What's the longest one should fast?

[Webby]

I am about to embark on a long-term fast. I have two goals:

1. Get my weight down,

2. more importantly, clean my body and get control of my addiction, FOOD!

I don't have a specific weight lost goal during this fast, but I'm expecting to lose at least 15 pounds during this venture. Ultimately, I need to lose a total of 40 pounds, ordered my doctor.

To get to my question...what is the longest period that one can safely fast?

[misslinda]

HI there WEbby,

there is no way to pinpoint how long a fast one ought to do.

However, many fasting sites suggest anything longer than 21-30 days ought to be supervised----but then again, it really depends on your health and lifestyle etc.

Most fasting site that i have researched say it is effective if the fast is at least 5 -10 days.

I initially prepared for two weeks and it ended up going towards 21 day then 30 and now 30+ thru out the fast, I felt more and more stronger and my fasting threshold was longer so I then decided at those times to elongate it.

Hav eyou done a fast before? Blood sugar concerns? Health concerns?


:)

[pdx kris]

ditto to what misslinda said, she seems to definitely be the fasting expert around here. :)

i started out really small with fasting, initially i did one day a week on juices and then 3 days once a month on juices. after several months i changed those to just water instead of juices and then later embarked on some 7-10 day juice fasts.

i just started what i hope to be a 30 day juice fast. i think i'm pretty "clean" at this point so my main motivation is spiritual and creative, though i'm sure i still have a good deal of icky stuff that will let itself loose on this journey. :)

everyone is different. and if you find that an extended fast is too overwhelming for you, don't feel that cutting it shorter makes you a failure.

let us know how you're doing!

kris

[Webby]

Thank you both for your replies.

To answer your questions Misslinda, I have done long fasts in the past, with my mother as my buddy. She and I have gone as long as 3 weeks on a juice fast.

I have tried fasting since having my son and I'm not as successful, but I have come to a revelation that if I do not do something to rid myself of my sugar addiction, my son is going to learn very poor eating habits from me :(

The only health problems I have are related to his birth: back, and overweight...other than that, I'm in good health, but want to be in GREAT health :)

Well, I think that I'll start a journal and just go day-by-day, as you have done. If I stay focused, I'm certain that I can detox, cleanse my body and be free of the carb cravings.

[LisaDS88]

According to Paul Bragg and his "Miracle of Fasting" book, the longest a person can fast (water only) is 40 days. He said at that point the body has finished the cleansing process, all excess weight is lost, and if continued any longer the body will begin breaking down from starvation. Although it's possible to fast that long, he does NOT recommend it.

[Webby]

According to Paul Bragg and his "Miracle of Fasting" book, the longest a person can fast (water only) is 40 days. He said at that point the body has finished the cleansing process, all excess weight is lost, and if continued any longer the body will begin breaking down from starvation. Although it's possible to fast that long, he does NOT recommend it.
Oh, I'm so glad you mentioned Paul Bragg's book. My mom borrowed that book from me and never gave it back. :rolleyes: I better get it back to re-read the first few chapters.

[misslinda]

Fasting principles really depend on where you are getting it from, in my opinion.

Everyone will have different opinions---some say fasting is starving period and you'll have some say at least fast 5 days for any improvement etc.

I think it's wise to go one day at a time. You can actually do MORE damage by not properly transitioning back into food the correct way.

There are fasts that extend up to 60 days which I have read about--these are the kinds that really ought to be supervised.

It's a good idea to take inventory of your health.for example, if you have a sensitivity to blood sugar, then a juice fast would more than likely be better. This way you can combine fruits and veggies.

Emotional and physical threshold play a factor in fsating as well.

There are so much information on fasting on the web, I would urge anyone who is interested in fasting, to get multiple views and tailor it to what makes sense to you.

:) :)