I just want to say.. I've started my first extended dry fast just recently, and my god has this been one of the most incredible experiences of my entire life. I originally have been water fasting since a decade ago, and unfortunately let myself go severely during Covid times (Gained more than 100+ pounds.)
I made a stance that I would step into 2023 a much thinner, and healthier me and have been doing back to back extended water fasts, for 7-9 days consecutively. But something told me to give dry fasting a try. Originally, I was ignorant about the idea, and afraid of the concept due to all of the scare factors that were placed around it. But then I had to think, a lot of people, including the media used those same tactics against normal water fasting as well, so why not give this a try? Plus something inside me naturally propelled me towards the idea.
Anyways. I started off light, doing 1 day dry fasts, and they felt euphoric. My thoughts felt clearer, and my will power felt stronger and I experienced no hunger. But just recently I decided to go ahead and try to test my limits and go on an extended dry fast. And LET ME TELL YOU! It has blown my mind.
I've dealt with issues with my ears popping and crackling since May this year, and that has severely been reduced, and I also deal with scalp folliculitis, and the bumps have flattened by a large margin during this dry fast that I'm currently on. I started this dry fast last Saturday at 5:30PM at 287 pounds, and this morning I weighed myself on day 5 and I'm currently 263 pounds. I've lost 24 pounds in such a short span of time. I'm thinking by the end of today, or tonight I will be in my 250's for sure as well.
Anyways, I'm probably going to go 8 or 9 days and try to get into my 240s before breaking this fast, and I just wanted to share my incredible experience that dry-fasting has provided me so far! I have not had any headaches, have not felt dizzy or light headed, I've surprisingly been alright for the most part. I'd even say I feel better than I have on day 5 of this dry fast, compared to day 5 of my previous water fasts. My clothes are literally slipping off of me, life is great. Alright guys, I Will probably make an updated post in the future to keep you guys posted, stay safe and stay healthy my friends!
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EDIT: One last thing, I've also dealt with severe, and I mean severe acid reflux that burned my throat and literally made it feel raw to the bone. The acid damaged my vocal cords as well and made it hard to laugh or just even say words. Had intense chest pains that made me end up in the hospital for it. All of Those symptoms have been diminished almost completely. So if you suffer through acid reflux, fasting will help you! Losing weight will help as well! That's what I've learned through my experience.
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I can second the acid reflux. I used to get it so bad. But I think it’s also super important to team fasting with healthy foods to get the nutrition in the body. I used to have fast food 4-6 times a week, now I almost exclusively cook at home, with occasional restaurants.
Whenever I am trying to think of what’s actually good for us, or at least normal, I just think back to our ancestry. The more you think about it, the more you laugh and realize that humans never had water right next to them for thousands and thousands of years. That whole “sip throughout the day” advice is what is totally new. Our ancestors were running around all day and drinking from fresh water creeks or rivers a few times a day.
And just intermittently dry fasting seems to actually help my balance in my body. I’ll do entire workouts with 30-40 minute sauna sessions, hour walks and bike rides where I’m pushing myself, lifting weights, and even still my thirst is way down.
I used to force myself to drink a gallon of water a day, since that was “the right thing to do”. Over the last 5 months or so, I’ve actually been hardly drinking pure water itself. I’ll have my few cups of coffee in the morning, make some tea, and I’ll have some sparkling mineral water at night, but as a glass. When I start to feel more thirst, I up my salt consumption.
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Congrats on your achievements! Day 5 is euphoric and positive. It won’t be like that the whole time. Get ready for days 7-9. You might overheat a little, feel very weak and sick. Try to get through that period and you’ll get the most out the fast. Then very carefully refeed