Day 5 on Water Fasting for Weight Loss: What Happen To Your Body When You Fast?

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It's my day 5 on water fasting for weight loss today.

I woke up dizzy this morning. I feel shaky and like I'm going to pass out. I thought a glass of warm water could help. But when it didn't, I reach for a glass of hot chocolate drink. Opps! I just breach the rules of water fasting. I'm so grateful for my wonderful and supportive husband. He took me less seriously in the early days of fasting, but now he shows me some sympathy. When I complaint for being weak, he suggested me to eat a little. But he didn't mock like everybody else would response when they knew about it. I remember during high school, my mother would give me a long lecture when I skip a meal.

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Maybe many people thought that water fasting is a self-torture, like serve you right!, in a very unsporting manner when they saw a friend on water fasting looks weak physically.

Though I feel a bit weak, I am not going to give up yet. I am not even halfway towards reaching my water fasting goal.

I decided to try water fasting to cleanse out my body and change my relationship with food. I am an emotional eater. I eat when I get bored and I feed my happiness with food too.

Apart from weight loss purpose, I did water fasting to gain spiritual benefit and discipline. What I want to achieve spiritually? That one I will kept to myself.

 Fasting simply is a rest from food. So water happen to our body when we fast? Dr. Ben Kim explains:

During water fasting, your glycogen stores are depleted within about 24 hours, give or take a few hours. After your glycogen stores are used up, most of your cells begin burning fatty acids for energy - these fatty acids come from your fat reserves, including fatty tissue that surrounds your organs.Two groups of cells - your red blood cells and your brain cells - cannot use fatty acids to fuel their energy needs.
Your red blood cells and brain require glucose, and once glycogen/glucose from your muscles and liver are used up, your brain and your red blood cells get their glucose from two sources:

• From glycerol, which is a component of your fat tissues.

• From your muscles - some of your muscle tissues get broken down, and the amino acids from your muscle tissues are used to produce glucose for your brain and red blood cells. 

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Clearly, it's not in your best interest to rapidly eat up your muscles to meet the energy requirements of your brain and red blood cells during a water fasting. Your body knows this, and somewhere between the 2nd and 3rd day of water fasting, your liver begins churning out ketones, which during a water fasting, come primarily from the breakdown of fatty acids from your fat reserves.
Once your liver generates large numbers of ketones, your brain is able to use ketones to fuel itself. At this point, only your red blood cells require glucose that must still be derived from breakdown of your muscles, but with your brain no longer dependent on breakdown of your muscles for energy, the rate at which your muscles are catabolized will be such that your muscles are spared as much as possible - this state is called "protein sparing" - it's a survival mechanism that is built into human physiology to deal with times of famine.
Getting back to the big picture, it should be clear that from about the 2nd or 3rd day of a water fasting, your body meets it energy requirements by burning through your fat reserves. Since the bulk of the toxins in your body are stored in your fat reserves, the longer you fast on water only, the more fat you'll burn and the more toxins you'll eliminate from your system. This is why we see elimination of lipomas, atheromas (accumulated waste in your blood vessels), and other conditions related to toxin accumulation during a prolonged water fast.

These are some interesting books on fasting. Check it out!
1. Toxic Relief: Restore health and energy through fasting and detoxification by Donald Colbert, MD
2. Juicing, Fasting, and Detoxing for Life: by Cherie Calbom, MS
3. Fasting-The Ultimate Diet by Alan Cott, MD
4. Fasting and Eating for Health by Joel Fuhrman, MD
5. Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough: A Guide to Nine Biblical Fasts by Elmer L. Towns
6. How To Do A Water Fast: Coconut Water, Oil Pulling, Neti Pot and Moreby Peter Abundant
7. Fasting Made Easy: Easy-to-understand instruction manualby Donald Colbert, MD
8. The Everything Juicing Book by Carole Jacobs
9. The Green Smoothie Bible: 300 Delicious Recipesby Kristine Miles
10. A Commonsense Guide To Fastingby Kenneth E. Hagin

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Day 4 on Water Fasting for Weight Loss: I Feel Stronger!

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I am on water fasting for weight loss, and it is day 3.

Today I am feeling better than yesterday. But my mouth feel sore and and become dry. I've been also experiencing leg cramps. I haven't had a bowel movement since I start fasting, and that's because there is no solid food ingested during water fasting, so the bowel does not have any fiber to work against. 

