From Intermittent Fasting to Juice Feasting
In a post last week I mentioned some changes that I wanted to make to my 5:2 intermittent diet. Instead of eating only one meal of 600 calories on my two fasting days I intended to drink juice instead. These changes seemed necessary because I was beginning to struggle with the 5:2 diet after 7 weeks of it.
My first juice fasting day was Monday and things went so well that I just kept going until Friday. I’m pleased with the results of my first juice fast, and this is something that I plan to do again soon. I lost about 1.5 kg but I don’t see this as a viable way to control my weight. It did make a difference to my energy levels, and I just feel healthier afterwards. I have a history of being initially enthusiastic with new health regimes but then losing interest, but I am optimistic about juicing.
purchase clomid over counter Juice Fasting or Juice Feasting
I’ve fasted for 14 days in the last couple of months and juicing does feel more like feasting than fasting. I was drinking over 2 liters of vegetable juice per day plus half a liter of fruit juice so I never felt hungry – or at least I didn’t until Friday. I did some wild experiments with vegetable mixes and these concoctions weren’t always that tasty, but I had no problem drinking them. On the second morning I woke up with what felt like hangover symptoms, something I haven’t experienced in over six years, but this only lasted about 10 minutes. One of the other downsides of juicing was that I developed diarrhea, but apparently this settles down on a longer juice feast.
On Friday I started to feel a bit strange (tired and unable to concentrate) so I stopped the juice fast right there. I hadn’t planned to go that long any way so there was no sense of failure. I think it would have been a mistake to overdo it on the first fast, but I am curious to see what will happen if I go longer next time. My body just felt younger and more fell of energy after the fast so it definitely seemed a worthwhile thing to do.
I’m going to be better prepared for my next juice feast, and I might try for 10 days. This seems to be a good length of time to get most of the benefits of this type of detox. If I could manage this type of fast twice a year it would probably go a long way towards staying healthy – so long as I don’t eat junk all the time in between.
My Other Posts on 5:2 Intermittent Fasting
Ten weeks of 5:2 Intermittent Fasting
Second Week of 5:2 Fasting Diet
Week Three of the 5:2 Intermittent Fasting Diet
Changes to My 5:2 Intermittent Fasting Plan
Intermittent Fasting as a Spiritual Exercise
5:2 Fasting Diet Update Week 6
Hardest Day Yet with 5:2 Intermittent Fasting
Off the Rails with the 5:2 Fasting Diet
Just wondering: Will you be able to continue fasting this way when you’re back in Ireland for Christmas Paul? 😉
No, but I’ll have a good excuse. I won’t have my juicer with me 🙂
Paul! Have you ever considered adopting a whole foods, plant-based diet (vegan) instead of depriving your body of food? I’ve switched to a vegan diet and have lost weight, feel great and is most closely aligned with compassion.
Hi Amy, I’ve been planning to move to a vegan diet for years. I’ve spent long periods as a vegetarian, but my problem is that I tend to eat badly. I worry that if I turn vegan my lack of diet discipline will mean nutritional deficiencies.