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I thought most overweight Americans (I have sympathy, I'm one too) could fast for 3 weeks or a little more? People who fast usually say they're starting to feel

I thought most overweight Americans (I have sympathy, I'm one too) could fast for 3 weeks or a little more? People who fast usually say they're starting to feel good and energetic about day 3.

jlawson 4y ago
There are lots of cases of obese individuals fasting for months with no ill health effects. Some even have gone over a year without food. It turns out that all that fat really is like a giant extra-length fuel tank. And many, many Americans have enough fat on them to break 3 months without eating a calorie. It might, in a bizarre way, save some of them. (Micronutrients might be a problem but is much easier to solve than the calorie problem.)
- rhinoceraptor 4y ago
  I personally have fasted for 28 days. The dangerous part isn't micronutrients, it's electrolytes. Fasting for an extended period can put you at a dangerously low level of certain electrolytes like phosphorus, which upon refeeding, are taken into the cells, which results in levels low enough to cause death. This is why extended fasting regimens should only be done with medical supervision. Also, the initial onset of ketogenesis from fasting is very rough for people who aren't used to it. Most people's bodies are not used to it, and they won't be able to think clearly, they won't have much energy, etc.
  - jlawson 4y ago
    I believe the definition of micronutrient covers electrolytes (including phosphorus), but I see what you're saying. There would definitely be challenges! I wonder suspect this would be alleviated if survivors managed to get like 300 calories a day of various foods, which seems more likely than pure starvation.
5d8767c68926 4y ago
Rule of threes: three minutes without air, three days without water, three weeks without food. I feel like this rule is dated from a thinner time, so feel free to adjust for BMI.
anticodon 4y ago
[flagged]
- watwut 4y ago
  There is no way you have that from historical research. Afaik, that level of notes keeping and detail was not available at the time. In general, in situation like these, the first to die are sick, old/kids and those suffering from malnutrition. It would be super safe to guess that Leningrad at the time and a lot of those (given general state of that country).
  - anticodon 4y ago
    It's not from a research, but from the memoirs of those who survived. So it might be not accurate, indeed.
- noduerme 4y ago
  Maybe they're more likely to be eaten?

I thought most overweight Americans (I have sympathy, I'm one too) could fast for 3 weeks or a little more? People who fast usually say they're starting to feel good and energetic about day 3.

jlawson 4y ago

There are lots of cases of obese individuals fasting for months with no ill health effects. Some even have gone over a year without food. It turns out that all that fat really is like a giant extra-length fuel tank. And many, many Americans have enough fat on them to break 3 months without eating a calorie. It might, in a bizarre way, save some of them. (Micronutrients might be a problem but is much easier to solve than the calorie problem.)

rhinoceraptor 4y ago
I personally have fasted for 28 days. The dangerous part isn't micronutrients, it's electrolytes. Fasting for an extended period can put you at a dangerously low level of certain electrolytes like phosphorus, which upon refeeding, are taken into the cells, which results in levels low enough to cause death. This is why extended fasting regimens should only be done with medical supervision. Also, the initial onset of ketogenesis from fasting is very rough for people who aren't used to it. Most people's bodies are not used to it, and they won't be able to think clearly, they won't have much energy, etc.
- jlawson 4y ago
  I believe the definition of micronutrient covers electrolytes (including phosphorus), but I see what you're saying. There would definitely be challenges! I wonder suspect this would be alleviated if survivors managed to get like 300 calories a day of various foods, which seems more likely than pure starvation.

5d8767c68926 4y ago

Rule of threes: three minutes without air, three days without water, three weeks without food. I feel like this rule is dated from a thinner time, so feel free to adjust for BMI.

anticodon 4y ago

[flagged]

watwut 4y ago
There is no way you have that from historical research. Afaik, that level of notes keeping and detail was not available at the time. In general, in situation like these, the first to die are sick, old/kids and those suffering from malnutrition. It would be super safe to guess that Leningrad at the time and a lot of those (given general state of that country).
- anticodon 4y ago
  It's not from a research, but from the memoirs of those who survived. So it might be not accurate, indeed.
noduerme 4y ago
Maybe they're more likely to be eaten?