Who else is getting a gut?

[VitaminE]

I've pulled a lot of all-nighters already in the first semester, and in November had mostly nights where I got 4-5 hours of sleep. Did not eat as well as I could. Consequently, when I came home I found that I was 10 pounds underweight.

I'm in the same boat as you. I had to buy a belt with some of my Christmas money But for me, part of the weight loss is due to depression (probably from being a 1L) that causes me to lose my appetite. Oh well, at least I look good

[landrover06]

Just read your second post on the fruit juice and vegetable juice fast, taken with supplements live ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and brewers yeast.  I have actually done this twice in my life.  You are right, your body feels awesome after you finish the fast.  You do learn to deal with the hunger after a few days.  However, I don't think this diet is a good way of losing weight once a month (we did it for a liver cleansing).

Why not?

[LegalLatin78]

It's typically not sustainable weight loss.  After this diet your metabolism can crashed and your body can go into starvation mode.  Often you will gain a lot of the weight right back once you get off of this.  You can even end up burning a lot of muscle tissue.  When you want to lose weight, it’s important that you don’t lose muscle mass.  You can simply become a more flabby and skinnier version of yourself.  An average individual who wants to maintain a steady diet and a healthy weight would be better off focusing their time and energy on a healthy diet and sensible eating habits and exercise.

Here is an interesting article I read on the subject;
"When subjected to a fast, the body burns up stored carbohydrates within 24 hours and then switches to using fat as its energy source. This may sound like a dream to a dieter, but in reality it's not good for the body. Why? Because red blood cells as well as the cells of the brain and central nervous system need carbohydrates to function. Some of these cells can use a byproduct of fat called ketones for energy but it's typically insufficient. The body starts breaking down muscle proteins to make glucose (a carbohydrate)

"As the fast progresses you will lose muscle mass, and if it continues for a long time, you could lose brain and heart tissue."  http://diets.aol.com/dietbasics/juice-fasting-master-cleanse-effects

[TheSunDevil]

Just stick to your diet. All of the starvation stuff and your body adjusting is BS for minor weight loss. I've lost a ton of weight by just eating Lean Cuisines and other low calorie meals. It's not healthy, but I'm 6'1 and was near 220 lbs, I limited my calories to 1500 per day. Within a month I had lost 10 lbs, and eventually lost 25 total. I didn't die, my body didn't adjust, and I ate white bread and other carbs. It's simple: your body needs a certain amount of calories to survive, go below that number, and it dips into fat reserves.

Also, the work out hightening your metabolism throughout the day after a workout is untrue. This was a common belief of the past but has since been disproved, and found to only have a neglible effect on metabolism. Finally, increased muscle mass doesn't burn as many calories as originally assumed.

You got here by eating more, you can get out by eating less.

Good Luck!

[landrover06]

You skip dinner half the time and FAST on juice for a week every month?  How the hell is that health?  Sure you can eat whatever you want when you starve yourself for a week each month.   

I eat a good breakfast and lunch, and most of the time I'm not hungry for dinner.  You call it "skipping."  I call it "not eating when I'm not hungry."  Also, I said that I fast on juice for 4-7 days, not a week every month.  It's obvious you don't know what a juice fast is, or what types of juices I drink.  If you did, you wouldn't classify this as "starving."  All solid foods are converted to liquids as they are processed through our digestive system.

[landrover06]

It's typically not sustainable weight loss.  After this diet your metabolism can crashed and your body can go into starvation mode.  Often you will gain a lot of the weight right back once you get off of this.  You can even end up burning a lot of muscle tissue.  When you want to lose weight, it’s important that you don’t lose muscle mass.  You can simply become a more flabby and skinnier version of yourself.  An average individual who wants to maintain a steady diet and a healthy weight would be better off focusing their time and energy on a healthy diet and sensible eating habits and exercise.

