Fasting has been used for centuries by religious devotees as a time of reflection and body purification. There are many kinds of fasts. The traditional fast involves abstaining from solid foods for a predetermined duration of time. According to "The Miracle of Fasting," you need not fast for long periods of time to cleanse the body and accelerate weight loss. Author Paul C. Bragg says that fasting causes self-digestion, where the body breaks down toxins and eliminates them. Follow a few basic guidelines to lose weight by fasting.
Step 1
Abstain from solid food for one to three days. Longer fasts should not be undertaken unless you are under the supervision of a doctor or health care practitioner. Relax and avoid stressful activities during your fast. At first you may feel weak or encounter hunger pangs, but these feelings usually pass with time.
Step 2
Mix 2 tbsp. organic apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp. honey and 8 oz. distilled water, and drink it three to five times daily. This mixture will help suppress hunger, detoxify your body and accelerate weight loss, according to "The Miracle of Fasting."
Step 3
Drink at least eight 12- to 16-oz. glasses of distilled water every day. Water is very important to many essential chemical reactions in the body and is involved in making energy and burning fat. In fact, according to "Combat the Fat," water is a natural thermogenic, meaning it produces heat, or energy. Water also helps suppress hunger, as thirst is sometimes mistaken for hunger.
Step 4
Eat nuts, fruits and vegetables if you must eat something. These foods are easily digested and do not tax the body's resources much. Fasting works because it diverts energy, usually tied up in the process of digestion, to body cleansing, regeneration and maintenance.
Step 5
Take 5 g of branch-chain amino acids every two to three hours to avoid losing muscle. As the body searches for a source of energy during a fast, it begins to break down both fat and muscle tissue. Branch-chain amino acids are special because they are metabolized directly in muscle tissue rather than in the liver.
Step 6
Perform some light cardio exercise if you want to accelerate weight loss. Low-intensity activity can be executed comfortably by most people during a fast. Go slowly and do not complete any high-intensity cardiovascular exercise during a fast.
Tips and Warnings
- Avoid telling others about your fast. You are likely to get a negative response. Fasting is a personal thing and should be undertaken with only your doctor's supervision.
- Never eat fewer than 1,200 calories a day without a doctor's supervision.
Things You'll Need
- Organic apple cider vinegar
- Distilled water
- Honey
- Branch-chain amino acids
References
- "The Miracle of Fasting"; Paul C. Bragg; 2009
- "Combat the Fat"; Jeff Anderson; 2008
Member Comments