Seven-day (~170 hours) fast 



  Breakfast is for gluttons and peasants – Thomas Aquinas[*]

I decided to write this short account of my fast because of the overabundance of blogs prescribing conflicting things about fasting.  Also, reputed sources focus on short-term fasting (less than three days), and mostly on intermittent fasting (time-restricted eating).1–3 Most sources on longer fasts are blog entries, and one should take all of these (this one included) with skepticism.  So, on to the fast…

The fast consisted on avoiding food completely for seven days.  I only drank filtered water.  No vitamins, no electrolytes, no teas, no coffee, no lemon; nothing but water.  Here is what happened:

Day one

Feeling irritable and experiencing brain fog.

Night one

Sleep is interrupted.  I would attribute this interruption to the lack of food intake.

Day two

Feeling lethargic and brain fog.

Night two

Sleep is again interrupted and experienced dizziness when rising in the morning.

Day three

Hunger is gone.  Aches all over my body, especially in my legs.  Have become much more sensitive to the cold.  The strength of my urinating stream is somewhat diminished.  My mind is reactive (as opposed to proactive), meaning that watching movies (as opposed to, for example, writing) was the activity on the docket.

Night three

Sleep was not interrupted.

Day four

On the fourth day I felt very tired even after having slept over ten hours.  After spending 3-4 hours awake but in bed, I started having mental energy.[†]  I also perceived a stronger and faster heart rate, which I measured at 50 BPM.

Night four

It was difficult to go to sleep.  Slept 7 hours.  Sleep was interrupted by a short period of fantasizing about food, and afterwards by feelings of starvation as well as palpitations.  Specifically, a sucked-in abdomen with the feeling of my digestive system scraping my stomach for food, and a perceived thumping heartbeat.

Day five

55 BMP.  Feelings of starvation are gone.  Feeling normal.  I believe I am now in a full state of ketosis.  I am producing energy from fatty acids (not too much energy, but enough energy to carry out daily tasks).  This is accompanied by a fruity-iron breath (ketosis breath).  Intermittent feelings of starvation.

Night five

More fantasizing about food when trying to sleep.  General difficulty sleeping.  It seems my body is telling me to get up and find food.

Day six

BMP 60.  Feelings are the same as in day five.  With the addition of boredom, I am now bored of the fasting effort.   Tried to be proactive and was mentally exhausted within a short period of time.  Mind works for menial tasks like reading the newspaper, listening to a podcast, watching a light film, getting a glass of water.

Night six

More difficulty sleeping.  Slept for five hours.

Day seven

BPM 65.  No hunger.  Energy for cleaning, walking to the store.  Ketosis breath less noticeable.  Do not feel like refeeding, even though I will feed before bedtime.

Refeeding day one:

Broke fast with raisins and orange juice.  An hour later I had Greek yogurt with no added sugar.  I was feeling great until I had some peanut butter.  I felt tired after the peanut butter and went to sleep.

Refeeding day two

Ate normally.  Began the day with a complete eggs-based breakfast.  Had chicken later in the day.  Everything normal.

Overall experience:

I lost 9% of my body weight.  By the second day after breaking fast I regained 2% of my original weight.  By the third day I stood at 95% of original weight.  Bowel movements occurred until day three and on day six of the fast.  The daily increasing of BPM at rest is weird, however I would attribute this to errors in measurement, as these were measured the old-fashioned way with a clock and two fingers on the carotid artery.

I would consider that fasting for seven days is safe for most people.  This opinion is not only based on my personal experience but on an actual study carried out on 768 people.[‡]  It seems most people experience manageable adverse effects when completely restricting food for up to 21 days.  These adverse effects rise consistently until day ten and then begin to plateau until day 21.4  I should note, however, that in the mentioned study there were two hospitalizations due to complications due to fasting, indicating that the body is being put through strain.  So, I support the recommendation to plan any fasting exercise with the guidance of one’s doctor.

I do not see meaningful benefits in fasting for health.  It is an efficient way to lose weight, but I did not experience a mental clarity nirvana, nor feelings of splendorous energy as has been reported in other accounts.

Nevertheless, I do find spiritual value in the experience.  It teaches the fasting individual about scarcity, restraint, and discipline.  Meditation is key.

