HEALTH TALK: Fasting and Weight Loss

I have received lots of requests in the past little while from folks asking about fasting and weight loss. The honest truth is, fasting will not make you lose weight, at least not the
amount of weight you would expect to lose after not eating for full days over an extended period of time.

Please note that what I am referring to in this post is absolute fast “no water or food” for a period of more than 8 hrs, If you are doing the Daniel fast, this post doesn’t really apply to you.

I know we all understand that the goal of fasting is for God not weightloss, but as flawed humans we often hope for “extra” benefits

Why exactly doesn’t fasting lead to weight loss?

Metabolism: On any given day when you eat, your body uses calories consumed as well as stored calories in anticipation for your next meal. When you fast, the body automatically goes into conservation mode because it’s not receiving constant new sources of energy.

Lethargy: Due to natural slowness that comes with fasting, the body automatically expend less energy thereby reducing basal metabolic rate (calorie burn at rest).

Due to above listed factors, not only do most people not lose weight on a fast, most tend to add a few extra pounds.

Helpful tips for healthy fasting

1. Break your fast with healthy and high satiety meals like those on the Lose It Nigerian plan . High satiety meals digest slowly thereby supplying the body with usable energy throughout the day.
2. Kick your metabolism into gear with daily early morning or late night workouts
3. Don’t eat all your calorie allowance when you break , eat one healthy meal
4. Keep moving throughout the day
5. Ease yourself back into regular meals at the end of your fast by trying a simple 3 day cleanse which will ensure your body does not automatically store post fast calories in anticipation for future energy needs.