How many days is it safe to fast from food?

Question

I am an emotional eater who has 2 basic levels, either can stay away from food completely, or binge. I have found fasting for a few days a week has really helped me gain control of myself, and then can eat healthy for several days afterward, but then bad cycle begins again, so I've started fasting weekly to keep the control. but am wondering howmany days can you do it safely.My deductible on health insurance is too high to try to see dr to ask. My stats are female age 41, weight 340 lbs, have lost 25 in past 3 months. no known health problems yet(the blood pressure cuff at walmart I check all the time and I am in the good range, amazing for someone at my weight). For physical activity I have a office job so I sit alot, but do regular housekeeping stuff and take care of family, don't sit on butt and watch tv all night. Do yard work on weekends and have a 2nd job 1 day a week that is driving. Walk about 3 times a week for a mile but not on days I am fasting.

Answer 1

There is nothing wrong at all with fasting,especially if it helps you gain control of your eating problem. Here's an excerpt from a really good book I read, and the website below has great advice. Jesus Christ fasted as documented in the Bible, it wouldn't be there if as His example if it were bad for us.
Fasting can break many food addictions, such as coffee, sweets, alcohol, smoke and other bad habits
The natural process of toxin excretion continues, while the influx of new toxins is reduced, This results in a reduction of total body toxicity.
• The energy usually used for digestion is redirected to immune function, cell growth, and eliminatory processes.
• The immune system’s workload is greatly reduced, and the digestive tract is spared any inflammation due to allergic reactions to food.
• Due to a lowering of serum fats that thins the blood; tissue oxygenation is increased and white blood cells are moved more efficiently.
• Fat-stored chemicals, such as pesticides and drugs, are released.
• Physical awareness and sensitivity to diet and surroundings are increased.
Due to these effects of fasting, a fast can help you heal with greater speed,’ cleanse your liver, kidneys, and colon,’ purify your blood,’ help you lose excess weight and water,’ flush out toxins,. clear the eyes and tongue,’ and cleanse the breath."

Answer 2

I wouldn't recommend either fasting or bingeing. This can have adverse effects on your health. I gather that you haven't been seen by a health care provider lately so you really don't know if you have any existing health problems or not. You very well may but they are presently undiagnosed.

With a high deductible it sounds as though you have a PPO insurance plan. You can change this to an HMO when the cycle comes around to do so. Check with your benefits dept. or benefits officer at work.

The blood pressure cuff at Walmart is probably too small for your arm and may be giving a false reading. FYI: Most doctor's offices will check blood pressure at no charge. Hypertension (abnormally high pressure) doesn't always present with physical symptoms so a person may have it yet feel fine and then one day they have a stroke. Diabetes is another issue that is associated with obesity. As well, there are other health issues involved.

You really need weight & diet management as well as counselling for your emotions. Bite the bullet and see a doctor for your own sake and for that of your family. Please.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

I am a personal trainer and in the past had struggled with my own weight, and can tell you that is worse for your health than binge eating. There is no point. What happens when you fast is your body will go into "starvation mode" by slowing your metabolism, therefore you will burn even more calories when you do begin eating again, and will subsequently gain more weight!!! You should be eating 5 small meals a day because otherwise you will get hungry inbetween. I know it is difficult, but if you want REAL self control you must do this.
If you want to lose weight and are serious about it I will help talk you through it if you want ...instant messege me or email me at
rachel_kris79
[e-mail]

Answer 5

Fasting is doing you more harm than good...it slows down your metabolism so you have to work twice as hard to lose weight...get on an eating plan that has you eating 6 small meals a day...eating every couple of hours may make a difference in you getting the binge craving...also, keep unhealthy and junk foods out of your house...have nothing available but stuff that is good for you...that way if you do go overboard, it won't be as bad as eating a whole bag of chips...

Get professional help when you can, if you cannot get this under control yourself...you need to get to the root of the issue that triggers your binging, so you can learn to deal with it and not have to worry about it anymore...

