Not so long ago I completed a 2-day fast. Meaning I went 48 hours without food and didn’t consume a single calorie.
Going that long without a bite to eat seems grueling but it’s actually glorious. And I have to say, the benefits of fasting far outweighed the drawbacks.
For starters, I lost some weight and felt great overall. My mind was clear and I was very productive. I even got a heavy lifting session in after 40 hours without food without a problem.
Fasting is a powerful tool to get fit. I’ve experimented with fasting for several years, but this was my longest fast to date.
Although fasting is in vogue in the fitness world right now, I think it’s still widely misunderstood and under-utilized.
We all know fasting is the best way to get rid of belly fat, but there’s so much more to be gained from fasting other than that.
If people only knew the true benefits of fasting then everyone would do it.
Fasting makes you healthier, sharper, leaner, stronger and live longer.
In this post I explain why fasting is incredible for overall health, fitness and wellbeing.
I’ll also share my 2-Day fasting experience and give you a play-by-play of what it’s like to not eat for two days. I took notes during my fast to accurately capture my thoughts and feelings, and detail everything below.
Now let’s get to the fun stuff.
Enjoy.
What is Fasting?
Fasting means you don’t eat anything for a set period of time. A fast usually means going a minimum of 16 hours without food.
There are several types of fasting. Intermittent fasting is the most popular.
Intermittent fasting is a blanket term for occasionally not eating for a predetermined length of time.
Common intermittent fasting methods are:
- 16/8 Intermittent Fasting– were you fast for 16 hours straight and eat within an 8-hour feeding window.
- One Day a Week Fast – Just do one 24-hour fast each week.
- Alternate Day Fasting – Exactly what it sounds like. Eat regularly for a day, then fast the entire next day.
However some fasts can last weeks or even more than a month. It just depends on what you want to accomplish.
Note: There’s also something called ‘5:2 intermittent fasting’. 5:2 says you can eat 200- 500 calories on ‘fasting’ days. That is not fasting. That is called calorie restriction and the results are not the same as real fasting.
The whole point of fasting is to give your digestion track a much needed break. This allows your body the opportunity to do what it does best: heal itself.
All you’ve got to do is get out of the way.
The Benefits of a 2-Day Fast
Yeah, I get it, being hungry sucks. Hunger is an uncomfortable feeling.
So, why would anyone subject themselves to self-induced suffering?
Because it’s worth it. Here’s why:
Better Intuition
Your gut is your second brain. Give your gut a breather and it will speak to you.
You’ll experience a heightened sense of intuition. Your gut feelings will be stronger and the message more clear.
Your mind will flow with good ideas and you’ll get accurate hunches.
It’s a lot of fun, and needs to be tried to fully understand how amazing it is.
Fasting Burns Fat
*Spoiler Alert* Fasting accelerates fat loss.
Once you stop consuming calories your body burns its reserves for fuel.
First goes the glycogen, then the body fat.
Most people can expect to burn a pound of fat during a two day fast. However, they will likely lose a couple pounds more in water weight. I dropped 4 pounds during my 2-day fast.
Survival of the Fittest (Cells)
Your body is made of 100 Trillion cells. Fasting creates an environment where only the strong cells survive.
Fasting culls weak cells in a process called autophagy, where the strong cells eat the weaker cells.
The weak cells may be damaged and risk mutating if they multiply. Cells can go rouge and divide uncontrollably, developing tumors.
Fasting makes these suspect cells get gobbled up by healthy cells.
When resources run low, the weaker cells take one for the team and are scarified for the greater good.
Their matter is absorbed by the fittest cells to make them even stronger.
The stronger cells then reproduce, making you a healthier human built out of elite super-cells. Overall cell quality and health improves as a result.
A Stronger Immune System
Fasting boosts your immune system by freeing up resources to fight infection.
Once you stop bludgeoning your body with shitty food, the magic happens.
