@@jessicabullard5806 Hi there!😊 I think I put all my noteworthy observations in the video. Of them, perhaps the most interesting was just being able to go the 30 days without eating. To know it's possible was good data and something I would have been skeptical of prior.
Yes, I hope to reduce panic attacks and anxiety. Loosing weight is wonderful but Im hoping for better mental health. Is your mental health still better?
@@michaelmerto aye bro just wanna let you know that you’re a beautiful human being, and that I know how ass depression and anxiety is. Remember that life is ass most of the time but the good times is what makes it worth living. Take care love you
@@samofficial6906 hey brother! wow man, for you to take the time to send that message speaks to what an awesome person you are. Cant thank you enough man and hope youve been doing well too. I appreciate you!🙏❤️
I’m 6 days into my 30 water fast Lost 10lbs already and I’m loving it 😁 Update: I made it 😌😌 lost 28 pounds Started another one yesterday I gained only four pounds back
!!youre amazing for going for it. i might have gotten lucky because i wasnt prepared and didnt think much about it, so just be safe and try not to force anything.😊 other than that, congrats on losing 10lbs already! and i hope things continue to go well! wishing you amazing health gains💪
One month of a water fast and down 40lbs🎉..advice to anyone is to be strong and do it❤ I've done a 90 day smoothie liquid fast before and lost 100lbs no lie. It takes determination and once u see the weight fall out u just want to keep going. Would u rather slowly lose weight for a year or for a month or 2 think about it
Inspiring story. I weigh 130 lb (155 cm) and a recent MRI shows a thin fat layer under my skin so I am not sure whether I have enough fat to go through the ketosis for 30 days. I am very much like to try and see due to my health reasons. My doctor is sus and think I might have a cancer. I tired to do water fast for 30 days before my next visit to the doctor's office, but I failed.
I always come back and watch this video every month to keep me motivated. When I first saw this video months ago I weighed 215 pounds. I am currently at 163 pounds. I hope you continue doing well man.
WOW! no doubts or surprise, just so stoked to hear you lost over 50lbs!!! 💪 That's amazing and im humbled you come back to watch this video🙏. I am doing good too, thanks, and wish you more awesome health gains bud.
Where are you now, Randy? That's really good! What worked for me is the whole food-plant based diet. 4 1/2 years now. I still fight the hunger but it's attainable.
So now that you're at a comfortable weight, can you still fast for the same duration? Have you done it? If you have, was it as easy? If not, then what's the longest fast you could do at this new weight?
I am a 70 year old male. I water fasted from 3/12/21 to 4/10/21 for a total of 30 days. At the same time I started my water fast, I also quit all alcohol. To keep my mind off fasting and drinking, I was doing 3 hours of biking in the mornings; water walking for 1 hour in the lap pool and then going to LA Fitness for 1 hour of weight lifting. That's a total of 5 hours a day. I lost 28 pounds in 20 days and 35 pounds in 30 days!! I also did this WITHOUT any medical supervision. I was going to stop the fast if I felt sick but as each day went by, I was getting more focused and felt better and better. I know it was stupid for not seeking medical attention and for working out for 5 hours a day, especially for someone who is 70. I don't care. I never felt better. I now fast on Mondays and Thursdays only and only workout for 2 hours a day.
That is an amazing story, thank for sharing your journey! It wasnt smart of me either but can't argue with your results. Fantastic, Im happy for you and congrats on your newfound health. 30 days of fasting with all the exercise you did is remarkable. You're amazing!!😊
@@PaulaRamsey-t9e oh wow hi there! im sorry to hear everything your suffering through right now. Thank you for your honesty and i really hope all your health maladies take a big turn for the good. Fasting is not a cure all but I think it may help be a bookmark to start fresh and change that relationship you have to food. To answer, water fasting allows water. If black coffee or plain tea helps you, i say go for it as compliance is the biggest hindrance imo. A no water fast is a dry fast and can be more dangerous imo. Therapy has also helped me big time with mental health, so I hope you have access. I think youll have a major breakthrough if you can get past your addictions, I know I did. Ill definitely keep you in my thoughts. stay strong and curious about yourself. change can and will happen.
One of the best videos on fasting, thank you. I really want to make it past 4 days. It is so hard because I have used food to fill up the emptiness in my life.
Hi there! Thank you for the feedback😊. Even though I don't know you, it's tough to hear you feel emptiness in your life. I used food to fill that up too but it just turns into this endless depressing cycle so I think I understand you. I hope you reach out and find more things you enjoy to fill up your time with. Maybe something you always wanted to learn is something you can save for your next fast. Regardless, I hope for you really great health and more joy.
I think that one of the important steps in a healthier direction is being able to be honest with yourself in how you’ve used food. I feel for you. Keep up the good work!
Started my first 30 day fast, I'm 5 days in. I've done week fasts before so this is a whole new animal. This is probably the video that inspired me the most.
thank you so much!😊🙏 didnt think it was a real thing until it hit hard. i appreciate you taking the time to say those kind words. and i hope youre doing well too!
I have done 24 days. It was the hardest thing I've ever done. I lost 14 kg and gained back 6 kg a week after breaking the fast. I have kept off the remaining 8kg quite effortlessly. I'm going to do a 14 day starting tomorrow. For me personally it started to feel unhealthy at 20 days.
I’ve only done 10 days before, but my experience is that the reward is not the meal at the end - it’s the spiritual highs you get throughout the process. The meal itself is somewhat anticlimactic - perfect video btw!
What a really lovely ending mate, love those final few minutes of reflection and raw emotion. It will resonate with so many of us, you have no idea; and help us too. Thanks for sharing Michael.
Big ups to you for completing the fast! Videos like these help a lot of people, including me, to keep pushing towards their fasting goals. So thank you! Honestly this video provides much needed motivation to individuals who are fasting.