Answer 6

As time goes by, your body will heal itself from the damages of fast food, but it takes awhile. If you need encouragement to keep you off bad stuff, I have just the links for you!! Read about the ingredients in your food. It's enough to keep you off it for life. I know I am cured after reading about it and I lost weight and feel so much healthier. Education is your weapon for fighting against what shouldn't be in our food in the first place. Please read these links below!

Fasting is not the way to loose weight. Your body goes into a starvation mode and actually holds fat because of it. I read that eating more smaller healthy meals will increase your metabolism and actually help you loose weight. You can eat all the healthy food you want, just keep the carbs down somewhat. Hunger is your body's way of asking for nutrition. Give it the vitamins and nutrition it needs by eating fruits and vegetables. Don't suppress your hunger, it will only lead to binges. Once you rid your body from the ingredients listed below in the links, you will start to see changes and also loose weight without even trying. Of course moderate exercise is recommended, even if it's just walking for 30 minutes a day to start, then work your way up to an hour. Be patient.

Answer 7

The Paleo diet isn't a fad or another weight loss gimmick. It's the way humans were meant to eat.

The Paleo Cookbook is a comprehensive collection of recipes from across the globe.

Paleo Recipe Book - http://paleorecipebook.healthyaz.co

Whether you're looking for Paleo-friendly breakfasts, dinners, desserts, or international favorites, you'll find dishes for every taste.

The Paleo Cookbook is your guide to a new, healthier way of eating:

For both meat-eaters and vegetarians.

Enjoy over 370+ healthy Paleo recipes that are very easy and fast to cook, not to mention they are incredibly delicious.

Prepare easy and healthy meals with the Paleo Recipe Book. Over 370+ recipes covering just about anything you'll ever need on a Paleo diet.

Transitioning to the Paleo lifestyle is the natural way to increased vitality, weight loss, and overall better health.

Prepare Easy And Healthy Meals - http://paleorecipebook.healthyaz.co

With The Paleo Cookbook, you'll discover just how easy, delicious, and nutritious the Paleo diet can be.

Answer 8

Fasting is pointless because the body goes into hyper starvation mode...it hybernates, stores and shutsdown until you eat again and then it goes hypermode to keep whatever you eat.

Best method is to eat all good stuff....like fruit, veges, fish, meat, grain bread etc....no fried, sugary or junk food or snacky stuff (except once a month)....and to walk an hour each day (regardless of if you are in the mood). You arent stupid...any Calorie Counter book will tell you how to keep you calories at 300 per meal (3 meals a day).

Your main question should be...how do I work out why I am an emotional eater? What shite have I had in my childhood that makes me want to control things by making my weight the main source of my brains stimulation...to ruin it or to kill it off? Under or overweight people have the same slow death scenario...it just takes different forms. The aim is to suicide though.

Go see a therapist and explore how you got to thinking that food is anything more than a way to feed your body, when it was hungry, ONLY for enough food to work your engine....and when it took on a project. Babies are programmed to eat until they are full...it takes catalysts from their situation/parents/environment to chuck them into shutting off their basic metabolism keys.

Answer 9

You have an eating disorder. Bite the bullet and see a clinical psychologist fast. You are not qualified to treat it alone. Normal people don't have these problems. If you can see that then you're on your pathway to recovery. Just don't pretend that everything's okay when it's not. You know yourself better than that. You deserve to be happy and not obsessed about food.

Answer 10

Your brain requires glucose. Your liver stores glucose as glycogen. It stores about 8 hours worth. If you go longer than 8 hours your liver will produce glucose from your protein. It will digest your muscles to feed your brain. Your weight control is at the expense of your muscles including your heart. Your heart is already strained supplying blood to all that weight.

Your body is a homeostatic organism. It will keep your blood pressure normal as long as possible. It compensates as well as possible. Then comes the crash. Blood pressure for you is not a good warning sign.

The fasting is destroying your muscles. The fat you want to lose is staying with you. Stop fasting. Walk more. Eat more vegetables.