Can fasting be beneficial for your health?

Question

I've heard some people say that fasting is bad for you. I've heard others say that it is good for you. I'm 6ft 245lbs and I need to get down to 210lbs to join the Navy. I also have large biceps that I've been working on for a while. If I start fasting (for say a week), will my body just eat away my muscles and leave me with fat? Any advice about fasting is appreciated even if it doesn't have to do with the questions asked. Thanks very much.

I can't picture myself becoming anorexic. I love food too much and lack willpower. I think I'm going to try fasting for a day and see if I can go another day after that. Fasting for a month seems really unhealthy though.

Answer 1

Consult your Doctor. Before you make any change in diet/dieting (fasting is a type of diet) you should always find out if it is safe for you to do. What may be safe for someone else may not be safe for you. It is not safe to take medical advice from others either.

Answer 2

nah a fast isnt bad start slow and go from solids to light like fruits and water and juices then to water and a general suppliment vitamin then the third day only water then the next back to fruits and waters and juices then the light diet then regular add but adding protein like a shake of lethicin powder and some low starch diet no breads or sugars just complex carbs and some high protiens and the general suppliment run and drink lots of water and if you fast do it slow and gradual then back out slow and on the last day of real food use a mineral oil or other natural colon cleaner it sets the body up for the lack of food and sets the stage for the cleaner system after the fast ask a few pros at the local health food stores and maybe train for speed for a few weeks instead of mass light reps low weights and lots of walking and steps and swimming and drink water and avoid soda and salt especially cheeses

Answer 3

That is SO stupid. I lost 80 pounds and kept for over 5 years. I thought about fasting at first like you did, but lasted only half a day, lol. Aim for a pound to 1.5 pounds a week at the most. Don't eat out AT ALL. Don't drink any pop. Don't put any cream in your coffee. Don't butter your toast. Don't cook your food with oil. BBQ most of your food or use Pam Spray. Eat low fat foods that you like. Look at the labels for the grams of fat. Tuna in water(not oil) is a good lunch, because its low in fat and high in protein. You could fast for a month and I could eat just tuna and oatmeal, I would look better and be more fit than you.
Turkey breast or Chicken Breast or low-fat chilli, or halibut, etc.

Don't forget to walk 0r bike everyday and weighlift 3 times a week(light weights). Do something to move your body, but the eating is more important.

Dangers of anorexia. (defined by skipping meals) heart problems

Answer 4

I would recommend doing the opposite. By fasting your sending your body into a hibernation mode. By increasing meal frequency but decreasing size you'll be burning more calories and staying healthier. Try eating six small meals a day. Keep it lean with the meats and hearty with the grains like brown rice. This is how natural bodybuilders and wrestlers cut weight but maintain relatively high levels of fitness.

Answer 5

I wouldn't recommend withdrawing from food completely. Your body will go into starvation mode and start eating your muscle. Plus, you'll feel exhausted, weak, and grouchy from low blood sugar. Instead, just eat very light and balanced meals...some days, I eat only salad, protein/nutrition shakes, and water to keep my weight in check. Sounds like you do a lot of weight training, but do more cardio too to increase your metabolism. I lost two pounds a week this way. Good luck.

Answer 6

Fasting is not a good way to try to change your lifestyle.

If you want to lose weight its all about calorie balance. Eat less, excercise more. It won't be blazing fast but it will be healthy.

Fasting as you indicate causes your body to burn its reserves indiscriminately. But before reaching that stage it trains your metabolism to slow to nothing to try to preserve weight. The next time you try a reasonable diet, your body just goes into conservation mode and it is much much more dificult to lose weight.

But why would you want to join the navy? Won't they just find a way to put you on the ground in Iraq?

Answer 7

fasting is really bad for you it breacks down the muscles and damages the body as a whole if you need to loose wieght then try eating small amounts 5 times a day like a good breackfast then a few hours latter a nature valley bar power bar for luch few hours latter some fruit or veg and end with a healthy sup. good luck

Answer 8

Not eating for a week (basically anorexia) is dangerous and just silly, why would you give up food? It's too yum! Eat healthy and exercise. Do things that will burn fat instead of building muscle though - like skipping.

Answer 9

Fasting is the single greatest natural healing therapy. It is nature’s ancient, universal "remedy" for many problems. Animals instinctively fast when ill. When I first discovered fasting, 15 years ago, I felt as if it had saved my life and transformed my illnesses into health. My stagnant energies began flowing, and I became more creative and vitally alive. I still find fasting both a useful personal tool and an important therapy for many medical and life problems.

Answer 10

fasting once in awhile is good, maybe once or twice a month. If you fast for too long a period you will get flab in place of muscle, also develope headaches and dizziness, your best bet is to have a large breakfast, average lunch, and light dinner, also the more you exercises
the more muscle you will built and more calories you will burn.