That's so awesome to hear, honestly. 🙏😊 Thanks for watching it, it gives me motivation too and I'm glad I can contribute to the awesome fasting community! Be well for now bud:)
Thank you for sharing your journey! Found your video as I'm on Day 2 on my water fast (39 hours +). Have to say that it's not the hunger that attacking me, but the emotional dependency on food to solve my stress at work and in relationships. The chocolate wafers and chips at the mini-mart downstairs are seducing me into their warm, comforting arms. But I shall hold tight to my rein. My goal is 4 days of fasting (72 hours). Appreciate you sharing your struggles and breakthrough over them as you gave me a renewed strength to go on!
Thanks for watching! I totally feel what you're saying. It's usually an emotional tie that makes me hungry for something or boredom. I wish you an excellent fast, you're almost there!💪 Don't give in to the chocolate just yet! And thanks for the kind feedback!
@@plummetplum Hello! I lasted for 40h in the end! The stress knocked me out and I went to stress-eat (good data for next long fast). The good news though is it boosted my motivation so I've been intermittent fasting for 13 consecutive days with an average fast of 18 hours! 😆
Thank you for the very kind words. I agree, most everyone is super kind and supportive here, its a blessing to witness. I hope youre doing well and am glad you stopped by!😀
I’m also doing a 30 day water fast 😊. I’m on day 8 as of right now. And I wanted to quit so bad but kept pushing through because I knew the results were going to be OUTSTANDING! I lost 8 lbs in 5 DAYS! Once I seen the drastic drop in my weight on the scale, my jaw literally DROPPED to the ground 🥳😢 I felt so proud of myself. All the days and nights I was complaining about the feelings and urges I was feeling throughout my 8 days of fasting, it was so worth it! A positive mindset can get you so places in life especially if you have goals/aspirations. It’s best having supportive and motivating people around you to give you a boost during your journey. I’m going to post my journey at the end of September so I can share my experience as a unexperienced water faster 😇
Oh wow! Congrats on making it to 8 days (9 now?). It certainly does get easier and im glad you have such a positive mindset. I just hope you dont force anything, listen to your body and take re-feeding really slowly. Ive now had conversations with a couple people that maybe were a little relaxed about the re-feeding process. Of course, everyone will react differently but thought id be remiss not to mention. Other than that, you should be proud of yourself! its a rare thing and I hope you have continued health gains! I look forward to hearing from you about your journey.💪
@@michaelmerto yes I’m on day 9 today and this journey has become easier for me and my goal is to lose a solid 30 lbs! I’ve had nothing but a positive mindset and I’ve also been planning on how and what I wanted to eat while breaking my fast when that time comes. Fruit and soup will suit me best. Thank you for your feedback! ❤️
So completely, utterly, gorgeous. Thousands of videos on this. None with such earnest, golden, heartfelt beauty. Think I fell in love with ya on the conclusion. Just stunningly beautiful soul fire.
Im taken aback by your very kind words.thats some of the nicest and tender words ive read and i just hope i can live up it. i get the feeling your a really kind person so thank you for spreading smiles around because you put a big one on my face.😊 thank you and i hope you're getting the same kindness in return.
I’m on day 9 of what I plan as a “see how I feel at 14 days” fast. It feels pretty easy at this point. I’ve done two seven day fasts before and have done keto/intermittent fasting on and off for the last couple years. Anyways, I love your video because I literally was in the same place as you. Anxiety/depression all time high. You’re video is giving me even more strength and re-assurance! I love your advice and how you really clarified all the issues you experienced so I know what to look out for! Anyways, wish me luck.
Hey, how are you doing?!? Are you still fasting and how has it been? Thanks for the kinds words and I hope you felt alot of benefits. Wishing you lots more luck:)
Really inspirational. I've commented on your other videos and you sent a nice response. I lost about 40 kilos and went from "obese" to "normal" but through IF and walking mostly, with only a couple of 24, 48 and 72 hour fasts along the way. You mention that you had panic attacks and anxiety during your long fast. Is that typical, or something unique to your particular situation? Your honesty and integrity are super obvious. When I listen/watch, I know it is going to be worthwhile. Thanks for making these videos.
Thanks so much for your kind words🙏 Congrats on your health journey too, 40 kilos is a great accomplishment. my mention of panic attacks and anxiety is just something im dealing with and was curious to see if there was relief from fasting, since it has the potential to improve mood. Its not common, as far as i know, to up regulate anxiety or induce panic attacks in otherwise healthy people. Hope that helps and thanks again!
Hi Michael, it's Gary. We chatted back in January when I did a 26 day water fast. The time since then hasn't gone my way. Too much binging, eating crappy and weight gain. I have embarked on a new water fast today. Not sure how long I'm going to go. I must follow this up with a lifetime of healthy eating and movement... easier said than done! Thanks for being one of my inspirations.
Hey Gary!!! Its nice to hear from you and thanks for sharing an update. That 26 day fast was still awesome and now you have new data on how you reacted afterwards. Hopefully that experience helps you with your future ones.💪 I still make exceptions (had a few bday bbqs recently) and they are in much better control than before where it would set me off on weeks long binges. Progress not perfection!
And don't forget to take salt. Something like Himalayan Pink salt, not regular table salt, because the Himalayan Pink salt has a lot of essential trace minerals, which are taken out of processed table salt.
Wow that’s impressive will power! Thanks for making your fasting vids , I find them more relatable than ANY others I’ve watched , which is all of them. This just motivated me to go on an extended fast , thank you. I’ve been pulling off 4 day water only fasts with ease , it’s time to make the leap .
Panic SUCKS!!! I was agoraphobic, and depressed for a year. Paxil and Jesus got me through. I’ve been fasting, on and off, wondering if I can cut back and eventually eliminate the Paxil. We’ll see. I’ll keep you in my prayers. I’m proud of all that you’ve accomplished. Great job.
Thanks for relating! (though sorry you know what its like). It took me a while and ive done many other things to aid in my depression...and its only been a handful of months but i was finally able to get off my two anti-anxiety, anti-depressant prescriptions. I hope you keep on working at it and find new therapies that help you eventually eliminate the Paxil. I think you've done so well for yourself too, It's often such a difficult hole to climb out of...any light is progress worth celebrating. 😊
I appreciate your humor and candor. Also I can't believe you are 70!!! You look half your age!all the best and thank you fir taking the time firnthis heart warming sharing!
