Norma June - Why not try fasting?

[Lois]

If you really want to drop a size in two weeks - you can. I used to take people into my home and they would pay me $25.00 a day to supervise their fast. They were referred to me by naturopaths, holistic practitioners and even one psychiatrist sent me a cheating over eater..(her fee went up to $75.00 a day). I obviously didn't do it for the money..I was really into fasting at the time. I have fasted for 30 days and would have done it longer but well meaning (uninformed) friends made me start eating again. I remember one interesting young lady came to me (word got around about my service)and asked me if I could get her down a dress size in two weeks because she was a bridesmaid and the dress was bought 4 mos. before could not be exchanged and there were no more like it left, so she couldn't exchange it and there were no seams big enough to let out so - she really had to drop a size in two weeks and with my help she did, and then some. I still went to work everyday and so did my guests and the rule was "nothing goes into your mouth unless it came from me". I would pack their flavoured water in thermoses and make their potassium broth or veggie juice for dinner. Sometimes I would fast with them, sometimes not. Daily enemas or colonics were required and psyllium twice a day. I called this my "city cleanse". If you are serious about this Norma June, I will guide you through the next two weeks to your goal. I guarantee you - this WILL break your stall!! RSVP if you are interested...Lois

[Norma June]

Lois, that sounds do-able (how the heck do you spell that word?) BUT because I'm type 2 diabetic, I must be careful how often and what I eat.

It's my understanding that a diabetic should eat many, small meals a day so their pancreas are working steady rather than stop and start.

So, what do you think? Would a fast work for me?

ciao, Norma June

[Lois]

Norma June,

When I did my 30 day fast I had a type two daibetic fasting right along with me. We did it together at my place and supported one another. Every morning we had our "clinic time" where we weighed in, checked our urine for keytones and her blood for glucose, and I took our blood presure, pulse and charted everything. Sort of like playing hospital. She came to me right from her general practitioner; Dr. Ron Cridland M.D (who was my doctor at the time too). He's now living and practicing in California... surprise-surprise. I'm not sure if she actually went to see Dr. Cridland while she was staying with me or if she just called him with her vitals. I didn't need to see him for anything during this 30 days, as fasting is a most natural thing to do, and Dr. Cridland didn't feel he needed to see me either. He used to take his patients in his own home and put them on fasts continuously. . He was a wonderful holistic MD.. Toronto's loss...California's gain. Anyways, this lady was older (in her late 50's or early 60's) Type 2 diabettic, and did this fast with me for 30 days in 1989. And she is still very much "here" - saw her at a funeral two month's ago and she looked terrific. She is a frequent faster - really beleives in it and has been doing it most of her life..almost a religion with her. It's a wonderful way to detox too while you are losing weight. I was 184 lbs. when I started, and 151 lbs. 30 days later. The first thing I ate was a piece of celery, then a piece of watermellon...I'll never forget it. I looked and felt terrific, actually I was euphoric. Now, if I only knew about LC'arbing then I would have gone strait into induction and continued to lose and then kept it off forever with Atkin's maintenance program. Anyways Norma June, because of your medical condition I cannot put you on a fast without a refferal from your doctor. There are a lot of books written on this subject and I'm sure lots of web sites too. Maybe you know a naturopath where you live who could supervise you. Each different doctor that sent me their patients had their own way of conducting their fasts. They were all individually personalized for each patient depending on their medical condition. Because I was in excellent health at the time I chose the best of each fast and created one that worked for me. The young bridesmaid that came to me was the only one who wasn't referred by a doctor, but she was only 23 yrs. old and healthy. Actually on the night before the wedding when she put the dress on for the first time (she was afraid to try it on sooner). she told me that there was room to spare- the dress was actually turning around on her. The day she came to me, the zipper was open 2 inches! That was real fun with her. Good luck Lois

[doreen T]

Hi NormaJune,

I have some experience with fasts. Lois is right that you definitely need to be supervised closely, especially with a pre-existing health condition like diabetes. As your body releases toxins, there can be points where you feel rather blah - I know I do. Hard to distinguish are you sick because of toxins or because of hypoglycemia?? I wouldn't risk it without DAY TO DAY professional supervision.

Another problem is, some of the weight lost will be lean muscle tissue as well as fat and extracellular ("surrounding the cells") fluids and wastes. The day to day body processes, hormones - like thyroid, adrenaline, etc - enzymes, brain "chemicals" like serotonin and dopamine - all require protein. If you aren't consuming protein, your body will break down muscle tissue to get what it needs. That's why low-calorie diets are bad, they're too deficient in dietary protein and much of the weight that's lost is muscle.

You didn't mention if you are on oral hypoglycemic medication. If you are, that instantly rules out strict fasting as an option. Supplying your body with a steady intake of good quality protein is the best way to keep your blood sugar stable, as you stated, smaller more frequent meals are better than two or three huge repasts!!

Hmmmm.....a protein fast?? Sounds like Stillman to me. Have you tried it yet, I mean REALLY tried it, stuck to it religiously, no cheating?? I think it would really work for you, as long as you followed it to the letter. I could only manage 4 days before I just knew I would KILL for a stalk of broccoli. Tee hee, didn't want chocolate or dessert, but veggies. Somebody else at Lowcarb Canada mentioned they had done Stillman for 2 whole weeks. WOW, I bow down before you, I don't know if I could do it, but maybe. . . . .

