Nutrition Breaking a 5 day water fast?

[rryn122]

Just wondering if anyone could help me ? I’m wanting to break my 5 day water fast and not gain the weight back that I lost

Years ago I did a couple of prolonged fast, and when I finished I always gained back the weight and more. Everything I ate stayed on. I think I messed my metabolism up. This was 30 years ago.
I want to try it again, but I want to do it right, and keep the weight off
Im wondering if I do one meal a day (OMAD), or keep my carbs under 30-40 would keep it off?

Im sure you guys are a lot more experienced than me.

Thank you in advance

 

[Steve Freides]

@rryn122, welcome to the StrongFirst forum.

Im sure you guys are a lot more experienced than me.

At 5-day fasts, perhaps not.

-S-

 

[LukeV]

Just start back eating with calories well below maintenance level and increase day by day while monitoring your weight. I did it by just re-starting eating strictly vegetarian with minimal fat (eg salad no dressing) then added back eggs, lean meat, dairy and oil over a week or so

 

[Molson]

A friend of mine was doing IF 16/8, two meals a day. He was not really dropping weight, but blamed it on to fat food he at at lunches.

He went to a diet specialist, was prescribed 5 small meals a day. He is losing weight now better than ever. But the diet had been really tailored. He eats a lot of fish now, was beef heavy previously.

 

[KimoSabe]

Prolonged fasting is not a good way to lose weight. The initial "weight loss" you see is almost entirely water weight, not fat; and to make matters worse, your metabolism will slow down, leading to weight gain when you resume normal eating - which you've experienced.

From the above article:

"Instead of a fast, opt for a healthy eating plan that you can stick with long-term (! - emphasis mine). Healthy diets provide a minimum of 1,200 calories and include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, lean protein, and healthy fats, along with regular physical activity. "

That's a good starting point.

 

[Don Fairbanks]

I've done a 5 day water fast, but not for the purpose of losing weight. I broke the fast with homemade soup. Many do well with a low carb lifestyle. Many feel better with more carbs, folks with no metabolic issues and active lifestyles that earn their carbs. I believe intermittent eating is more healthful than frequent eating. Maybe try a CGM ( constant glucose monitor ) If nothing changes nothing changes.

 

[Dasho]

You can absolutely lose weight by fasting, but you'll have to a) Do it for a lot longer than 5 days and b) Manage your hydration, vitamins/minerals and electrolytes very carefully. Also you will obviously have to eat less afterwards because you will weigh less. If you eat as much as you did before fasting, you'll surely approach the same weight you had before fasting.

That being said, there is no secret to losing weight and keeping it off. You have to eat less. How you get there is up to you.