Fasting

[BigWaxJesus]

It takes way longer than 20 minutes for food to pass through the stomach and intestines; it can take up to 6 hours just for the stomach to empty into the small intestine, so add in the time it spends in there, then the large intestine, and you have quite a long process. The only food I know of that passes through that fast is fruit, which takes 15 minutes, but that's just the time it spends in the stomach.

[LadyFaile]

yeah depends on what you eat, fruit digests really fast, you can tell cause it's always the first thing to rot and ferment in the fridge if you leave it too long. heavy starches probably takes a lot longer.

our friend who bikes really pays a lot of attention to what he eats before a race, and the other day i heard him say it takes about 2 hours for food to be completely out of your system, which is why they take energy drinks and bars with them to keep up their energy through a long race

[soilman]

I meant that it only takes about that long [20 minutes] for your stomach and intestines to break everything up.

"Break" everything up? that's what your teeth do, initially. Then your stomach gives the "chyle" in it a "massage," kneads it like dough, then your small intestine gives it another massage, whilst simultaneously moving it along. Then if passes thru your large intestine (colon) without being massaged, but with stuff still being absorbed into your blood stream -- especially water, which goes way down in percentage -- otherwise the chyme would be dire-rear when it checks out, rather than well-formed stools. The rectum gives turns the chyme into feces - gives it a nice shape. It can be several days before residual cellulose from a carrot that goes in the front end, shows up at ther rear end. Eating more tends to make the process faster. Eating less tends to make the system work harder at getting a larger percentage of nutrients into your blood, out of what passes thru your gi tract, so the chyme moves thru more slowly.

I may have got the terminology mixed up:
stomach: chyle?
small intestine: chyme?

rectum: feces.
colon ???

It's on my hard drive somewhere.

[soilman]

I think I had it backwards: contents of the stomach are called "chyme" contents of the small intestine are called chyle. Still not sure about what in the colon, err, I mean what its called. I'm pretty sure what's in the rectum is called feces, even while it is there, before it is egested.

[Islandgirl]

There are a lot of websites on fasting. I also fast 24-36 hours per week. I'd like to prepare myself for deep cleansing -- maybe a longer fast like seven days or so.

[luckiecharms]

I have tried fasting before and I cant do it. I went only about 16 hours withought eating a few days ago and my stomache was aching really bad. Even after I ate it still hurt untill a few hours later. :( I have to atleast eat something in the mornings but Im never hungry in the afternoons or evenings. Also I think fasting is okay as long as your not starving yourself or hurting yourself.

[Apple]

Mushroom: Do you do anything to prepare for your fasts?

I'm going to try to do a 24-48 hour fast. (It would be my first fast.) I have no idea how to start, if I can still exercise, if I should do a juice or water fast, etc,.

[Tova]

I think a juice fast is preferable. Paavo Airola seems to think that a strictly water fast is dangerous. He believes that the best way to fast is with juices and herb teas.

Check out his books here:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/002-1079174-2010442

[mushroom]

I fast for one or two days and I have lost weight, changing nothing else. (It has stayed off for about 2 years)

I wake up and have nothing at all, then about noon I start drinking 8oz of water every hour or so. I don't really get hungry until 7 p.m., but it passes. I usually don't seem to sleep as well that night, but I feel good in the morning. If I am ending the fast, I drink some juice and then an hour later, eat a bowl of cereal.

By lunch, my body wants to make up for lost time and I must use will power to eat a normal lunch.

I've found that a 4 p.m. snack helps me want less food at dinner, also.

If I fast for two days, I handle the first day as above: nothing until noon, then water only, normal activity level.
2nd day: I drink water all day, then a glass of juice at bedtime.

Fasting is sort of torture for me, but I like the way that I appreciate food after. I also like feeling "empty" once in a while.

I have read one book on the subject. I am no expert.

[mushroom]

I forgot to say that on the 2nd day of the fast, I take it very easy and do not cook for others, either.

[J Fizzle 81]

I like a friggen horse, every day, and my weight never goes up or down :\

[MsRuthieB]

I eat like a rabbit and can't seem to loose. Like this morning, I had 5 strawberries, one banana, soy milk and cranberry juice in a blender. For lunch I had a field greens wrap that had bean sprouts, mustard and collard greens, cucumbers, red onions, tomatoes, and sun-dried tomato dressing on a tortilla shell. For dinner I'll probably have some brown rice mixed with portabello shrooms, brocolli, and cauliflower. And I excercise like 4 times a week. I feel really healthy, but I should be thinner. But, oh well. Whatcha gonna do??

