Hi people,

It's only after having read numerous posts over many pages that I felt the need to make this post.

I do feel that Water Fasting is a valid method for the sole purpose of weight loss because it is effective and comes with many other benefits. In reality however, weight loss should be considered a beneficial "side effect" of Water Fasting because the main benefit is detoxification, body rest and rejuvenation.

All too often however, when weight loss is the only goal, respect for the fasting process and proper fasting procedure is neglected. Fasting is a serious undertaking and powerful changes in the body take place, regardless of one's reason for doing it. When the body only takes in water, it undergoes a delicate process of detoxification and rejuvenation that should not be interrupted or disturbed by such activities as partying or going to concerts, or by the consumption of poisonous liquids such as diet drinks and alcohol. (Note: Aspartame is a neurological and addictive toxin. See dorway.com) It has appeared to me that some are only concerned about factors that apply to weight loss. For example, "if it doesn't prevent me from losing weight during the fast then it's OK to do".

I feel it important to understand that during Water Fasting very delicate and important activities are happening in the body besides the consumption of fat for fuel which require firstly, abstinence from the above mentioned liquid poisons and secondly, the need for bodily rest.

Also, as it goes with fasting for any reason, if one gets a craving on day 5 for example, it's NOT OK to break the fast suddenly with a cheeseburger, steak or whatever you wish. Again, I feel that some think if they're fasting only for weight loss that this is OK. How a fast is broken is crucial to its success and to your health. Breaking it improperly can be dangerous. Your bodies don't know why you're fasting. The care with which the fast must be broken must still be observed.

Finally, for those fasting only to lose weight it must be understood that weight loss through fasting is almost always useless if the habits or conditions which led to the excess weight in the first place are not changed or eliminated. In fact, if one is not willing to change his/her diet after the fast in a more healthful and "non-fat promoting" way, and/or not willing to make exercise a regular part of his/her routine, then not only will the fat come back but he/she will end up proportionately FATTER than before. This is the case, because during fasting, one loses some lean muscle mass along with the fat. Since any subsequent weight gain will ONLY be fat if one is not exercising, then if one has returned to his/her original weight before the fast, both the fat loss and muscle loss have been replaced by fat. This results in one having a higher bodyfat percentage than before. Repeating this process over and over is a downhill ride.

So, please read all you can regarding water fasting and how to do it properly even if your only goal is to lose some weight. A few books recommended here are:

Fasting & Eating For Health: A Medical Doctor's Program For Conquering Disease by Joel Fuhrman
Fasting Can Save Your Life by Herbert Shelton
The Miracle Of Fasting by Paul C. Bragg
Fasting To Freedom by Ron Lagerquist

Best of Health and Luck to all of you!

- Mark37