A light exercise during water fasting helps me to ease muscle tension. I have fall in love with Pilates. I discover that Pilates is less intense than cardio and doing it decrease my lower back pain. 

Here are my 3 favorite Pilates DVD:
1. Pilates for Every Body by Denise Austin
2. Ultimate Pilates (Abs / Lower Body) by Kathy Smith 
3. Weight Loss Pilates by Kristin McGee

I actually have no idea what causes my lower back pain. Could it be trapped wind causes that pain? I might need body massage right now.

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Day 3 on Water Fasting for Weight Loss: 3 Ways to Avoid Spouse Sabotage of Weight Loss

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Today is the 3rd day of my water fasting for weight loss.

People always said that on the third day things will get much easier. Well, my 1st and 2nd day of water fasting went very well. But today I feel quite tired, shaking and feeling weak from hunger. I want to sleep all day long to forget my desire for foods, but I just can't because I have to look after the kids. I drink a lot of water. And the more I drink, the more I want. 

I don't need to tell about my frequent visit to the toilet. Water helps to flush out harmful toxins, and that's what I'm going through right now. That's sickening somehow, but it's all normal since I drink a lot of water. Not a big issues since I stay at home, but it might become a major problem if I go out for shopping or traveling. I also noticed that I have white coating tongue. From my reading, it's normal symptom from detoxifying. 

My husband brought back home my favorite Big Apple doughnut yesterday.

How frustrating was that!

I know he brought it home for the kids, but who can hold it back when it comes about doughnut?

Should I give in to this?

Should I?

It's still to early to cheat on my water fasting, at least for now. So I let my kids have it all! 

Has your spouse ever sabotaged your weight loss attempts? You can't insist your spouse to eat what you eat to avoid him or her from sabotage your weight loss effort. I saw this useful post in Correct Weight Loss how to defend yourself against spouse sabotage of weight loss. Here they are:

3 Ways to Avoid Spouse Sabotage of Weight Loss 

1. Talk to your spouse 

Make your spouse understand why it is important for you to lose weight. When you sit your spouse down and have a heart-to-heart talk, you would very often break through. 

2. Barricade unhealthy food 

Make a deal with your spouse to allocate a space for all this unhealthy food in the kitchen. Make a deal with your spouse that you will allow for the unhealthy food to be kept in the kitchen provided that it is out of sight. 

3. Set a goal that benefits both 

Set a goal that both of you would like to achieve. One example could be a vacation. Tell your spouse that you could go for a vacation together if you reach your target waistline. This may motivate your spouse to support you. 

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You can read the rest at Correct Weight Loss. What are doing to get your spouse to support your weight loss efforts? 

37 DAYS LEFT! 

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Day 2 on Water Fasting for Weight Loss: 9 Tips to Success Water Fasting

Today is my 2nd day on water fasting for weight loss. Yesterday was great. I squeeze a lemon into my drink, because the plain water taste is boring. I weigh in today to record my starting weight. 

It is 72.9 kg (158.6 lb). 

My goal is to be at least 50 kg (110.2 lbs) by the end of August 2012. To achieve this goal I must lose approximately 4.5 kg every month. I decided a 40-days water fast to kick start my weight loss plan. I tried 10 days juice diet December last year but only managed to complete 5 days. Liquid diet like water fasting and juice diet demands a strong mental preparation. That's what I went through during my 10-days juice diet attempt. 

Water fasting may sound difficult, especially if you are food addict. But I read that water fasting is a great tool to break bad cycle of eating. I found this guidelines to water fast in All About Fasting, that I think not only useful for me but to anyone who want to consider to give water fasting for weight loss a chance. 

9 Tips to Success Water Fasting for Weight Loss 

1. Commitment 
Water fasting for weight loss requires a great deal of commitment. The first day during fasting you usually feel the pangs of hunger. And it's usually the first few days that we "miss" eating even after those "hunger pangs" have ceased. Examine your feelings and responses around food and the lack of it, and use that information for greater personal awareness. 

2. Rest 
It is highly recommended that you not work during a water fasting. If you really must work during part of your fast, and this might depend on how long you're fasting, at least reserve the first 3-5 days to be away from those pressures and the pressures of being around the "eating public". If you work in a non-supportive environment, particularly one that is highly charged with strict deadlines or difficult co-workers, just don't even go there. You may feel more emotional than usual during a water fasting. 

3. What to do with your time 
Plan ahead by at least having several ideas in mind for things to do. Treat yourself with a self-spa--take long baths, catch up on uplifting reading, take time for long meditations and prayer or keep a fasting journal, recording your feelings, impressions and insights. 

