Water Fasting For Weight Loss

There are many different ideas and opinions on water fasting to lose weight. You could say that it's pretty controversial. Many people say that it is a bad way to lose weight and keep it off, many also say that it can be very unhealthy to fast with water or juice. On the other hand there are those that advocate that water fasting is a very healthy and cleansing ritual, stating that it is an excellent form of a body detox. As far as a weight loss program, it certainly is one of the best ways to lose weight very fast but after the water fast is over it depends on how you introduce food back into the diet, whether or not you will gain the weight back or not.

Do your research on water fasting for weight loss and the benefits of detoxing as well. If you decide that water fasting to lose weight is something you want to do then read below for more tips and water fast instructions.

Many people wonder how much weight they will lose during a fast. Weight loss can initially be as high as three to four pounds per day, much of it water, but as the fast continues, the average loss will be about one pound per day.

Fasting helps recover the stomach's natural elasticity which in turn gives you a flat stomach. You will be satisfied on less food and your belly will be proportionate in size to the body’s caloric requirement. From years of over-filling the stomach, it is no surprise that the muscles supporting the tummy have lost its natural elasticity and have become stretched out of shape. People with large protruding stomachs need more food to feel full.

After the third day of a fast, the body begins to make ketone bodies in the liver. In the absence of food, Ketone bodies are produced by the body as an alternate energy source. Normally, ketone levels in the blood are less than 0.2mm. After several days of fasting they approach 3.0mm, and steadily rise thereafter. Importantly, never eat even an extremely small amount of food during a fast. This will quickly shift the body out of ketosis, back to its normal metabolism of glucose, decreasing ketone bodies, decreasing growth hormone and increasing hunger.

How long your water fast will last is another factor to think about. I would say not to do anything longer than 21 days. For most 7 days of fasting will be a good start to rapid weight loss, however if you are trying to lose a significant amount of weight you should try for a longer period. Your first 3-5 days of the fast will be the hardest as far as hunger pagnes. These can be very extreme and in fact many people cannot do it. If you can make it past the third day prior to the body entering ketosis you can usually make it as long as you wish. After the fifth day hunger subsides dramatically and after your tenth day of fasting for weight loss your hunger will be non existent!

Contrary to what many people believe fasting is not starvation. During the fast the body is breaking down the non-essential tissue (Fat) for energy. While conserving essential tissue. Starvation is the point where the body has used up all of its non-essential tissues and begins to break down its own essential tissues. This starvation point even for the average individual, takes quite some time to reach.

The last but possibly most important thing I want to mention is to take very careful precaution when deciding to do this weight loss program. Any weight loss regime can be health threatening to certain individuals however in a normal healthy adult fasting will be a good thing and very cleansing for the body, a way of detoxing your entire body. You should always consult a physician before trying any weight loss diet program especially something as dramatic as fasting.

Please feel free to leave any comment. I would love to hear your experience with fasting to lose weight, fasting in general for other purposes or your opinions.