I did a 7 day one once. Now I can never get past 3 days. It's mostly boredom because if I'm busy, which I should be if I stop making excuses, I'm very happy and don't even think about food. I feel AMAZING when I fast and I'm not paying attention.
I get that for sure. It's the boredom that really challenges me too. It's a good reminder to know how we feel when we are able to fast though. Just gotta find and maybe plan ways to stay busy...
Thanks for documenting. I’m having similar issues with depression and anxiety. I’m also 50lbs overweight. I’m two days into my second fast. This motivates me to keep going, and that fasting has multiple benefits. Also I’m amazed you cook for fun in a starved state, wow man.
Thanks for watching!🙏 and taking the time to comment, i appreciate that. im sorry that you also have issues with depression and anxiety, it sucks. I hope it hasnt been too bad and its awesome youre working on yourself (too many people dont). and lol, yea i get that...im weird to 80% and maybe 20% also cook while fasting without it bothering them.😆
@@michaelmerto Day 4 and am 92 hours into fasting. It's definitely night-time when I get very hungry. I actually think I could be around food now without temptation, however, not sure about what cooking would do to my senses. I'm beginning to feel less constant hunger and just kind of lethargic (am still tired from withdrawing from Prozac I stopped taking in June). Maybe I will make it to 7 or 10 days fasting. Also watched Dr. Jason Fung and wow does he answer many questions.
@@michaelmerto Initially 7 days was the goal. I will probably reach that goal. 30-40 days with tea or coffee fasting if I can and will consume bone broth if I feel too weak to possibly add a day or two. I'm unemployed and trying to self teach programming, so not like working for the UPS or something were I'd get very hungry.
@@ianmyers5784 Oh wow thats a hardcore goal even with a low physical burden, especially the 30+ days. I wish you lots of health, that you meet your goals and have a smooth refeed. And lots of luck learning programming!
Thank you for being so open about your entire experience during fasting. I just started fasting again, 3 days in after not doing it for about a year. I've tried to avoid it thinking that I could just workout and still eat, or go vegan but still eat. But I've come to realise that I have to go back to the basics with fasting. It's by far given me the best results I've ever seen. Back in 2019 got down to the 190's the lowest weight I can recall being as an adult. Trying to get back there while also learning to maintain it without falling back into old habits. Mindset and deep rooted issues play such a big role in gaining weight, not to mention hormonal imbalance. But here's to persisting in the battle for a healthier lifestyle.
Yes, heres to that! I agree that mindset and mental health can play a huge role. You're already ahead of the game though since youve experienced success already. You and your body know what thats like and everything thats happened since is all good data to learn from. Thank you for sharing your journey so far and for taking the time here. I hope your current fasting is going well so far!💪
I think one of the most interesting revelations from your fast was that your vision improved. I guess it makes sense that your body will make your vision more acute if you need to spot prey or food in the wild when you're starving.
BRUH props to you dude. 30 days is BRUTAL. God. Im over here fasting for 1 day and at first I was like "oh god i need food im hungry" but I just kept on drinking water and had like 2 cans of black coffee and 1 cup of tea with no honey or sugar and ive been feeling pretty good. Ive never fasted before. You gave me some motivation to stick with this challenge. Props to you good sir. One heckin fine job.
Thanks bud! I didnt intend to go that long, just one day at a time like you. And for sure, my first few fasts were hard as heck on me. So it does get easier and easier as I did more and slowly added more hours/days. Usually after the 3rd day, theres a sweet zone where its not hard at all, at least for another weekish. Anyways, I hope this fast treats you well and good health!
@@michaelmerto Thanks so much it means a lot! Im currently watching another of your vid haha I'm on day 2 and honestly today was challenging I almost broke my fast but i decided to prep to cook a meal once I finished my fast. I really wanna commit to this. It can be mentally challenging but after drinking water again the thoughts of food went away lol its easier to be distracted while doing this and watching videos of fasting helps A LOT. Especially yours! Lol
you're doing great and these challenges are not unusual and really does get easier. thanks for the kind words again. How are you feeling these days, did you break your fast yet?
@@michaelmerto Hey! I'm surprised it's not that unusual now because back then I'm sure it was to some folks haha it was really unusual to my family since they're always telling me to eat during our meals together hahaha my grandmother was so worried at first. I did break my fast after my 3rd day :) honestly I had a little trouble because I started to feel really weak and a little dizzy. If I wasn't feeling a little sick I would've challenged myself to stick with the fasting and do it for more than my plan but it was my first time and I'm honestly pretty proud of myself. I actually cooked too while fasting but I realized that I couldn't smell the food while cooking unless it was up in my face but even while smelling it I didn't have the urge to eat. Since I've been eating again I only eat when I'm really hungry and I've broken my bad habit, eating while bored. I was surprised to see that I lost 7 lbs while fasting for 3 days too. All in all it was quite fun and interesting. I'd probably do it again in the future :) hope you are doing well!
thats so great to hear! the weakness might have been due to a insufficient electrolytes, but regardless its great you completed this challenge. Its tough to go that long. Also glad to hear it helped with eating while bored, thats a huge challenge to many including myself. I am doing well and I hope you are too!