You can finally clear out al the crap that accumulated in your body over the years. This makes your whole machine run better.
Reduces Inflammation
Inflammation is your bodies response to an intruder.
Modern food is a Trojan Horse for industrial chemicals, plastics and much worse.
Eating contaminated food sounds the alarm and your body stresses out. All hands on deck are called to fight unnatural substance, leading to pain, swelling, fatigue and anxiety.
Cutting out the pollution is like a sigh of relief for your immune system.
Lowers Anxiety
The body and mind are connected. If your body thinks it’s under attack, you’re going to feel it.
Eating toxins triggers your body’s ‘fight or flight’ response. It has to fight because there’s no where to run – it has been infiltrated by the imposter foods (poison).
On the flip side, I’m calm, cool and collected when fasting.
Better Focus, Mental Clarity and Concentration
I’m sharp as a tack when fasting. Fasting brings me otherworldly focus and mental clarity.
Digestion takes up a ton of energy. In fact, over half of your ‘life force’ is spend digesting food.
Freeing up your body’s resources means energy is spent elsewhere. Your senses improve and you’ll notice things you missed before.
A full belly makes a dull brain.
– Ben Franklin
Benny boy said it best. After I have a big meal I can barely hold a conversation. The words just don’t sink in. I feel like I lose 20 IQ points after a big meal.
And forget about getting any work done. Trying to write an email after filling up on a big lunch is an ordeal when all you want to do is nap.
More Assertive
What do they call the guy that goes after what he wants?
They call him hungry, and that’s no coincidence.
Hungry people keep their eyes on the prize. You’ll tolerate less bullshit and nonsense. You’ll also get more done and you’ll get it done faster.
Don’t believe me? Try to take a bone from a hungry dog. Ain’t happenin’.
More Productive
I do my best work on an empty stomach. I cruise through my To-Do list when I’m fasting.
Eating kills motivation because food satiates you. When you’re full you lose your edge.
People work to put food on the table. After a big meal would you rather:
A) Put your feet up and relax. Or;
B) Go out and fight the world for more.
Fasting is the Secret to Health and Longevity
To lengthen thy life, lessen they meals.
Ben Franklin
People that fast live longer. They also live better.
Numerous studies have concluded fasting is good for you. But I don’t need a scientist to tell me that.
I know instinctually that thinking clearly and being lean is better than having chronic brain fog and a spare tire.
Most recently I completed a 2-day fast. That’s a full 48 hours without eating. And I lived to tell you all about it.
This is how it went…
What Happens when You Fast for 2 Days?
I’ve always been a big fan of fasting. My typical fast involves me eating nothing for a pre-determined period of time. I only allow myself water and black coffee.
Here’s what happens when you don’t eat for two days.
I documented my activity, thoughts, feelings and sensations of the course of my 2-day fast. One of the main reasons people don’t fast is because it scares them.
Your body might do things that it doesn’t normally do. This freaks people out and they end the fast.
Hopefully this brings comfort to some that want to try fasting but don’t know what to expect.
I took notes during the fast to accurately capture my thoughts and feelings in the moment:
My 2-Day Fast Experience
Fast began Midnight Saturday and ended Monday at 9:30 PM. These notes are taken from my journal.
18 hours into the fast
Went grocery shopping. Noticed a lot of people looking at me. More than usual.
Did I notice it because I was more aware?
Maybe I gave off stronger and more positive vibes due to my internal hardware working more efficiently.
Anyway, carry on.
20 Hours into the fast
My body was much more relaxed. I noticed my traps and shoulders felt loose.
My traps and shoulders usually carry a lot of tension. I could stretch and pop my neck much easier.
Could be do to lower inflammation and less anxiety since my body isn’t under assault by denatured food that’s oh so common in the world today.
20.5 hours into the fast
Noticed bad breath. My throat got a little phlegmy off and on. This is a common occurrence during a fast as your body is purging all the bad stuff.
