The Fast Lane

From wikipedia's entry on "fasting":

It has been shown in many empirical, scientific studies that fasting can improve health and help to eliminate a variety of diseases. Although some fasting methods use juice or various amounts of food, the health of such methods is questionable, according to Dr. Joel Fuhrman. A true fast, he contends, consists of an intake solely of water, and can last (healthily) for extended periods of time when undertaken with the correct knowledge. According to Fuhrman, it is critically important to consume no calories (to put the body in Ketosis), or more than 800 calories per day, to avoid Hypoglycemia resulting in brain damage. Thus, diets of 100-800 calories/day are very dangerous. Any fasts of such nature should be preceded and followed by a healthy diet, and should also be supervised by a knowledgeable physician to make sure that deficiencies of any nutrients do not take place and detract from the healthful benefits of such a fast ^[8]

Some doctors believe that pure water fasting can not only detoxify cells and rejuvenate organs, but can actually cure ^[9] such diseases and conditions as cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, colitis, psoriasis, lupus and some other autoimmune disorders when combined with a healthy diet. They believe that "Fasting is Nature's Restorer."^[10] There is empirical evidence to corroborate the beliefs of these scientists. ^[10]

Recent studies on mice show that fasting every other day while eating double the normal amount of food on non-fasting days led to improved insulin and blood sugar control, neuronal resistance to injury, and health indicators superior to mice on 40% calorie restricted diets.^[11][12] Alternate-day calorie restriction may prolong lifespan^[13] and attenuate diseases associated with inflammation, oxidative stress and aging^[14].

I'm interested in the idea of alternating-day fasting. In practice it might be too difficult, either physically or socially, but it appeals to my "all or nothing" tendencies. (Dieting would be much easier if I could go cold turkey!) And I've often fasted for a day; it seems easier to eat zero calories than to try to eat 1,000.

[Which could make a kind of sense if the quoted doc is right about diets in between 0-800 cal being "dangerous". But I've never heard that one before.]

I think once in my life I did alternate-day fasts for 6 days (3 fasts), but that's not a very compelling proof of concept!

The punny branding is all laid out for me: "The Fast Lane" implies rapid (weight loss) through not eating (for stretches). The metaphor has legs. I try to stay out of the slow lane (carbs), and esp the shoulder/ditch (binging!), and spend time in the middle, "cruising" lane (low-carb), with occasional bursts of shifting into the fast lane (fasting) for a day.

But I'm leaving that whole concept in the R&D phase for now. I'm just going to focus on low-carb today, and try to put together 8 good days in a row. For a start.