4. Support 
If you don't surrounded by people who understand the desire to fast, at least tell one friend what your plans are; it's good for safety reasons to have someone objective watching your fast. Forums are a good place to find "fasting buddies" but remember water fasting offers the most as a personal experience, not a social experience. 

5. Additional preparation 

In the 2 or 3 days before, eliminate any and all processed foods, sugar, white flour, and wean yourself off any caffeine products. While you won't need the sight or smell of food to remind you of food, do your best to clean up your surroundings and remove food items from sight and smell.

<<CLICK HERE>> Water Fasting: A Comprehensive Guide & 40-Day Water Fast Personal Journal 

   

6. Weak moments 
You may find yourself having periods of temptation to quit, times you fall into self-doubt. They're just a natural outcome of changing your usual patterns. You can get through these moments by distracting yourself with other activities, like light exercise or taking a nap. If you should give in to any temptations, don't fret over it later, just move on. A piece of food during a water fast won't "ruin everything", and quitting early means you can fast another day as a wiser, more experienced faster. 

7. Colon health 
It's perfectly normal to not have a bowel movement for the duration of your fast. Eating high-fiber foods directly prior to your fast should help make the first bowel movement after your fast easier. 

8. Dizziness 
Fainting can happen and can, of course, cause injury. Dizziness is usually caused by the lower blood pressure fasting can bring about. Keep this in mind and don't stand up or get out of bed quickly while water fasting. Men are advised to sit down on the toilet should they ever need to urinate during the night. 

9. Make it special 
Get out your finest crystal water goblet, or buy a new beautiful one, to use during your water fast. 

This is fasting success story you might interested.

Day 1 


Day 40

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Weight Loss Pill: 9 Blacklisted Weight Loss Pill / Drink in Malaysia

The Three Graces by Ruben. Sources

In the past, curvy women are considered attractive. Even some of the most famous painting, use curvy women as their subject. Being fat at that time was a blessing. It meant you had high social standing - enough funds to eat a lot and extra cash for nice clothes and house. But today, lean and slimming body has become a trend. Though being warned ahead about the side effect of weight loss pill, many people particularly women, choose to take the risk because they are desperate to lose weight. I was one of them, once upon a time.

Several months after having my first baby, and when the baby weight is not gone I became so desperate to lose weight. I can't fit in my old clothes, and I cannot afford new clothes! So when my colleague excitedly shares how she lost 3kg less than one week on weight loss pill called Lami, I decided to give it a try. I am a weight loss pill junkie and have tried several weight loss aids before. What I hate about those product is the 'diarrhea' effect which I found very disturbing especially during busy days.

'But this weight loss pill does not cause diarrhea effect. It promote weight loss by suppressing appetite. You just need to drink a lot of water because this weight loss pill will cause an unexplained thirst,' that is how my friend campaign about this Lami - the traditional weight loss pill.

On the 4th day on Lami, I experience unusual heartbeat. It's like a weird feeling, like something bad is going to happen. It didn't stop after a while. Now I feel like I have run 4x100m. The following day, a friend of mine who also happen to bought the same weight loss pill from the same person share to me how uncomfortable her feeling was after taking it. She can't sleep at night. We did a research online about this weight loss pill and so astonished to read about several people's bad testimony about this Lami product. So I stopped taking that weight loss pill before it's too late. Thank God.


Lami is a traditional weight loss pill made in Indonesia. Taking this weight loss pill will cause a drastic weight loss but put your health on risk on the other hand. A girl aged in her early 20's died in Hospital Temerloh, in Pahang, Malaysia two years back after took Lami pill to lose weight. Her liver was severely damaged. Lami has been blacklisted by the Ministry of Health Malaysia. Despite its "all-natural" claim, Lami is actually contains sibutramine. Sibutramine was marketed and prescribed as the treatment of obesity until 2010. It has been withdrawn in most region including Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, United Kingdom and United States after FDA noted the concerns that sibutramine increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Tip Kurus Badan list another weight loss product which are banned by the Ministry of Health Malaysia in 2010 for containing sibutramine. They are:

Weight loss pill Kintop

1. Kintop
This weight loss pill claim to use Chinese herbal combination to lose weight. But unsafe western medical ingredients - sibutramine, also found in its ingredient. Sibutramine works like an appetite suppressant that causes increases in blood pressure and heart rate.

