72 Hour water-only Fast - My Review

DJohnson · 09-10-2008, 10:57 PM

Background: Didn't miss a lifting day in 8 weeks, taking my 1 week off from lifting. Bored and decided to try a fast just because I've never done it before in my life and fasting seems to be discussed a lot on the forums lately.

Just finished the 72 hours minutes ago, about to go eat. Generally I had a lot of energy. Not pale or anything at the end. Feeling good except for hungry. A bit more iritable. Vascularity is like gone, but I'm sure it'll return after I get some blood pressure going again! All in all not toooo much of a hassle, had more spare time due to not cooking and whatnot. Saved $$ on groceries I guess.

I had a bit of the runs day 2 and 3. Nothing uncontrollable though.

Breaking the fast with:
Chicken thigh caesar salad to start.
Keto mozarella cheese sticks that Stonecoldtruth just posted in the Keto Misc! http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpo...postcount=1564

48 hours in or so I was feeling like giving up for sure. I kept on just because I decided to do the full 72 hours before I started so I'm just following through. After I woke up the next morning it was just too close to the deadline to quit. If you really wanted to you could fast longer, it's just tougher without some kind of valid reason to do it.

Literature suggests I lose around 50g of muscle per day of fasting, so 150g total for three days. I'm thinking hopefully I get maybe half of that back when I start eating again and my body replenishes what it's lost. Even then that'd set me back around 2 weeks of bulking. Not worth it bodybuilding-wise because I can lose more fat in 2 weeks than I have during this fast.

So yeah, although I don't think fasting is that bad, I really don't think it's much of a benefit to bodybuilding. Health-wise, you can't really tell if there are medical benefits I would get out of this. I

don't have heart disease or Type II diabetes so I don't know if there was any benefit at all. If there is then it might be good to do overall, but I don't know if it's really worth it without knowing.

The day following I plan on eating a bit above maintenence, maintaining the keto diet I've been using lately during weekdays. Probably around 2800kcal. Actually more if I'm really hungry. I'm not doing this for fat loss, just the experience.

Oh yeah, and no fun spirit-visions or anything.

Better luck next time I guess.

I'll update this thread later if I notice any consequences of the diet.

Neopragmatist · 09-10-2008, 11:05 PM

Jesus fasted for 40 days. Then on his 41st day, he took Purple Wrath.

MarkVI · 09-10-2008, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neopragmatist

Jesus fasted for 40 days. Then on his 41st day, he took Purple Wrath.

.............

I have to say that I will never fast soley for health reasons ever........

Dan23NH · 09-11-2008, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJohnson

although I don't think fasting is that bad, I really don't think it's much of a benefit to bodybuilding

I kinda only chuckled at that point for some reason. Anyway, that was very interesting, that had to take some serious self discipline to be able to do that. Was it a complete fast, absolutely nothing for 3 full days? And you still had decent energy? Very interesting. I just hope it doesnt influence too many people who read this to try something like this. For some reason I don't think it will but you never know.

DJohnson · 09-11-2008, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkVI

[IMG]
I have to say that I will never fast soley for health reasons ever........

LOL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan23NH

I kinda only chuckled at that point for some reason. Anyway, that was very interesting, that had to take some serious self discipline to be able to do that. Was it a complete fast, absolutely nothing for 3 full days? And you still had decent energy? Very interesting. I just hope it doesnt influence too many people who read this to try something like this. For some reason I don't think it will but you never know.

Ya, just water and some 0kcal soda. I had decent energy, but keep in mind I wasn't doing cardio or lifting this week anyways so my activity level was pretty low. I wouldn't dare try lift during a fast.

And yeah, I agree. I'll reiterate that fasting for that long just seems stupid from a fat loss, or any kind of standpoint unless it's to manage some sort of disease.

DJohnson · 09-11-2008, 12:45 PM

Update: Ugh. Before the food could digest I had a ton more of the runs. Haha. Not a fan. Made sure I'm well hydrated.

DJohnson · 09-12-2008, 03:28 PM

36 hour later update:
So I got pink eye. Considering I pretty well never get sick since I started eating healthy four years ago, I find it incriminating that I got pink eye the day after my fast ended. I think it might have lowered my immune system. Oh well, I saw a doctor and I'm not planning on doing that again so I should be better in a day or two.

Mxer_129 · 09-12-2008, 04:07 PM

you mean...you're not dead yet?

DJohnson · 09-12-2008, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mxer_129

you mean...you're not dead yet?

I left my sarcasm detector in my other pants so I'm not sure about this one. I'll say though that I feel fine other than the pink eye and have been eating since Wednesday night.

I haven't been overeating much, probably ate 1500kcal Wednesday night from random things and from then on eating at about maintenance.

Mxer_129 · 09-12-2008, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJohnson

I left my sarcasm detector in my other pants so I'm not sure about this one. I'll say though that I feel fine other than the pink eye and have been eating since Wednesday night.

I haven't been overeating much, probably ate 1500kcal Wednesday night from random things and from then on eating at about maintenance.

lol...yeah i was just jokin'.