Anyone who is using Fasting as a way to lose weight always ask the following question:
Can you exercise on a fast?
Let me preface this post by saying: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. Neither am I a NURSE, NURSE PRACTITIONER, or anything else in the medical field. I am just a person who's spent the last five or so years of my life fasting off & on and learning about fasting. I've researched & read TONS of articles on fasting, frequented many fasting forums, read the scriptures on fasting and I wholeheartedly believe that fasting can be a wonderful way to enhance most people's way of life. So, if you are looking for MEDICAL ADVICE, please consult a medical doctor. This blog does not offer medical advice at all. I must also add that unless said doctor is one who employs naturopathy or alternative medicine, they probably don't know as much about fasting as I do, but that's neither here nor there is it? And, it still does not change the fact that I am not a doctor.
Moving on...
With all that being said, you are probably still waiting on an answer to the question: can you Exercise while on a fast?
Well - there's no definite answer to this question. There are two theories of thought on exercising while on a fast: the don't execise theory & The it's okay to exercise theory:
The Don't Exercise Theory: There is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing to do nothing while on your fast.You may choose to rest as much as possible.Some believe that this is the best way to allow your body to devote all of it's energy and resources to detoxifying the body and healing itself of whatever ails it. It is also believed that during a water fast, it is best not to exercise because your body is already working really hard to detoxify and you will probably want to save all of your energy to just get out the bed each day. If you don't exercise, you will still lose weight, if that's your goal.
Links on the: "Don't Exercise" theory of fasting.
http://www.freedomyou.com/fasting_book/commonly_asked_questions.htm
http://www.livestrong.com/article/293807-is-it-good-to-exercise-during-a-water-fast/
The It's Okay to Exercise theory: Unless you have a special condition that causes you to physically not be able to exercise, there is nothing wrong with light to moderate exercise while on a fast. In fact, I have read that if you are fasting to lose weight, it is good to get the lymphatic system moving with light walking, rebounding or other gentle exercise. There are studies to show that people who exercise on a fast lose more weight than those who do not. If you currently have a exercise regimen, it's okay to continue on your regimen just lower the intensity a little bit . I have read that weight lifting should not be done as it requires too much effort from your body. I can't really break down the mechanics of why weight lifting while on a fast may not be a good idea, but I have provided some links below on why it is not. In addition to the physical benefits of fasting, exercise may help you to mentally relieve stress and further enhance your ability to stay on a fast.
Links on the "It's okay to Exercise" theory of fasting:
http://quickfasting.com/more_q_a_s.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_12686_exercise-during-fast.html
http://chestofbooks.com/health/Isabelle-A-Moser/How-and-When-to-Be-Your-Own-Doctor/Exercise-While-Fasting.html (In this article, Russian researchers who supervised schizophrenics on 30 day water fasts insisted that they walk for three hours every day, without stopping)
http://fasting.ygoy.com/2008/05/05/exercise-during-fasting/ (some medical research that proves it's okay to exercise while fasting.)
As you can see - there are way more articles touting the benefits of exercise while on a fast than articles saying it's not. Ultimately, it is up to you and can be decided on a fast by fast basis. On some of my fast, I do some type of exercise every day, on others, I do well just to function. Listen to your body and do what you think it's best for your body. Overall, the conclusion is that light exercise is perfectly fine no matter what type of fast you are doing and no matter how out of shape you are when you start fasting. The definition of light depends on how in shape you are to begin with and is where you will have to use your best judgement. Lastly, your body is amazing - it can adopt to most changes and is smart enough to let you know what it can't do and when you're overdoing it so pay attention to it.
Do you have fasting experience? If so, did you exercise on your fast? I'd love to hear about your experiences. Leave a comment below.