2. Body Beaus
promote a quick and lasting weight loss. Claim to contain Fructus Crataegi, Ganoderma Lucidum (Mycelium), Camellia Sinensis Folium, Nelumbo Nucifera Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix and Semen Cassiae Torae to boost metabolism rate, but Ministry of Health Malaysia found this weight loss pill contain an active ingredient of sibutramine.

3. BMI-9 Xy Slimming Capsule
This weight loss pill detected containing scheduled poisons Sibutramine. Sibutramine is not allowed to be formulated in a traditional product. The product registration numbers have been cancelled by the Drug Control Authority (DCA) at the 210th DCA meeting.

4. Senna Plus Capsule
The Health Ministry of Malaysia advised public to not to buy and use this traditional product as they detected to contain the scheduled poison Sibutramine. Sibutramine was not allowed under medicines that were classified as traditional medicines. Using product contain sibutramine without monitoring by a doctor can cause serious health effects like high blood pressure and other cardiovascular complications.

5. Lami
This is an Indonesian 'jamu' weight loss pill. Not registered by The Health Ministry of Malaysia but they are available cheaply and plentifully on the street. User testify that they experience a drastic weight loss after taken this weight loss pill. Blacklisted by the Ministry of Health for containing Sibutramine.

6. Obexlim
Another weight loss drink. Said to be a great appetite suppressant. This product also blacklist for containing Sibutramine.

7. Slimax Coffee Beaute
Weight loss drink also blacklist by the Ministry of Health for containing Sibutramine.

8. Fit Body Contour
Blacklisted by the Ministry of Health after detected containing scheduled poisons Sibutramine.

9. Body Trimz
Blacklisted by the Ministry of Health after detected containing scheduled poisons Sibutramine.

According to the Senior Principal Assistant Director of Health Enforcement, Mazlan Ismail, most of the manufacturers will give a sample that contains the herbal product upon registering their product to the ministry. "However, after the approval, they furtively mixing products with harmful ingredients to give immediate effect to the user, before being released on the market," he told Berita Minggu. - quoted from Berita Harian Online

Many people are well aware of the dangers of taking weight loss pill without doctor's advise but they still want to pursue so. Desperate to lose weight is one excuse, and they reasoning their action by saying that they will drink a lot of water, they only take weight loss pill in moderation. After all, the responsible authorities take such action (to blacklist those product) for a good reason, aren't them? So, why take your health for granted?

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Water in the Lung: What is Pulmonary Edema?

Several weeks ago I received a really really sad news. My friend's husband died of what they called "water in the lung." When I heard news like this, my brain is quick to response, looking for answer why and what cause "water in the lung". Is it because of diet, or lifestyle? I remember my mother use to warn us sisters against taking bath late at night because according to her, it can cause "water in the lung". I must say, I believe that every words until now. But today, I'm going to find out what is the real issues of "water in the lung."

"Water in the lung" medically known as pulmonary edema. It is also known as congestive heart failure. According to Mayo Clinic, pulmonary edema occurs when the blood received from the lung is not able to pump out by the diseased or overworked left ventricle. Fluid may accumulate when pressure increases inside the left atrium and then in the veins and capillaries in your lungs.

Medical conditions that can cause the left ventricle to become weak and eventually fail include:

1. Coronary artery disease.
Over time, the arteries that supply blood to your heart can become narrow from fatty deposits (plaques). When the heart muscle damage by a heart attack, it can no longer pump as well as it should. When the pumping action of your heart is weakened, blood backs up into your lungs, forcing fluid in your blood to pass through the capillary walls into the air sacs.

2. Cardiomyopathy.
Cardiomyopathy is a condition when your heart muscle is damaged by other than blood flow problems. Cardiomyopathy weakens the left ventricle — your heart's main pump. When the left ventricles can't keep up with a hard work like a surge in blood pressure, a faster heartbeat with exertion, or using too much salt that causes water retention or infections, fluid backs up into your lungs.

3. Heart valve problems.
In mitral valve disease or aortic valve disease, the valves that regulate blood flow in the left side of your heart either don't open wide enough (stenosis) or don't close completely (insufficiency). This allows blood to flow backward through the valve. When the valves are narrowed, blood can't flow freely into your heart and pressure in the left ventricle builds up, causing the left ventricle to work harder and harder with each contraction. The left ventricle also dilates to allow more blood flow, but this makes the left ventricle's pumping action less efficient. Because it's working so much harder, the left ventricle eventually thickens, which puts greater stress on the coronary arteries, further weakening the left ventricular muscle.

