Re: playing with fire

NOT PROOF READ
I respectfully disagree with you that most people who come on here read the past posts. If they did they wouldn't ask the same questions over and over that have been answered. That's why hopinso and I have to continue to repeat the same message incessantly.
I for one cannot believe that the new people coming on here with 30-40 day goals have read Fuhrman, Bragg, Goldhamer, or even Cott who advocates fasting for weight loss, but limits it to 10 days.
Of course everyone is welcome here (we'll we've had one or two who had to be banned), and everyone is entitled to their opinion.
But there is a big difference between opinion, Science and confirmed experience. Most people have no idea, that as Bragg says, the average person would probably die from a fast of 21 days. So it's not because I'm on some power trip, it's that I'm concerned. Look at the posts. Most of them are atta boy's for 30-40 day fasting goals with requests to "join you."
You call it being a "Daddy," I call it mentoring, and sometimes it has to be stern. Let me repeat. Some of you are playing with fire and the burn will leave a permanent scar. Do you have the right and freedom to do so? I guess so, I mean I'm not going to show up at your house with the fasting police.
But just as Fuhrman says, ill people have a right to know there are alternative treatments other than medications and surgeries, yet their doctors withold that information. People contemplating fasting in very unhealthy ways have a right to know of the consequences.
From the beginning of this board it has been confrontational. We had a woman, I think the posts were removed, who was fasting 6 days a week and breaking the fast on beef stew and beer, and doing this week after week and arguing for its validity. Did we oppose her opinions? All the time.
Do we oppose the enthusiasm and goal setting of inexperienced, uninformed fasters who set 15,20,30,40, and even 60 day fasting goals. ABSOLUTELY. This is not only bad practice and bad Science it's dangerous; Not only to themselves but to others who read the posts and suppose this must be okay to do and SOP here. It's not. It's a recipe for failure and damage.
Fasting is far more powerful than many prescription medicines and just as dangerous if not used correctly. What's the hurry anyway? It's a symptom of an instant American society. If anything, fasting should be a peaceful, deliberate, well planned activity to bring harmony and health into a life, not an extreme, last ditch, I've tried everything else diet. Bragg planned his fasts a year in advance. I look months ahead on my calendar and pick those times that will fit with my job, family, and social obligations. How often have we read posts where people began fasts only to ask "Is it okay to have a couple beers or a steak for my hubby's birthday, then can I pick up the fast again?"
Just think. 1 day a week fasting is 48 days a year (4 weeks off for vacation). Add 1 week a quarter and your at about 76 days of fasting EVERY YEAR with no danger, less stress. Combine that with exercise, nutrition, rest, recreation, etc. and you'll do way more lasting good for yourself than these long fasts.
I can say that those of us who have been around for awhile flat out oppose these long fasts. Study, get a plan. Fast a meal. Then a couple. Experience the 24 and 36 hour fast. Feel the 3 day, 5 day, 7 and 10 day. Unless you're very ill you'll never need more. If you are very ill, you'll need a clinic experience probably, unless you work into it slowly and get to the place in a few years where you can supervise your own longer fast. But you don't start there.

So, I'm not going to argue it over and over, but anyone who is new to fasting or has less than 3 or 4 1 week fasts under their belt should start with one day a week until they read Bragg and Fuhrman. If that doesn't convince them then unfortunately their own experience will be a harsh teacher. Why learn it the hard way? It's already been done. The instructions are clear and there for everybody to read. Be careful and deliberate, it's you health and life you're playing with.
Mike Tweet