Water Fasting for Weight Loss – Does it Help?
Fasting is very beneficial for your body. People fast for religious reasons as well as for losing weight. If you are looking for a diet plan that can help you lose weight very fast, then you can choose water fasting. You can lose up to 6 kg in just 10 days. This is a short term weight loss programme. It can be harmful for your body if you continue it for more than 10 days.
Water was one of the primary energy providers and health tonics for human beings centuries back. Human beings can stay alive and fit for days by just consuming water.
What is water fasting?
Water fasting involves drinking if 1 to 2 litres of water for five days. This will help in rejuvenating your body and remove all toxins from your body. Most important benefit of water fasting is that your brain will be more alert and you will be able to focus yourself completely on what you do. You may feel tired and want to sleep more. But overall the results will be good, if you do it in the proper way. The ability to cope up with stress differs from one person to the other. So, it is up to you to choose how to follow the water fasting.
A pre-fast and post-fast is essential. You have to slowly reduce the intake of food before the water fast and after the fast is complete, you have to reintroduce the food slowly. Sudden water fast as well as breaking the fast suddenly can harm your body and even kill you.
Does water fasting help you lose weight?
During the first two days of the water fasting, you will lose only the water weight. The fats will start to burn from the third day. When you stop eating, your digestive system stops working. Your body will slow down, except your heart and the brain. The fat stored in the body begins to break down and provide the energy for involuntary and voluntary functions of the body. Water helps in removing toxins and any waste present in the colon. This way you will be able to lose a good chunk of your weight. This diet along with some exercise will help you lose the weight.
10 days water fast plan for weight loss:
The 10 days are divided into 3 phases to make sure that you get most out of this fast. The first phase is the pre-fasting phase of 2 days. Here you consume less of solid foods. The second phase of water fasting phase is most tough. But by the time you complete this phase you will feel rejuvenated and like a new person. Drink neither less nor too much of water. Drinking less water can make your body dehydrated and drinking more water can flush out more salt from your body. This can be fatal. Drink 1 to 2 litres of water during the water fasting phase. The last phase is that of breaking the fast. This is also an important phase. Here you have to reintroduce solid foods gradually. You can also have liquid foods like soup and juices. This is a 3 day phase. Eating fruits and veggies in the first and third phase of water fasting helps in providing your body with minerals, vitamins and dietary fibre. This helps you to survive the water fasting phase. It also helps in recuperating from the fast.
Diet for all 3 phases:
Pre-fasting phase:
Day 1:
Day 1 allows you to have enough of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are full of nutrients that help in keeping you full and preventing hunger pangs. It also helps in making your skin glow. Probiotics help in digestion.
Useful tip:
Try not to buy any meat, so that you can avoid it. Have lots of fruits and vegetables instead. Take probiotic drink 20 to 30 minutes after your breakfast.
Day 2
On day 2 you can eat fruits and vegetables, but in lesser amounts, so that the calories you consume is less. This will prepare you for the coming 5 days of water fasting.
Water fasting phase:
Day 3 – day 7:
This is the toughest phase. You have to drink 1 to 2 litres of water per day. It is better to consult your doctor and take his advice before you do it. You may feel weak o tired. So take enough rest and sleep well.
You can go for medium paced walks, yoga or push-ups according to your current body activity. If you are leading an active life, you can do mild workouts till the third day of the water phase. If you do not lead an active life, you can go for short, lazy walks.
More than 3 days of water fasting may require medical supervision.
Post-fasting phase:
Day 8:
Why this works?
On the first day of breaking your fast you should be very careful about the calories you take in. Have more of liquid foods. High calorie foods on this day can lead to a spike in blood glucose levels. This can prove fatal.
Useful tip
Try to resist temptation to have too much food. You can have musk melon or beetroot juice for breakfast. For lunch you may have an apple. Have a glass of milk before bed.
Day 9:
The diet of day 9 includes high calorie foods. But add them gradually in to your diet. Have only as much as you can digest, without falling sick.
Useful tip:
You can have a glass of orange juice if you do not want to have banana. You may have vegetable salad. For dinner blend all the veggies and make soup.
Day 10:
On the last day you can include more solid foods along with liquid food. Do not use corn flour to prepare soup. If you do not get the multigrain biscuit you can just drink green tea. You may also have cucumber and carrots as snack.