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I have recently gone from 1 day water-fasting to 7-days water-fasting at a time. The first 3 days are the hardest. On 7th day, I was still completely full of en

I have recently gone from 1 day water-fasting to 7-days water-fasting at a time. The first 3 days are the hardest. On 7th day, I was still completely full of energy and felt like I could have easily gone to two full weeks (which I didn't just to avoid risk). Has anyone here tried 2 full weeks of water fasting? Any extra precautions to take?

goda90 8y ago
I'm curious, do you take potassium and sodium supplements while water-fasting?
- mathnmusic 8y ago
  Yes, typically on the 4th day.
- 40acres 8y ago
  I typically put pink salt in my tea, does not taste great but after a few days it's legitimately satisfying. Amazing how your standards can change so quickly in desperation.
  - rootusrootus 8y ago
    Why pink? For the iron?
ckosidows 8y ago
I just tried to do a 48-hour fast and only made it to 24 before I had to eat. I felt dizzy, irritable and couldn't concentrate on anything other than my hunger. How do people make it past this?
- gambiting 8y ago
  It will sound almost confrontational, but you literally have to force yourself not to eat. I'm not going to pretend it's easy, but that's the way to do it. The feeling will go away once you get past that stage of not being able to think of anything else but food.
- sametmax 8y ago
  You get in a group. If everybody around you feels as miserable, but they are not worried, it's way reassuring :) Bonus if you are in an isolated place making temptations hard. Another thing is that you should avoid hard things in your first fast, such as working, reading complex material, filling administrative papers, etc. Take the time to rest, watch movies, listen to music, etc. The first two fasts I kept my job, and I didn't benefit as much as the next where I decided to take it easy. Surprisingly, walking 2 to 3h a day helps a lot to feel less shitty, although you should not do it alone the first time you fast. Once you are used to it, it does not necessarily because less shitty the next time. But you know what's up, and so it's easier. One thing though, is that fat people and people with bad food habits will have a harder time.
- astura 8y ago
  For me it's sheer willpower and the more you do it the easier it gets (hunger can be very dependent on what your body expects).
- t0mbstone 8y ago
  Your body produces a hormone called ghrelin which controls your hunger levels. It produces it based on your eating patterns and the time of day. When you fast, your ghrelin levels peak in the first 24 hours, but after that, they steadily decline. A lot of people don't even feel hungry anymore after about day three.
- ams6110 8y ago
  Stay busy, distract yourself with interesting things. I have done 3-4 days water fast a few times out of curiosity. In my case, the hunger cravings diminshed after 48 hours or so. However, I've never feel better, worse, or different from the experience. No extra energy, no extra ability to focus, no changes in sleep, no excessive fatigue, etc. Other than the hunger, I felt normal. I am convinced that fasting is a fad and may have placebo effect if you think it will. Addition: I have used a 48-72 hour fast as a precursor to a longer-term low carb/keto diet (for weight loss). The fast will get the excess sugar out of your system and you'll be able to get into ketosis quickly.
  - bburns_km 8y ago
    "I am convinced that fasting is a fad and may have placebo effect if you think it will." or... different people respond differently to it.
  - bonesss 8y ago
    > I am convinced that fasting is a fad and may have placebo effect if you think it will. ... most of the effects can be verified with blood tests...
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- wolco 8y ago
