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How To Lose Weight Fasting

By: Lisa Gelbman

Break Studios Contributing Writer

How to lose weight fasting is almost a misleading title, as by fasting you will lose weight. However, fasting is tricky business and there are many steps you should follow both before, during, and after to make the process easier. Knowing what to expect is key, and listening to your body is essential. Clearly if you are reading this, you are fasting to lose weight. Just be warned that once you start your normal diet, you will gain all of the weight back, and probably more. Consult your doctor before fasting, and proceed with caution.

  1. Prepare for your fast. If you are looking to lose weight by fasting, chances are you have not fasted before. To help ease cravings, try cutting out your favorite foods from your diet for a few days before your fast. That way, by the time you cut out everything, your cravings may be less intense. 
  2. Start out slow. Before deciding to fast for a significant period of time, test yourself first to see how your body reacts. Start out with a twelve or twenty four hour fast before you sign on to a multiple day fast. You will still lose weight by cutting out food for a day!
  3. Once you begin your fast, consume only water. This is called, not surprisingly, a water fast. Unlike other types of fasts, you may not consume tea or coffee. With this type of fast, your body will truly be detoxified. 
  4. Keep a busy schedule. This doesn't mean hit the gym, but just try and keep yourself occupied so as to not think about the hunger pangs. Going to the gym or working out of any kind will hurt your fast, as your body will be forced to burn calories that it can't spare. All this means is to try and keep your day full of activities that don't require physical expenditure, and you may not even notice your hunger.

How long you chose to fast is a completely personal choice, but one that should be made with your doctor. How to lose weight fasting is easy as it will happen automatically and almost instantly. You will notice weight loss after day one, and it will keep dropping from there. Just remember to be safe, listen to your body's warning signs, and enjoy!

Posted on: Sep. 12, 2010