As Jim Austin approached his fiftieth birthday, he wanted to prove to himself that he could do something difficult - and that's exactly what he did.
The American wanted 2023 to be a year of transformation, and even before his 21-day water-only fast, he'd quit caffeine and stopped drinking alcohol.
Fasting can 'help reduce obesity, hypertension, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis' and 'has the potential to delay aging and help prevent and treat diseases', according to a 2014 study.
It begins the process of autophagy (self-eating), which is a cellular recycling system your body uses to stay healthy when not eating in controlled periods. However, excessive autophagy may cause muscle loss, immune suppression, nutrient deficiencies, organ stress and even autophagic cell death.
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Jim (@challenge.theory) though, thought to ease himself into the challenge by eating only homemade vegetable broth and salads.
The first week of water fasting
The first week was the most difficult, as the content creator struggled with headaches, hunger and the mental battle of giving up food-related routines.
A digital detox seemed to help him stay focused, allowing time for meditation, reading, and daily three-kilometer walks.
"The most challenging part during the first week was the mental battle. So many things reminded me of food, and it was disappointing to realize that I wouldn't be able to eat at the end of it," Jim wrote for Newsweek.
"I used to work out with my friend once a week, and after our workout, we would always treat ourselves to steaks. There were moments when I would think, 'Oh, we're going to get steaks', and then it would hit me that I wasn't eating for three weeks."
Weeks two and three of fasting
In the second week, Jim experienced new symptoms: a sour taste, a white coating on his tongue, acid reflux, dry mouth, and vivid food dreams.
But by day 15, he 'had successfully broken the habit of eating and had established a new routine that didn't involve food'.
"I had become accustomed to getting up and going through my daily routine without eating. That's when I found my groove," Jim added.
Last week of fasting
Jim started his 21-day water fast at 272.4 lbs on 18 March 2022. And by the end of the fast (day 22), he weighed 241 lbs and had lost a total of 31.4 lbs.
"The third week turned out to be the easiest. Although I did have a few moody days and occasional bouts of irritability, as well as moments of dizziness when I stood up too fast or worked with my hands raised above my head in the garage, it would pass within 20 seconds or so. During this time, I spent my moments reading and focusing on other activities," he added.
Topics: Health, Social Media
Anish Vij