Fasting To Lose Weight – is it a smart idea?

What is Fasting?

Fasting first began centuries ago as a way of showing reverence in a religious setting. Depriving the body of something that is wanted and needed as a way of growing closer to a higher being. Fasting is actually when the body is deprived of food or sustenance for a set period of time. This ancient practice of reverence is actually practiced by many people as a way to lose weight. What many of them do not realize is that they are doing their bodies more harm than good.

Fasting for weight loss purposes can be done in several ways. All ways involve not consuming food and instead focusing on water intake and, depending upon one’s severity of fasting, drinking juice and/or protein beverages. But even though food is never consumed during the period of time that one is fasting it has a lot to do with the outcome to one’s weight loss goals and also to one’s health.

The term fasting refers to not consuming food for at least one 24 hour period. Hardcore fasters will extend this period to one week, and less hardcore fasters will fast for every other day for an entire week. One common belief in fasting is that when food is not consumed your body will naturally detoxify itself, cleansing the intestines and colon, and give momentum to a new weight loss routine.

While little research has been done into whether fasting helps detoxify the body, many people have experienced great amounts of weight loss by simply not eating. The key to effective fasting is to know your body and to know your limitations. What is a perfect way for one person to lose weight may be counter-effective for another. When fasting, if at any time you experience anything such as: dizziness, light headedness, stomach pains (other than those of hunger), nausea, etc. then it is time to break down and have a small meal. When new to fasting, it is not uncommon for individuals to find it difficult to complete a 24 hour cycle with absolutely no food. Your body is used to food, and used to having it regularly. It is fine to give it time to adjust, rather than jumping in head first and being determined not to eat – no matter what!

The Reason People Fast -

Fasting can have a very healing effect on the body. During a fast it is not uncommon for people to realize that their attraction to food is stronger than they first thought. For those who thought for many years that they were just eating to live and not living to eat, this can be a wake up call, and can better help one to understand their relationship with food.

Juice fasting is a good way to break a tie to food without depriving the body of needed nutrients. Juice Fasting recipes can be found in countless places, and provide much needed relief to the stomach and intestines after processing so much processed food, and food filled with preservatives.

Another reason people fast is to shrink the size of their stomach. It may sound silly but the less you eat the smaller your stomach will become. And likewise, the more you eat the larger your stomach will become. Over the years the portion size of the average American meal has grown by as much as 50%. We are eating twice as much food PER MEAL as we were just 1 generation ago. And as more food is consumed the size of our stomach expands in order to accommodate the growing portions. And with a larger stomach we are able to consume more food at a single sitting and not actually feel “full”.

Fasting is a good way to begin shrinking the size of your stomach. Many people have reported being able to feel full after eating much less food after only one 24 hour period of fasting. This technique is similar to having bariatric surgery to surgically reduce the size of one’s stomach. However, this technique is much less invasive, permanent, and painful.

Fasting Myths –

I have heard many people insinuate that fasting is similar to having an eating disorder. This is not true, and was obviously stated by someone with limited knowledge of fasting. Fasting is something that is done for short periods of time. It is not a daily activity, nor is it a lifestyle. Eating disorders deprive those who suffer from them of vital vitamins and nutrients needed to survive and have the energy to complete daily tasks. Those who fast advocate health and vitality and would never suggest one “starve himself”. Fasters are simply choosing not to eat for a period of time to reap the weight loss or other health benefits associated with it.

Another widespread myth of fasting is that you will lose muscle tone if you fast long enough. Well, this is true, but 99% of fasters do not fast enough for this to happen. The reason our bodies store fat is so that if we are subject to illness or famine our body will have something with which to sustain itself until food is found. And that is why fasting is very effective as a weight loss tool. When we do not eat, the first thing the body consumes for fuel is the fat stores. Through exercise we can ensure that only fat stores are removed from the body and no, orminuscule amounts of, lean muscle mass. There are many contradicting thought and opinions on this, and research indicates that fasting off and on for weeks at a time can deplete the body of needed nutrition, causing it to lose lean muscle mass. But with regular muscle-toning exercises, the body will retail all muscle mass during times of fasting.

Is Fasting To Lose Weight Right For You?

Fasting is not for everyone. If you are currently taking any prescription medications or have other health concerns such as high blood pressure, heart disease, etc. consult your physician before fasting or beginning any other diet or exercise routine. Your doctor may be able to provide you with a wealth of information before beginning your fast or may steer you in a different direction.