Fasting Has Been Part of My Life for More Than 50 Years
I have been fasting since my twenties. I am now 74. Since turning 70, I have done a 10- to 14-day water fast in the spring and another in the fall. I intend to continue for as long as it still feels right for me.
My father first introduced me to fasting by giving me a book on fasting by Paul Bragg. That book stayed with me, but the real education came from doing it myself. I learned by fasting, paying attention to my body and seeing how I responded over the years.
I do not fast because it is fashionable. I was doing this long before fasting became another health trend. I continue because of what my own experience has taught me.
What I Mean by Water Fasting
When I talk about water fasting, I mean going without food for an extended period while continuing to drink water. I am not talking about skipping breakfast or eating within a smaller window each day. A longer water fast is a very different experience and should be treated with respect.
People have fasted for thousands of years for spiritual, personal and health reasons. Today, researchers continue to study how fasting may affect metabolism, blood sugar, inflammation and the way the body uses stored energy. There is some interesting research into fasting and health, but not every kind of fasting is the same, and no study can tell you exactly how your own body will respond.
What I Experience During a Longer Fast
The first few days are usually the most demanding. Hunger comes and goes, and you quickly discover how often you eat because of habit rather than genuine hunger. Food is everywhere, and much of daily life seems to revolve around it.
Once I settle into a fast, I often feel lighter, clearer and more focused. I am not saying everyone will have the same experience. I am simply telling you what has happened to me after decades of doing this.
A longer fast also requires discipline. There is no hiding from yourself when you have decided not to eat for several days. You have to be clear about why you are doing it, remain aware of how you feel and be willing to stop if something does not feel right.
For Me, Fasting Is About More Than Weight Loss
Weight loss may happen during a fast, but that has never been the whole point for me. Fasting gives me a chance to step away from constant eating and reconsider my relationship with food. It reminds me that hunger is not always an emergency and that the body does not need to be fed every time the mind asks for something.
It also fits with the way I approach health generally. I believe in movement, sensible nutrition, prevention and accepting responsibility for the choices I make. That is the same thinking behind resetting your physiology through food and exercise and understanding why prevention is the best health insurance.
Longer Fasts Deserve Respect
I have decades of experience with fasting, and I did not begin by jumping into a 10- or 14-day fast. Longer water fasts are not something I would suggest anyone undertake casually. They can carry real risks, particularly for people with medical conditions or anyone taking medications.
- Do not jump into a long fast. I built up my own experience gradually over many years.
- Pay attention. There is a difference between discipline and ignoring a genuine warning from your body.
- Do not assume fasting suits everyone. Health conditions, medications, pregnancy, being underweight or a history of eating disorders can make fasting inappropriate or dangerous.
- End the fast carefully. After a long fast, I reintroduce food gradually rather than overwhelming my system with a large meal.
What you eat when the fast is over matters too. Fasting is not a substitute for good food or a sensible lifestyle. Understanding how nutrition affects the way you feel remains important whether you fast or not.
What Decades of Water Fasting Have Taught Me
Fasting has taught me patience, discipline and the importance of listening to my own body. It has also shown me how powerful our habits can become. Sometimes stepping away from something is the best way to understand the hold it has on you.
I am not telling anyone to copy my fasting schedule. I am telling you what I have done, why I continue to do it and what I have learned from the experience. After more than 50 years, water fasting remains one of the best things I have ever done for myself.
The older I get, the more convinced I become that we must take an active role in our own health. That does not mean pretending we know everything. It means paying attention, learning from experience and making thoughtful decisions instead of handing all responsibility to someone else.
