| On 3 March 2009, we received this note from H.B., concerning her use of juice dieting (fasting).
"Much of what I experienced on a 5-day juice fast was very negative, although some effects were positive. My facial skin got very dry which led to some acne. I also noticed in the days after my fast I was not hungry at all -- it was as though the fast trained my body not to accept food. I didn't eat much more than 500 calories a day for about 4-5 days after the fast, then, after I got accustomed to wanting food again, I was still not on a regular eating schedule. The fast also messed with my digestive system. I wasn't able to have regular bowel movements. When I did, it wasn't very healthy.
But, I did manage to lose some weight -- about 3-4 pounds over a couple of weeks. I had more motivation to work out because my energy level increased. During the fast, my energy level plummeted, but when I got off the fast, I felt very positive and eager to exercise.
These diets are tricky and not everyone should practice them. Although I lost weight on my fast, I think most results aren't like that. A lot of people could actually gain weight because, after a week of just juice, they feel they can overindulge in food because they haven't had it in a while. But during the fast the metabolism is slowed down and old eating habits make weight gain very likely afterward.
I feel that if someone wants to begin a juice fast, they have to be in good health and able to take on changes in daily lifestyle. It should be a non-stressful period in the person's life when not much interruption will happen because they might resort to eating due to distraction. Due to the drop in energy during the fast, physical activity may have to be limited. Juices should be carefully chosen for those without added sugar.
Personally, I would not do a juice fast again because it messed up my eating habits. They still aren't back to normal six months since the fast."
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