Experiencing a 3 Day Water Fast

Well, that was interesting. I just completed a 3-day water fast. I consumed only water from 8:30PM on Wednesday night to around 8:30PM on Saturday night. I have done this once before about five years ago but after researching more of the health benefits I decided to do it again.

The first morning (Thursday) I weighed 168 lbs. I had sporadic hunger pains throughout the day but nothing really major. It was a normal day at work and I had more time to get things done. That evening I had a lot of water for dinner with my family while they ate Fleur's amazing cooking. It wasn't too hard but I was hungry.

The second morning (Friday) I weighed 163 lbs. I hardly experienced any hunger at all and felt pretty good. It was another workday and I got a lot done at work. I did experience great mental clarity. I came home to another delicious dinner I couldn't eat and was a bit more hungry. I went to bed pretty early with minor hunger pains but managed to get to sleep.

The third morning (Saturday) I weighed 160 lbs woke up feeling terrible. I was dizzy and fatigued. Then I drank a liter of water and immediately felt fine. I think it was dehydration since I did not drink as much as I should have the day before. Saturday morning I walked a 5k with my family and felt great. Saturday late afternoon I started to feel really hungry and began counting down the hours until 8:30PM when I could break the fast.

Around 8:45PM (Saturday) I prepared two eggs and a glass of almond milk to break the fast - softer foods to go easy on the stomach; and foods high in protein and very low in carbs to remain in ketosis (state of body using ketones--fat stores--for energy).

This morning (Sunday) I weighed 158 lbs. I felt fantastic and did an early-morning 10-mile ride on my bike (indoors on the trainer) to see how I would feel. Thankfully, it felt fine. I had not done any normal exercise during the fast so I was interested to see how it would go. I then ate 3 eggs with cheese and spinach for breakfast and drank nearly a liter of water.

Reflections: The articles I read about the phases of a 72 hour water fast were fairly spot-on with my experience. Waves of hunger sprinkled with times of mental clarity and times of fatigue.

I was reminded afresh that 1) the mind can say no to the body in regard to being in control of what I put in my body (in spite of how my body feels); 2) that real benefits come after many unpleasant physical experiences; 3) we seem to schedule our lives around eating times which has pros and cons, 4) there is a lot more time to get things done when you're not eating meals, and 5) that fasting for 3 days is still nothing compared to Jesus fasting for 40 days. I am marveling afresh at His strength in the wilderness to fast for that long!
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I hope to do it again and may make it a once or twice a year habit. Until then, pass the grilled chicken, sweet potatoes, and Brussels sprouts...which is what Fleur made for lunch today, and it was amazing!