Is Weight Loss Fasting a Good Idea?

Weight loss fasting is one of many methods of weight loss that are touted by weight loss companies. Those looking to lose weight are certainly at no loss for finding someone or some company promising them the “real secret” to easy, breezy, no effort and fast-acting weight loss.

While the vast majority of medical science has long held that the “real secret” of weight loss is simply eating a healthy diet and exercise, that hasn't stopped the claims of magic weight loss secrets from coming fast and furious. One of these programs is the idea of weight loss fasting.

What is Weight Loss Fasting?

Weight loss fasting is essentially just what it sounds like. Practicing fasting (going without food) in order to lose weight. The idea is that all of those spiritual leaders, monks, ascetics, etc., who have been fasting for millennia were not only taking their spiritual life to a new level but practicing a perfect way for you or anyone to lose weight.

True fasting means absolutely nothing is eaten or drunk. No food, no water, no nothing. However this practice has always seen some variations, and those variations remain today, especially with weight loss fasting. Here are a few of the basic methods of weight loss fasting.

Water Fasting You don't eat anything, and you don't drink anything but water.

Juice Fasting This is an increasingly popular form of weight loss fasting where you don't eat anything, but get some nutrients and energy from various fruit and vegetable juices.

Periodic Fasting Fasting doesn't have to be done straight. Take, for example, the Muslim fasting during the month of Ramadan. While they cannot eat anything during the daylight hours, this changes once the sun goes down.

Miscellaneous Fasting It is difficult to categorize all of the other forms of fasting out there. Many weight loss fasting programs will not call for a complete break from food but only certain types of food, such as not eating meat, not eating processed foods, etc.

The Promises of Weight Loss Fasting