Here's To New Beginnings - Water Fasting for Weight Loss & A New Self-Image. Support... Buddies Wanted!

by Jenny
(Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA)

I've already posted in response to another thread, but have decided to start my own, as a place to journal my progress, vent my frustrations, celebrate my achievements, and hopefully make some friends.

My name is Jen, I'm 26 years old, and am experiencing one of hell of a slump. It's not the first time my life has taken a bad turn, as I'm sure we've all experienced...but this time, I don't want to dwell on depression, I want to turn things around.

I've told myself this before, but I know I need to do it now. If I want any chance of a better, happier future, I need to stick with it. I see fasting as a starting point, a jump start to a new beginning.

I'm looking to, most of all, be, feel, and look healthy. I haven't felt very healthy in quite some time. I'm sluggish, moody, and I sleep a lot. I've recently found myself out of work, but I have some money saved up, and I'm fortunately in a position where I have very, very few financial responsibilities.

I figure it's the perfect time for me to work on this. I can keep to myself, walk whenever I want, as often as I want, avoid the temptations of being out and about and seeing food everywhere.

My goal is to gain a new image, the image I've always dreamed of, and start a new life in a new location. Now is the perfect time for that.

The heaviest I've been in my life is approximately 210 lbs, and I'm 5'5...that's not good.

That was last fall, and I managed to lose some weight and have hovered between I'd say 185-195 over the past year. I'm currently on day 5 of my water fast and have lost 9 lbs. I was 188 when I started Tue (Oct 27) morning, and was 179 when I weighed in this morning (Sat, Oct 31).

To reach 125-ish would make me ecstatic, but I know I need to be realistic, listen to my body and remember that these things take time.

I did a 14 day fast less than a year ago, and I did notice the weight loss. (prob 20 pounds at least) I would've liked to continue, but I was beginning to feel really weak and felt it best I listen to my body.

I did gain a bit of the weight back, but give and take some fluctuation, I've remained pretty steady in my weight since then. I've suffered no negative effects coming off of it or in the months since.

The first few days are the hardest, the body is cleansing and removing toxins. I've read common side effects are headaches, sometimes lower back pain, and pain in the legs.

During the start of my first fast, and right now during this, I'm experiencing headaches and some minor lower back pain, but it passed the first time, and I'm sure it will this time.

I don't have a set time period in mind for this fast. I do have some goals I'd like to achieve by February though. That's when I'm hoping to take a trip to visit the city I'd like to relocate to. I'm aiming for around 30 days of fasting at the moment, though if I don't feel well and have any concerns for my well being, I'll stop.

I'd love to hear from anyone and everyone. Motivation, success stories, concerns, advice, frustrations with your own endeavors. Anything anyone has to say.

I think we could all use someone to talk to. Whether I receive responses or not, I'm going to try to stick to logging my progress here, so stay tuned! I'll offer what support I can to others who post here :).

Good luck to us all!!!