I wish I had the strength to fast. I get severe headaches & the shakes from hypoglycemia.

I've taken as much as two days off from eating--just have a cup of coffee in the morning and then water only. I've also fasted for one day at a time during Fridays in Lent. I was surprised at how easy it is once you set your mind to it. However, I don't see much benefit to it as a means of weight loss (although some do). I'm losing weight at the moment on Weight Watchers and the key is to just eat carefully and mindfully every day--slow and steady does win the race.

I know some people will juice or water fast to detox. The science behind that is rather dodgy. Just better to start eating foods with healthy components.

That being said, I have fasted for 24 hour periods, just consuming tea or water with lemon squeezed into it -- but for spiritual purposes. Not for weight or detox.

I don't really understand how people do that. My innards get acidic very quickly. I don't fast.

I feel like I need to fast for spiritual reasons, I have done long vegetable juice fasts for 5 -10 days and it really helped me with personal discipline. I am going to try and do it again soon. It's hard to do.

No. I've never understood the point of doing one.

Gyr_falcon- it has helped me spiritually in the past with discipline and prayer. When your not eating it forces you and reminds you to focus on other things.

"I've never understood the point of doing one."

It sounds like a less violent form of self-flagellation. I'm not sure I understand the need to or appeal of acts like that.

Lol Elmer

I began to think about fasting after having to do so in preparation for a procedure.

It really wasn't bad until the 24-hour mark, and I thought about skipping dinner maybe once a week and just stopping eating after lunch.

So, a true "break the fast" the next morning.

I'm just looking at it from a discipline and weight perspective. I don't believe in juice fasts or "cleansing", especially for long periods of time.

No, neither one.

The Cleveland Clinic has information on "intermittent fasting". It taught me how to eat the right portions to maintain my ideal weight. There are no hunger days, and there's an abundant amount of hydration.

What I find is that when I fast for 24 hours I actually feel great. Not lightheaded or ill at all--rather, full of focus and energy. With so much more time! It surprised me. I do know some people who also do intermittent fasting for weight control and are very successful. In fact it is rather popular these days.

Emory- I was surprised to feel the same.

I got a bit twitchy past the 24-hour mark, but going through the day into the next morning wasn't bad.

I can see what people are talking about re: clarity.

Instead of such a strict fast, I've done the "5:2" plan. Five days a week you eat normally. Two days, you count calories and restrict yourself to 500 for the day. I did it for weight loss; I can lose about 1/2 pound per week.

As a side benefit, I regained a sense of what it feels like to be hungry, to have an empty stomach in a healthy way. Waking up hungry the morning after a calorie-restricted day, knowing that yes! I can have breakfast! makes me grateful for the amazing daily blessings of my life. So I can see both the health and the spiritual/inner attitude benefits to fasting. I'd highly recommend people try it.

Nickel- that sounds really good. I sometimes feel like I forget what it feels like to truly be hungry verses my belly just being empty. Thank you for sharing with us.

I think the "clarity" and "focus" is the reason that nearly every religious tradition has some form of fasting: Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity. Honestly, I still need my cup of coffee, however! I'd have to ween myself off that slowly or I'd get terrific migraines. The worst "fasting" for me is one the rare occasions I've had surgery and you are not supposed to eat or drink beforehand. Last year I had a surgery that was scheduled for 9 a.m. but was then delayed until 2:00. Going without food was no problem; going without coffee was miserable. As I sat recovering afterward (just a 30 minute surgery) the first thing I asked for was the coffee!

I have never fasted. I get way to hungry at breakfast, lunch and dinner time, with snack hunger in between.

I do however drink a full glass of water every morning when I first get up. Then I wait for a full hour, before eating breakfast.

Don't remember where I had read about this, but started it about 2 years ago, and it doesn't hurt. ;)

Moni