Today, my small group at church is fasting. This fasting was brought on by a book we are reading about prayer and the hope to pull us closer to Him. This fasting got me thinking about when others use fasting. Many people use fasting as a way to lose weight. We think that if we don’t eat, or take in very small amounts for a few days, we will magically lose weight and feel better. The bad news is that fasting for weight loss typically doesn’t work. You may lose weight quickly, but it is usually water weight that will come back on once you start eating again. Fasting can also slow your metabolism, thus making it even harder to lose weight. Not having a proper diet prior to a period of fasting can actually hurt your body’s immune system. All in all, this is why our crash diets and periods of fasting simply for weight loss do more harm than good.
Now, intermittent fasting for a day or part of a day is not a problem with a mentality other than one of weight loss. Remember that overall, weight loss comes from pursuing a healthy diet with a combination of good fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains. Along with a healthy diet is the need to stay hydrated throughout the day mainly through water. It takes time to gain weight and it will take time to lose it. Losing the weight the healthy way will help ensure that you maintain that weight loss.
Is Fasting Healthy-WebMD; photo from ucg.org
Now, intermittent fasting for a day or part of a day is not a problem with a mentality other than one of weight loss. Remember that overall, weight loss comes from pursuing a healthy diet with a combination of good fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains. Along with a healthy diet is the need to stay hydrated throughout the day mainly through water. It takes time to gain weight and it will take time to lose it. Losing the weight the healthy way will help ensure that you maintain that weight loss.
Is Fasting Healthy-WebMD; photo from ucg.org