated]: Pathologist with PhD in biochemistry initially, but have multiple business interests - currently involved in logistics of retrofitting some NYC hospitals/morgues with UV sterilization to reduce front line risk

                  • [Deactivated] on 30/03/2020 - 22:24

                    @7ekn00: I was wondering if we've met IRL but turns out we had a fairly similar conversation on ozb last year, which would explain the weird déjà vue vibe I was getting.

                  • [Deactivated] on 30/03/2020 - 23:25

                    @7ekn00: Is it as bad as they say it is where you are? I have a mate who works at Elmhurst and he said they were having to use refrigerated trucks as makeshift morgues because they couldn't cope with the number of dead anymore.

                    • 7ekn00 on 30/03/2020 - 23:43

                      @[Deactivated]: Yeah, it's bad, but US system is weird compared to AU. There are hospitals that are swamped with makeshift wards, but then 2 mins up the road is a hospital at 50% capacity! I just hope we can flatten the curve in AU so it doesn't get to this stage :/

                      • [Deactivated] on 31/03/2020 - 00:01

                        @7ekn00: He said they were getting ventilators sent to them from nearby hospitals when it would make more sense to transfer the patients instead. They were so desperate that they were even considering using cpaps.

                        We're bracing for the worse here, I think. They've sent out a call to final-year medical students and nurses to be on stand-by for when the time come:/

                        Stay safe.

              • WhoGiveAShxt on 31/03/2020 - 21:12

                @7ekn00: Thanks.

  • syousef on 30/03/2020 - 19:10

    Have you had kids? Because if you're going for a Darwin award you have to die childless.

    Seriously, our medical system may be overwhelmed in a week or two. Did you think adding some fool that decided to starve themselves to the workload was a good idea? Do you think you'll get better medical care while everyone's focused on the pandemic? Why would you do anything that has even the slightest risk of sending you to hospital? If you don't care about yourself, how about for whoever misses out so they can treat you?

  • Sparksy on 30/03/2020 - 21:58

    I do a 48 hour fast every week. Every Monday and Tuesday no food, just water. I eat pretty normal up to and including Sunday night then next meal is Wednesday morning. I’ve been doing this for 2 years now. You learn to ignore the hunger feeling and basically prepare for it each week. I’m not sure about a week or more though. That’s like a hunger strike. Good luck!

  • Roman Sandstorm on 30/03/2020 - 23:02

    To intentionally deny your body essential nutrients and energy for an extended period seems to me to indicate a mental deficiency. Certainly a lack of common sense and judgement.

    There are well-established dietary plans and structures created by experts (scientists) to assist in weight loss/gain, etc. There are likewise courses of exercise devised to increase strength, flexibility, endurance, etc.

    There are special drugs created to control and contain skin conditions.

    Why you would wish to indulge in utter quackery when modern, rational, scientific options are available stretches credulity.

  • vicosads on 31/03/2020 - 08:33

    do more research, you should be taking in salts aswell

  • geoffs87 on 31/03/2020 - 09:05

    not very good sources were they?

  • vbhaven on 31/03/2020 - 09:51

    you need to be mentally very strong if you need to do fasting. You can go without food for 7days no issues. Only thing is once you starting eating after 7 days you have to be very careful. As your internal system was cleaning it self and was not used to food so after 7 days you just cant starting eating as normal. For at least couple of days you should eat liquid diet and avoid anything which has citrus in it as that can cause swelling. I have done 8 days of fasting many times just on water and know many who do every year during our religious week none develop any medical condition.

  • [Deactivated] on 31/03/2020 - 13:10

    Go for it OP, nothing to lose, easy.

  • ngengerous on 01/04/2020 - 01:34
    +1

    I've done a 30-day water fast in the past, and from my experience, 7 days should be more than doable for most people with a decent amount of meat on their bones. I would advise against it for weight-loss reasons, or for people who work on their feet, but it's well within the realms of possibility for 90% of the population to do.

    The first 2-3 days are the hardest, but if you can push through those, the hunger pains subside and it feels like more of a dull, persistent hunger which is easy to manage. The best side effect of fasting is that the first time you eat at the end, your food will taste absolutely amazing. I ate beef broth for my first meal after my fast, and the flavour was out of this world.

  • pat0809 on 02/04/2020 - 16:43

    I think water fasting can be safe but now is probably not the best time to try it. You want to make sure your body is fuelled well and that your immune system is working well.

  • Geekomatic on 06/04/2020 - 18:33

    There are many ways to get the benefits of a fast. The body does respond favourably, assuming no other medical conditions.

    My son and I liquid-fast usually twice a year. I wouldn't recommend this if you're under-weight. If you're over-weight, it will be a quick weight drop, however, once the initial fast is completed, you'll want to go immediately onto the "8 hour eating window" to keep that weight off. The follow-up fast is meant to be every day, from now on. Choose an 8 hour eating-window. Say you get up at 8 but aren't usually hungry until 10am. You can eat between 10am-6pm. Before or after, water only. Essentially, you're fasting every day for 16 hours- but the majority of that time, you're sleeping. Win-win.

    In a nutshell:

    Yes, your body CAN go without food, easily, for 7- 14 days. I go a full 30 and have never had any issues, following the rules I set up myself. I am not a doctor, but have done this most of my life mainly to cleanse/detox. You'll be amazed at how nice your skin gets, too. I literally have all facial wrinkles disappear (not kidding). Makes me wonder what's in our food?

    You can become ill if your electrolytes get out of balance. To supplement, I take a powdered magnesium drink once a day (mixed into water). I drink a small glass of coconut water (only brands which contain potassium) per day. I drink one cup of beef broth or bone broth, once a day (usually for "dinner"). In addition, you must drink 2 liters of water each day. That's the fast. Feel free to add vitamins, as your system will allow.

    Important: when you decide to go off of the fast, start with thin soup for a day. Then, something very light like scrambled eggs + soup the following day. Then, again, something heavier than eggs but no meat. By the 3rd day you can add in some meat, but try to keep it light for 7 days. Your digestive system will thank you.

    Any other questions, just message me.

    :)

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