The increased pressure extends into the left atrium and then to the pulmonary veins, causing fluid to accumulate in your lungs. On the other hand, if the mitral valve leaks, some blood is backwashed toward your lung each time your heart pumps. If the leakage develops suddenly, you may develop sudden and severe pulmonary edema.

4. High blood pressure (hypertension).
Untreated or uncontrolled high blood pressure causes a thickening of the left ventricular muscle, and worsening of coronary artery disease.

5. Noncardiac pulmonary edema
When the heart is not the cause of the problem of pulmonary edema, it's called as noncardiac pulmonary edema. Some factors that can cause noncardiac pulmonary edema are:

• Lung infections.
Pneumonia, for example.


• Exposure to certain toxins.
These include toxins you inhale — such as chlorine or ammonia.


• Kidney disease.
When your kidneys can't remove waste effectively, excess fluid can build up, causing overload pulmonary edema.


• Smoke inhalation.
Smoke from a fire contains chemicals that damage the membrane between the air sacs and the capillaries, allowing fluid to enter your lungs.


• Adverse drug reaction.
Many drugs — ranging from illegal drugs such as heroin and cocaine to aspirin and chemotherapy drugs — are known to cause noncardiac pulmonary edema.


• Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
This serious disorder occurs when your lungs suddenly fill with fluid and inflammatory white blood cells.


• High altitudes.
Mountain climbers and people who live in or travel to high-altitude locations run the risk of developing high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). Although the exact cause isn't completely understood, HAPE seems to develop as a result of increased pressure from constriction of the pulmonary capillaries. Without appropriate care, HAPE can be fatal.


• Near drowning.
Inhaling water causes noncardiac pulmonary edema that is reversible with immediate attention.

Having read this article from Mayo Clinic, I am pretty sure that the pulmonary edema my friend's husband (may his soul rest in peace) had encounter was not a result from a late night shower. It is a good knowledge to share it to my mother as well that taking bath late at night is not doing any harm. Just make sure the water is warm enough for the cold night.

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Motivation to Lose Weight: Nicole Scherzinger's Quotes

My new motto is: 'Stay active, eat everything in moderation and stop being so tough on myself.'


Source: She Knows Entertainment

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How to Lose Weight: Top 4 Kim Kardashian's Workout

Kim Kardashian's voluptuous body is attractive to men and the envy of many woman. When her sister, Khloe jokes with her to be a surrogate for her baby, Kim said: "I think I have a couple more years when I just want my body to myself." So, how does Kim Kardashian keep her body in shape? Shape reveals her secret.


What you'll need:

1. Medicine Ball
2. Dumbbell
3. Exercise Mat


Move #1: Bus Driver

• Sit with knees bent and together, feet flat, and hold a medicine ball in front of you.
• Lean back slightly and rest lightly on heels or lift feet completely.
• Rotate from side to side, touching ball to floor each time (turn your head to look where you're touching).
• One rotation to each side is 1 rep. Do 6 to 15 reps.

Move #2: Skater's Lunge with Kickback

• Hold a dumbbell in each hand and stand with feet hip-width apart.
• Bend over from hips about 45 degrees and tuck arms at sides, elbows bent and palms facing each other.
• Assuming you're facing 12 on a clock face, step left foot back to 7 and lower into a lunge, right knee aligned over ankle and back leg almost straight.
• At the same time, straighten left arm behind you. Return to starting position and repeat with right leg (stepping back to 5) and arm to complete 1 rep.
• Do 6 to 15 reps.

Move #3: Squat, Curl, Governor Press

• Hold a dumbbell in each hand at sides, palms facing body, and stand with feet hip-width apart.
• Lower into a deep squat, as if you were going to place the weights on the ground.
• Rise up and curl dumbbells to shoulders, turning palms to face body.
• Then extend arms up, turning palms to face forward.
• Lower arms to shoulders, then sides, and repeat. Do 6 to 15 reps.

Move #4: Ball Push-Up

• Get in push-up position on hands and toes (or knees).
• Place a medicine ball on ground a few inches outside of left shoulder and place left hand on ball.
• Do 6 to 10 push-ups, then switch ball to right side to complete set.
• To target more of the triceps, keep ball under shoulder and tuck elbow to your side as you lower into the push-up.

Check out for more at Shape

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Motivation To Lose Weight: Kim Kardashian's Quote

"On days when I need extra motivation, I just think, Bikini, bikini, bikini!"

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