Shoo- you are absolutely fearless in opening up & showing complete vulnerability. Very admirable. I am sure you will help many other people. (I wish I could get past day 4, so well done!)
thanks so much bud! definitely hesitated and part of the reason half of it was filmed like over a year before publishing but so, so rewarding if it helps someone think and do anything to improve their health. and oh man, i still say the period doing 16:8 for me was super hard! im sure if you wanted and when the times right, going past 4 days will not be a problem, but going 4 is already rare and probably a good ideal length for a fast. Stay strong and wishing you good health!💪
I don't reach out very often, but your fasting accounts are really quite good, being well researched but down to earth. I had to laugh at your cooking obsession towards the end, as I can relate perfectly. Years ago I was noticing short term memory issues which scared me, and drove me to try an experiment doing longer fasts. In 09/08 I started a juice fast for 3-4 weeks thinking it would solve all my problems. After 55 days I was ravenous, and though my mind was clearer, I realized it was just a good start. Over the next four and a half years I did five more long fasts over 28 days, progressively dropping juice days and adding water only until the last one was 30 days water and 3 days juice to break it. By the end of all of them, I was watching food shows, saving recipes, mostly asian food cuz it looked soooo good. I also did countless shorter fasts, but by the end was discouraged because I hadn't had some breakthrough event, or walked on water or something he heh. What I have learned though, is that while fasting is hands down the most effective way to unload the garbage we collect in an overburdened system, at a molecular level, it is the refeed where the real magic takes place. I am back on track, and very strategically rebuilding now after the fasting demolitions. Just like wringing out a dirty sponge, once is just a good start. IMHO, purification is the new frontier, and maybe you're the guy who figures out how to walk on water. ;-)
Thank you so much for taking the time here and the very kind feedback. I'm stoked you can relate to the cooking lol. That's amazing you were able to all those long juice fasts! I can't imagine. That's some mental fortitude bud. I agree with how important the refeed is. Gotta have great materials to build a better foundation once things are broken down. And lol, I'm prolly not the guy but I think Criss Angel already figured out how to "walk on water."🤣 Anyhow, I really appreciate you sharing your experience here and reaching out. That's high praise from someone show doesn't do that often, so I'm glad you did. I wish you excellent health!
I love that you measured your mental health. Im in the same boat preparing for a 20 day water fast, and now my primary reason is my devastating mental health crisis. I cant wait to see whats on the other side.
@@michaelmerto good actually. I only made it 48 hours due to my glucose dropping too low. I'm going to try again now that I'm not taking insulin anymore.
@@roses09 that's great still and probably smart of you to do. better safe than sorry. I hope you wont have to use insulin anymore, that would be a great sign for your health.💪
Nice video! I’m currently water fasting day 5, one of the harder days IMO. Most days I’ve gone is 30 while working a physical job. Slept like a baby, had some dizzy spells from getting up to fast. Euphoria was nice, fog relief. Retained 85-90% muscle mass while dropping 50lbs of body weight. Cured my eczema and digestive issues I was experiencing prior. Great experience overall. Today’s day five of a 10 day cheers.
wow! awesome to hear and thanks for sharing your results! its encouraging and reaffirming. great to hear your experience resolving eczema and digestive issues. wish you more health gains on your current fast!😊🙏
I started yesterday at 10pm and I will be going for thirty days. It will be very encouraging for others on the journey to engage with this post and I will check in quite often and talk about the progress. Starting weight - 216 pounds 4/27 - 211.6 pounds today I don’t feel as hungry and I’ve been fasting for 31 hours
day 1 - I don’t want to say it’s necessarily bad but I did cut my fast short by fasting for 22 hours and giving myself an hour window to eat but I do fasting again at 9 instead of 10. Day 2 : fasted for 23 hours definitely did better than yesterday but will be much harder since I’m around plenty of junk food 😩
It's quite okay, you're not racing anybody and this is all great data for you. Keep at it and youll achieve the health goals youve set. I feel ya on being around all the junk food, maybe just try to visualize skull and cross bones superimposed on top of the junk😆 Stay strong💪
Hello I hope all is well with everyone! I’m away from “distractions” and will be starting today again at 12am. My goal is to stop on May 24th or if I’m feeling well I might extend it wish me luck! Hopefully I do better the second time around
Vision is connected with liver a lot, good to know that you get the best benefits around 25 days of fasting.. for you at least. Thanks for sharing. I love fasting but to start it's always a pain in the neck. You inspired me🙏💙💚💛
Hi! I didn't know the liver and vision are connected, thanks for the info. I totally relate, I love fasting too. But starting always seems so ughh lol! Thanks for taking the time here and hope your next fast goes well!
I can barely make it 32 hrs and only successfully did a 48 hr one time and here this guy is going 30 days. Genuinely amazing dude idk how you do it especially while your still working. My job is fairly physical so idk if that will effect it but dang I'm seriously impressed with the will power
I'm super proud of you. You are an amazing human being. I don't think I can watch others eat while fasting, but you did it! Bone broth looked different than I thought it would look like. You look thin enough. Thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks for the super kind words!😊 And yea, that's my super concentrated master broth lol. I make it the way my mom did for a Korean soup dish. It's basically bones reduced on a low rolling boil for days. So all the gelatin and marrow melts and makes it kinda rich and creamy=).
Hey Michael, thanks for sharing your experience on water fasting. I'm about 6'4 and weighed 347 lb at the start of my water fast 3 days ago - I originally intended to fast for at least however long it would take me to reach 300 lb (2 weeks-ish?) but I couldn't stop thinking about rice and chicken so I gave in today weighing at 337 lb (10 lb difference). But it's a brand new day and I'm determined to start over, this time never giving up! I hope to complete at least 2 weeks, and reach 300 lb by the end of it!
That’s still very good if your new to fasting . The more experience you get with it , the more you can manage these urges. Also make sure you are taking vitamins/minerals/electrolytes otherwise you will pass out .
@@michaelmerto Hey Michael, thanks for replying! I continued for another 3 days after I made that original comment and got down to 329 lb. Sadly I went back to my old ways and shot back up to 349 lb. But last Saturday I decided to do another water fast till today, in which I broke the fast 2 times, and am now 340 lb. (though before refeed I was 336 lb). I feel as if I'm not losing as much weight as I was the first time, or maybe it's in my head. Michael, if i weighed 340 lb now, do you think it's possible for me to reach 300 lb in 11 days if I water fasted and walked on the treadmill for 1 hour a day? Again thanks for replying, I hope to see more content from you soon!
Thanks so much for sharing! I just did a 1 day dry fast on my channel, but I definitely prefer water. My longest water fast is 5 days. I am not sure I will ever try 30 days. Blacking out would have scared me, you stayed so strong!
