I agree Chris, even though I have read otherwise in some places. Common sense tells me that fat cells can be destroyed if they are created. And without resorting to medical text books, common sense tells me that the body will get rid of empty fat cells when it doesn't need them, and certainly before it eats away at vital organs. So while the surgeons go on probing and analysing, my mind is already made up. I guess the brain / body dialogue goes something like this:

Body: Hey, this guy has lost loads of weight and I have lots of empty fat cells here, shall I get rid of them?
Brain: Well, hang onto them for now, he needed them before so he may need them again, and it does take some effort to recreate them.

Later...
Body: Phew! This guy is doing lots of exercise, he's lost more weight and he's putting on muscle. Is there any point in keeping these empty fat cells any longer?
Brain: Um, well they are using up a small amount of energy, and he is making high demands lately, so it doesn't look like he is going to need them again. Yes I agree as well delete quite a few, we can always re-create them later.

Or...
Body: This guy is only drinking water and all the fat cells are empty, what shall I do?
Brain: Burn 'em, we need the fuel!

I don't think you will find that in any medical textbook!

I am doing fine thanks, and will add a new update soon as a new thread.

Less of a challenge, more of a statement of facts would suffice I think.

Your credentialed health teacher was trained by? Probably mainstream; which includes The American Dietetic Association who know next to nothing about fasting and its benefits.
Ask any Naturopathic Doctor or Natural Hygienic Doctor what they think about fasting? many of whom have had extensive experience with fasting in recovering from disease and achieving "wellness"

Here are just some quotes from Qualified Medical Practitioners (MD's)

Evart Loomis M.D. -"Fasting is the world's most ancient and natural healing mechanism. Fasting triggers a truly wondrous cleansing process that reaches right down to each and every cell and tissue in the body. Within 24 hours of curtailing food intake, enzymes stop entering the stomach and travel instead into the intestines and into the bloodstream, where they circulate and gobble up all sorts of waste matter, including dead and damaged cells, unwelcome microbes, metabolic wastes, and pollutants. All organs and glands get a much-needed and well-deserved rest, during which their tissues are purified and rejuvenated and their functions balanced and regulated. The entire alimentary canal is swept clean. By rebuilding immunity, health is naturally restored and disease disappears. If health and immunity are thereafter conscientiously maintained, the individual is no longer vulnerable to disease and dieting become unnecessary. Surely one of the most overlooked and yet most valuable modes of healing that will be rediscovered in the future of the new medicine is the fast. This is because of the increasing interest in looking to oneself for healing powers. For the fast is an inward process and cannot be entered upon only from an outer approach with any expectation of a lasting benefit. The person must invariably be involved with the overall results. This therapeutic encounter is in direct contrast to the usual non-involvement in the physician-directed, disease-oriented medical practice of today."



http://naturalhygienesociety.org/articles/classics3.html



Elson M Haas MD. "Fasting is the single greatest natural healing therapy"

http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.asp?ID=1996#1


Alec Burton, M.Sc., D.O.Hons.(Lond.), D.C.(U.K.), M.R.O.

http://www.alecburton.com/fasting.htm


Dr Alan Cott "Fasting; The Ultimate Diet"

"Fasting is a valid experience. It can benefit any otherwise healthy person whose calories now have the upper hand in his/her life".............
The New England Journal of Medicine!!


Dr Ben Kim

http://drbenkim.com/fasting.html


Dr Herbert M Shelton

http://www.soilandhealth.org/02/0201hyglibcat/020127shelton.III/020127.toc.htm


These are a few examples only.
There are some contra-indications to fasting, but they are minimal.

If you do some of your own research cowgirlbebop you will discover for yourself a whole new way of life that puts health first and biased credentials second.
The evidence of this forum can probably convince you as to the truth that lays within it. You will receive only benefit therefrom.


Regards.

Chrisb1

PS. Fasting saved my life. Of that there is no doubt whatsoever.

lol Do I dare?

My longest fast was for 30 days. I worked full time shift work as an attendant carer with heavy lifting, long hours. I did karate classes several times each week, including a gruelling instructor's class each Thursday night. I did not waste away, lose muscle or get anaemic from not getting my 10mg (or whatever) of iron every day! How did I survive without iron? Vitamin C? All these precious nutrients we MUST have each day to survive or we supposedly end up with deficiencies. All bunk. If we ALLOW our body's to function correctly and not interfere with them by eating TOO much, TOO often, or the WRONG foods, then all those 'required daily intakes' are just useless information. Modern Science hasn't even tried to examine the effects of a truly healthy raw diet on human beings let alone fasting, so they have NO IDEA of it's effects. Even vegetarian body's have different needs to the norm, needing less iron for example though this is rarely taken into account.

I have already brought up several points in both my responses to your comments and you have not answered any of them. Your response is to quote from a book. Your book doesn't explain why I didn't suffer any deficiencies while fasting up to 30 days, didn't dehydrate after my longest fast without water of SEVEN DAYS, and proved that my muscle mass did not decrease by continuing rigorous karate classes which include strength training.

And they are just my personal experiences. I have researched hundreds more courtesy of doctors who have supervised fasts over many years. They did not rely on books. I have read about fasts on public record up to 90-100 days which- again contrary to the wasting away 'belief' that Science seems to cling to- produce incredibly positive results.

So excuse me if I tend to believe my own eyes, my own research (I'm not so dumb myself thanks) and my own personal experience over words in a book that are NOT substantiated by anything resembling proof.

Cheers,

Andrew.