Husband wants to fast

[ICaughtTonsillitisFromAFriendsKid]

My husband is slim. He's 5'11 and not more than 11 stone.

He's sent me a YouTube video about what happens to your body when you fast for 44 days (David Blaine did this) and says he wants to do it. I don't know if he means the full 44 days or a bit less.

Wtf! Based on a quick Google it will lead to headaches and worse.

He's a great husband in every other aspect but this has frightened me.

I'm not sure what to do. I feel dreadful enough with tonsillitis I can't handle more stress.

I don't know about the duration because he's been out working overnight.

If he has never fasted before he will not get past 3days. It's literally the hardest part.

You could also make it harder by cooking all his favourite foods and buying his favourite take-aways

He’s very slim anyway - is that natural or does he have eating problems?

He does half a day on a regular basis. I'm concerned he'll do himself damage, headaches, etc, and we have two under 5 to look after. :-(

Headaches will be the least of his worries if he fasts for a full 44 days.

@Passthecake30 it's natural. He does a physical job which keeps him slim though i presume he wouldn't do it whilst doing this!
He usually adds veg to every meal but still goes in for sweet treats so I'd say he's on the healthy side of normal.

Can you elaborate?

Its up to him I guess but he's not David Blaine. Maybe don't panic until you find out what duration he means.

Qualified nutritionist and HCP here.
Fasting in itself isn't a negative plan, however fasting for 44 days is a bad idea.
If he enjoys the fasting diets then maybe he could try the 5:2?

Why on earth would you assume that someone who is slim has eating problems?!

Ignore this if he is David Blaine

I'd ask him to talk to his gp before he does any such thing.

Does he have underlying MH issues?

Tell him you’re ok with him doing it slowly, starting with one day fasting one week. I wouldn’t be happy with my DH doing this without expert supervision. Who knows how David Blaine does anything and if it’s real. I doubt your DH would be able to hold down a job without eating that long.

That surely is a very very bad idea. Please persuade him not to. And I'm very pro fasting. Especially for overweight people re diabetes. But only if it's done properly.

He doesn't have a MH issue but I did - pnd, very bad. He was great but imagine it takes a toll.
When I met him it was in another country and he's moved here to be with me. I worry this is a symptom of a bigger malaise.

@hashbrownsandwich how long would you say is safe?

Short term headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, low blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms.
Long term Fasting has detrimental impacts in the long term as well. Not only can fasting damage the immune system, it can also negatively affect many of the body's organs, including the liver and kidneys. Fasting could interfere with vital bodily function

But why does he want to? The challenge? Non weight related benefits?

Lol

Is it a spiritual thing?

I dunno. Sometimes he doesn't have breakfast when we've had an argument, but we absolutely haven't had one this time. He's a totally normal, nice guy.

Is he suggesting it because he thinks you should lose weight?

He is about to do a 44 day fast and is slim. That maybe suggests an eating problem, no?

Being slim doesn’t suggest an eating problem no, but that wasn’t the only available information here.

Link Can intermittent fasting improve your health? Losing weight and being physically active help lower your risk of obesity-related diseases, such as diabetes, sleep apnea and some types of cancer. For these diseases, intermittent fasting seems to be about as beneficial as any other type of diet that reduces overall calories.

Some research suggests that intermittent fasting may be more beneficial than other diets for reducing inflammation and improving conditions associated with inflammation, such as:

Alzheimer's disease
Arthritis
Asthma
Multiple sclerosis
Stroke
Fasting

If more people fasted in the UK maybe this country would not be the fatest country in the world? Over 60% of population is obese and yet people are questioning if someone slim has MH problems LOL had this hapening to me my entire time in England, I dont get it. People are slim NATURALLY. Some just eat themselves to death and become fat filled shapeless creatures. Let the poor lad fast!

This!

44 days is ridiculous and didn’t David Blaine have medical checks etc? I’ve heard that fasting is really good for you but not done like this. Maybe he should look into that