The Hunger Artist: A thread about fasting.

Yes, I am on a fast. This is day seven.

I will admit that I need to lose 30-40 lbs. I am an avid hiker and have lost 35 lbs. on several occasions while on extended hiking trips. I don't know why, but it's always 35 lbs. And the weight always comes back. And it will after I fast. I am convinced that yoyoing is the only way. There is no way to keep the weight off so I go up and down.

I have fasted a couple of times before, once for three days (good for the body but useless for weight loss), and another time for 6 days. Actually, the 16 lbs. I lost that time took a good while to come back, but, of course, roughly half of that weight loss is water so that came back immediately.

This time I may go a month. I like to do extreme things every once in a while, so, we'll see.

I posted this in response to a question in another thread. If there's any interest I will post about how to fast safely (to the extent I know) and various other things about the subject. But this particular post is long enough.

How about raw foodism? I am convinced that it is the most perfect diet and the one nature has intended us to be on. Have you ever thought about only eating raw food? I just read two excelent books about it: Dying to Get Well and Nature's First Law. I have been eating raw for 2 weeks, lost 8 pounds, weigh now 113. I feel great. Good things are happening.

I can only appreciate simple foods like that when I'm in a deprived state like a fast or a hike. I eat for fun, and to solve all my emotional needs. I'm not real good at discrimination in those instances.

Maybe appealing/helpful if you're on a rebound from a meat-heavy diet, but risky. Risks include high susceptibility to colds and flu and depression.

This diet is especially dangerous for depressed people and the chronically fatigued.

It's a misguided trend, in my opinion. Humans have been cooking our foods for thousands of years -- a particularly important development in cold climates.

Everyone ought to read Annemarie Colbin's "Food and Healing" to understand the true dynamics of food, nature, the changing seasons, and your body.
Her website is http://www.foodandhealing.com .

Kristina Turner's "The Self-Healing Cookbook" is another introduction to sensible, natural, whole foods eating.

are you at least taking a multivitamin?

I am taking a vitamin. I drink a glass of milk in the morning (I may add one at lunchtime) and a can of chicken or beef broth at night. I also have the juice of a lime a day (limeade or such - the brain needs some sugar to function properly and lime provides that) and several glasses of iced green tea. Both of the latter are sweetened with Splenda. I take the milk and broth for protein to keep from losing muscle. I'm thinking about adding some veggie juices.

I realize that most people think fasting is crazy and dangerous, but in fact, it's the very history of mankind. Food has rarely been available daily or in near the quantity that we are used to in the history of our species.

Doctors are all republicans, I'll keep my money.

Did I mention that I feel great? ...and hunger-free.

I want to try a fast for health reasons. I've read the best fasts to go one are jucie fasts. Carrot, Red cabbage, a bunch of greens jucied will clean out your system and help you lose weight.