Re: Are you all lying about water fasts. Please read

Hey Scorpioeyes,

I am not able to answer all of your questions, nor unfortunately at the moment provide you with peer reviewed articles (though I know there are several out there). It is not true that all your muscle will be spared during a fast. I'm surprised that one or more people have stated that.

As you have been taught, it is true that when sensing imminent starvation your body will tend to conserve fat. During a strict Water Fast however, there is a point where your body will begin to use stored fat as fuel, because using protein is neither wise for survival of the body nor as efficient a process of conversion to fuel as is the use of fat as fuel. Fat will also be converted to glucose for the brain. The brain absolutely requires glucose at all times.

Muscle size will 'decrease' for a few reasons. Yes, some lean body mass is used, though significantly more fat is used in comparison. You stated that "it's not like [you] don't have enough fat ... to be used up". So I presume you don't have an extremely low bodyfat level. This loss of fat which covers your muscles (and body) will contribute to the appearance of dwindling muscle size. Also, during the initial days of a fast significant water is lost. Muscles have a high water content and this loss will also contribute to the appearance of decreasing muscle size. As you may know, the supplement creatine used by bodybuilders to give more muscular endurance is also liked for its ability to draw water into the muscles making them appear larger - thus the debate as to whether creatine is valuable because it allows one to work harder and build larger muscles or just because it artificially inflates the muscles.

In my opinion, anyone undertaking a Water Fast must be prepared to lose some lean body mass. The 'lean' mass is composed of muscle tissue, water and other tissue the fasting body will use (burn) - call it toxins or toxic tissue if you must.

Fasting is not a walk in the park or a trivial practice to lose some weight, again in my opinion. It is a powerful tool to enable powerful rest, healing and changes in the body. There must be a serious and valid reason for doing it and we must be ready to accept the accompanying changes our bodies undergo.

May I ask what your reason for Water Fasting is? Though disappointing I admit for a first time faster, I think some decrease in muscle size should be one of the last things on your mind. It may be uplifting to hear that any loss you may experience should be very easy to regain, mostly because after the fast some rebound weight gain is normal, but also because if your muscles have atrophied a bit, the muslces of a weight trainer are easily and quickly restored to their original condition in a brief time with the return to regular training.

Best of luck,

- Mark37