A fast diet usually involves either not eating any food at all, or fasting on a specific type of food for a period of time. Some people use fasting diets to detoxify their bodies, and there are religions that recommend a fast diet occasionally for the purification of the body. But the main reason people choose to fast seems to be for the quick weight loss. Fasting is usually done for only a couple of days or possibly up to a week, because this type of diet can be dangerous if it is maintained for more than a few consecutive days.
Most doctors do not recommend fasting to lose weight. The diet will help you shed pounds quickly, but they will most likely be gained right back as soon as the fast is stopped. When a person starts to fast, their body goes into an emergency, or starvation, mode. It believes it is being starved to death, and will actually try to hold on to the fat it has stored up. A fast diet also causes the metabolism to slow down in an effort to conserve energy, and a slower metabolism will result in fewer calories being burned. The best way to keep the metabolism up is by eating several small meals a day.
Some fasting diets call for the participant to drink only fruit juices or other liquids, for anywhere from just a couple of days, up to as much as two weeks. These liquids provide the body with enough nutrients to keep it functioning properly, and typically it does result in a rapid weight loss. Choosing to fast on alternate days may also provide significant weight loss, but without the risk of starving the body.
Other fasting diets may consist of only a specific fruit or a special stew. These types of diets are designed to keep the body and metabolism at the maximum speed. The fruit diet could be dangerous for diabetics because of the natural sugars. Stews provide plenty of nutrients, but may not have the same results as a total fasting diet.
When a person is fasting, they may have a smaller appetite, but when the fast is over, the appetite will usually return to normal fairly quickly. In some cases, a person may overeat after fasting for a long period of time, resulting in gaining back the lost weight, or even more. Any kind of extreme diet should be discussed with a doctor. Fasting diets may be great for losing weight for a special occasion, but most fast diets do not result in a long term weight loss.
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