 

[*] Paraphrase.

[†] I read academic articles on fasting and then watched films.  Read literature before going to bed again.

[‡] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5819235/

References

  1. Intermittent Fasting: 4 Different Types Explained. Cleveland Clinic. Published April 30, 2019. Accessed January 3, 2022. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/intermittent-fasting-4-different-types-explained/
  2. Is intermittent fasting good for you? Mayo Clinic. Accessed January 3, 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/intermittent-fasting/faq-20441303
  3. MPH MT MD. Intermittent fasting: Does a new study show downsides — or not? Harvard Health. Published October 30, 2020. Accessed January 3, 2022. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/intermittent-fasting-does-a-new-study-show-downsides-or-not-2020103021235
  4. Finnell JS, Saul BC, Goldhamer AC, Myers TR. Is fasting safe? A chart review of adverse events during medically supervised, water-only fasting. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018;18:67. doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2136-6
  5. Image: https://www.stickitonyourwall.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/73934.jpeg?x68883

15 thoughts on “Seven-day (~170 hours) fast 

  1. Bwer Company is a top supplier of weighbridge truck scales in Iraq, providing a complete range of solutions for accurate vehicle load measurement. Their services cover every aspect of truck scales, from truck scale installation and maintenance to calibration and repair. Bwer Company offers commercial truck scales, industrial truck scales, and axle weighbridge systems, tailored to meet the demands of heavy-duty applications. Bwer Company’s electronic truck scales and digital truck scales incorporate advanced technology, ensuring precise and reliable measurements. Their heavy-duty truck scales are engineered for rugged environments, making them suitable for industries such as logistics, agriculture, and construction. Whether you’re looking for truck scales for sale, rental, or lease, Bwer Company provides flexible options to match your needs, including truck scale parts, accessories, and software for enhanced performance. As trusted truck scale manufacturers, Bwer Company offers certified truck scale calibration services, ensuring compliance with industry standards. Their services include truck scale inspection, certification, and repair services, supporting the long-term reliability of your truck scale systems. With a team of experts, Bwer Company ensures seamless truck scale installation and maintenance, keeping your operations running smoothly. For more information on truck scale prices, installation costs, or to learn about their range of weighbridge truck scales and other products, visit Bwer Company’s website at bwerpipes.com.

  2. Specialized Pipes in Iraq At Elite Pipe Factory in Iraq, we pride ourselves on offering a diverse range of specialized pipes to meet various industrial and scientific needs. Our glass pipes, ideal for laboratory settings, are manufactured with the utmost precision to ensure clarity and durability. These pipes are perfect for handling and observing chemical reactions under controlled conditions. Elite Pipe Factory is renowned for its quality and reliability, setting the standard for glass pipe production in Iraq. For more information, visit our website: elitepipeiraq.com.

  3. Internet Chicks You’re so awesome! I don’t believe I have read a single thing like that before. So great to find someone with some original thoughts on this topic. Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that is needed on the internet, someone with a little originality!

  4. I’ve been following your blog for some time now, and I’m consistently blown away by the quality of your content. Your ability to tackle complex topics with ease is truly admirable.

  5. PLEASE HELP ME

    My name is Aziz Badawi, I’m 27 year old man from Palestine. Our town has recently evacuated due
    to bombardments by Israel, now I am staying at a shelter with my 6 year old daughter Nadia. My wife is
    dead and I’m the only one left to take care of my daughter as we are not allowed to depart to my parents house
    in Nablus, she is sick with a congenital heart defect and I have no way to afford the medicine she needs anymore.
    People here at the shelter are much in the same conditions as ourselves…

    I’m looking for a kind soul who can help us with a donation, any amount will help even 1$ we will
    save money to get her medicine, the doctor at the shelter said if I can’t find a way to get her the
    medication she needs her little heart may give out during the coming weeks.

    If you wish to help me and my daughter please make any amount donation in bitcoin cryptocurrency
    to this bitcoin wallet: bc1qcfh092j2alhswg8jr7fr7ky2sd7qr465zdsrh8

    If you cannot donate please forward this message to your friends, thank you to everyone who’s helping me and my daughter.

Comment