[w23j]

Can you point to any instructions on how to do water only fasts? It has been surprisingly difficult to google. Most articles talk about intermittent fasting or some variation of fasting, where people drink a lot of juice!

In particular I would like to know is it really necessary to use laxatives? Or other supplements? Or do you just stop eating and then start slowly again 5 days later.

I have just done a 3 day water fast to give it a try. With mixed results.

[sjcsjc]

Hmm. Not really. I say water, btw, but I also drink black tea and occasional diet cokes. The point is no calories, or virtually none.

I would suggest starting gradually. Initially I think I did 48hr fasts. After a couple of years I upped to three days. Following Longo's stuff last year I moved to five.

No supplements. Definitely no laxatives ;-)

I don't start eating again particularly slowly. But I don't binge either.

The most amazing thing to me is that I don't get hungry. I haven't eaten since Sunday night, and I feel fine.

[jalopy]

I just searched "longo fasting" and this was the first result for me: "Fasting Mimicking Diet". https://prolonfmd.com/fasting-mimicking-diet/

It's a sales pitch so obviously needs caution here, but I'm curious - what do you know about a "fasting mimicking diet"? Is it at all effective?

[sjcsjc]

Yeah that irritates me somewhat. His research is great but I have my suspicions about the diet he's flogging. In my view the best way to mimic fasting is by not eating anything.

[edit] btw I suggest using google scholar rather than google. intermittent fasting, periodic fasting, prolonged fasting, calorie restriction. Lots of interesting stuff in there.

[w23j]

Ok, got it! Thanks a lot, this is really helpful! :)

[harrisreynolds]

This piece by Upton Sinclair is interesting: http://apache2.pum.edu.pl/~fasting/upton.pdf

He (obviously) was an author, not a nutritionist or medial professional. But he was a "fasting practitioner" and has an interesting perspective on this topic.