I stayed so... stupid for doing this fast without supervision lol! Thank you for watching! Great job on your dry fast, that seems super tough. and I like your braids😊
This is the most detailed video I have ever come across. I have watched many videos in a year but this is the first time I saw someoone who I can be related in terms of the discomfort I went through fasting
Thank you Michael for such a candid and detailed testimonial. I'm on day 8 of a 10 day fast and am watching fasting testimonials to not think about food. I like the idea of bone broth as a way to get back into eating.
@@michaelmerto i ended the fast on day 8 and it worked out that the refeed was a breakfast benny - not ideal, but i didn't feel any discomfort from it.
I have done 6 days water fasting and I lost about 5 kgs. I was 67.8 kgs and by the end of 6th day, I was at 62.8 kgs. However, I have gained weight back and now at 67.9 kgs. I have started my water fasting since yesterday and planning to go for 15 days this time. Wish me good luck folks!! I will let you know the results. 😀
Oh wow hey there! I wish you great luck and lots of health and success bud! Since its a pretty long fast, I'd take re-feeding slowly and hopefully that also minimizes the re-gain. I look forward to hearing your results and I hope you have a good experience. 💪
Why not do a 24/36 hour fast once a week after the long fast to keep it down?. Maybe 5:2 the first weeks. It is easy after a long fast, if you allow yourself 3-4 day eating after braking the fast.
Check out dr Mike isretel (Renaissance periodization) out on refeeding or on maintaince dieting as research shows that cutting quickly and with lots of diet restriction is more likely to result in relapse and weight regain without a conscious maintenance strategy. You have to reset a new weight settling point and let your physiology and stress factors stabilize.
I have 37.6lbs to lose, i am currently day 8 of my waterfast. Hoping to do it for 28 days. If by then ive lost say 30lbs, then ill continue it another 5/7 days to lose the other 7.6lbs. Then stop, ill do 2 days on liquid fast soups, broth, protein shake. Then start 3rd day on solids. I am anemic and diabetic type 2, so i check my glucose which is 3.6, 3.8, 4.2. Well done 👏
Ive done a few weeklong fasts, and man yea when you hit the boredom stage of not eating all the time as we are accustomed to ...you REALLY need some hobbies to take your mind away. I found that just going for a walk with some audio books playing helps quite a bit in that regard.
Hmm...second day of my fast. I don't intend to post my weight progress or have a set end day. However...I did begin for the purpose of reseting my appetite and reducing my weight. Not sure if it counterintuitive to not measure my weight, but it is all for the sake of my mental health! I will come back to this video when it is completed. It is nice to see someone else do it for motivation or or some form of solidarity. Thank you for this video!
thats awesome, thanks for sharing and congrats on finishing a 2nd day. i think the weighing topic depends on the person, it definitely helps me stay motivated but for me i can get obsessive and down if it doesnt move as much as id like it to, which is not a great indicator of health anyways. Thanks for sharing and I wish you great health and success.😊
your absolutely amazing and one of the strongest person's that I know. Iam 68 years old and have been threw Hell with emotional problems . I have been addicted to alcohol and drugs but never have I taking a antidepressant . I have been clean now for over 25 years but only because I gave all my proublems to Jesus . I don't go to a church and hardly read the bible but I have total faith that He is with me every second of the day . Great video my brother but Iam never doing a long fast after that.
lol I totally understand, that fast was kind of ridiculous. Super big congrats on being sober for 25 years now! I turned to alcohol at a very young age (10 years sober) and have been in the rooms/rehab so I think I understand the monumental challenges you must have faced to get clean. I'm extremely happy to hear your faith helped power you to a better place. Thanks for your kind words Terry but you sound darn amazing yourself. Hope you're doing well today!
@@michaelmerto you leave the best comments and they truly encourage me to stay on track . We have been doing keto for around 4 years and At age 68 I still run my HVAC business . We are going to retire at age 70 and travel . We love mich in the summer and we have a beautiful spot on a private lake only one other home on it . So we are taking great care of or self so we can finally stop and enjoy life . Take care and thanks for the Great video's
@@terrymoline8260 Aw thank you, your comments give me great motivation to be good. I know running a business can be stressful so Im excited to hear you're close to retiring and traveling! I think that's going to be a great, great thing. I can't wait for you guys to be able to really relax and enjoy the nuances of life. My last boss was a radiologist and lecturer. After looking at x-rays for so long, he started noticing difficulty identifying simple things like fractures. So he started turning them sideways and the x-rays started to "pop" again. This can happen to us in life too and he equated traveling to turning the x-ray scans sideways.
@@michaelmerto I have been doing OMAD for 2 months and only lost 5 lbs and want to lose 5 more that would put me at 175lbs my ideal weight. But I have learned the older the harder it is to get off but I will winn and I will let you know when I do get there. My plan is to go back on OMAD when my weight goes up to 78lbs till I return to 175lbs.
@@terrymoline8260 That all makes sense, I use to be able to drop significant weight just by doing 20min on the bike when I was younger. Now I gotta do all this fasting stuff and deal with plateaus. But from what little I know of your history, I'm positive your perseverance will get you to your goal. Please do let me know WHEN you do!
I have followed the Buchinger Wilhemi Institute protocol for long term fasting which allows for daily broth as long as calorie intake is under 250. I am in my third month. Lost 44 pounds and I am doing well so keeping going. I have 30 pounds more to lose for my initial goal, 50 more to lose to no longer be in the "obese" category. Thanks for your video. Having an example is really helpful!
Great video man, you have a wonderful personality. I’m currently on day 7 of my water fast. I’m aiming for 21 days, but depending on how I feel I may go for the 30. You’ve earned yourself a new subscriber, keep up the good work!
oh hi! thanks so much for the kind words😊 and whoa thats an epic goal! i hope it goes without any hitches and I hope you drop by to share some updates. And thanks for subscribing!!🙏
@@michaelmerto Hey Michael, I finished my fast so I thought I’d let you know how it went. I hit day 15 and decided to end my fast. I was really struggling with my mental health, and I felt like it would be best to stop. It wasn’t the 21 days I was aiming for, or even your incredible 30, but for my first ever water fast, I was happy with 15. Over the last few days I’ve started to eat again, which has been healthy meats and veg for the most part. However, I’ve decided I probably ate too much too soon, and I’m starting to not feel great. Because of this, I’m going to do a 3 day water fast, as I’ve heard that’s can be enough to reset your metabolism. Once that’s over, I’m going to transition into intermittent fasting. Thanks for the support you showed in your previous reply to me, I really appreciated it!
