Man completed seven day water fast and shared incredible before-and-after results
One of the biggest health trends we've seen in recent times is the idea of fasting to lose fat, and one YouTuber reckoned he had some incredible results after having nothing but water for seven days.
Fasting does have some scientific grounding, as we've seen humans do it to varying success for centuries, and as long as it's done safely, it can be an effective way of losing weight.
Considering the lengths people are willing to go in order to achieve that, as we've seen with the popularity of GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, the concept of not eating for a day or two doesn't seem as crazy as we might have once thought.
YouTuber Quinton Heck challenged himself to complete a seven-day fast - only allowing himself to drink water and black coffee and eat table salt over the course of the challenge, eventually supplementing this with some zero calorie vitamin packets.
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Here's how he got on.
Days one to two
He lost 1.6 pounds after just 24 hours of fasting, which is pretty good going.
Now for some science - after eight hours of fasting your body will begin using up glycogen to create energy. Once 12 hours have elapsed the body enters mini-ketosis mode and after 16 hours, autophagy - a process where the body breaks down and recycles unnecessary cells - begins.
Once you reach the 24 hour mark, the body targets fat as a source of fuel, which is when many people start to feel good, once the body gets over the initial disappointment of not eating that day.
Days three to five
By day three, he admitted: "I'm starting to feel a little empty. Head's starting to feel a little groggy, but hopefully soon I'll be in full keto mode, running in God mode."
That's the ketosis we mentioned before, which usually takes between two to four days of restricted carbohydrate intake to enter.
Not only does ketosis help with weight loss, it also helps reduce the risk of heart disease and can help with conditions like epilepsy, Alzheimer's and type 2 diabetes, according to Cleveland Clinic.
By day four, Quinton said: "I actually feel pretty good. I started using the restroom three to four times a day, which is hard to believe because there's nothing in your stomach to get rid of.
"I just told myself it was my body getting rid of toxins and let's just say it wasn't pleasant."
He added: "The hardest part of this is going to be when your friends go on with their normal lives, and they eat and they drink like they normally would, and you can't."
Days six to eight
Things were looking up come day six, when Quinton said: "I just absolutely feel amazing. I have completely stopped thinking about food.
"I get a craving here and there but at this point I've mastered not succumbing to the [cravings]."
The YouTuber was clearly pretty happy with his results.
He said: "I started at 194.8 pounds and finished at 181 pounds for a whopping 13 total pounds lost."
Heck also shared a warning about the dangers of 're-feed syndrome', which can occur when you start eating normally again after a significant period of fasting.
He added: "If you do a fast longer than 48 to 60 hours you need to make sure that you ease back into eating food this is potentially the most dangerous part of not eating food and the part where you can actually die if you don't.
"You're going to suffer from re-feed syndrome. Please take it slow with some bone broth then maybe a soup then a smoothie then some raw fruits and veggies and then start introducing some meat.
"You'll notice that your taste buds have changed once you start eating these foods and how much appreciation you have for good food."
So, while it worked for Heck, he clearly knew how to manage the situation and had done it before. If you are thinking about fasting, it's worth speaking with a health professional and doing research to ensure that you can do it safely and don't push your body too far.
Personally, seven hours is too long without eating, let alone seven days but Heck is just one of many who have found success in this sort of fasting method.
If you've been affected by any of the issues in this article and would like to speak with someone in confidence, call the BEAT Eating Disorders helpline on 0808 801 0677. Helplines are open 3pm-8pm Monday to Friday. Alternatively, you can try the one-to-one webchat.
James Moorhouse