Fasting weight loss has been shrouded with controversies after it became a fad among by ultra-skinny Hollywood celebrities. As a result, many people immediately concluded that fasting to lose weight is a practice used only by people with eating disorders. If you want to weed out the myths from the truths about fasting, simply read on.
For centuries now, fasting has been used to help clear the mind in order for a person to see things in different perspectives. In fact, many religions (Christianity and Buddhism to name two) recommend fasting to their followers to help cleanse the body and mind of wastes and negative energy.
So, it is wrong for people to think that a fasting weight loss regimen is something that was started by size 0 Hollywood starlets. Weight loss may not really be the reason why religious people fast, but it sure gives a welcome result.
Many believe that when you fast, you will lose muscle mass instead of burn fat. The truth is that starving yourself for weeks and months on end will surely make you lose important muscle mass. However, fasting for a couple of days, such as 2 to 3 days, is helpful in making you trim down fat.
Fasting weight loss making a person dizzy is another myth. Based on the experience of individuals who did short fasts, it seems skipping meals for a day or two can actually make a person feel more productive and happy afterwards.
Another popular misconception about fasting is the belief that it would dramatically alter your metabolism. According to experts, however, fasting for one to two days will not really have any effect on your metabolism.
So, what do you need to do in order to make fasting work for you? First, you have to start gradually. You can probably fast once a week for starters. Once you have seen that fasting for a day really contributed to weight loss, you will be hooked and will want to fast for one day every week thereafter.
It is also important that you watch what you eat after your fasting. Do not indulge in so many foods because it would defeat the purpose of the regimen. Instead, eat a light snack to break your short fasting.
In order for fasting weight loss methods to work, you need to be disciplined and serious enough about shedding pounds. Also, you ought to make sure that you increase your intake of fruits, nuts, and vegetables on days that you are not fasting.