This Sub Needs More Compassion

Not saying that there aren't already those who are, but the general vibe I get from this sub whenever I come here is a circlejerk echochamber with slight elitist vibes. We all need to remember this is not a hobby sub. This is about peoples' HEALTH and their LIVES. As such, we all need to be as compassionate as possible as there are two possibilities that arise from dry fasting: 1. Healing, of which someone would receive more of if they receive lots of love, compassion, and guidance 2. More health problems due to complications from dry fasting. Which, would lessen if we show more love and compassion to people so they go into it more well informed and more reserved about the process instead of rushing things We have to remember that people who first come onto this sub are very impressionable because they are desperate. They are desperate to heal something, desperate to lose extra weight, desperate to see some benefits. So I greatly appreciate all the ones who say fasting is not a sprint, but a marathon and who stress the importance of proper refeeds/rehydration/building up to longer fasts. The ones who take time to answer questions that get asked multiple times if you live here on this subreddit, but remember that many users are completely new to this sub or even reddit/message boards in general and understand that. We should be talking in less absolutes. I.E. "Has anyone worked out intensely on an extended dry fast?" "Yea bro you have nothing to worry about. I do heavy workouts on day 3 of my dry fasts and I feel better than ever!" - This should be changed to something more along the lines of: "You have to listen to your body. I was able to do a heavy workout on my 3rd day of dry fasting and I did these exercises with these weights/machines for this amount of time. It was a heavy workout but I only went at 80% of what I usually do. I mainly spent my dry fast indoors, during time off work, and I didn't spend much time in the sun" Peace

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Hard agree, but the internet in general needs to become less of a cesspool.

If you go back and look through my comments here, my go to line is listen to your gut/body.

I’m even kind to people who trash me because I just don’t see a point in tearing someone down, who needs that?

I’m also a big proponent encouraging people to go at their own pace, not to use fasting unsafely and to make sure they get blood work done and up their electrolytes and vitamins/minerals.

I’ve seen people crash hard thinking they can fast no problem without salts and it’s hard to hear, hard to watch.

I’m also careful not to assume or accuse people of having eating disorders, but I do watch for that behavior and try to mitigate it by encouraging healthy eating and reminding them that sometimes a lower weight isn’t healthy and will make then feel ill and shorten their life span, just like a high weight can.

Not everyone has the time or is going to make the time to study how important diet is in regards to successfully fasting, so it’s definitely up to us more seasoned fasters (I’m not a professional in anyway shape or form but I have been doing this a decade and have learned the hard way with low BP without using electrolytes) to gently remind people of the reason they have health problems in the first place is typically found in the diet and environment and while fasting is an incredible tool, it’s not going to eliminate issues causing the problems in the first place if you continue to bombard the system.

I don’t believe in junk science, but I also don’t believe in tearing someone a new asshole just because they are new and trying to learn.

I truly want everyone to thrive and not just survive, and we cannot expect anyone to hear us if we advise without empathy.

Maybe if people didn’t have the junk diet, stressful lives it would be easier for them not to blast others not only on the net but in person as well?

I’ve worked with the public half my life, so 18 years now, patience and empathy always work, even if it doesn’t benefit the person throwing stuff at you in that moment, it’s 1000% made my life better in every way.

You get what you give.

(Apologies for any errors, I’m cuddling a sick kiddo and working from home)

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While I don’t entirely disagree, this is the internet.

Not even a website filled with doctors, health practitioners, or nutritionists. A subreddit of regular people just sharing their thoughts/experiences/stuff they’ve heard through various resources.

The real truth is, no one should be coming to this subreddit looking for gospel on what to do regarding their health. If you have a real health concern or want to drastically switch up your eating/fasting routine, you should be asking a medical professional, not a group of random strangers on the internet. If you do choose to ask a random group of internet strangers health-related questions, then it is your responsibility to remember the source of the information and act accordingly.

I, personally, phrase my answers more like your preferred response. But that’s me.

I guess my point is, I also think it’s a good idea to give sensible, more general feedback instead of ra-ra “YOU GOT THIS. BUCKLE DOWN AND POWER THROUGH” type replies that could actually lead to serious issues… but the person saying that doesn’t know it’s problematic. They think they’re being helpful by giving encouragement or their personal experience.

It is the reader’s responsibility to do their own research and take care of their own health and not lean on the replies of strangers who know almost nothing about them to keep them safe and healthy.

P.S. I would never recommend exercising on a dry fast. Reason: Rhabdomyolysis.

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I’ll catch heat for this but I get tired of Dr. Filonov being constantly referred to. I get that he’s done the most work that’s been published about dry fasting and people’s experiences with it, but all the…”Dr. Filonov says…” gets a bit old.

If I want to go from a water fast into a dray fast, that’s my business, whether a Russian doctor advises against it or not.