2 day fast per week............

granddi · ‎03-16-2010

I just heard a report that there are benifits to fasting 2 days per week. Not only weight loss but improvement in blood sugar. The report featured a lady that had lost over 100 lbs over 18 months by a 200 calorie fast 2x per week. She says she now has increased her fasting days to 350 calories and has maintained the weight loss.

The studies show that people that do this do not benge on the regular food days. Lady said she had tried all types of weight loss diets and always gained it back. This diet was good for her bc she did not feel deprived.

Husband and I used to do South Beach with weekends off and had success. I think I would prefer 2 day fast. Any experiences?

PinkyPetunia · ‎03-09-2010

Easier said than done IMO. Have you ever tried to fast all day? It's not easy. I've had to fast on the day before that bowel scope thing (can't remember name now) and I could have clear liquids, broth, non-red jello and applesauce.

I did it but it was not easy and knew it was just one day in 5 years. I don't think I could do it 2 days a week and I certainly do need to lose weight.

Annabellethecat66 · ‎03-12-2010

@granddi About 1 1/2 years ago I saw a whole TV show about this. This person was British and he came over here to study the various methods scientists are using to study health and weight loss.

It was fascinating. The end of the program showed him back at home in England cooking. He said (although it would be difficult) one of the most fascinating things he got from this was how the body was able to 'reset' itself into a healthier form when a person would fast for two days (forget how often). He said he intended to try to do that.

He wrote a book about it. It was on the Science channel. He interviewed various people trying different things. These were studies done by controlled methods.

I remember one woman would take various people and have them fast for a few days. When the started eating again, they didn't over eat like people think they would. They were allowed to eat all of the fast food they wanted. They didn't over eat.

They had one guy who ate only raw food, nothing cooked.

I'll try to find this book or video....

I'm not interested in trying it but it sounds interesting.

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

When I was running Road Races almost every weekend, I would do "liquids only" either a day or 2 before the Run. Did I lose weight? Beats me, I never checked. I do know it made me feel better mentally and physically before and during the Race.

As the late Dr. George Sheehan, the Running Cardiologist said, and I agree,

"I have been at the finish line of hundreds of races and I have seen many a runner get sick. I have never seen a runner cross the finish line and die from starvation".

If you are looking to give your digestive tract a break, go for it. Permanent fat/weight loss? Me? I would look more at my lifestyle.

hckynut(john)

willdob3 · ‎11-01-2010

Personally, attempting to fast with just a few hundred calories on the fasting day has been difficult. Eating that small amount makes my body want more & I feel hungry and miserable.

Doing a true, full fast (zero calories) for 24 hours or longer is much easier for me. No hunger, no cooking, no thinking about food! I feel good and enjoy it.

On my non-fast days I eat very healthy, no junk.

I have not not been fasting recently but am planning to add it back in on a regular basis. There are many health benefits & they are a better reason to fast than simple weight loss is. There are lots of ways to lose weight.

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

@PinkyPetunia wrote:
Easier said than done IMO. Have you ever tried to fast all day? It's not easy. I've had to fast on the day before that bowel scope thing (can't remember name now) and I could have clear liquids, broth, non-red jello and applesauce.

I did it but it was not easy and knew it was just one day in 5 years. I don't think I could do it 2 days a week and I certainly do need to lose weight.

@PinkyPetunia

I think the word you are looking for might be Colonoscopy. In 2008 I was in the hospital for a bleeding Right Colon. During that time I had 5 Colonoscopies and 2 Double Balloon Enteroscopies(same procedure, longer and High Definition Scope).

For 17 straight days I was placed on what the hospital and doctor called "A Clear Liquid Diet". During that time, the day prior to each Colonoscopy, I had to drink a gallon of GoLytely, a digestive tract cleanser".

Lost a lot of weight, which I didn't need from my already slim body. Fasting I will take anytime over drinking another gallon of GoLytely or NuLytely. At this point in 2016, I have drank over 15 gallons of this prep. Fasting for a few days is nothing.

These are some of my experiences with fasting. Hospital menu for me then? Apple Juice and Orange Jello, that was it.

hckynut(john)

country gal · ‎03-25-2010

@granddi wrote:
I just heard a report that there are benifits to fasting 2 days per week. Not only weight loss but improvement in blood sugar. The report featured a lady that had lost over 100 lbs over 18 months by a 200 calorie fast 2x per week. She says she now has increased her fasting days to 350 calories and has maintained the weight loss.

The studies show that people that do this do not benge on the regular food days. Lady said she had tried all types of weight loss diets and always gained it back. This diet was good for her bc she did not feel deprived.

Husband and I used to do South Beach with weekends off and had success. I think I would prefer 2 day fast. Any experiences?

I think I heard the same report on NBC Nightly News this week. I have recently started something similar..it's called the "Every Other Day Diet" or "The Alternate-Day Diet". Both have books of the same titles describing the technique involved. You can Google these titles and read excerpts from the books. Basically, I just eat normal, but healthy, one day and the next day I try to eat 500 calories or less. My Dr. had put me on his "Good Food" diet after finding my cholesterol was high, so I had already rid my diet of a lot of unhealthy things and began eating more vegetables ( not starchy), fruits, fat free milk, cheese, ice cream, less red meat and more chicken and fish. When I heard about the "EOD Diet", I decided to try it too, and have found it very easy to do. I simply drink more water on the 500 calorie days and usually have apples, berries, nuts, red, orange, & yellow peppers, etc. throughout the day and have a spinach salad with some grilled chicken for my evening meal. I vary this to keep from getting bored, of course, but I have never felt deprived. I had lost 2 lbs. the last time I was weighed at my Dr's office. It may not seem like much, but I only need to lose about 20 lbs. I don't even own a scale, but I can tell by the way my clothes fit whether my weight is up or down. I know I feel better after starting to eat this way. HTH

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

Fasting is absolutely not healthy especially for diabetics. No halfway decent physician would recommend that. People can easily die from too low a blood sugar.

country gal · ‎03-25-2010

@151949 wrote:
Fasting is absolutely not healthy especially for diabetics. No halfway decent physician would recommend that. People can easily die from too low a blood sugar.

I don't believe anyone here said they were diabetic. My DH is so I cook for him as he should eat ... he does not do the "Every Other Day Diet" as I do. Just to clarify.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

@country gal wrote:
@151949 wrote:
Fasting is absolutely not healthy especially for diabetics. No halfway decent physician would recommend that. People can easily die from too low a blood sugar.
I don't believe anyone here said they were diabetic. My DH is so I cook for him as he should eat ... he does not do the "Every Other Day Diet" as I do. Just to clarify.

The OP stated it was a way to get blood sugar under control.