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Out of curiosity, beyond the weakness, how painful / unpleasant was the experience ? I've read in an account collated from a hunger strike participant that sta

Out of curiosity, beyond the weakness, how painful / unpleasant was the experience ? I've read in an account collated from a hunger strike participant that starving is a bit unpleasant the first few days and then pretty much OK (which I was pretty skeptical of); albeit apparently the more overweight you are initially the more unpleasant and painful it is, at first at least. Although of course 12 days is comparatively short. I'm still curious if you have anything to comment on this description though ? I believe the source where I've read this account was here: https://books.google.fr/books?id=ipQDHj1aAe4C&pg=PA111&lpg=PA111 https://books.google.fr/books?id=ipQDHj1aAe4C&pg=PA111&lpg=P... . It's a fascinating, if a bit morbid, read. The guy stopped eating for 68 days, and ended up weighting 44kg.

lkrubner 9y ago
As an example, on the 11th day, I decided to go to the Verizon store and get a new iPhone, because my old iPhone was having problems. So I walked to the iPhone store. I felt very weak, and I was sweating. The experience was surprising because I'd gone for a long walk on the 7th day and I'd felt fine. But by the 11th day, on a long walk, I felt like I was walking up a steep hill, even though I was walking on flat terrain. At the Verizon store I appeared normal and I had a good conversation with the sales clerk. Then I walked towards home. I felt much weaker on the way home. I stopped to buy water at a connivence store. The sales clerk asked if I was okay. I explained that I was sick. She said I looked sick. I walked a total of 8 kilometers, which isn't much, but it felt like a serious hike. I felt very sick that night, and I fell asleep early and I slept for 12 hours. But when I woke up in the morning, I felt good. I had energy and mental focus. And then that faded away over the course of the day. Which is the other thing about a long fast -- you still have good stretches, even after 12 days, but they become increasingly rare. I think those people who go 2 weeks without food and then claim they feel great are simply taking for granted the fact that they are resting a great deal, and they expect you to take it for granted as well. Nobody goes 2 weeks without food and continues to have the same energy level, sustained over an entire day, as someone healthy who is eating normally.
- duozerk 9y ago
  Thank you for your response. I imagine in the case of a hunger strike in prison - which the above testimony was about - the fact that you're basically not moving all day must help with the weakness (not to mention slow down the actual starving due to lack of calories burning).
maxxxxx 9y ago
I have read that once your body starts burning muscle tissue it gets really painful. Thank God I have not experienced this. 10 days fasting is not bad. Towards the end I felt losing strength but otherwise was fine. I would not recommend doing this in a normal workday setting though.
- duozerk 9y ago
  Yeah, I've read that too and it seems logical; but again, the account I linked above says it isn't (which is what I found weird) - it says mostly you experience weakness but not pain, at least not after a few days.
sgsf-s9fs9f-9 9y ago
Due to medical issues I fasted for 10 weeks. After around 1.5 months, I was getting nutrients via IV, though. I lost an average of a pound per day in weight. I felt great for most of it.
sgsf-s9fs9f-9 9y ago
Due to medical issues I fasted for 10 weeks. After around 1.5 months, I was getting nutrients via IV, though. I lost an average of a pound per day in weight. I was active and felt great for most of it. ~

lkrubner 9y ago

As an example, on the 11th day, I decided to go to the Verizon store and get a new iPhone, because my old iPhone was having problems. So I walked to the iPhone store. I felt very weak, and I was sweating. The experience was surprising because I'd gone for a long walk on the 7th day and I'd felt fine. But by the 11th day, on a long walk, I felt like I was walking up a steep hill, even though I was walking on flat terrain. At the Verizon store I appeared normal and I had a good conversation with the sales clerk. Then I walked towards home. I felt much weaker on the way home. I stopped to buy water at a connivence store. The sales clerk asked if I was okay. I explained that I was sick. She said I looked sick. I walked a total of 8 kilometers, which isn't much, but it felt like a serious hike. I felt very sick that night, and I fell asleep early and I slept for 12 hours. But when I woke up in the morning, I felt good. I had energy and mental focus. And then that faded away over the course of the day. Which is the other thing about a long fast -- you still have good stretches, even after 12 days, but they become increasingly rare. I think those people who go 2 weeks without food and then claim they feel great are simply taking for granted the fact that they are resting a great deal, and they expect you to take it for granted as well. Nobody goes 2 weeks without food and continues to have the same energy level, sustained over an entire day, as someone healthy who is eating normally.

duozerk 9y ago
Thank you for your response. I imagine in the case of a hunger strike in prison - which the above testimony was about - the fact that you're basically not moving all day must help with the weakness (not to mention slow down the actual starving due to lack of calories burning).

maxxxxx 9y ago

I have read that once your body starts burning muscle tissue it gets really painful. Thank God I have not experienced this. 10 days fasting is not bad. Towards the end I felt losing strength but otherwise was fine. I would not recommend doing this in a normal workday setting though.

duozerk 9y ago
Yeah, I've read that too and it seems logical; but again, the account I linked above says it isn't (which is what I found weird) - it says mostly you experience weakness but not pain, at least not after a few days.

sgsf-s9fs9f-9 9y ago

Due to medical issues I fasted for 10 weeks. After around 1.5 months, I was getting nutrients via IV, though. I lost an average of a pound per day in weight. I felt great for most of it.

sgsf-s9fs9f-9 9y ago

Due to medical issues I fasted for 10 weeks. After around 1.5 months, I was getting nutrients via IV, though. I lost an average of a pound per day in weight. I was active and felt great for most of it. ~