Water Fast FAQ
What is a water fast? A water fast is where you abstain from eating food and consume only water for a specific amount of time.
Is there a particular water that I should drink? No. Any water will do, as long as it is just water with noting added.
How long should I go for my first fast? I suggest 3 days for your first fast to get an idea as to what you will be facing.
What was your longest fast? 30 days.
Why do you water fast? Health reasons and weight loss.
What are the benefits of water fasting? Water fasting is a great way to jump start your new healthy life style, because generally speaking it reboots your system and rids all of the poor things you have been putting into your body. People use water fasting to cleanse their system for things such as becoming vegetarian or vegan or simply making a drastic change in dietary plans. I’ve also encountered tons of people who have used water fasting to help/cure eye sight issues, eczema, other skin issues such as acne, bowel issues, stomach issues, and more. There have even been some cases and personal accounts of people water fasting and then having their cancer cells lowered or disappear. However the most common use of water fasting is for weight loss.
What is the difference between restricting/eating disorder and fasting? Generally speaking restricting is about control and stems from a mental illness or other psychological problems. Restricting is not about being healthy and strong and doesn’t have an end date. Where an eating disorder is a mental illness water fasting is about health and strength and is not a long term plan but instead a journey with an intended end date.
How do I start a fast? You want to start a fast by easing into it. Doing so prepares your body for the decrease in food which is to come. Thus I suggest 2-3 days of eating just fruits and veggies and then transitioning into another 2-3 day period where you juice. After doing so you may move into your water fast.
How do I end a fast? You want to end a fast the same way you started it, by EASING out of it. Doing so prepares your body for the reintroduction of food and prevents your body from assuming that food will disappear again. Thus I suggest 2-3 days of just consuming juice/juicing. After these 2-3 days, . you should move on to another 2-3 days of consuming just fruits and veggies. After this period of time you can add back in lean proteins and other non fruit and veggie items.
How do I juice? You have to buy a juicer to make your own juice. Sense these can be expensive you can also buy fresh juice instead.
What juice can I buy if I don’t have a juicer? I generally juice my own fruits and veggies, so I don’t remember the exact brands I bought. So I would go to a farmers market, juice bar, organic market, or whole foods store and look for organic fruit juices there.
When should I drink the juice? I honestly just drank when i would naturally consume food. SO maybe 1-2 cups of juice for breakfast. A cup for a snack. 1-2 cups for lunch. A cup for another snack. 1-2 cups for dinner. And maybe another cup for another snack.
When should I consume the veggies? Once again, I consumed it when I would normally eat. So breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack.
Is there any particular fruit or veggie i should consume while easing in or out of fasting? No anything will really do but leafy greens and things like watermelon (Which has a high water content) are especially good for you.
How much water should i drink drink on a fast? I suggest anywhere between 1-2 gallons a day. You should be drinking constantly the whole day. And peeing frequently. It doesn’t matter when your drinking the water just that it’s constant throughout the day. Sense there about 8 water bottles in a gallon, and I aim for 2 gallons (8 x 2= 16 water bottles)…I either carry around a water bottle and try to fill it/consume 16 bottles before the day ends. Or I carry around a gallon water bottle and try to drink 2 of those before the day ends.
Does it matter if the water is cold? I have been told by experienced people that drinking cold water is better because your body supposedly works harder to convert it to the temperature of your body, but I’m not sure.
How does water fasting work? Basically after about 3 days your body goes into something called ketosis where your body starts to metabolize/consume fat. This is why people use water fasting to lose weight.
Do you gain weight back after a water fast? Yes. Everyone will gain some weight back and it differs for everyone because water weight/water retention is different for everyone.When you start your water fast generally you will see an initial and quick 2-5 pound weight loss. This is because when you eat food you consume sodium (salt) which holds on to any water you consume. When you water fast you are not consuming food, which means no salt, SO there is no sodium in your body to hold on to the water you are drinking. Thus you lose what is called initial water weight.
HOWEVER
When you end your fast and start consuming food again you consume salt and will thus start retaining water again, which will cause generally a few pounds of water weight.
When I finish a water fast how long before I can start another? I have read and been told to wait at least 4 weeks, but I have broken that rule numerous time. Just saying.
Before and after pictures? Are they you? Were they from fasting? Yes they are me. Yes they were from doing a collection of 2 long fasts. You can find them by going to http://smashingxteacups.tumblr.com/tagged/beforeandafter
Have you gained any weight back? Yes about 20lbs due to two traumatic deaths in my family which resulted in poor eating.
Do you plan on doing more fasts in the future? Yes. One I’m actually starting tomorrow.
Can you give a detailed example of what you ate after a water fast.
Should I exercise durring a water fast? No.
Sure but keep in mind this is only an example/ I experiment a lot with food and recipes and it’s impossible for me to remember what I ate because I constantly switch it up and am pulling from different online/book recipes.
Breakfast: Organic oatmeal with cinnamon and cut up bananas on top with a cup of almond milk.
Snack: Apple and berries
Lunch: Salad with lemon juice and almonds, bits of lean chicken, carrots, cherry tomatoes and water.
Snack: fruit smoothie or maybe a carrots and dip.
Dinner: Stir fry in a kale wrap
Desert: Strawberries and light whip creme.
What are some foods that are good for you? Nuts, almond milk, coconut, coconut water, coconut milk, fruits, veggies, leafy greens. The closer to the ground the better for your body.
Do you smell on a water fast? No Can you brush your teeth on a water fast? Some people say no I do because it doesn’t effect weight. I know that a lot of people want to know exactly what i ate and juiced but i just cant tell you that because i didn’t keep track of it when i was fasting and i wing meals and experiment so much with it that i lose track. If you have any other questions feel free to ask and ill add it to the FAQ. Thanks!