Hey bud! Thanks so much for the update and it sounds like you made a great decision to end the fast when you did. Im sorry you were dealing with mental health issues. You have to be safe first and I hope youre feeling better now. 15 days is a very long time, especially for your first water fast. That's incredible. I think youre right about suboptimal refeeding and not feeling great, I do hope the 3 day water fast resets things and you ramp back up probably slower than you think you need to just to be safe. Anyways, I appreciate your support too! Have a great weekend buddy.
I take the antidepressant Wellbutrin, and I can confidently say as well that fasting produced 10x better results. I’m so proud of you by the way! You’ve motivated me to try a 30 day, since the farthest I’ve gone was 21 💛 much love
21 days is truly amazing! that's great to hear that fasting has given you better results with the wellbutrin. curious, do you mean the anti-depressive effects or some of the off label uses as well like energy, cessation, appetite suppression?
@@michaelmerto Wellbutrin wasn’t exactly the best prescription, it made me very numb to any sort of emotion and my energy levels were off before and after taking it. I don’t take it anymore because of that. But when I was in the midst of taking it, I noticed that when I started fasting, especially prolonged, I was a lot more emotional, and I felt things a little more deeply, which I liked. As far as energy, it wasn’t till after a week of just fasting that my energy levels went up a ton, and they stayed up for the majority of the fast until the last 3 days, that’s when it kinda hit me. As far as appetite, when I was on Wellbutrin I still had some problems with binge eating, but I think that’s because I wasn’t feeling anything emotionally, so food kinda helped fill that “void.” After fasting, since I wasn’t hungry at all after day 8, I was able to control my appetite I think because I gained so much discipline. I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety since I was 14 so coming off of a long fast, it felt almost euphoric, like a deep breath because mentally I felt a bit better. Kind of like in your experience. My mental health overall went from like a 2 to about a 6. But some days it’s better or worse. I hope that gave enough detail! You can ask me more questions if you like! :)
Thanks for the feedback and watching! Just in case, here's the video I did about how I maintained the weight loss...ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-C86tOyyQaJ0.html Anyways, I hope you have an awesome weekend!🙏😊
The spiritual awaking is oftened intentional😊 it's actually when the mind becomes aligned in the form of knowing and how to respond in the waking hours is quite clear... Happy seeking
This is very interesting, I’m on my day two of my 30 day water fast. This is the first time I’m doing this challenges. I’ll keep coming here for motivation.
THIS...WAS...AWESOOOOME!! I love when you spoke about "the spiritual awakening." I could REALLY feel when you said that. GOD BLESS AND HATS OFF TO YOU for doing this 30 day fast. Definitely your willingness and faith has worked for you through this process. I'm currently on day 8 of a 31-day (1 meal a day) fast and I relate with you on constantly thinking about food. I'm not GIVING UP AND I'M FOR SURE EXPECTING A SPIRITUAL, AS WELL AS A PHYSICAL (HEALTH) CHANGE/SHIFT IN MY LIFE. GOD...BLESS...YOU!!🙏🏾💜🎉🎊✝️
thanks so much for taking the time! im stoked you can relate and i wish you lots of health on your fasting journey. i have all the confidence you can make your goals but please be safe too. 😊💪
wow, thats freakin awesome, already want to get the next one started lol?!!! 20 days is an epic feat, congrats! judging by your reaction, I assume that means the fast had benefits and you felt good overall...
Hi Michael :) I am on DAYT 5 of a 30 day fast. I am so determined to get to 30 days... I have my final day on July 15th; with my first meal on Saturday July 16th! I HOPE I can reply to this message and confirm that I made it! :) Thomas, Melbourne AUSTRALIA.
Thomas! I hope things are going well for you so far on your journey. 30 days is a long one so please stay cautious and be safe. My biggest concern would probably be taking the refeed process slowly. But I'm excited for your conviction and really hope things go smoothly and you experience a lot of benefit. I look forward to hearing about your progress!! Have a great weekend.💪
@@michaelmerto Thanks mate! I'm a vegan GP and am doing bloods once a week during the fast; and then starting with vege broth + steamed zucchini for the first day, then adding in some tofu to the broth for days 2-3, then some small fruits (non citrus) on day 4, before some mash potato and pumpkin and avocado on day 5 for a few days. All the meals will probably be twice a day and small portions, and Im going to do my bloods every two days for the first 8 days. I've approached it clinically and have seen my BP drop from 135 to 108 already. Amazing. Cheers Michael and I HOPE I can give you the good news in a few weeks that I made it to 30 days! It's just a mental game now mate.
@@michaelmerto Hi Michael! I completed the 30 days on Friday, last week. Was a huge grind towards the end. Became a lot more of 'mind over matter' rather than anything else. I broke the fast with a delicious piece of water mellon and some home made vege broth. I feel really really good. I am back on soups/steamed veges and tofu at the moment, and interestingly finding that I do not 'overeat' or pack my stomach as much as I did prior. My body has gone through a huge reset and healing, and I am so so so ultra proud of myself. All my blood tests came back fine, no issue with electrolytes and I am doing bi-weekly bloods for the next 2 weeks, just to make sure no issue with refeeding syndrome. I am so proud of myself and so pleased to have shed a total of 17kg (about 34-35pounds). best wishes Michael.
Hi Thomas! You are amazing, that's so cool to hear your background and approach!!! And huge CONGRATS!!!! (im really sorry for the late reply here, i lit up reading about your success). I hope the refeeding process went smoothly and that the reset was lasting. It was so cool to re-read the first message to the completion of 30 days, that's so epic.
