Let Me Tell You About My Water Fasting Experiment
Okay, so picture this. It’s January 12th, 2023. I’m sitting in my kitchen in Portland, Oregon, staring at a glass of water. I’m about to do something stupid. Or smart. I’m not sure yet.
My name’s Linda, by the way. I’ve been a senior editor at a major health magazine for, oh, 22 years now. I’ve seen trends come and go. But this water fasting thing? It’s sticking around. So, I figured, why not give it a shot? I mean, how bad could it be?
Why the Heck Did I Do This?
Look, I’m not some crazy health nut. I like my coffee. I like my wine. But I’ve been hearing alot about the benefits of water fasting. Autophagy, detox, blah blah blah. I needed to see for myself.
I did my research. Talked to some people. There’s this guy, let’s call him Marcus, a nutritionist I met at a conference in Austin. He told me, “Linda, water fasting can be a game—uh, I mean, a big deal for your body. But don’t overdo it.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
So, I set a goal: 36 hours. Not too crazy, right? Just a little experiment.
The First 12 Hours: Easy Peasy
Honestly, the first 12 hours were a breeze. I had my last meal at 8:00 pm on Sunday. By 8:00 am Monday, I was feeling fine. A little hungry, sure, but nothing I couldn’t handle. I drank plenty of water, as you do.
I even got some work done. Who knew? Maybe I should try this more often. Nah, I thought, I like eating too much.
The Next 12 Hours: Things Get Real
Then, things started to get interesting. Around noon, my stomach started making noises like a haunted house. I felt a bit lightheaded. I mean, I was sitting at my desk, and I swear, the walls were kinda spinning.
I texted my friend Sarah. “Hey,” I said, “I’m doing this water fast. Feel like crap.” She replied, “Linda, you’re an idiot. Eat something.” Wise words, but I was committmented now.
I pushed through. Drank more water. Tried to focus on work. But let me tell you, trying to write an article about the benefits of kale when you’re starving is not easy.
The Final 12 Hours: The Wall
By 8:00 pm, I was done. I hit the wall. Hard. I was sitting on my couch, staring at the TV, and I swear, if someone had offered me a slice of pizza, I would have sold my firstborn for it.
But I made it. I completed my 36-hour water fast. And you know what? I felt… okay. Not great, not terrible. Just okay.
What Did I Learn?
First off, I learned that I’m not cut out for extreme fasting. I mean, I respect those who can do it, but it’s not for me. I like food too much.
Second, I learned that water fasting isn’t some magic cure-all. It’s a tool, and like any tool, it has its place. But it’s not gonna fix all your problems. You still need to eat well, exercise, and take care of your mental health.
Speaking of mental health, let me tell you about this one time I tried to set up a home office. It was a disaster. I spent hours researching home office setup ideas budget and still ended up with a mess. But that’s a story for another time.
The Big Picture
Look, I’m not gonna sit here and tell you that water fasting is the answer to all your problems. It’s not. But it’s also not the end of the world. If you’re curious, give it a try. Start small. See how you feel.
And if you’re like me, you’ll probably decide that eating is way more fun than not eating. But hey, that’s just me.
Oh, and one more thing. If you’re gonna try water fasting, make sure you do your research. Talk to professionals. Don’t just jump in like I did. Be smart about it.
Anyway, that’s my story. Hope you enjoyed it. Or at least learned something from it. Either way, I’m gonna go eat a sandwich.
About the Author
Linda Harris is a senior editor with over 22 years of experience in the health and wellness industry. She’s written for major publications and has a no-nonsense approach to health trends. When she’s not writing, she’s probably eating something she shouldn’t.
