To do a water fast for a fortnight

[Nicknamechoosingishard]

I know, it’s drastic and everyone talks about all the weight going back on but I’m desperate and I think I have a plan which I want to put to the vipers.....

I have tried unsuccessfully to lose weight several times over the years. I have a medical history which means exercise is difficult but not impossible. A mental health history which most recently seen me in the pits of depression and void of any motivation even to shower or wash a cup.

I’ve tried keto, slimming world and just portion control in the last year but I always fall off the wagon. It’s mainly due to mental health. Food is my crutch but it’ll kill me if I don’t figure it out. I’m on a waiting list for therapy and should see one within six weeks according to my doctor who also thinks my overeating is an emotional problem. At this stage I don’t know what’s true but I need help so I’m going to go.

I could go on for hours but there’s no point. I just wanted to give a bit of a picture behind my current plan.

I’m thinking all the fad diets where people put weight back on are because they fall off the wagon without a maintenance plan. What if I did a water fast and went straight to slimming world then? I’ve lost weight with slimming world so I know it works.

Getting weight off quickly is very important to me right now both because I have to go back to work soon and for my mental and physical health.

AIBU to water fast and go straight to SW?

Flame away but if you must could you please explain why you did? If I shouldn’t do it I’d like to know the rationale. It helps me to make logical decisions when I’m usually impulsive and make hasty decisions.

Thanks.

It’s s terrible idea I’m afraid. I doubt you could survive on water alone for 2 weeks. Please don’t do it.
Why not just start SW now?

What is a water fast?

You need calories every day to maintain your body.
You can't go without them for 2 weeks but I'm not sure if that's what you mean.

It's possible to cut down to 1200 calories for a while. You would likely see weight loss on that.

With the emotional eating, you could try to find other ways to ground yourself.
I like aromatherapy.
Or going to the woods.

YABVVVVVU.

Water fasting is dangerous and pointless. Slimming World is also pretty terrible as a way for losing weight in the longer term. It is the worst kind of diet for putting weight back on again.

For long term weight loss following initial rapid weight loss, I think you should be looking at the Blood Sugar Diet. Get the actual book, read it and then do it.

So you're only going to drink water for two weeks?! I think you might faint at the very least, that can't be good for you

YABU to survive on just water for 336 hours.
Why? Because it's unhealthy & not nutritional.
Suggestion - begin SW now instead of in 2 weeks.

You're only meant to water fast for 3 days.

You won't manage 2 weeks, you'll end up on hospital.

Do you mean just water for 2 whole weeks? That would be very dangerous. Why not try a VLCD like Exante. It worked brilliant for me I lost 4 stone in 5 months and have kept it off now for 4 months. Now I’m doing healthy eating and exercise. You can do it, if I can x

A friend of mine did this - got headaches at day 2 or 3 and then after felt ok. A bit drained and bored around mealtimes obviously but ok. She did lose quite a bit of weight. I don't think you need to specify a particular time frame - just do it until you've had enough. That could be just say 5 days. It's something I've toyed with doing.

Do you mean you would consume only water for 14 days? If so, that sounds dangerous. You sound desperate. 😞 Would you not consider a low calorie diet for 2 weeks. You would still lose weight but without starving yourself?

I don't think it's a good idea, you didnt gain all your weight within a few weeks so why would you expect to lose it so fast

Try team RH they have an app and a much higher calorie allowance than most plans so you don't feel like you are dieting. It helps you not to binge when your calories are high.

Wotcher OP

Anyone who flames you for being in your situation is being a twat, so don't worry about that. Not being able to exercise is a pain for you, as it would help with mental health as well as weight loss ... is there any gentle activity you can undertake, to help centre you & maybe take some of the edge of 'emotional eating' responses? Something like tai chi or very gentle yoga/stretching?

It is very difficult to lose weight, but I think a 2-week water fast is bonkers. Appreciate you are feeling desperate, but please don't do that to yourself - you will just be piling on more stress & discomfort, & it's very unlikely that any 'quick fix' is going to keep weight off permanently.

The GP is a sensible way forward, as is SW for the support. Wishing you well & very good luck x

I worry you could pass out or something if you did that. Would you advise a friend or family members do that?

Could you look at something like Cambridge diet for a few weeks so at least you’re getting the nutrients you need?

I recommend a book called Conquering Fat Logic.

And perhaps try Cambridge Diet or Slim Fast for a couple of weeks? I've found that replacing two meals a day with shakes is quite effective at breaking the habit of mindlessly eating all the time.

Horribly dangerous. Medical advice is to take medical advice if you want to go over 72 hours water fasting. It's just another fad that doesn't work.

Go straight to slimming world, do not fast first.

The problem with a 2 week water fast, is that you don’t just lose fat, you lose muscle too. You risk doing substantial damage to yourself, remember that your heart is made of muscle.

If fasting is appealing try the 16:8 fast. Eat 800 calories a day, in two meals within an 8 hour window. I’m not saying this is perfect, or completely safe, but it is more achievable that 2 weeks without food, and should result in fast weight loss. I do understand you feeling that you need to start with something fast, but try not to overdo it.

If you've got the willpower to not eat for 2 weeks surely you've got the willpower to go on a low calorie diet?

This cammot mean two weeks without foid - you'll die!

This is going to sound harsh but stop looking for quick fix / magic solutions where there aren't any. The only way you are going to even start to overcome emotional eating is via therapy and facing up to things. Really pleased you have some therapy lined up and I hope it works for you. Be honest too - I'm pretty sure you know the reasons why you emotionally overeat and you're going to have to face them. I speak from experience.

Right - I understand the very deep desperation to do something, but really this is not the answer - I promise.

You will get so hungry that you will break out and be so vulnerable to binge eat. Maybe not during the first day or so, but it’ll come. Your body drives to keep you well fed and watered and the urge is very strong.

Can you just try and stick to a realistic calorie allowance?

I promise I do understand - I’ve been there, I’ve done the fast & I can tell you it never leads to any good!

Oh and it also messes up your mood, hormones etc. Not what you need when you have MH difficulties anyway...

Oh crikey dont do that. Really not a good idea. Start with the 5:2 or 4:3 diet and see how you get on. That can be a really good kick start to weight loss.

Don't be so utterly ridiculous

Try Lighter Life - ie VLCD with weekly counselling and weigh ins

I’d recommend meal replacement instead. It makes it so much easier as you don’t have much choice and no normal food to lead you astray.

I’m trying it again for a final push after losing, and maintaining, a stone last year.