The Right Way To Fast

Want to lose weight? While fasting seems to be the most logical thing to do (less calorie intake equals to weight loss), it is not the best way to lose weight. It is actually dangerous, because fasting can lead to the development of eating disorders. I know you want to be thin, but maybe not anorexic-skin-and-bones-thin, right?

There is a right and wrong way to fast. The right way is to a short term detox fasting, like the Master Cleanse diet, which is a popular way of doing it. You just eat little for a few days, 10 days at the maximum. You can take in teas and fruit juices, giving you a low calorie diet. Of course, you have to make sure that you go back to a healthy lifestyle once fasting is over.

Fasting for more than 10 days is definitely a wrong way to fast. In fact, fasting for too long slows down your metabolism. As a result, you do not lose weight, which is somewhat the opposite of what you want to achieve. You don’t eat, you’re hungry, yet you don’t lose weight. What could be worse than that?

Eating Disorder Self Test. Take the EAT-26 self test to see if you might have eating disorder symptoms that might require professional evaluation. All answers are confidential.

Find a Treatment Facility Near You

Click on a state below to find eating disorder treatment options that could be right for you.

Where do calls go?

Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Calls to any general helpline (non-facility specific 1-8XX numbers) could be forwarded to SAMHSA or a verified treatment provider. Calls are routed based on availability and geographic location.

The EatingDisorders.com helpline is free, private, and confidential. There is no obligation to enter treatment. In some cases, EatingDisorders.com could charge a small cost per call, to a licensed treatment center, a paid advertiser, this allows EatingDisorders.com to offer free resources and information to those in need by calling the free hotline you agree to the terms of use. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses.

CALL NOW FOR IMMEDIATE HELPCALL NOW FOR IMMEDIATE HELP800-568-9025Response time about 1 min | Response rate 100%
Who Answers?