Fasting tips and experiences?

Melanie said:I mean, seriously... where am I even supposed to find this??? 😕 Are there specific distributors here in the States that carry it, or what?? And man, it looks super pricey..👎
My take? The UN diet cleanses your system, maybe a little slow, but it works. I really need to drop about 10 pounds myself.. If I go on the Atkinson diet, I can lose them in 5 days (trust me, I've done it), but then I'll probably just gain 7 pounds back within two days of eating normally. A total DISASTER!! 🙏
If you stick to it for a month, the weight just melts away. And we're talking real weight, actual fat.. not just water weight or muscle loss like when you're basically starving yourself.
Good luck!😍

With the UN diet, you're mostly just losing water and muscle tissue, and honestly, it all comes right back the second you start eating what you consider "normal" food again.

I guess the UN diet has two okay points: first, it tells you exactly what to eat, and second, it gives you something to focus on—like, "oh, today is my carb day, tomorrow is my water day..."
BUT, because it makes things so simple, your body just takes a massive hit. It's pretty rough on your system.
If you're already planning on switching up how you eat, maybe try this: take the total amount of food you'd eat over four days on the UN diet, and just spread it out so you get BOTH carbs and protein EVERY single day.
And voilà—you've got a healthy way to eat, and those pounds (the FAT ones!) will actually start going down.

- Steve -

I’m right there with Steve when it comes to the UN.

I’d also throw a third point into the mix regarding the UN—it really forces people to be mindful about what they’re putting in their bodies, and honestly, you end up learning a ton about nutrition just by going through the process.

The downside, though, is that people tend to view it as a form of deprivation. They see it strictly as a "diet"—something with a clear start date and an end date—where they tell themselves they can go wild and reward themselves once it's over... and that’s exactly how you trigger that brutal yo-yo effect.🙂

It shouldn't be about jumping on a diet; it needs to be about changing your entire way of life.😉

Then again, at the end of the day, it's a matter of personal preference. Any diet can work, provided the person actually shifts their mindset while they're still "on the program."

Incorporated said:I'm curious about everyone's experience here—roughly how many pounds would I actually lose in that timeframe?

Given all those symptoms and the toll that kind of fasting takes on your body—you really wouldn't feel any better. You won't get that genuine sense of satisfaction you feel when you finally stick to a smart diet and ramp up the gym sessions, then look in the mirror and see the results you've been working for.😎
No, seriously, folks—don't go chasing these empty trends. You aren't going to achieve anything besides feeling even worse after 14 days, especially since that scale is just going to start creeping back up anyway.👎

Emily Hayes said:I think Steve is spot on about the UN.

I’d also throw in a third benefit regarding the UN—it really makes people pause and actually think about what they’re eating, and I guess you end up learning so much about nutrition while you're at it.

The downside, though, is that people tend to view it as a sacrifice or just another diet—you know, something with a clear start and end date where they think they can reward themselves afterward... and that's exactly how that whole crazy yo-yo effect starts up. 🙂

It’s more about changing your whole lifestyle rather than just going on a diet, I suppose. 😉

But hey, to each their own! Maybe any kind of diet can work if a person manages to shift their mindset while they're still "on it."

Every single point you made is totally right.

You're such a smart girl, Emily Hayes. 👍

- Steve -

briskjackal5 said:Every single point you made is spot on.

You really hit the nail on the head, Emily Hayes. You're clearly a sharp one. 👍

- Steve -

Thanks so much! 🙂

I’d definitely drop some pounds, but I don't think I could handle the physical or mental toll in the long run. I remember when my godmother was hospitalized during her pregnancy; she had to go on this extreme emergency diet where she was basically living on water and maybe 300 calories a day if she was lucky.

I’ve been sticking to a diet for about ten days now. I started hitting the elliptical for thirty minutes every single day, and I've swapped out plain water for unsweetened tea—it honestly feels a bit sweeter than just drinking water all day. I've also cut out dinner entirely; if I need something, I’ll just have a piece of fruit or a low-fat yogurt. Mostly, I'm just being incredibly mindful of everything I consume and trying to keep my portions as small as possible. To be honest, I've tried various diets in the past where I managed to drop weight quickly, but the problem was that it always came right back as fast as it left.

I read somewhere that if I'm hungry while working out, I might end up losing muscle mass instead of fat. Now I'm not sure if that's actually true or if it's something else entirely. Does anyone know what the deal is?

Yeah, look, if you just starve yourself, you aren't actually going to lose weight in a healthy way. You're mostly just going to burn through your muscle mass, leave yourself feeling weak, and find that your stomach area stays exactly where it is 🙂. On top of that, doing this long-term is going to mess up your blood work, specifically throwing your hormones completely out of whack
.

I don't usually do this, but I read both sides and couldn't tell which one was actually right. Thanks 🙂

I’m planning on fasting this August. Back in 2015, I tried a three-day fast, but I just stuck to fruit.
Now, I’m aiming for ten days. The plan is to eat a Bhut Jolokia pepper to clear out my digestive tract and everything else inside me, then live strictly on water and watermelon for those ten days. 😁
To me, fasting is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle. It allows the body to regenerate and flush out all the junk we consume through our diet.