@@michaelmerto Hi Michael! All well here! My refeeding went fine; bloods were fine. My liver enzymes were up for the first week, but this was more a result of the liver working hard during the fast to produce all those ketones and recycle things. Within a week it settled down. Feeling great mate. Thanks again for your support and your videos... they helped. Best wishes champ!
Wow! Wow! Wow! This is so inspiring! Seriously - I’m approaching day 4 of my fast and your story is helping me see the benefits of continuing. 🙏 Thank you!
@@michaelmerto fast was amazing went 100 hours and could have continued. I broke my fast more out of curiosity than of necessity. Looking forward to a few 48 hour + fasts this month. TRF of 20 hours is very easy for me now.
I am currently on a water fast. This is day 7. I am shooting for 11 days, possibly 15. You have inspired me. You look great and sound great. Your video has inspired me.
Thanks bud! I truly appreciate that, the kind feedback and the subscription.🙏 And I'm trying to keep them going, it's been fun and informative interacting in the comments!😊
I heap praise onto you for being so open and honest. Such a great and sincere episode. I'm so glad I watched this and at a minimum I had to sub. Cheers mate.
thanks bud! i appreciate the kind words and the sub. glad im able to contribute like the other honest yt folks out there sharing their journey. thanks again and i hope you're doing well😊
@@michaelmerto thanks! Easter has been interesting with my parents undergoing a 40 hour fast- but I think I’ll ease into fasting with the 16:8 method for now. Have a great holiday 😊🐰🌸🗿
Michael, watching your video had me crying and feeling like the female version of you. I'm sorry for everything you've been battling. I deeply respect that your fasting journey was far beyond superficial desires and appreciate your genuine story. I'm glad that you reached out for additional help and seem to be in a healthier place. Everyday is a fight and I pray for your continued strength and peace through it all.
aww, thats very touching to me. Your empathy but also because you relate to it. Thank you for reaching out and sharing your words with me. That means a great deal. It is unfortunately a daily fight, some days an easy one, other days a challenging one. But every day is an opportunity to learn more. Since you can relate, I hope your journey is ultimately a rewarding one with good people and many happy, fulfilling moments. Thank you again and for just being you. Be well.🙏💪😊
This is the video I was looking for. I’m starting a fast for the second time (it’s now 12/20) and all the previous videos I watched featured people who just seemed too happy about not eating for 30 days! I just wanted to see someone, a regular person who talked about the benefits but also didn’t make light of the struggles. One thing that helped me the first time I fasted this year was watching vegan cooking videos and imagining all the food I would make once I stopped fasting. I’m gonna continue doing my research and taking notes and just being mindful of what my body and spirit is saying. Anyway, Thank you for sharing your story - it makes me want to try and see this through 🙏🏽💕
Hi! Thanks so much for sharing your observations and what you were looking for. Im stoked you found the video useful😊 Definitely wasnt always happy about not eating but hunger did become easier to deal with after like 3 or so days. I totally get you about cooking, it acually helped me and recently too. I really hope you meet your health goals and you sound like you're in a good place with listening to your being. hope you have a warm holidays and stay safe!
Good work on the 30 day fast! It’s so restorative! The most I’ve done is 4 days, but I want to go for longer. Have you seen Dr. Alan Goldhamer’s interview with Rich Roll on the 40 day water fast?
Thanks bud! And 4 days is awesome💪 I haven't checked out that vid yet, I just havent gotten around to it yet, but I will now for sure. Be well and hope you have a great next fast!
I really do appreciate your videos, thank you. I'm on Day 3, which I wrote you in another video, and I saved several of your videos, along with a few others from various channels, and I am watching those each day to remain happy during this time of my life. It was difficult having no more food in my home and no money to purchase anything, however, I am thankful that I could turn this to good and I feel and see physical improvements, so it's worth it to me. :)
Well done. Very inspiring. Your videos are excellent: You present well, you are very relatable, the topics you talk about are interesting and relevant to many, and your editing/production is top level. Please keep doing these and there is no doubt you will gain 100x the current subscribers.
Thank YOU so much! thats an amazingly generous feedback. Your support and encouragement makes doing this so rewarding. I hope you've been well and are in good health. Thank you again!!😊🙏
Awesome Job!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼❤️ The most I’ve done is 16 days, and that was tough! 🤣 I noticed the mental focus/clarity and energy spike right away. I’m doing another round, and I’m on day 5 right now. My goal is also 30 days! Wish me luck! 🤞🏼By the way, you look Amazing! Big difference, especially in the face. That’s where I always start to lose my weight. ☺️💯
Thank you so much!!😊😊🙏 And great job to you! Sounds like you're a fasting pro, 16 days is serious business. I'm so glad you noticed the focus and energy spikes too! I do wish you luck AND success with your goals AND great health! And please be safe and smart during this fast. I'm rooting for you!!💪
@@michaelmerto I appreciate the kind words. And thank you for responding! I also wish you the best of luck on your healthy journey through life. It's AMAZING how much of a difference it makes when you truly start taking care of your body. As hard as it is to get on track, it's sad how easy it is to fall off the wagon as well. I hope that we BOTH stay on this path for life! It's much easier to make the changes now, while we are young!
@@marinav3609 Of Course! I appreciate you taking the time. And totally, hardest part is starting. Maintaining gets easy but falling off is just too easy. I hope we both stay on the healthy path too! Sending you warm wishes and strength on your fast😊
I finished 36 ritual fast week and half ago and before that I used to do OMAD. After that I did 48 hours but I realized I was dring acv with ginger so my blood sugar gone down to 3.2 and I stopped. Now I learned my lesson and will try 7 days next week but still do OMAD. I lost 20lb and I need to take off another 40lb. Yes we can let us motivate each other. Thank you 😊
I’m going for 6 days brother. All water fast. If all goes well I may go on further. Thank you for the video. Sheez, if it’s possible I may just go on further to see if we can do 30 or more days. This is so exciting! I shall share my journey and results if y’all are interested.