21.5 hours into the fast
I think I feel a natural high. I feel good! A little hungry, but feel great.
22.5 hours into the fast
Feeling cooler, like my body temperature dropped. But it could be because the sun went down and the air kicked on.
Muscle soreness in legs. Legs feel heavy. Stretched a little bit and quads got painful. Toes feel very cold! I have trouble with blood circulation and my hands and feet are typically cold.
23.5 hours into the fast
Up late but feel good – focused and energized. Layered up in bed feeling a little weird and read about fasting. Feel a little hungry.
36 hours into the fast
Woooo! I feel great. Calm and even energy. Just drinking water and black coffee.
42 Hours into the fast
Feel pretty good. Energy is OK. Hard to find accurate words when speaking. Mood is elevated though. I feel good. No hunger pangs. Abs are popping. Obliques look serrated.
43 hours into the fast
When training while fasted I noticed my strength was on par.
My stamina was normal. The only thing I noticed was a slight surreal feeling. Like my body felt lighter, or floaty, and the environment seemed sharper like there was a visual enhancement filter.
46 Hours into the fast
Go on a date. Feel great. Lots of energy. Quick wit. Having fun, keeping it loose and light.
47 Hours into the fast
I broke my fast with a giant dinner.
Crushed a huge charcuterie board loaded with meats, cheese, olives, nuts, crackers and jams.
Ate two sirloin steaks with creamy peppercorn sauce and finished half of her filet mignon. Chocolate moose for dessert. Paced myself through dinner with a bottle of Spanish red wine. Afterwards felt ripped and looked great. Muscles were FULL. Felt like I could take the stage. Muscles looked puuuuumped!
After the fast
Was up for a while longer, slept great. Went back to my apartment the next morning feeling good.
Why Fast?
Why would I deprive myself of delicious food I love for so long? The benefits far outweigh the cost.
Fasting is a great tool to get back on track if you slip up your diet.
I’ll fast when I can’t make it to the gym regularly.
I’ve done 16/8 intermittent fasting for long stretches in the past. I’ve also dabbled in 1-Day fasts.
I’ve done intermittent fasting before. Mostly 16/8 fasting with the occasional 24-hour fast thrown in for fun.
So much energy is spend on digestion. Fasting gives your system a much needed break. Resource can be spent elsewhere and channeled into productive pursuits.
The 2 Day Fast: In Conclusion
Fasting kicks ass. I can’t say enough good things about it.
It’s a great way to get and stay lean. Fasting helps you look harder and defined naturally.
Fasting allows your body to process the garbage you’ve been stuffing down your gullet since birth. That’s why I do it. I’m no poster child for clean eating. That’s for damn sure.
I’ve been known to obliterate food. People are shocked at the amount of food I eat.
I mean, I love food. I’ve pounded a half dozen donuts in a day. I’ve eaten an entire cherry cheesecake in one sitting. I love sweets and I love the eat.
But as I get older and wiser (arguably) I’m beginning to realize that a rich diet causes poor health.
Think about it this way: If you’re 40 years old and eat three meals a day, that’s 43,800 meals over the course of your lifetime. Think about all the stuff that’s accumulated in your body right now after all those meals.
Things like heavy metals, pesticides, plastics, artificial ingredients… the list goes on.
Life expectancy in America dropped again for the third year in a row. Many folks would do well to fast once in a while.
Fasting is the fastest way to burn fat. Hands down, without a doubt, no question, no argument, conclusively, overwhelmingly, undeniably the best.
Fasting also shows self control. It flexes your willpower muscle and helps you power through tough stuff.
All it takes is an awarenesses to the fact fasting is awesome. I hope this article proved that.
Anyone can do a fast. Just ease into it. Gradually fast for longer and longer durations.
Note: this article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be taken as medical advise. I’m not a doctor and don’t pretend to be one. Check with your doctor before fasting or starting diet.
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