yagathai | (no subject)

(no subject)

So... I'm thinking of trying to fast all through Lent. 46 days without food is foolishly ambitious, and it's not especially good for me, but it is very unlikely to kill me. With my weight and body fat percentage and assuming my math+research is right, I should be able to go about 80-90 days before I hit even optimal minimal body fat range, and another six weeks after that until I get into actual risk of death by starvation and serious long term side effect territory. 45 days is well within safe tolerances. If I take a good multivitamin and supplement calcium and various other minerals and electrolytes (sodium, potassium, manganese etc), I shouldn't do much if any unrecoverable damage to myself.

Here's a wrinkle: If I get this bottle shop job, I likely will be required to drink some beer as part of the job. Hmm.

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Just because something is technically unlikely to kill you doesn't make it a good idea.

I say this from a place of concern.

I never said this was a good idea.

Jesus fasted for 40 days and look where it got him.

I essentially did this many years ago. 40 days only, on a 400 calorie juice fast.

I came out of it fairly healthy and in good shape.

Just for fun?

Pretty much. I wanted to lose weight and so I tried it for three days over a weekend. Then I tried it another day, just to see if I could. Then another. Then hell, let's see if I could do it for a week.

And if I can do it for a week, can I do it for two?

Eventually I decided to stop once I had hit a specific weight value. Which turned out to be day 40.

The first week was hard. So very hard. I recommend video games or something engaging that you can do for a while without thinking about food. Avoid TV. Avoid movies. Both have ads for food or show food or all of that. After the first few days it was hard but not as bad. I eventually drank warm broth too, and that helped a ton as far as cravings go; having anything warm was so good.

It sounds a bit risky, but it's your Lent. I'd suggest chatting with a doctor, at least.

Oh yeah - I did consult a doctor. The vitamin thing along with electrolytes and as much protein as I could get were the big recommendations. Obviously you should talk to yours.

I second the consult-a-doctor advice! You'll likely be fine but it couldn't hurt to know what you're in for, and what a pro thinks of your plan.

Re: the beer thing, some homebrewer around here (of course) last year did a beer fast for Lent. Drank his breakfast, lunch, and dinner. All under 5% ABV (if memory serves), and he was totally fine.

I don't Lent and it's not my body... but like, full on fast? What about a cleanse or a juice fast?

I think you should get some caloric consumption. Min of 400-800 a day in protein rich substances. Do you like eggs? Eggs could be a good thing. with some fiber.

It depends on what type of lent you practice.. I have a very catholic friend who takes a day off every sunday during lent and says that it's because the length of lent doesn't include Sundays.... Then you would only be fasting Mon-Sat.

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