A few months ago I decided to try fasting one day a week. Over the last 30 yrs, I'd gained on average about 2 lbs per year. I was looking to reverse that trend and figured fasting one day a week would cut my caloric intake by about 14% which I guessed in the long term would create that reversal.
I had fasted for a colonoscopy last year and it didn't seem like a big deal. I had also fasted once a week for 'religious' reasons as a youth but it was externally imposed and not that pleasant.
So far, it's been quite interesting. I fast on Wednesdays. I haven't noticed any significant change in energy levels. I do drink. I began with a V-8 at lunch and another at dinner. Some canned soups have roughly the same calories as V-8 so I've tried those also.
It makes eating the other 6 days of the week more pleasant. No great religious enlightenment so far, although I can certainly understand why many traditions use it to focus the mind.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Isn't there still a tremendous amount of sodium in V8 and canned soups?

Religious experience while fasting? Take halucinogens when you fast. Or eat locusts and honey. Different strokes for different folks.

They make low sodium versions of both

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

By laziness sometimes, but not by choice.

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1984 300TD

Probably. I was focused on calories, not on sodium. I've had no reason to reduce sodium.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

What do you expect too gain by fasting??...........

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Matt (SD,CA)

1984 300SD.. White/Chrome Bunts..Green

1997 2500 Dodge Ram 5.9 Cummins 12 Valve 36 PSI of Boost = 400+hp & 800+tQ .. ..Greenspeed

2004 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 Quad Cab Cummins 5.9 H.O "596hp/1225tq" 6 spd. Man. Leather Heated seats/Loaded..Flame Red....GREENSPEED

Global warming...Doing my part, Smokin da hippies..

Fight the good fight!......

A 14% reduction in caloric intake and a slow reversal of 30yrs of gradual weight gain.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

14%.....that's a weird number...based on what?

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Matt (SD,CA)

1984 300SD.. White/Chrome Bunts..Green

1997 2500 Dodge Ram 5.9 Cummins 12 Valve 36 PSI of Boost = 400+hp & 800+tQ .. ..Greenspeed

2004 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 Quad Cab Cummins 5.9 H.O "596hp/1225tq" 6 spd. Man. Leather Heated seats/Loaded..Flame Red....GREENSPEED

Global warming...Doing my part, Smokin da hippies..

Fight the good fight!......

He's fasting one day out of every seven.

One divided by seven is about 14%.

I think I'm also picking up another percentage or two by the fact that since I'm used to being hungry on one day, I accept hunger more readily on the other six so I postpone satisfying that hunger and snack less.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

When I was in college, there was a day scheduled when students had the opportunity to participate in an Oxfam fast. In return for giving up cafeteria privileges for the day, a contribution would be made to Oxfam, and the student would get a little Oxfam button to wear. It wasn't an ongoing program; just one day.

I wasn't positively impressed by some who signed up, wore their buttons, then "fasted" by going out to eat for dinner - spending more on pizza, etc. than was being donated on their behalf anyway.

For my own curiosity, I fasted for a week. That was the last time I can recall skipping more than one meal.

That plan wouldn't work for me, I'd just eat double the next day

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

What was that like? I'm thinking it must be FAR more difficult than fasting for a day. I've been surprised that upon waking up the day after my fast, I am no more hungry than any other day. I've taken this to indicate that hunger as I experience it is (for the most part) a psychological response rooted in habit and not in any actual physiological need of food. But a whole week would introduce completely different dynamics I suspect.
I knew a guy in bible college who went on a long fast for religious reasons. He reached a point where he could not eat and sought counsel as to how to deal with his unwillingness to eat. His counselor more or less forced him to sit down and eat to overcome this obstacle.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I thought that would happen to me also. It was my colonoscopy fast that made me realize I did not react that way. The day subsequent to my fast is just like any other day.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13