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In all my reading and research I’ve never found cause to take a fast beyond 7 days.

Autophagy starts at day 3-4, and improved insulin resistance can be accomplished by much shorter fasts.

AFAIK Dr Fung doesn’t even recommend fasting past 3 days or so.

Anyone have information that conflicts with this?

I’m mainly posting because someone linked that story of the Scottish guy that fasted for a year. I also see people proposing outlandishly long fasts on here fairly regularly.

Your body uses proteins as the building blocks for just about everything. If you’re trying to lose weight, refeed on protein every few days, and you’ll be treating your body much nicer.

Been fasting a year, and a half on and off.

SW: 280 CW: 231

Ask away

There was another thread from awhile back: https://www.reddit.com/r/nutrition/comments/dqrai2/is_ditching_the_health_benefits_of_4_cups_of/

One of the comment mentioned that autophagy releases amino acids that's needed by the body, hence consuming proteins with amino acids would stop autophagy (assuming in amounts that's enough to stop autophagy altogether).

One mentioned that the amount of proteins/amino acids in green tea is very small, so there should be no issue.

However, according to this article: https://www.tea-and-coffee.com/blog/jasmine-tea-benefits

They mentioned

Both White and Jasmine Green Tea contain large quantities of L-theanine, an amino acid capable of reducing anxiety while promoting sleep.

So.. which is it?

This is to reset some bad habits I acquired over the last half of 2024 and to shed off the weight that came with it. I have a fencing tournament that I am still debating whether to enter fasted on the 4th or to break that fast on the 3rd. My longest fast record is 8 days and I feel like I about to breeze past that.

I am once again relearning to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Hello, I'm currently on my 5th day, and I'm planning to complete 7 days of my water fast. I was wondering how long I need to wait before I can start my protein powder and creatine supplements along with the Omad diet.

What do you use to keep electrolyte levels up?

Basically the title. I get heavy lids and agitation and headaches if I deliberately keep myself hungry😭

Like wanting to poop

I have two options. I can either do a 3 day fast, and do 11K steps a day on average as well as 2.7k calories a day for each of those 3 days. Alternately, I can do a 5 day fast and be sedentary those 5 days. Walking about 3k steps and spending <2k calories a day. Which of those two options is better for autophagy and human growth hormone production? I'm personally not interested in weight loss. I have done multiple 5 day fasts before (wo exercise). Just did 3 day averaging 13k steps a day and some cardio as well. But couldn't extend to 5. Hence the question.

I’m 27m 5’11” 320lbs. In 1-2 years I want to be 200-220lbs. I’m very food and snack focused and want to try 6 day fasting with a one day keto refeed.

A few questions—y’all recommend electrolytes and vitamins—any suggestions on specific things to buy?

I do not get enough fruit and veggies right now so I’m guessing the vitamins and electrolytes would be an improvement. I plan to keep drinking my 1-2 cups black coffee per day.

I’m somewhat active at work and often take public transit which is 30 min walking so I will have some active hours.

So, any recommendations for the following: * Vitamins * Electrolytes (I aim to drink between 80-96oz of water each day so I’d incorporate electrolytes into that) * books, podcasts, and YouTube? I don’t want a salesman I want evidence and research. * an iOS app for tracking fasts?

Looking for a magnesium supplement that can be dissolved in water. Capsules seem to be the most readily available, but I prefer powders. I also work out of state so Amazon isn’t really an option as I have no way to mail it, but I do have access to a Walmart, Target, and HEB on a decent basis. Any recommendations are appreciated.

Hi there.

I am currently perfect on my goal weight. So I want to waterfast only for energy and health benefits.

Such as immune system etc. New cells. And Mitochondria.

Is a 72 hour waterfast the way to go?

I am not sure if a longer fast benefits me

So for context, I’ve done a handful of fasts thus far with the longest being 7 days. I want to try doing a longer fast (hoping to hit 15-21 days) but I am concerned about whether or not it will be be hard on my heart. I am planning on taking electrolytes and even throwing in some zinc and potassium supplements during my fast but my main concern is my heart function. I have congenital heart disease, specifically a bicuspid aortic valve which is the most common congenital heart defect there is. Im a 23 year old female and I would say I’m overall pretty healthy. I weigh about 155 pounds and have a regular gym routine. As for my heart though, I do have mild aortic regurgitation (a tiny bit of back flow) but good blood pressure. My main concern is that an extended fast may be too hard on my heart but I also don’t know the literature. If I’m taking the proper supplements do I need to be concerned about my heart? I think I just plan on feeling the fast out and if it gets too concerning I’ll start referring but I’m just wondering if there’s anyone on here with more medical knowledge then me or a similar condition. And before anyone gets mad at me fasting is not necessarily about weight loss for me. Of course I do wanna get my insulin sensitivity back on track after the holidays and control my sugar addiction but the spiritual, religious side of fasting is what is really calling me. I will be deleting all of my social media and detoxing from my phone during this period as well. My goal is to spend a large chunk of my days in prayer. Also don’t be rude okay just let me know your thoughts.

I've seen varying opinions on optimal fasting periods and it seems like a hot topic. I've seen a lot of 7 day fasting mentioned but I don't think that's a good starting point for me so I want to try a more intermittent kind of fasting. What do I need to keep in mind and how do the restrictions work? I'm not against trying a water-only fast as well if that's the most beneficial.

I read that apspertame and sucralose have no affect on blood sugar, but I don't know wether to trust it. Would chewing gum sweetened with these break a fast that is primarily for autophagy? I'd love to hear what everyone thinks.

Hi guys. Just wanted to share that I’ve completed my first day of fasting and I am really proud of myself! I am doing the AFD fast and I have just had my first meal in 24 hours. I’m feeling very energised after my meal and i really appreciated the food more than I used to. Tomorrow is my feed day but the day after, I fast again. Does anyone have any tips on how to generally stave off the hunger pangs, or do these go away with time? Thanks!!

So I've been doing just the daily fasting, one meal a day under 500cal but I'm wanting to get into actual fasting. Here's my problem: a few years ago I was taking Clenbuterol (i know, awful idea) and lost a LOT of weight, of course it didn't STAY off once I stopped taking it, but since then, my appetite is lower but I seem to get dizziness faster and I still get sweaty after eating carbs. Anyone have any advice on healthy ways for me to fast without literally passing out? T.I.A

Hello Can anyone recommend any books / articles / blogs that are good in providing a beginner / complete understanding to apply fasting.

Try to start as part of my health journey. Cheers

I'm a TBI survivor of over 30 years. Well, after 25 years I thought that was about all the healing I was going to get. I was fat and my wife suggested fasting to get rid of the excess weight; so 38 years post-injury I did a 4 day water fast. I lost 10 pounds. My cognitive functions improved. My balance improved. My speech improved. More improved. I asked my father what he noticed improved and he said that he couldn't pinpoint it but that just generally I had improved. SO my recommendation is to give it a try and see if it helps. What do you have to lose (besides 10 pounds)? 5 of those pounds will come back upon re-feed but 5 pounds is a lot of weight to lose. I did fasts before and after the 4 day and I went from 184 pounds to 150 pounds in about 9 months. My main protocol was to fast 32 hours once or twice a week (eat dinner, don't eat the next day, eat the following breakfast) combined with fasting 17ish hours a day the other days of the week.