Norma June, I'm gonna make an offer to be your Stillman buddy for as long as you like, if you like. Would you like to give it a whirl??, we could support each other, give tips and ideas for making the plan more do-able (I have a few tricks and tweaks up my sleeve) I really need to kick-start my body too, I've been yo-yoing up and down for a while.

So, whaddya say, my dear?? We've got nothing to lose but excess poundage.:D

Doreen

[Lois]

Norma June,
Unless your husband would be willing to fast along with you there is NO WAY you can fast with anybody elso eating in the same house as you..which is why people came to stay with me. That is why I usually fasted with them. I had to put all my food in my locker out of sight. I don't think fasting is for you and because of what I know now about the differences in the kind of weight loss (muscle/organs or body fat) I know High protein is the way to go. However, fasts do work and the weight is fast and guaranteed..it would do the job absolutely but not the healthiest choice for you, me or anybody. I have to laugh when I read of people or prisinors fasting for a cause and politicions and prison officials get so worried and fear for the person's life when all they are doing is detoxing and losing weight - they are not dying.

Doreen,
That's a great idea to offer to be a buddy to Norma June. It's so much easier to do something that requires serious committment with a buddy system such as fasting or Stillmans or even Atkin's induction for some. I for one will be very interested in following your progress. Maybe I should do it with y'all?? I can do anything for two weeks (I think). Not exactly sure what is involved with the Stillman's diet. What is involved? Lois

[Norma June]

Doreen,

I would love to do the buddy system with you, what a nice lady you are to offer; but unfortunately my DH and I are on the road a lot in our business, making it so very difficult to do this.

We are going to be on the road even more in the next few months, often for days at a time. As well we will be away for the entire month of February.

This sounds like it would work very well. Oh by the way, by doing LC I've been able to go off my diabetes medication.

Soooo, what exactly IS Stillman's?

ciao, Norma June

[doreen T]

Hi NormaJune,

Dr. Stillman's Quick Weight Loss Diet is basically a protein fast. You eat nothing but lean meats, chicken, fish, water-pack tuna, eggs cooked without fat, lowfat cottage cheese rinsed of all the cream sauce and that's about it. Seafood is allowed. No fats, no cheese or cream or sour cream, no mayonnaise or oils, no veggies, not even lettuce, no carbs of any kind. No diet pop or diet jello because of the artificial sweetener. No bacon or ham or salty deli meats by the way. Coffee and tea is allowed (no cream though), club soda or Perrier, and water, water, water. . . . you can use fresh lemon juice, seasonings and a little mustard, ketchup (yechh) or horseradish for dipping. I make a creamy dip by blenderizing a blob of the rinsed cottage cheese and 2 hard-boiled eggs with some lemon juice and herbs to taste. You eat as much as you want to satisfy hunger, but don't overstuff yourself. That creamy egg dip is also good with horseradish and dijon added for dipping shrimp and crab legs!!

It's not awful or horrible, it just gets boring, and I found I was really craving veggies. I may go ahead anyway, I promise I'll keep you posted if and when I start, and how I'm progressing. I may need your encouragement to stick with it:)

Someone on the eGroup list mentioned she had just finished 2 whole weeks of Stillman's. I'm impressed, 'cuz it's tough.

If you're curious to learn more about the Stillman diet, go to The Ultimate LowCarb Resources Pages, a CANADIAN site, BTW, scroll down the page to "Stalled Out". The Doctor's Quick Weight Loss Diet is Stillman's.

Here's the link: http://www.geocities.com/alabastercat/lowcarb.html

Doreen

P.S. - NormaJune, if it comes down to the wire, and the dress is still too snug, what you do is go to a fine lingerie boutique and buy yourself a nice all-in-one. Something black, with a touch o' lace?? Sexy stuff:eek: maybe your sweetie had better have oysters for dinner! hahaha

[Norma June]

Doreen, thanks for the link, I'll go check it out. I think I will read what it entails and then chew on it. :)

Thanks, I'll let y'all know if I decide.

[Saccharine]

do any of you know the best way to end a fast? i would think bingeing of course would be a bad idea,
but is it best to reintroduce protiens, fats, veggies- which first? does it even matter after a fast as short as one or two days? just wondering, thanks. :)

[bigguyjonc]

Doesn't this sort of fast screw up your matabolism? Isn't another word for this anarexia? Maybe i am confused. I did do the fat fast which you can look up in the back of DANDR. that broke my 3 wk stall and i only did it for 2 days.


Jon

[Saccharine]

i think a short fast would only be considered anorexia if it was done for the sole purpose of losing weight, was not done with supervision, and was done frequently. :)

[statjunk]

Fasting will slow down your metabolism and decrease the amount of lean muscle in your body. Both of which are bad for folks looking to reach goal.

[hippygal]

Anorexia is when you are always fasting or eating very very limited calories. I am talking like 300. If you do a fast it does not make you anorexic. Please! Some religions require fasting. They are not anorexic.

[sourdaisy]

Anorexia is a psychological disorder. It is a state of mind and is not defined by the symptom of not eating.

Many recovering anorexics still consider themselves anorexic and often do so for the duration of their life, even when they are eating normal amounts.

The starvation is only a symptom and it's definitely possible for a non-anorexic to fast because the reasons for doing so are different than those that characterize anorexia.