Dr. Norris Chumley Satisfied Life

Fasting Every Other Day

Wednesday March 11, 2009

Categories: Diet, Health, Weight Loss, Wellness
I've been fasting, and thinking about fasting for many years.  I have been writing about it, and there are lots of great comments, take a look here. Seems a lot of us are very interested in fasting.

For almost a decade I fasted one day a month, as part of a spiritual meditation practice in the 70's.  While the fast day was a bit difficult, I felt great the next day and subsequent weeks.  It helped me keep my appetite in check, and my weight loss maintained.

Today I read in the March 2009 edition of the Nutrition Action Health Letter, an excellent and easy-to-read source of healthy news published by the Center for Science in the Public Interest
that fasting and overall calorie restriction can lead to longer lives, sometimes 25-30% longer in animals.  This is not tested in humans, though, yet movements of people who are restricting their calories indicate growing interest.

In the article, Mark Mattson, the lead researcher in a study conducted by the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on calorie deprivation in mice said, "we think the fasting imposes a mild stress that triggers adaptive responses in the cells...this ultimately enhances their ability to cope with more severe stress."  Interesting, does fasting help us cope with stress better?  By putting stress on ourselves by eating less (up to 25% fewer calories) do we learn to better cope with other stress?

The article also mentions a study of every-other day fasting leading to weight loss and lower fasting insulin levels (a marker associated with longevity) in the Pennington study.  The people involved said that fasting every other day "was no picnic," however!  So that's probably not an option for most people.  Seems extreme to me, and not something I'd do.

Eric Ravussin, chief of the Pennington program, says, "The solution may be an intermittent, modified fast in which people eat about 25 percent of their calories instead of zero percent on their fasting days."  That might be a more tolerable, and effective approach.

My personal experience is whenever I don't give in to foods, particularly high-calorie or high-fat ones like ice-cream or desserts, I instantly feel better.  The act of renouncing excess, unnecessary food does indeed help me handle stress, and feel better about myself, in addition to maintaining my weight.

I recommend taking a look at the Nutrition Action Health Letter article, and the Pennington Study, and also doing some more detective work yourself on the subject of fasting.  Of course, ask your doctor if fasting and calorie deprivation is right for you if you are interested in, or planning to fast before you do it.

I'd love to know your experiences with fasting and calorie deprivation.  Please post them below right now, while it's on your mind.

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Comments
LB
March 15, 2009 5:28 PM

I think fasting is good for you especially from a spiritual standpoint. But some individuals give fasting a bad name. When we see these fasting diets that celebrities such as Beyonce do we get negativity from other so called experts on eating. They tell you to never fast and that it is harmful. But fasting to me can be very beneficial if done right.

Maxine
March 17, 2009 9:14 AM

Fasting is something that I was introduced once I was introduced to Christ. It is not always something that I run to (the whole denial thing) but once I am fasting I feel lighter and all around healthier. Our church is currently in the midst of a Daniel's Fast until 100 souls are saved, which is great, but the byproduct of that is that we will emerge healthier in the process.

stephanie
April 20, 2009 12:05 AM

Hi, dr. norris, i love your column, i have never really fast, buti looking to see what goes with every other day.

Darrell
July 3, 2009 12:42 PM

I as of July 1st have been fasting one day on and one day off as an experiment to see if i get the same results as a nine day liquid fast i did a few months ago. The days i eat, any thing goes and when i fast i drink water, soy chocolate milk, and juice. Today is the third and my second fast day. We , including my wife, are trying this until July 31st, which will be a total of 16 days fasting. On the nine day fast my blood pressure became normal, i still took my medication, my mind was more clear and alert, memory improved ,rashes cleared up, among other things. It was great! This is was my personal experience and i am not recommending this for any one else. Thanks

Roro Browns
August 20, 2009 9:03 AM

Fasting helped me lose a lot of weight fast at 16 years old. The only thing that I did was starve for about two or three days and then refuel on basic protein-filled foods such as beans and corn.

After a couple of days you will lose the will to eat and go into "starve mode", but before that there is an incredibly uncomfortable hump where you may not have the will to say no to food. If you can make it past this, keep going for a few days, and refuel properly, you will be fine.

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About Dr. Norris Chumley Satisfied Life

Dr. Norris J. Chumley is a doctor of theology and the arts, and has lost 160 pounds and maintained it over 16 years with God's help. The author/host of "The Joy of Weight Loss: a Spiritual Guide to Easy Fitness," and many TV programs and DVD's, including "Spiritual Guide to Weight Loss" and "30 Days to Spiritual Well Being," Dr. Norris also does private consultations, leads workshops and lectures nationally. He has been a featured Beliefnet daily columnist and contributing editor for many years.


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"No single approach to weight loss works for everyone. We urge you to consult with your physician before making any significant changes in your eating habits or physical activities to ensure that what you propose for yourself is nutritionally, mentally and physically sound, safe, and healthy. Copyright © 2008, by Magnetic Arts, LLC, all rights reserved."

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