17 Day Water Fast Glow Up

[Grace]

At the end of July I have a friends wedding and a vacation and I’m wanting to lose weight and clear up my skin. I have enough time to do a 21 day fast and a 7 day re-feed.
Starting weight: 170
Goal: 150

Today is day 1
I usually don’t have troubles with day one. I have more trouble getting through the end of day 2 and 3. My goal is to check in every day to help keep myself accountable. If anyone wants to be accountable buddies please join in (even if you don’t want to do the full 21 days). Please say advice that helped you get through!

[Miramar]

Hi!

Just something to consider - I too was going to do a 21 day fast and 7 day refeed.

That refeed is typically supposed to be half the time of the fast so you may want to cut the fast short.

I cut mine down to 17.5 day fast with a 9 day refeed so I could be able to eat and drink for July 4th weekend.

Not saying it can’t be done in 7, but I personally didn’t want to chance it and feel ill after eating and drinking those fasting illegal things too soon.

If you won’t be drinking and avoiding carbs then you may be just fine.

This coming from someone who has a couple of cocktails every evening - I’m still not having them during my refeed (so looking forward to Friday night )

Take some time to find some refeed sites/videos so you can see what to expect and plan a menu.

I’m sure your friends will be elated for you to be at their celebration what ever size you are.

I lost 28.5 btw in that 17.5 days, but I started a bit higher than you.

[Compdude]

It’s definitely doable. You’ll lose just 8 to 10 pounds in water weight alone the 1st 3 days. So that leaves anywhere from 10 to 12 pounds in 17 days.

I recommend a daily 1 mile walk. That’s all I did on my 40-day and I lost 41 pounds. It will help your cardiovascular system and aid in ketosis as fat burning requires oxygen.

[Grace]

Oh that’s really good to know, I will cut my fast shorter then. How much water weight did you gain back after you started re-feeding? Any advice on how to re-feed so I don’t gain it all back?

[Grace]

Oh I’ll make sure to get the in daily. With your long fast how much water weight do you usually put back on after your fast?

[Grace]

I just don’t want to do all of this work and then let it go to waste.

[Compdude]

I’m not focusing on the short-term weight scale but on the longer-term resetting my body’s set point.

However, you should expect to regain ALL your water weight back as you need to have your glycogen stores replenished. Those stores keep us from starving between dinner and breakfast. Also glycogen stored in the muscles is where the body goes for fuel when its exercising. Those muscle stores will fuel up to 30 minutes of moderate exercise.

[Miramar]

@Grace Only 3.5 and I’m on day 6. My size is staying consistent which is more important then the weight itself. Planning to resume some ADF next Monday.

[Grace]

Oh good to know thank you! I’m planning on adjusting to ADF after my re-feed. Thank you for the all the advice!

[Miramar]

If you can muster up the 1 mile a day walks do go for it as @Compdude suggested. I’m in Florida and it’s just way to hot to be walking anywhere right now.

[Grace]

Day 16 days left
Today went well, I’m getting some tummy growls but I’m choosing to just go to bed instead of eat. I feel that tomorrow is going to go well, I have an indoor soccer game that I’ll just take lightly. I don’t know when I want to weigh myself because and how often I want to weigh myself.

[Grace]

Learning as I go, I think I jumped in not planning around my schedule and also it gets you mentally when you look at your calendar and know that your not going to be eating most of that month. Right now my goal is 3 days because those are the days I struggle most with and then just take it day by day after that. I’ll have a re-feed already planned so I can break my fast properly. I decided that I will be weighing myself daily to keep myself accountable.

[Compdude]

Everyone struggles the 1st 3 days as the body slows the metabolism down to conserve energy. Hunger, feeling cold and irritable are the typical symptoms. Its just the body trying to get back to its regular level of calories. Those go away when the body goes into ketosis and reassured it has a source of energy the symptoms go away.

Also Dr Saatchin Panda of the Salk Institute says that the sounds coming from your tummy are not from hunger but from healing.

It’s the reason I recommend people try to do a minimum of 4 to 5 days. 3 days you only experience of paying the price without the rewards.

[Grace]

Feeling not the best I have had a headache and I’ve been slightly grumpy lol. I feel that I’m just going to want to sleep after work tomorrow.

[Grace]

I weighted in at 167.8 today. 2nd day is always hardest for me. I’m going to go for 7 days and see how I feel but my ultimate goal is to go for 14 days. My goal is to go until the morning of July 18 and then re feed for 7 days. I’m having a hard time with social events because people keep asking me to eat and then look at me side ways when I don’t or they take offense to it. I don’t know how to stay involved but not feel stress from others.

[Grace]

My Why’s
To feel better in my skin.
I want to feel good in Cali and at my friends wedding.
I’m sick of eating to just eat

Goals for fast
Get down to 150-155
Clear my face up
Gain a better relationship with my body and food
Get more mental clarity
To keep my promise to myself

[Yasemin]

You got this!!! Believe in yourself and just get it done!! stay busy, drink water and keep going ! Gets easier!!

[Miramar]

@Grace

I’m having a hard time with social events because people keep asking me to eat and then look at me side ways when I don’t or they take offense to it.

Tricky. Here’s a question; What is the worst that would happen if someone did take offense to your decision to not eat something? Why should they be offended? Will they never associate with you again?

[Grace]

Very proud of myself, I’m on my 4th day. I’m still very hungry. I noticed the light headedness when I stand up yesterday. I have a feeling today is going to be a push. I’m just trying to push through today and then I can sleep most of tomorrow.

[Grace]

You’re right, society has just made such a stigma around turning away food. I need to understand it doesn’t matter because all that matters is how I feel.