A weight loss 5 day fast is a very common type of fad or extreme diet, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s right for you. Among all the benefits recorded from the most popular long fasting strategies, weight loss is definitely at the top of the list. After all, you’re not eating anything. Your body needs to get its energy somewhere!
However, it’s important to know that a weight loss 5 day fast may not be benefiting you in the way you think. Along with that benefit comes a long list of disadvantages to fasting for a long time like that. Aside from the physical and mental side effects – some of which can be dangerous – even the weight loss benefits are often not what you’re expecting. After all, not everything lost is fat and once it’s done, you may need to prepare yourself for rapid fat gain once your fasting is done.
What Happens in a Weight Loss 5 Day Fast?
During the first few days of a weight loss 5 day fast, the average person loses around 1 to 2 pounds per day. That said, before you get excited and swear off meals for the next business week, it’s very important to get to know why this is happening. It’s not as good as you may think.
During the first few days of a weight loss 5 day fast, your body will shed quite a bit of water and will use more protein from your body. This protein isn’t found in your fat cells. It’s found in your muscles. When your body fasts, it reaches for energy that is easy to use right away, which means breaking down your muscles – all forms of them all over your body. This can include the muscles in your arms, legs and even backside, but also others such as your heart.
After a few days of this, your body will switch gears, starting ketosis, which does indeed burn fat reserves for energy. Fat contains more energy per pound, so during this phase, the falling number on the scale will start to slow down to about half of what it had been earlier on.
What Happens When You’re Done Fasting?
Once your weight loss 5 day fast is done and you return to normal eating – or even more traditional dieting – habits, your body will lose its ketosis state and you may find that any lost weight will climb back on quite quickly. This will occur as you rehydrate and regain some of the lost water, but it can also rebuild stored fat for several metabolic reasons. Lost muscle may take longer to rebuild, depending on your diet and physical fitness habits.
Concerns
Fasting can come with certain short- or long-term health benefits. However, it can also be dangerous for many people. It is a practice that can lead to problems for people with many health conditions, some of them quite minor. It’s extremely important to consult with a doctor before fasting for any length of time.
