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’m not sure I follow your logic whatsoever…

Can you suggest he speaks to his go first.

Also, if you say he chooses not to eat after an argument, could this this be some sort of eating disorder or self harm?

Why haven't you talked to him about it, he's the only one who knows what his motives are.

If OP is fat, maybe the husband is suggesting in a kind way she should lose the weight and do some fasting

@IceCreamTime19 That link is about intermittent fasting which is very different to fasting over an extended period. What ops bloke is suggesting is dangerous.

He needs to discuss his plans with a medical professional.

Why would you assume they don't?

Disordered eating isn't only an issue for fat people, that others love to condemn. It is also found amongst the slim. Slim people can be unhealthy too, but it's more acceptable for them.

No idea what we are talking about with op's husband. I thought the general point should be made. I will say that fasting for days at a time is indicative of a unhealthy attitude towards food and suggests some sort of issue.

I think on those occasions it was wanting to walk away from me to cool down and the argument had given him a headache. This is not the case here.

Just check he's not talking about intermittent fasting, which is a different thing completely.

Wtaf

In terms of motivation, I don't know as he's on a night shift and I am away with the children working myself. I suspect he is interested in health benefits because the YouTube video implied this.
However I remember David blaine doing it and he was good for nothing for much of the time and eventually people gave up being interested.

I do have weight to lose postpartum but I don't think he would want this for me. He has witnessed my dizzy spells when I'm over hungry. His weight loss advice to me is to eat our normal foods but a smaller portion and or to take up couch to 5k again which I did before the children. He doesn't nag.

He wont last, don't worry.

Extended fasts (24-36hrs+) can be good for you. There's evidence your body goes into autophagy which is the body's self repair mode.

Despite my best efforts, I've rarely got beyond an 18hr fast. I feel spaced out, can't concentrate, nausea etc. It's tough.

He is already very slim and has said he wants to stop eating food for an unspecified period. It's a valid question.

Any advice I've seen on fasting has recommended building up to it and limiting it to 2 days. Not sure why anyone would want to push it to 44 unless it's some sort of personal challenge. I've seen it come up as a regular topic on low carb and keto forums and podcasts, all recommend limiting it. Some go as far as to say to only fast 3-4 times a year.

@Zombiemum1946 that's really helpful. If I could come up with some evidence that 2 days is OK, and what it does to you, that would help. I could deal with 2 days!

So much misinformation in one place.

The “side effects” as listed in another post are from electrolyte imbalance. As long as he’s getting electrolytes supplemented he can fast indefinitely.

Given his low body fat % I would guess that he won’t last more than 3 days though. David Blaine gained a lot of weight before that stunt.

Anyway the dangerous part of fasting for extended periods like that is refeeding syndrome which can be fatal. Your body doesn’t have enough phosphorus to properly metabolise the food you eat.

I guess let him crack on and make sure he’s got a good electrolyte supplement.

OP, have a Google for Jason Fung. He's a popular name in the world of fasting and will lay out the pros and cons.

I cannot imagine the self control doing this would take
But then i have binge eating disorder and struggle going breakfast to lunch etc without the overwhelming urge to snack, i cant even stick to the 16:8 intermittent daily fasting.

If he has a physical job and you say you presume he wouldn't fast while doing it, is he planning on just not working for a month? Surely that aloneis enough reason to talk him out of it, health stuff aside?

Good point about refeeding, thank you!

He doesn't do it much in heat like this and is self employed. We live carefully!

Thank you, I will.

But this is intermittent fasting. Completely different from a 44 day straight fast, which is what the OPs husband is wanting to do.

Look up when Mr Beast tried to not eat for 30 days. He didn’t manage it.

It's not misinformation, do you realise how hard it would be for someone to keep their electrolytes perfectly balanced for 44 days, while also working a very manual job?

Fasting can be very beneficial and has proven health benefits. There’s loads of information online on the side effects of a longer term fast and how to go about it safely. But not 44 days ffs!

If he’s doing it for his health why would he choose to copy a TV magician doing a medically supervised extreme challenge? It’s such a bizarre approach - so macho and attention seeking. Why do you think he’s fixated on the 44 day thing, OP? What does he think is going to happen other than making himself properly ill and giving you a load of stress?