Fasting?

[outstandinfarmer]

SO, has anybody tried fasting? I fasted a couple of years ago and the results are wonderful and how you feel is just as great, but I'm having such a hard time starting. Has anyone fasted? If so, what are your tips? It just seems that whenever anybody gets together, you eat. Everyplace my DH and I go out to, there is food. I want to fast so bad, but I'm having a hard time. I just need to lock myself in my bedroom for a month. If it was just me, I'd have no problem, but there's so much pressure from everyone. I'm a private person and don't want to be like "Hey, I'm not eating" I feel it's a private issue.

How do you all feel about fasting?

Also, I wish I could exercise more, but space is so limited. Seriously, there is NO ROOM to do a workout routine where I live. I would walk outside, but I'm afraid to walk by myself. I don't live in a bad area and am not a super paranoid person, but when I'm walking by myself, I'm always looking over my shoulder. I guess it's just the way I was raised to be careful. I don't know anyone that wants to walk, so I feel just stuck. I also don't like the gym scene. I feel too self conscious.

When I quit my food service job and went to an office job, I gained a bunch of weight. (35lbs) I'm tall so I carry it well but I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO miserable!

 

[PoohLover1]

Good Morning Outstandin, Glad to see another new Wisher from WI. I found when I wasn't eating I didn't loss the weight as well as just watching what I eat. I joined a gym in Oct. ( health club virgin) and wasn't eating too much and was dissapointed at my weight loss. The owner of the club said you need to eat to have calories to burn. So I did and the weight loss was much better. I was in school food service for 14yrs. and at the same weight but when I went back to driving school bus full time my stomach dropped down and was sitting on my lap. Must have something to do with being on our feet. (Maybe having a hysterectomy to?) Good luck with your weight loss.( A mom on my bus route does a lot of walking videos and she lives in a small duplex, might work for you). Pam

 

[outstandinfarmer]

My fellow Wisconsian

I'm not talking about eating a little (that just slows down your metabolsim and you gain weight). I'm talking about fasting, no eating whatsoever. I hear so much about the benefits of fasting and I'm wondering if anyone has done this and how they think it has worked for them

I know what you are talking about, just switching to a job where you aren't on your feet can pack on the pounds so easily

 

[tmfranlk]

I would definitely NOT recommend fasting in order to lose weight. By fasting you are robbing your body of the nutrients it needs to operate. I know of people that will fast for a day every month or so just to clear their systems, but it sounds like you are talking about an extended fast.

Another concern I would have is that fasting would lead to eating disorders like anorexia. From your post on a different thread, it sounds like you have struggled with anorexia and bulemia in the past (and maybe still do to some extent). Because of this, I would highly recommend that you talk to a doctor about a weight loss plan for yourself. A doctor will be able to give you good information on diet plans, caloric needs and exercise recommendations. Most of all, though, a doctor will be able to give you the professional support to take off pounds sensibly and in a healthy way.

I know that fasting may bring about fast results, but then what will you do after that? Instead, I think that you would be better off in the long run by finding a healthy way of eating and establish good eating habits that you can hold onto for life. I know that it something I struggle with as well and am really trying to work on. I figure that even if I only lose 1 pound a week and it takes me over a year to get to my goal weight, at least good eating habits will have become a way of life for me and I will then be able to stay healthy and keep the weight off.

Good luck! One thing I am learning is that WISHers are always good for support whenever you need it.

Tia

 

[oogieboogie]

Long ago in a galaxy far away.... I had a bf who was muslim. Now in the muslim world, they would fast from sun-up to sun-down for a whole month once a year. Then they would eat in the evening and just before dawn.

Well.... me being the open minded person that I am... decided to go fasting with him. The first few days were hard, but it got better. By the end of the month, I had lost 15 lbs. I felt great except for a little stomach ache. That never went away... so I went to the doctor. Lo and behold... I had developed a stomach ulcer! My then bf on the other hand... perfectly fine.

So... the point is... it may be ok for some people, it may not... you need to be the judge of what your body can or cannot do. Me... I couldn't do it, my friends who've done it... they're perfectly fine and do it every year.

 

[Octoberbride03]

I'm very much in agreement with Tia. Fasting is NOT a good thing for your body overall. The ONLY times you should fast are when your doctor requires it for blood or medical testing.
I'm a catholic and I fast during Lent to fulfill my religious duties. HOWEVER, church guidelines draw our fasting as 2 small meals, and 1 normal size meal. NOT to deny your body food entirely for 24 hours. Muslims are different and I'm not sure how theirs works, but they eat too.

On a weightloss perspective, what happens when you deny yourself food the way you want to is that you lose more muscle than fat. You need the muscles to burn the fat.

I second the suggestion that talk to your doctor about eating disorders and a supervised weightloss program. There are workout tapes where you don't need a lot of room, but until you develop a plan with your doctor, I suggest you put off the weightloss goals. Do it soon.