Fasting to lose weight is unfortunately a popular weight loss method. The framework for this “diet” – if you really want to call it that – is to withhold food or drink of any kind, with the exception of water, for an extended period of time in hopes that your body will burn your stored fat.
I have never tried a fast diet, nor would I ever choose to do so. You miss out on so many nutrients and put your body under so much stress that to me, it definitely is not worth it. If you are wondering if fasting to lose weight is an option, my short answer is no. Here’s my long answer.
Why fasting to lose weight is a horrible idea
It’s easy to think – well if I don’t eat anything, I will surely have to lose weight. While this is true, let me explain why fasting to lose weight is an extremely unhealthy and horrible weight loss option.
When you withhold nutrients and fuel from the body it will use what you have stored in your body to survive. At first glance, you might think – this is excellent, it will just use my fat to fuel itself and I will continue to not eat. That however, isn’t the case. It’s the sugars – glucose – that fuels the brain and body. When you begin to fast, the body will switch to getting its fuel from the liver. If you continue to withhold nutrients, the body will turn to muscle fiber to get its fuel. Only after this will your body begin to convert fuel from fat tissue – long after you began your fast, and if left too long you could enter starvation.
So, to recap, fasting does not burn fat. Although it might make you lose weight – this is usually due to loss of muscle.
What are the side effects of fasting?
Fasting to lose weight, like any calorie-restricting diet can result in fatigue, crankiness and extreme irritability. You will eventually begin to have an extreme craving for food – which is your brain’s method of survival in telling you that you need to consume some more fuel.
If you ever reach this feeling during a fast, it is likely that it will result in binge eating and weight gain, defeating your entire plan of fasting to lose weight. Extreme fasting has been shown to be linked to long term eating disorders.
So why do people fast?
It’s evident that fasting to lose weight is not a healthy option. So then why do people fast? There are many religions that promote fasting during certain seasons. Fasting appears throughout the bible within Christianity, and happens within Islam during Ramadan. This is a discussion for another day and place, however.
No comments yet.