Re: 7-day water fast for weight loss--UPDATE

I'm with you on everything you said. But just to be clear about metabolism I'm including my new post here. I think resistance exercise is necessary and it does raise the metabolism slightly to have more muscle. But generally one should strive to keep the metabolism slow by eating less.
Here it is:
Surprise! The last thing a person should do is raise their metabolism. The lower the metabolism, the longer the life. Read Walford, M.D. in the biosphere and Med School researcher "Beyond the 120 Year Diet". It's available at most libraries. This is beyond scientific dispute now. There are three major theories why Calorie Restriction Optimal Nutrition (CRON) works. One is that the higher the metabolism (which is the rate at which you BURN food) the more waste is created, otherwise known as free radicals. There are several other theories. Just put CRON in your browser or the whole phrase above. Plenty of evidence out there. This is another place where the diet books and popular thought has missed it. To live long, you want to eat nutrient dense food in the smallest quatities that will keep you healthy.
Yes, a high metabolism will help you lose weight and eat more food, but it's what prematurely kills us. A fast, especially on water only, get the metabolism slowed way down. After the fast try to eat only enough to maintain your optimal weight, then 10% lower if you can manage it. This is a diet that will help you avoid most illnesses and alive longer. Can't help with motorcycle or skydiving accidents or shark attack (I'm currently surfing at Santa Cruz CA regularly at 58);)
Check the research out. I'm sure this will stir up a lot of controversy. PLEASE read something about this before you start hammering me (this is another area that got me flamed on the Master-Cleanse board). Don't close your mind on this until you've seen the evidence. All the Docs know all about it, but no one has time to mention it to their patients. There are studies from earthworms and lab rats to primates on going at most med schools. You are much more efficient and using a lot less energy digesting food if your metabolism is low. It's like what do you want a car that gets 10 MPG or 30 MPG? Which one pollutes most and burns the most gas. It's not called a gas hog for nothing.
Mike