Hi,

After trying lots of different treatments, diets, etc. over a lot of years to improve the crappy way I usually feel (physically), I have decided to try a water fast. Inspired by Infidel on GIM, I'm giving it a go.

Here's what I've done so far:

Circa 15 October 2009 - stopped intake of caffeine in all forms and stopped drinking tea and coffee. Withdrawl headaches were a lot less severe than they were previous times I attempted this.

4 November 2009 - Evening meal was the last to contain meat.

5 November 2009 - Starting with breakfast, meals and fluids limited to papaya, mango, apple, pear, and pineapple with water or guava juice. An occasional hot parsley tea.

9 November 2009 - This is the day I restrict my intake to only water. As I write this, it's almost 11:00 AM where I am and so far, feeling pretty good. Or at least not much different than the last three days.

I've read that the first couple days are the toughest until Ketosis kicks in. I'm planning to document the experience with at least one daily post on the Diatribe forum.

My purpose in doing this is mostly detoxification, to improve my health, and to prove to myself I can win control over my body. I'm also curious about the effects on the ability to medidate. It's more of a side effect than a purpose but I imagine folks will be interested in the effect on my weight. Toward that end, I stood on the baggage scale at the airport today and it says I'm 104 kilograms or about 229 pounds.

I can't vouch for the scale's accuracy but since it's a pretty fancy one with about a two foot dial, I'm thinking the results will either be consistenty accurate or inaccurate "consistently" i.e. we should be able to monitor the trend accurately. I'll step on it every time I come to work.

The only thing I'm doing differently than Infidel is I'm using boiled tap water and some bottled water so I cannot eliminate all minerals, and probably not all chemicals from the water I'm drinking. I suspect the distilled water is a modern addition to this ancient practice so I'm not too concerned about that.

Please share your thoughts on this adventure.

DAY 1
9 November 2009

After 24 hours

The first 24 hours went a lot easier than I expected them to, with very little in the way of hunger pangs. This I attribute to the tapering off I did instead of going "cold turkey."

It's a little after 6:00 on Monday and I'll admit I feel a little hungry, but not ravenously so.

The only complaint I can generate is that the mild "tensions" in my head (they just aren't severe enough to call them "headaches" but they are uncomfortable) that started when I went to the all fruit diet have continued.

I slept marvelously last night for more than eight hours, which is unusual for me.

I'm keeping up with drinking water so I don't become dehydrated.

Mentally, I can't say whether I'm sharper or duller but I note that I won a chess game from my computer today, which I seldom do.

More tomorrow.

Carl

DAY 2
11 November 2009

After 36 hours

The first few days of the fast continue to go better, and be easier, than I expected. I went to sleep last night about 9:00 PM and woke up about 3:30 AM. It was a good restfull sleep and, while shorter than the night before, was about average for me.

I wasn't awakened by hunger or anything and was actually quite comfortable, if not sleepy. I got up and surfed the Internet, studying water fasting, of all things.

There have been some stomach rumbling and very minor hunger "pangs" but overall I haven't had strong urges to eat anything. Drinking water eases the pangs nicely. The tension in my head has eased a little bit.

Nothing too dramatic on the scale, having dropped from 104 kilos or 229 pounds to 103.25 kilos or slightly over 227 pounds.

I continue to make an effort to keep up with drinking water so I don't become dehydrated.

Mentally, my mind seems clear.

Carl

I'm glad it's going so easy for you in the first few days but frankly, I think you're out of your mind if you plan to starve yourself for 30 days or more.

Aren't you worried about the warnings of muscle atrophy, organ failure, etc.?

I'd never try something like this 'cuz I like to eat too much but if I was considering it, for sure I wouldn't do it without the approval of a physician.

smiley wrote:
I'm glad it's going so easy for you in the first few days but frankly, I think you're out of your mind if you plan to starve yourself for 30 days or more.

Aren't you worried about the warnings of muscle atrophy, organ failure, etc.?

I'd never try something like this 'cuz I like to eat too much but if I was considering it, for sure I wouldn't do it without the approval of a physician.



Thanks for your concern but, no smiley, I'm not concerned. I think those reports are either for folks who didn't do a true fast (i.e. had fruit juice or something) and didn't go into ketosis.

I may or may not go for as long as I like but I'm confident my body will tell me when it's time to eat again.

Cheers,

Carl

DAY 2
10 November 2009

After 48 hours

So far today was much like yesterday.

The only difference is I have some slight acid reflux which I hoping and expecting to clear up in the next 24 hours.

Hunger seems to be diminishing although dinner smells very, very, good!

I continue to make an effort to keep up with drinking water so I don't become dehydrated.

Mentally, my mind still seems clear.