  Don't try. Many people cannot handle this for a variety of reasons. If you can't handle a keto diet you might have issues.
- mutagen 8y ago
  I've found short term fasting to be like a muscle I have to exercise. Skipping a meal with abundant calories around me was hard. I had to start off small (skipping one meal) and slowly work up to slightly longer fasts (skipping the next meal, etc). I think we all have different physiologies and different mental adaptations (certainly for me hunger is partly an emotion, a desire to satiate that only bears a passing resemblance to how many calories my body needs) though and what works for me might not work for you.
schmookeeg 8y ago
My record is 12 days. I start intensely craving things for their electrolyte content late in the week, and like you, I'll eat a sofa cushion on day 3, but after, it's smooth sailing and the brain sort of gives up being manic about food. I'll crave things like pickle juice. Clearly the body wants its salts. It's amazing how good it is as signaling the things it needs, when it needs them. My wife will make some really appalling beverage for me, containing pickle juice, apple cider vinegar, lite salt, and I think lemon juice. It terrifies me to think about. On a fast, though? I'll literally drink it by the quart and want more.
- dugditches 8y ago
  You can supplement with Sodium(table salt or baking powder)+Potassium('nosalt'/salt replacement) in water.
- throwawaymanbot 8y ago
  what in the name of sheba is the need to fast for 12 days. Thats a bit much don't you think? Im guessing you go past the point of benefit and in to the point of where the body is starting to damage itself to stay alive.
jki275 8y ago
I've gone as far as 20 days. It gets a little bit more difficult at 14+ days, but it's not terribly uncomfortable. Medically one probably ought to get advice prior to trying it.
andrepd 8y ago
I'm curious. Why would you possibly want to do this?
- tomhoward 8y ago
  For the reasons described in the linked article :) This is just the latest of many studies that provides clinical evidence for what people have anecdotally reported for millennia: occasional fasting makes people feel healthier and seems to make their bodies work better.
aviv 8y ago
I've done many 30-day water fasts and up to 10 days of dry fasting periods. I used to get routine blood work done every 7 days while water fasting, but I don't do it anymore. The "healing crisis" typically begin around the 12-16 day marks, so just expect them and embrace the healing :)
loeg 8y ago
Refeeding has to be done carefully after extended fasts.
- DoreenMichele 8y ago
  Any tips/sources?
  - Nydhal 8y ago
    Not scientific, but this is tried and simple tip from traditional Ramadhan fast-breaking in Tunisia. We start with some dry fruits (usually dates) and olive oil (or butter), then some soup. I think the chewing first gets your body ready and the soup is there to ease the stomach into whatever your regular diet is.
    - DoreenMichele 8y ago
      Thank you. Are there specific soups typically used? Or just any soup will do?
  - loeg 8y ago
    Start small with easy to digest foods, and reintroduce food slowly. > Any patient with negligible food intake for more than five days is at risk of developing refeeding problems. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2440847/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2440847/
    - DoreenMichele 8y ago
      Thank you!
- newnewpdro 8y ago
  Why? What are the risks?
  - loeg 8y ago
alanfranz 8y ago
Question: why? Why not to do more shorter fasts rather than a long one? Unless you're heavily obese and need to shave weight quickly, what's the upside? In Jung's book, I think I can remember the 'safe' fasting period was about five days at most, when you go over that you should take precautions. Do you expect that a longer fasting can bring more rewarda than multiple, shorter fasts?