Im 16 , and im so fat. Everytime i look in the mirror and think of all this fat on me i just cry. I miss when i was skinny, things really do change when your fat.😭
Im sorry you feel that way, I felt that way at that age and you shouldn't have to have this as a stress. It gets better, skinny or not, and other things become more important. In the meantime, there are things you can do now to set yourself up for a healthy future. Get curious about yourself, look at the causes and routines that cause the fat and slowly work to fix it. Youre still growing though, so I wouldnt change too drastically unless the weight is a serious health issue right now. Please keep your head up, ive been there and i know it sucks.
I feel exactly the same as you except everybody tells me I'm really skinny I can't see it (40kg) I just want to not eat for 30 days like this guy so I can be pretty. I hope you feel ok about yourself in the future, I'm sure you will soon feel better
@@jessicamcivor6493 Hi! Kinda sucks to hear you dont want to eat so you can be pretty. Those are separate and subjective to me and a lot more goes into attractiveness imo (like cleanliness, confidence, humor, and an immense desire to do/be/achieve something specific) but I understand the feeling. That being said 88 pounds is very light weight at almost any height it seems, I just hope youre healthy. Its very kind of you to lend support to others and I hope you are as supportive to yourself as well.
Good shit Michael. I’m on Day 1. Not a fasting novice myself. I have done three 7 days, and one 14 day. Aiming for 28 days this time. I am doing it for mental health reasons as well as the added bonus of shedding waste and fat. I also got an eye infection last year which has caused scarring on my cornea. It will be interesting to (literally) see if that heals itself. Wish me luck. Wishing you love.
i wish you lots of luck and am sending you warmth and love too🙏 I hope you get some good relief and health improvements. and great job with all your other fasts, those are epic too. id be interested to hear how/if it helps your eye too, please leave an update whenever you can!💪
I just started water fast for 3 days but couldn't resist mom's homemade food haha but I'll re-do it again. Started 01/11/23 : 96.5kg Break the fast but ate one meal a day like apple, tomato, or one orange. Current weight after semi-water fast hh : 91.3kg 06/11/23 I'll update starting tomorrow
Going back to the root cause of Michael's water fasting, it absolutely makes sense given the emotional, spiritual and physical benefits of water fasting. In awe of your successful completion🥳 I have attempted several times too lol. Pretty impressive to be able to see your overall improvement after the 30 day fast!!
Thanks so much! Perhaps I personally was able to since i didnt have a goal, I just sort of went a day at a time and before i knew it i was close to 30! 🤷♂️ regardless, thanks for joining me on this journey and i hope youre having an awesome day!
Let's goo babyyy, Im doing water fast but rn Im at my 10th day, I didn't update this earlier cause I was afraid that I will quit somehow in the earliest day of my fasting, so here we go! Day 1 = 116 kg/253.5 lbs Day 2 = 114 kg/251.32 lbs Day 3 = 112.4 kg/247.7 lbs Day 4 = 111.6 kg/246 lbs Day 5 = 109.5 kg/241.4 lbs Day 6 = 108.5 kg/239.2 lbs Day 7 = 107 kg/235. 9lbs Day 8 = 106.5 kg/234.8 lbs Day 9 = 105.3 kg/232.1 lbs Day 10 = 104.4 kg/230.1 lbs Day 11 = 104.4 kg/230.1 lbs (maintain) Day 12 = 102.9 kg/227 lbs Day 13 = 102.8 kg/226 lbs Day 14 = 102 kg/224.8 lbs Day 15 = 101 kg/222.6 lbs Day 16 = 102 kg/ 225 lbs (don't know why im gaining) Day 17 = 100.2 kg/ 220.9 lbs (been working out) Day 18 = 99.5 kg / 219 lbs Day 19 = 99.35 kg / 218 lbs Day 20 = 98.9 kg/ 217.5 lbs Start from now, I will update daily until I reach my 20 days water fasting goal! I've done it guys! Breaking the fast is the best part😁 everything taste very delicious even simple broth and watermelon! I'll be doing this water fasting again in the future💪 ps: the hardest part was the 3rd to 4th days earliest in this journey, I was feeling hungry all the time, my stomach growled so bad at that time, but after some days, it was getting easier n easier, trust me, so don't quit if you feel hungry in the earliest day, u just hv to try to push a little bit, but always consult ur doctor bfr doing it
Wow, wow! Congrats bud! 10 days and over 23 pounds is freaking great. Thanks for updating and sharing encouragement. I look forward to your next update and you're doing great!💪
thanks to you bud! you're putting in all the hard work. and you will reach your goal💪. Just be reasonable and safe and listen to yourself if things get odd. Otherwise, I think what you're doing is amazing and very few people would even dare to try, takes a strong person to make it as far as you have so far! Im rooting for you bud!
@@michaelmerto bro, I've done it, I've reached my 20 days goal, and right now I wanna rest and give my body a little time and I will do this again in the future! I'm very happy as I was always a 100+ kg person, right now I think I've improved my confidence level and my mindset a little bit, thanks bruh
I never comment on anything but I just wanted to say this was a very cool and informative video, thanks for sharing your experience, glad it helped you!
Hey, you look so much like my nephew who is half Hispanic and half Korean. He's my late brother's son whom, because of anti-depressants, took his own life 10 years ago. Get off those meds, Michael. Like your friend said, if you can do a 30-day fast, you can do anything. So, get off the meds and work on being happy, listen to music, seek Jesus, go to church if you don't already do and your life will turn around in no time. God bless you.
Thank you so much for reaching out with your concern. It's very humbling. I'm sorry to hear about your late brother. My preference is 100% to not be on meds and am doing what I can to get there. I appreciate you sharing your and your brother's story. It's motivational and a great reminder. Thank you again and be well too.🙏
It's very common for antidepressants when trialing to find the appropriate antidepressant will lead to more depression or suicidality sadly. So the time period of finding the proper medication is a very difficult time. Sorry about the loss. Also we should probably stop stigmitzing the use of antidepressants or other psych medication as some people do need it to live more stable lives. -nurse