Here is an interesting article I read on the subject;
"When subjected to a fast, the body burns up stored carbohydrates within 24 hours and then switches to using fat as its energy source. This may sound like a dream to a dieter, but in reality it's not good for the body. Why? Because red blood cells as well as the cells of the brain and central nervous system need carbohydrates to function. Some of these cells can use a byproduct of fat called ketones for energy but it's typically insufficient. The body starts breaking down muscle proteins to make glucose (a carbohydrate)

"As the fast progresses you will lose muscle mass, and if it continues for a long time, you could lose brain and heart tissue."  http://diets.aol.com/dietbasics/juice-fasting-master-cleanse-effects

I disagree about the effects of my fast.  My fasting regimen has never caused my body to go into starvation mode.  Quite the contrary.  A 4-7 day fast is a relatively short fast, consisting of fruit and veggie juices that are fortified with vitamins and nutrients that the body requires.  The body is not being "starved." Few calories are being consumed however.  The benefits that I derive from my fast are too numerous to list here, but the negative effects that you speak of here do not apply to the type of fast that I enjoy.

"Starvation mode" as you refer to it is often associated with those who fast on water only, and for much longer periods.  Without receiving the nutrients that it needs to sustain itself, the body conserves the sources of energy that currently exist in the body.  Metabolism is slowed, the kidneys and liver retain water in an effort to preserve what it thinks is a limited supply.  Eventually, it consumes muscle.  No this is not even close to happening here and I wouldn't suggest such a fast if it had these harmful effects.

About burning muscle tissue, this can happen on a very sustained water fast like I've said.  I've known some people to fast 100 days on just water alone.  They confine themselves to a retreat or remote area to limit their contact with people and minimize their need to expend energy.  Their bodies may consume muscle.  Theirs appears to be more a spiritual journey than anything else.  Again, this does not happen on the type of fast I enjoy for such a short duration.

Also, my fasting is not the cornerstone of my weight-maintenance program.  I am not trying to lose weight, but stay healthy through natural means.  I eat a healthy sensible diet as you suggest, and I exercise regularly. This helps to maintain my weight and remain very muscular.

Finally, anyone can point to articles that say anything.  I do appreciate your doing so.  People choose to believe what they want.  I frequently refer to Page's book because her advice helped me get over a major illness.  I find her advice well-researched and credible and I have been attempting to pass on this knowledge to others.  Here is an example of what she says about two of "nature's superfoods."  These are among the ingredients I add to my fortified drinks both during the fast and when I not fasting:

barley grass: "it has ten times more calcium than cow's milk, five times more iron than spinach, and seven times more vitamin C and bioflavonoids than orange juice...barley grass has effects measurably stronger than either steroid or non-steroid drugs, and few if any side effects."

spirulina: "acre for acre, spirulina yields 20 times more protein than soybeans, 40 times more protein than corn, and 400 times more protein than beef..it's a complete protein, with all 22 amino acids, the entire vitamin B-complex, including B-12 (with more than liver)..."

Just passing on what I've experienced and giving my perspective on what has worked for me.

[TheSunDevil]

Interesting post regarding fasting LegalLatin78. Have you read the fasting experiences on Erowid.org

[LegalLatin78]

No I have not, SunDevil.  I have only tried the liver cleansing fast twice, and both times it was a 72 hour fast on juices and vitamins/minerals.  I will check it out.  Sounds interesting, and I enjoy discussing health/fitness.

Landrover06, the article I posted is not about a water fast.  Did you read the article? It talks about juice diets.  I agree there are definitely some health benefits, but there are also lots of drawbacks.

[landrover06]

No I have not, SunDevil.  I have only tried the liver cleansing fast twice, and both times it was a 72 hour fast on juices and vitamins/minerals.  I will check it out.  Sounds interesting, and I enjoy discussing health/fitness.

Landrover06, the article I posted is not about a water fast.  Did you read the article? It talks about juice diets.  I agree there are definitely some health benefits, but there are also lots of drawbacks.

About your 72 hour liver cleansing fast, what exactly did you drink?  Which vitamins and minerals did you use?  Why did you choose a liver cleansing fast?  Sorry for all the questions.  This is an interesting subject to me.

Yes, I read the article.  It seems to be targeted for dieters who are inclined to fast to lose weight quickly.  This is not what I'm talking about.

[TheSunDevil]

Cool. I don't fast personally, but this is a great reference I enjoyed reading through:

http://www.erowid.org/spirit/fasting/fasting.shtml