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.

I don't think you need to do it for a whole week.

You could try two days of water fasting per week (separate each day to opposite ends of the week)

and then after two weeks of this you could try 3 days of water fasting a week for two weeks.

I think it's a bit drastic to be water fasting for a whole week

If you really want to lose weight fast, start doing optifast shakes or similar. At least then you are getting calories (800 a day) and vitamins and minerals. You could go into organ failure if you only have water for two weeks!!

''I’m feeling a little empowered by your replies. I little confidence boost or something just washed over me.''

Yay !!!

Re: swimming. Once you've lost a little bit of weight you'll feel much more confident about going to the pool. You just will. It's tiny baby steps. That's one of them.

There'll be a good time of day to go to the pool. Check the time tables. Lots and lots of larger ladies go swimming. Some pools have ladies only sessions. It's for the future though. Don't feel you have to do it now.

I've done 5 days water fasting and that was my max. I fast after1pm every day and occasionally do 36 hours but 5 days is my limit. You won't be able to do 14 days, believe me. Exercise is the key. And swimming is a good fat burner but gentle. Please don't concern yourself on how you look, I know it's easy to say but "serious" swimmers don't care what you look like, we just love seeing people in the water and giving it a good go.

I have done a water fast with my doctor supervising e.g. blood tests before during and after.

I did 20days before my body told me enough is enough. However you have to ease yourself into it. So start with intermittment fasting 16:8 then 23:1 and slowly cut down your portions too.

You need to ensure you maintain your electrolytes - I took a daily electrolyte tablet that fizzes in water (zero claroie and zero caffiene type). When you break your water fast you have to start with bone broth then slowly introduce food like veg etc.

The first week will be hard, but not as hard if you ease into it through intermittment fasting, you won't feel so hungry as if you just went straight into it and also by slowly cutting out sugar and caffiene you risk less headaches.

You will find you sleep alot - this is fine you need it. After the first week I found I had more energy and felt so much better.

Definately recommend reading Dr Fung's advice too.

Nothing wrong with doing a water fast for that long you just need to make sure you have all read all the information first.

I now continue to just do intermittment fasting. I do 23:1 because it suits my lifestyle better. I no longer stress about having to make lunches for work, I was never one for breakfast anyway and now I can control my food by just having dinner at home where I have time to cook something healthy. I do follow keto aswell.

Might you be able to stick to Slim fast for a kick start? The bars are quite filling and obviously very easy.

Hello OP. I’m larger than I’d like to be (size 14/16) but I’ve lost a LOT of weight already following a low carb plan. I eat six small meals spaced throughout the day and drink 3-4 litres of water.

Do PM me if you like and I’ll send you my weekly shopping list, meal plans and recipes. Just to be clear, I’m not selling anything, pushing any supplements, fad diets, MLM or whatever, I just want to help you the way I was helped.

I tried so many different diets and just yoyo'd i joined sw and gained weight so gave WW a go i know eat a very healthy diet and in quite a short amount of time have lost 2 & a half stone and feel better than ever. Definitely wouldn't recommend fasting. My friend did cambridge diet lost 5 stone and gained 8 very very quickly. Best thing is safe & sensible

It’s too long and you’re setting yourself up for failure. Do 24 hours a couple of times a week and follow SW the other days. There’s not a chance in hell you’d manage it, I’m not being rude.

I love swimming but I’m too embarrassed by how big I’ve become that I wouldn’t dream of going to a public pool.
Nobody looks
nobody cares
and once you are in up to your neck, nobody knows
JUST DO IT

I wouldn't recommend it. If you want to try something extreme only for 2 weeks, I recommend the slimfast diet. I lost half a stone in two weeks.

I had 9 days in a row on just water recently, (following which I had 8 more interspersed with days when I did eat a bit) because I had stomach ache and couldn't face food, rather than for deliberate weight loss reasons. It would have been nice if I could have trimmed down a bit but nope, I didn't lose a single pound. All I can think is that my body went into emergency mode and hung on to my fat for fear I would starve. I don't know how that's supposed to happen but hey, science.

If you do it I recommend not driving (you could well pass out!) and having someone else look after the children. Also, whatever you do, don't fart! At least not unless you're safely sitting on the toilet. You'd think you'd just stop pooing altogether but your body still expels the gut juice that builds up, which funnily enough comes out liquid...

@Nicknamechoosingishard please ask Mumsnet to move this to weight loss chat, you will get so much help and support there from people who have been there and understand

not drinking water will have no effect on your weight. There are no calories. What it probably will do is concentrate your urine, and give you other problems.

16 8 is a good way to fast, I've lost a stone doing it over a couple of weeks, need more time to perfect it as sometimes I'm drinking late at night and it ruins my timings but once I've got it I will try 18 6.
I find fasting mostly easy and I make healthier choices when it is time to eat.
I don't count calories or restrict what I eat only the times I do.
Might be a good place to start for you op, there's a thread in diet section about 16 8.