goda90 8y ago

I'm curious, do you take potassium and sodium supplements while water-fasting?

mathnmusic 8y ago
Yes, typically on the 4th day.
40acres 8y ago
I typically put pink salt in my tea, does not taste great but after a few days it's legitimately satisfying. Amazing how your standards can change so quickly in desperation.
- rootusrootus 8y ago
  Why pink? For the iron?

ckosidows 8y ago

I just tried to do a 48-hour fast and only made it to 24 before I had to eat. I felt dizzy, irritable and couldn't concentrate on anything other than my hunger. How do people make it past this?

gambiting 8y ago
It will sound almost confrontational, but you literally have to force yourself not to eat. I'm not going to pretend it's easy, but that's the way to do it. The feeling will go away once you get past that stage of not being able to think of anything else but food.
sametmax 8y ago
You get in a group. If everybody around you feels as miserable, but they are not worried, it's way reassuring :) Bonus if you are in an isolated place making temptations hard. Another thing is that you should avoid hard things in your first fast, such as working, reading complex material, filling administrative papers, etc. Take the time to rest, watch movies, listen to music, etc. The first two fasts I kept my job, and I didn't benefit as much as the next where I decided to take it easy. Surprisingly, walking 2 to 3h a day helps a lot to feel less shitty, although you should not do it alone the first time you fast. Once you are used to it, it does not necessarily because less shitty the next time. But you know what's up, and so it's easier. One thing though, is that fat people and people with bad food habits will have a harder time.
astura 8y ago
For me it's sheer willpower and the more you do it the easier it gets (hunger can be very dependent on what your body expects).
t0mbstone 8y ago
Your body produces a hormone called ghrelin which controls your hunger levels. It produces it based on your eating patterns and the time of day. When you fast, your ghrelin levels peak in the first 24 hours, but after that, they steadily decline. A lot of people don't even feel hungry anymore after about day three.
ams6110 8y ago
Stay busy, distract yourself with interesting things. I have done 3-4 days water fast a few times out of curiosity. In my case, the hunger cravings diminshed after 48 hours or so. However, I've never feel better, worse, or different from the experience. No extra energy, no extra ability to focus, no changes in sleep, no excessive fatigue, etc. Other than the hunger, I felt normal. I am convinced that fasting is a fad and may have placebo effect if you think it will. Addition: I have used a 48-72 hour fast as a precursor to a longer-term low carb/keto diet (for weight loss). The fast will get the excess sugar out of your system and you'll be able to get into ketosis quickly.
- bburns_km 8y ago
  "I am convinced that fasting is a fad and may have placebo effect if you think it will." or... different people respond differently to it.
- bonesss 8y ago
  > I am convinced that fasting is a fad and may have placebo effect if you think it will. ... most of the effects can be verified with blood tests...
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
wolco 8y ago
Don't try. Many people cannot handle this for a variety of reasons. If you can't handle a keto diet you might have issues.
mutagen 8y ago
I've found short term fasting to be like a muscle I have to exercise. Skipping a meal with abundant calories around me was hard. I had to start off small (skipping one meal) and slowly work up to slightly longer fasts (skipping the next meal, etc). I think we all have different physiologies and different mental adaptations (certainly for me hunger is partly an emotion, a desire to satiate that only bears a passing resemblance to how many calories my body needs) though and what works for me might not work for you.

schmookeeg 8y ago

My record is 12 days. I start intensely craving things for their electrolyte content late in the week, and like you, I'll eat a sofa cushion on day 3, but after, it's smooth sailing and the brain sort of gives up being manic about food. I'll crave things like pickle juice. Clearly the body wants its salts. It's amazing how good it is as signaling the things it needs, when it needs them. My wife will make some really appalling beverage for me, containing pickle juice, apple cider vinegar, lite salt, and I think lemon juice. It terrifies me to think about. On a fast, though? I'll literally drink it by the quart and want more.

dugditches 8y ago
You can supplement with Sodium(table salt or baking powder)+Potassium('nosalt'/salt replacement) in water.
throwawaymanbot 8y ago
what in the name of sheba is the need to fast for 12 days. Thats a bit much don't you think? Im guessing you go past the point of benefit and in to the point of where the body is starting to damage itself to stay alive.

jki275 8y ago

I've gone as far as 20 days. It gets a little bit more difficult at 14+ days, but it's not terribly uncomfortable. Medically one probably ought to get advice prior to trying it.

andrepd 8y ago

I'm curious. Why would you possibly want to do this?

tomhoward 8y ago
For the reasons described in the linked article :) This is just the latest of many studies that provides clinical evidence for what people have anecdotally reported for millennia: occasional fasting makes people feel healthier and seems to make their bodies work better.

aviv 8y ago

I've done many 30-day water fasts and up to 10 days of dry fasting periods. I used to get routine blood work done every 7 days while water fasting, but I don't do it anymore. The "healing crisis" typically begin around the 12-16 day marks, so just expect them and embrace the healing :)

loeg 8y ago

Refeeding has to be done carefully after extended fasts.

DoreenMichele 8y ago
Any tips/sources?
- Nydhal 8y ago
  Not scientific, but this is tried and simple tip from traditional Ramadhan fast-breaking in Tunisia. We start with some dry fruits (usually dates) and olive oil (or butter), then some soup. I think the chewing first gets your body ready and the soup is there to ease the stomach into whatever your regular diet is.
  - DoreenMichele 8y ago
    Thank you. Are there specific soups typically used? Or just any soup will do?
- loeg 8y ago
  Start small with easy to digest foods, and reintroduce food slowly. > Any patient with negligible food intake for more than five days is at risk of developing refeeding problems. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2440847/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2440847/
  - DoreenMichele 8y ago
    Thank you!
newnewpdro 8y ago
Why? What are the risks?
- loeg 8y ago

alanfranz 8y ago

Question: why? Why not to do more shorter fasts rather than a long one? Unless you're heavily obese and need to shave weight quickly, what's the upside? In Jung's book, I think I can remember the 'safe' fasting period was about five days at most, when you go over that you should take precautions. Do you expect that a longer fasting can bring more rewarda than multiple, shorter fasts?