I would fast but I don't think that I would be able to concentrate enough at work if I did. Now, maybe on my next vacation (if I stay at home) I'll try and fast. I think I can do it. Well see...

[J Fizzle 81]

Hmmm what did I eat yesterday, hard to remember hehe ummmm.

2 peices of toast with jelly for breakfast.

Lunch was a falafel sandwich (quite big) and had some fries.

Dinner had this onion rice noodle packet (kind of like ramen noodles), 1/2 pound of this Thai Tempeh Stirfry and 1/2 pund of mexican black beans and rice.

Hmmm 2 huge vegan muffins, one banana choc chip and the other chocolate choc chip after dinner....

And that is not much for me at all =\

Im about 5'11" 140 lbs, 21, male

By the way MsRuthieB, your lunch/dinner sounded like so good, I think I will make that some time soon =D

[Skylark]

For breakfast I had some couscous and cucumber. I snacked on a few things thoughout the day, such as a Luna bar, corn nuts, and the rest of that cucumber. Because of the events of the day, if I get to have dinner, it'll be at least 10pm. I think I'll just not eat dinner, in that case. I usually eat a lot more than that in a day, but I've been trying not to pig out, so skipping one dinner won't hurt me.

Oh, at the student newspaper staff meeting this evening, I turned down still-warm chocolate chip cookies. I'm so proud of myself!

[Apple]

Like Fizzle said, your lunch sounds good MsRuthieB.

Since everyone is sharing what they ate... today or now yesterday, I ate 18 Newman-O's, one red pepper, and 1/2 cup rice. I knew I shouldn't of kept the rest of the Newman-O's. Ugh... 18 Newman-O's...

I think I'll try a 24-36 hour fast starting as of 12:30. I need to figure out my physical limits, before I try for a 7-10 (maybe up to 15) day water fast, mostly for detoxification purposes.

[WonderRandy]

Apple, a water fast for that long (7-10 days? maybe 15??) is extremely dangerous!! please rethink this!!

[J Fizzle 81]

That is quite a long time :(

[Coisettebleu]

ok now, i like the idea of fasting for a day or two. i agree with mushroom, i like to feel empty once in a while. and then when i do eat afterwards. i tend to eat healthier and it tastes so much better and i appreciate it. i like the fact that no one is telling you fasters that you have an eating disroder. even when you say you worry about weight. i'm the same way, i worry about weight and sometimes i don't eat much. not even necessarily to lose weight but not eating for a day kind of makes me feel refreshed and all. it's weird i know. i can't remember you said it but when you wake up after not eating the day before it's refreshing. i've been accused and thought i had an eating disorder. i think i just have a weird quirk. J Fizzle 81, are you listening? it's not just me and it's not anorexia. :hump:

[LadyFaile]

Originally posted by WonderRandy
Apple, a water fast for that long (7-10 days? maybe 15??) is extremely dangerous!! please rethink this!!

i have to agree. a fast that long isn't fasting anymore, it's starving yourself! at least the master cleanser and fasts like it provide you with some calories, water alone for 2 weeks? are you trying to kill yourself?

[Herself]

I fasted for seven days, but I used the Master Cleanser. Using just water could literally kill you. Be careful! :(

[luckiecharms]

I wouldnt recommend fasting for more then 1 day or possibly two days.

[Alison87]

I did a day fast about a month ago. The next morning when I woke up I was too weak to stand without holding onto something. I guess I went into it without enough information. Anyways, I dont plan on fasting again until my school does its 30 hour famine to raise money to compat world hunger.

[Apple]

WonderRandy & LadyFaile:


The ten day water fast has also become a recommended number of days. Paul Bragg was an advocate of the 10 day water fast. Ten days on water will cause the same weight loss as 30 days on juice. But water fasting if far more difficult, especially if you have a fast metabolism.

http://www.freedomyou.com/fasting_book/length%20of%20fast.htm

[Apple]

I should of mentioned, that my mother is aware of the fast I'm planning. From what I've read, the body is (depending on weight, height, metabolism - during a fast metabolism will slow by up to 75%) able to go without food up 75 days, sometimes more.

I ended a 24 hour fast early this morning, and I feel much better.

[Herself]

Losing weight in 10 days? How much weight are we talking? It seems like it would be healthy tissue you would be losing, and not fat....that WOULD make you lose weight...but not in a good way. There are many different fasts out there; have you given them a look? Some offer nourishment AND weight loss.