I just finished a 6 1/2 day self-directed medicinal water fast - one that I, additionally, undertook to help me experience and internalize the penitential nature of Holy Week more personally. I broke it today with an epic Brazilian Steakhouse Easter brunch w/family…I did keep the carbs < 20g (net) to stay in metabolic ketosis, but I expect the Easter Octave will be more of a “lazy Keto” period for me, as I celebrate the Easter Season along with the Church, liturgically.
So, that said, extended water fasting is do-able; it’s just counter to our routine way of eating and, as such, it is more difficult mentally than physically. After A LOT of research, my 1st water fast was 30 days (Dr supervised outpatient @ 365lbs) and it was HARD, >because< I set out to do 30 days, so it felt like FOREVER - even two weeks in you are ONLY half way there! Since I’ve done 10, 7, 5, and multiple 3 day water fasts (all self-directed), so it is also repeatable. The more I’ve done them, the more confident I am that I can do another…and, honestly, if you’ve done 30 as a 1st fast, 3 days is a piece of cake…er…it’s easy.
Now, I always start with the idea of a simple 3 day fast, because that is, again, easy…then I’m ALREADY 3 days in, so “what’s another 2 days?…I’m at 3 now and past the toughest physical part, plus 2 more days is fewer than I’m what I just did!” Or not. Or now I’m at 5 days, so what’s 2 more? No mater what, I win, because WHO ELSE IS DOING THIS? I JUST DID 3 (5/7/10) DAYS, M’FKER!!! I’M A NO EATIN’ BEAST!!
Anyway, I feel fine after a heavy 1st “re-feeding” today (I gained 6.4lbs back in 3hrs, between the soda water & salted steak - of the 14.3lbs I lost, that is) and know I did my body a favor, even by the heavy re-feeding! Tomorrow I’ll weight in at +3lbs, prolly, which I’m cool with after burning over 11lbs of visceral fat from my body.
Life is a journey, but there is hope for fatfags like me…and water fasting is part of that hope for me.
Google ‘water fasting’ (especially WF “starving” cancer) and research it.