Have you ever fasted?

I have fasted for medical reasons (eg. surgery preparation) twice in my life so far.

fasting to lose weight is a really bad idea.

I've fasted because I forgot to eat, and also because I didn't _have_ any food in the house.

romkey: This guy seems to think it's the answer to just about everything, including weight loss. Oh, did I mention he sounds a bit wacko?

I have fasted for religious reasons, to lose weight, because I forgot to eat, and for medical reasons numerous times and for numerous days at a time.

Is forgetting to eat deliberate?
Read the question.

I have fasted for both religious and, er, chemical reasons.

How about deliberately neglecting to eat just for the heck of it?

When I was a teenager I fasted to lose weight. Now I realize that is a really bad idea. It worked pretty well for me at the time.

I have fasted for 7 days on distilled water only. I attended a holistic clinic in Hollister. You share a room with another person. You were woken up at 6:00 am. They had prayer meetings if you wanted to attend. They also had meetings of different kinds to discuss fasting. When I was there, there were people who had fasted 40 days on water only. After the 7 days I fasted, they bring you out of a fast with the first meal, on fruit. For lunch, fruit again, then for dinner, vegetables. While I was there (I was there 14 days) We were taught to try not to talk too much as they wanted you to relish every bite and concentrate on chewing for the digestive process. We had to turn off the lights at night at 9:00 pm. Many famous people had attended the clinic, while I was there, a professional baseball player was there. There had been a very famous movie director that had attended before I was there. The clinic was an old, large home on acreage. They grew their own food, had their own compost. It was interesting.

When you are fasting, there were others that had come off the fasting and the smell of the roasting of the nuts was heavenly. Your sense of smell became keener. My skin become like a baby's. My hair glistened. My eyes were brighter. My digestive processes more comfortable.

During the time you are in the clinic, you had to walk a little, leaving your energy resources to help the digestive process. Once we were at a meeting and after you fast for a few days, your breath becomes rank, so I had brought some gum (which was illegal to the clinic, you are not supposed to bring any outside food sources)but I didn't know it was illegal, because it is something you don't really ingest. Well, during the meeting, a woman across the room said, "I smell gum, who has gum?" I was really embarrassed and quickly disposed of the gum. Your senses become sharper.

I personally recommend fasting. People have been fasting since Biblical times. Fasting one day a week, or one day every other week is nice.

Wow Jeanne, what did it feel like to go without food for 7 days? How long did it take to stop feeling hungry?
What were the people who had fasted for 40 days like?

Jeanne - that sounds like a good and healthy way to fast. Unfortunately I think a lot of people don't think much about the stresses fasting puts on their system, and how to deal with them in a healthy way. I'm glad it was such a positive experience for you.

Jeanne- all that access to spirituality and you still regard one human race as superior to another? I guess it doesn't always work then, does it?

anon #1: oh, get over it.

I'm on anonymous's side on this one (what am I saying? Me, agreeing with an anonymous? IT'S THE SEVENTH SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE!).

Natism: It was an interesting experience. At times, it was difficult. We had to drink at least one quart of distilled water a day. They checked on you and made sure you did drink the water. We had to take a nap everyday at 1:00. I met a lot of interesting people while I was there also. I met a 69 year old woman who had just climbed the Himalayas. She brushed her skin every day, she was very conscientious about her health.

I think it was about the third day I accepted not eating. You really have to occupy your time by visiting, walking the grounds, reading. It is tough. You try to keep your mind off food. In fact, you don't mention food, it makes it easier. Also, one of the main things, is that you are there with people who are doing the same thing, you're all fasting or coming off a fast. When the people are eating they eat in a large dining room with the doors shut to make it easier on those that are still fasting. You become cold easier. At night, you must keep warm, bundle up with extra blankets.

When they served us our fruit and vegetables (we had no other foods) they served us, each individually a huge platter of fruit or vegetables. We ate most everything with our hands, no utensils. The produce was perfect. We were allowed to have nut butters.

The place I went, we were monitored by a doctor. We had to have our blood pressure taken when we went in , there was always someone there to help.

How a person fasts is important, but how a person comes off a fast is equally important. People can and have died coming off a fast with the wrong foods. I have fasted for 3 days at home.

The woman I mentioned who had fasted for 40 days, was very sick in the last couple days that I was there. She was vomiting, but always had someone supporting her, helping her. She lost some weight, I can't remember offhand how much weight she lost, but I remember it as being alot. She looked fine. My roommate lasted for 27 days. It was hard on her. She begged for carbonated water to help relieve her of the trapped gas problem. Unfortunately, it is common for someone who fasts to have a gas problem. She begged and begged for someone to go into town (we were not allowed to have carbonated water)to buy some carbonated water. She finally was able to have some, but very little.
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Romkey: I do agree that fasting may not be for everyone. It definitely depends on the endurance of a person, their state of health.
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Jeanne, How did you hear about this place? Why did you decide to go there and fast? Was it for health reasons, spiritual reasons, both?
Was it expensive?

Thanks Jeanne, that was really interesting.

Actually when I was a little younger, I would fast and stay up from April 4th to April 9th as a tribute to K.C. But, it took a lot of good drugs to do it, and I just don't want to go there anymore.

K.C.?

Kurt Cobain????????

King Crimson???????
Kansas City???????
Karen Carpenter???????

Oh, actually that last one kind of makes sense...

Kesus Christ, Lord Of Pytos???????

Twistermine: I don't recall how I found the place in Hollister. I had this experience in 1985. It was worth it. I went for the purpose of cleansing the body. The people I talked to, at the clinic, went also for the same reason. There were people from all over the country at this clinic. If I can remember correctly, it cost $300.00 a week. There are other clinics like this around the country, but not many, as I believe, the medical community considers them a threat.

Unfortunately, the clinic I went to has since been closed down. From what I understand the California Medical Association didn't like it. They said that because an elderly man died after coming home from this place, it was cause for the facility to be shut down. Of course, the Medical Association will never admit to the 100,000 people a year that die from improper care at their hospitals. The cause of death of this man in question, was he was 87 years old and given instructions when he left. The man did not follow instruction. His daughter filed a suit and of course the Medical community was involved. I wish they could open again as I would go again. I haven't checked recently, they could have possibly opened somewhere else.

I know a man that has to fast one day a month (his choice) because he had diverticulitis. He had surgery and almost died. He was out of work for six months and I believe he had some intestine removed. He said, by his fasting one day a month, he is able to control his disease.


I think fasting is a healthy thing to do,but I would not recommend it for some people. I think you should never fast over 5 days at home. Three days is fairly easy.

Thanx Jeanne.
I think fasting is a valuable tool for cleansing our bodies.

Kurt Cobain, I didn't want to get any heat for it.

You won't get any heat from me. He is a legend.

I was devastated... and then Shannon Hoon too...