A man has shared an insane before and after following an ‘unpleasant’ seven day water fast.
This comes as the method becomes one of the biggest health trends to lose weight quickly.
The YouTuber documented himself intaking nothing but water for a full seven days and the results were shocking.
The act of fasting does have science behind it, with varying success being recorded over the centuries and, as long as it is done safely, it can be an effective way to lose weight.
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YouTuber Quinton Heck decided to challenge himself to complete a week-long fast, which entailed only drinking water and black coffee and eating table salt over the course of the experiment, while eventually supplementing with zero calorie vitamin packets.
This is how the challenge played out.
Days one to two
Within just 24 hours of fasting, he had already lost 1.6 lbs. Scientifically speaking, after eight hours of fasting your body will begin using up glycogen to create energy. Once 12 hours have elapsed the body enters mini-ketosis mode and after 16 hours, autophagy - a process where the body breaks down and recycles unnecessary cells - begins.
Once you reach the 24 hour mark, the body targets fat as a source of fuel, which is when many people start to feel good, once the body gets over the initial disappointment of not eating that day.
Days three to five
By day three, he admitted: “I'm starting to feel a little empty. Head's starting to feel a little groggy, but hopefully soon I'll be in full keto mode, running in God mode.”
This is down to ketosis which usually takes between two to four days of restricted carbohydrate intake to enter.
By day four, Quinton said: “I actually feel pretty good. I started using the restroom three to four times a day, which is hard to believe because there's nothing in your stomach to get rid of.
“I just told myself it was my body getting rid of toxins and let's just say it wasn't pleasant.”
He added: “The hardest part of this is going to be when your friends go on with their normal lives, and they eat and they drink like they normally would, and you can't.”
Days six to eight
Things were looking up come day six, when Quinton said: “I just absolutely feel amazing. I have completely stopped thinking about food.
“I get a craving here and there but at this point I've mastered not succumbing to the [cravings].”
The YouTuber was clearly pretty happy with his results.
He said: “I started at 194.8 pounds and finished at 181 pounds for a whopping 13 total pounds lost.”
Heck also shared a warning about the dangers of 're-feed syndrome', which can occur when you start eating normally again after a significant period of fasting.
He added: “If you do a fast longer than 48 to 60 hours you need to make sure that you ease back into eating food, this is potentially the most dangerous part of not eating food and the part where you can actually die if you don't.
“You're going to suffer from re-feed syndrome. Please take it slow with some bone broth then maybe a soup then a smoothie then some raw fruits and veggies and then start introducing some meat.
“You'll notice that your taste buds have changed once you start eating these foods and how much appreciation you have for good food.”
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone, contact National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD). You can reach them on their free hotline at 1(888)-375-7767, which is open Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm CST.