Water Only Fasting

[PomPupLove]

Hello Friends: Has anyone found benefit in water-only fasting? This may seem like an absurd question for those of you struggling to keep weight on. I have not reached that stage yet and my doctor's diagnosis of GERD/esophageal inflammation still ignores my chronic steatorrhea and recurrent upper right quadrant pain. Increasingly, I am afraid to eat anything. Thus, wondering if just going for an extended fast might offer some healing. Thank you.

[Sshe]

It's not a ridiculous question at all. I definitely struggle to keep weight on, but liquid only fasts are common for me personally. I find fasting helps when I'm struggling with pain, nausea and bloating. Nowadays (7 years after my first diagnosis), I rarely go water only because it drains me of too much energy since I'm already underweight and malnourished. So I use bone broths (not regular broth, definitely bone broth), ginger & turmeric teas, and sometimes Muscle Milk Pro. I always use hydration support like DripDrop. I'll go without solid food for at least 24 hours, sometimes up to 72 hours. Then I re-intro solid foods slowly and keep to easily digestible things like rice, bread (gf for me), more bone broth, then eggs and fish when I can tolerate them. Re-introducing fruits, vegetables, and beans/legumes comes next, then meat and nuts or seeds last.

[PomPupLove in reply to Sshe]

Thank you so much, Sshe. I find my hunger is managed by veggie broth with quinoa and veggies when I'm unsure what to eat safely. I can fix this fast so I don't grab for junk foods or sweets. I plan to experiment with smoothies using more greens too and ease into liquid-only days. Blessings to you.

[Sshe in reply to PomPupLove]

To you as well! I wish you well as you test new things and learn what works best for you