Nobody looks
nobody cares
and once you are in up to your neck, nobody knows
JUST DO IT

I agree with this about swimming, people are trying not to slip, trying to figure out their own swimming or have their own hang ups, either swimming or body related (I have no idea what I'm doing around the pool area or IN the pool so I'm just trying not to draw attention to myself!!). As for the exercise I know you said beach walks won't do it but if you are anywhere near a beach I always feel it totally lifts your mood to either go for a walk on it, just sink your feet into the sand/ paddle etc. And you can totally do this and I'm so glad you're feeling a bit more buoyed. Big hug OP

I had hyperemesis and couldn't keep even water down. I was hospitalised. Don't be stupid.

I don't know if this rings any bells OP but with me if I'm in too much of a hurry to do things it's counterproductive as I then convince myself I can't do it in the time planned and then I give up. So if you can give yourself a realistic timetable it might seem more achievable.

So if you start exercising gradually, reduce your food intake gradually and eliminate unhealthy foods you're more likely to succeed in the long term as you're getting your body accustomed to new habits. It takes a couple of months to create a new habit. So give yourself a chance to introduce the new habits one after the other.

I did this by starting yoga, then Pilates, then reducing calories and finally swimming. It's taken a while but is much more sustainable.

Good luck OP

Just eat a well balanced diet.
Breakfast- fruit, yogurt, oats
Lunch - salad, but not just leaves a proper salad
Dinner- lots of veg and less carb

Avoid snacking
If you think you can water fast for 2 weeks you can avoid snacking surely?

Research foods and create a good food plan for you.

A water fast may help you loose weight.
May.
It doesn't work for everyone and the minute you change back to a normal diet you will gain the weight back

Increase exercise and create a diet plan that works for you it will be a slower result than a water fast but you will actually be able to continue it. People don't change their lifestyle for the period of their weight loss and then go back to their old ways expecting to keep the weight off and that's sort of what a water fast idea is.
You can also cause damage to your body doing it and people often can't sustain it for a long amount of Time

Sorry op didn't read the whole thread to see your other replies (my bad! I apologise)
For exercise is it just a treadmill you own?

You can increase the treadmill work out by having a walking pace as an incline
This will be harder but a better work out.
Or walk carrying weights? If you don't have weights already they aren't the most expensive bit of equipment but you could use other things from the home.

Is there anyone in your life to go through this with? Or a workout partner? Maybe a partner or child? I workout at home and enjoy boxing. Which I only need the gloves and pads and I love it

Increase walking. Even if it's small things like parking further from the shop or walking up and down the stairs again instead of carrying all the washing up at once.
Little things and slow progress are better for you than the water diet.
Meal plan and prep if appropriate. Over night oats for breakfast?
Prepare lunches the night before and meal plan for dinner. Increase veg when you can as well instead of carbs

I think you should, just be careful how you reintroduce food and for god sake keep your calories at maintenance level for the rest of your life after or it will be pointless.

I’m with you OP. 5 ft 7 and 17.5 stones, BMI 40. I’m all or nothing as well, and mentally would find a water fast easier than @cutting down portion sizes” or “making different choices”. I get it.

Don’t know what to do about it though. The GP referred me to the weight loss programme in this are who, after 30 minutes said I wasn’t in the right place / time in my life to join the program and that’s ok. I know I could stick to a shakes diet as I need something that doesn’t involve a lot of food shopping and prep time (work ft long hours and commute) but they’re so expensive. So I don’t know how to start or whether it’s worth even trying!

I once did a water fast for 12 days whilst at university. I lost a good amount of weight (16 pounds-ish) but it started off a really unhealthy binge/starvation cycle I still struggle with today. Please don't do it.

(Also, I almost passed out on the toilet on day 11 and came close to fainting multiple times in the shower)

Do not be embarrassed about going to the pool! I go swimming as it's good for my back / sciatica/ disc problems and I’m 20/22, I even went when 9 months pregnant and there’s plenty of larger ladies (and men) about at pool. Everyone just gets on with their own stuff. No one is paying any attention to anyone else. My arms, legs and knee joints feel much better after swimming and my SI joint is looser - it’s so good for you.

I wouldn’t do a two-week fast without medical supervision, especially so if you are on medication or have long-term health conditions. This can be dangerous to health as fasting has a dramatic effect and can cause medication overdose among other things etc. So serious risks there.

Do not go into fasting without researching it first. Jason Fung has a good book on how to fast and what beneficial effects it has on the body. Also contains important warnings and risks.

If you are keen, you could try intermittent fasting first to see how you feel, say 16:8. It is the easiest form of fasting.

I occasionally do 36h fasts. You can have tea with a drop of full fat milk, green tea, home cooked broth and unlimited water. When you already do low carb it is easy. But I do not have any serious health conditions or take any medication.

Do learn about it first. Don’t do anything drastic as it can have serious health consequences.