I Did Something Stupid
Look, I’ll admit it. I did something kinda dumb last month. See, I got into this argument with my friend Marcus over coffee at the place on 5th. He was going on about how water fasting is the secret to eternal youth, better than any lifestyle tips daily improvement out there. I laughed in his face. Big mistake.
Because now, here I am. Writing about my 7-day water fast. Which, frankly, was both the best and worst thing I’ve done in awhile.
Day 1: The Optimism
So, last Tuesday, I started. I was all excited, telling everyone how this was gonna change my life. My colleague named Dave just rolled his eyes and said, “You’re gonna regret this, Sarah.” I asked, “Why’s that?” He said, “Because you’re gonna be hangry all the time.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
But Day 1 wasn’t bad. I mean, I had breakfast at 8am, then just water after that. By 11:30pm, I was kinda hungry, but I powered through. I even felt a bit lighter, you know? Like, physically and mentally. It was weird.
Day 3: The Wall
Oh boy. Day 3 hit me like a truck. I was at a conference in Austin, and the smell of food was everywhere. I’m talking BBQ, people. Texas BBQ. And there I was, sipping on my water like a chump.
I called Marcus, all whiny. “I can’t do this,” I told him. He just laughed and said, “Welcome to the club, Sarah. It gets better.” I’m not sure I believed him then.
Day 5: The Breakthrough
Okay, so here’s where it gets interesting. About three months ago, I had a physical exam, and my blood pressure was a bit high. Not dangerous, but not great. Well, on Day 5 of my fast, I checked it again. It was down. Like, significantly down.
I was shocked. I mean, I knew fasting had health benefits, but I didn’t expect to see changes that fast. (Pun totally intended.)
A Tangent: The Sleep Thing
Now, I gotta digress for a sec. So, I’ve always had trouble sleeping. Like, always. But during this fast, something changed. I started sleeping like a baby. Like, 9 hours a night, no problem. It was amazing.
I asked my doctor about it, and she said, “Your body’s probably just focusing on healing itself instead of digesting food.” Which makes sense, I guess. But still. It was a nice bonus.
Day 7: The Finish Line
So, I made it. 7 days. No food. Just water. And honestly? It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I mean, I was hungry, sure. But I also felt… clear. Like, my mind was sharper, my body felt lighter. It was a weird, but good, feeling.
I broke my fast with a small meal, like the experts suggest. And I felt great. I mean, I wasn’t gonna go out and eat a giant steak or anything. But a little soup? Perfect.
The Aftermath
So, here’s the thing. I’m not gonna tell you that water fasting is the answer to all your problems. Because it’s not. It’s hard. It’s uncomfortable. And it’s not for everyone.
But for me? It was a good experience. I learned a lot about my body, about my habits, about what I can and can’t do. And honestly? I’m kinda glad I did it.
But don’t expect me to do it again anytime soon. I mean, I’m not a masochist.
About the Author: Sarah Johnson is a senior editor with over 20 years of experience. She’s opinionated, she’s flawed, and she’s not afraid to admit when she’s wrong. Which, in this case, was when she thought water fasting was a crazy idea. You can find her arguing about health trends on Twitter or trying to convince her friends to join her on the next crazy health experiment.
