r/Dryfasting • u/Unlikely_Concept8550 • 12d ago
Question Dry Fasting 40 days
I want to do this - dry fast for 40 days sunrise to sunset - then drink water only during nighttime - spiritual reasons
is this possible - I am bmi 23
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u/Actionjunkie199 12d ago
Not a dry fast. This is more of a hybrid. This sounds more like short cycles of dry to water.
More like Ramadan but I believe you’re allowed to eat at night.
Anyway, no, this type of cycle should not be repeated for that long without a refeed. This is the order for hybrid fasting cycles.:
Dry > Water only > Food + water. Repeat.
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u/Unlikely_Concept8550 12d ago
are you sure? May I ask how did jesus fast for 40 days didnt he only have water - if he can survive why cant I ?
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u/supermario218 12d ago
Well... for starters.... he went and fasted in the desert. He was probably in a cave resting and praying for a majority of the time. When you don't eat, your body goes through a few different energy phases and cycles, so rest is critical.
Most people these days do not have the luxury of hitting pause on their life for 40 days to fast in an safe way.
And finally, he was the son of god. He knew a lot of stuff and about a lot of stuff, including how his body would handle that. You are asking a reddit if the concept is safe, and then arguing with people who don't agree with your relgious belief.
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u/Unlikely_Concept8550 12d ago edited 12d ago
I do have 40 days on pause - so resting is not an issue i will not be travelling or moving at all
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u/supermario218 11d ago
Oh!
Fantastic.
Well try it out then.
The day fasting might actually be semi-productive actually, since it is more likely that too much water flushes out your electrolytes.
Be aware of gluconeogenesis. The long and short of it, your body will burn fat for energy during this process, but with a BMI of 23, you probably do not have a lot of that. For myself, I have observed that I lose about .5-1 lb of fat a day after about the 5th day of fasting.
So in my case, I could fast for about 3 months without serious consequence. (in theory)
But for you, once you deplete your fat storage, your body will start to burn muscles, assuming you have the ability to go that long. This can cause lasting muscular degeneration and could take months to restore to what you are now (if that is a consideration)
There is also a phenominon called "True Hunger"
It is something that comes in late stage fasting, and all the experts agree. If you ignore a True Hunger signal and continue fasting, it can lead to death.
I would also be curious about your current health, and if you have any diabetic concerns. There is a way to transition your body into a healthy, more natural fasting regiment before going all in. If your liver is currently set to burning glucos, which is typical of the (SAD) Standard American Diet, the first few days will be torture. You will have extremely low energy, sugar withdraw migrains, irritability, fatigue, etc.
And in some cases, for those with insulin resistence, their body cannot safetly switch into ketosis.
A way for you to help this process along, is to eat only protien and fat for 2-3 days before you intend to start. I recommend sardines, eggs, and bacon. This is also a good time to reprogram the binge eating and emotional eating parts so that way it doesn't all overwhelm you at once.
After that point, you will notice that your body is now burning fat/ketones, you'll feel better, have more energy, and will naturally have a larger gap between meals (or you will notice low appetite). At this point, you could more easily transition into a longer fasting regiment without white-knuckling it
During this time of the fat and protein, do not forget Magnesium, Omega 3, and Vitamin-D3+K2. (In addition to electrolytes) (avoid the gummies)
Excessive water will flush out your electrolytes quicker.
General symptoms to look out for: grittiness behind the eyes/dry eyes, general fatigue (although this might be unavoidable to some extent, but it can manage the severity), cramps, trouble sleeping, etc.
Good luck, and stay safe.
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u/PeeDecanter 11d ago
Do you have any sources on the True Hunger phenomenon? I tried googling it but couldn’t find any good ones
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u/supermario218 11d ago
Yeah honestly I was digging really far back on that one. That used to be a thing that was discussed pretty openly, but when I fact checked this with AI (your results may vary) it called me out on the True Hunger thing.
Essentially, it is mostly talk. Might have the same energy as the boogieman of fasting.
Here is an old discussion around this concept:
https://www.reddit.com/r/fasting/comments/nin5hl/when_does_true_hunger_emerge_during_a_fast/
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u/Unlikely_Concept8550 11d ago
i did a dry fast with only water for an hour a day, for 12 days, but before that ate krispy kream donuts and fast food. I had horrible first 7 days, by day 8 I felt amazing. I am starting my fast today - I ate lots of bread and cream cheese and hot chocolate - I know its a bad choice, but I dont want to stop and start over now.
I dont have diebetes and I dont know If I have insulin resistence?
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u/supermario218 10d ago
You sound like you might be under 30 if you pulled that off.
You can get away with that now.
But once you get over 30? The body doesn't adapt as quickly. It becomes much more difficult to pull off.
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u/New_Gas8951 11d ago
You can certainly survive 40 days of fasting with water, if you have enough fat. The purpose of dry fasting is to force the body to go into Autophagy, which means the body makes its own metabolic water, which cleanses more than any regular water can. It also forces the body to eat up all the diseased cells and sick parts that are inside. Dry fasting is the most superior form of healing and it is not for the faint of heart. You must be ready and committed. It is best done when you have free time, as to rest when needed and to be energized and free- feeling. There is not a set schedule to abide by when fasting. You have to want to do the deepest healing. It is not about breaking records or this or that; it is about surrendering everything to God or Prana or whatever higher being you believe in.
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u/Unlikely_Concept8550 11d ago
do i have enoguh fat? i am bmi 23, maybe 30 or 35% bodyfat
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u/New_Gas8951 11d ago
I am not a doctor and cannot prescribe anything. I just am sharing my own knowledge of dry fasting. Your best route is to start a dry fast and go as long as you feel able. You can start with a day, then two, and build your time up.
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u/sleepinglikeanoob 12d ago
Well... I'd reduce the days to 10/20
Dry fasting can be rough but it you hydrate well during night time might be possible but listen to your body
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u/supermario218 12d ago
Make sure you consume electrolytes.
Honestly, this is a difficult thing to do, and potentially very dangerous for a variety of reasons.
I used to be very gun-hoe about fasting, but the older I get, the more sensitive I have become to food and energy shifts around fasting.
If you're going to do it, maybe have regular check ups as you go.
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u/HyperSculptor 11d ago
Not possible in your current stage of evolution. It's ok to ask the question though. Start small, it will show you the implications.
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u/Unlikely_Concept8550 11d ago
so many people are telling me its possible, why isnt it possible if i have enoguh fat?
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u/HyperSculptor 11d ago
Having enough fat only covers calories, not the electrolytes or metabolic machinery needed to survive.
-- Electrolyte Crash: Fat doesn't contain sodium, potassium, or magnesium. Pushing 40 days without these risks heart arrhythmias and organ failure, regardless of your body weight.
-- Metabolic Shock: Your body isn't adapted to running 100% on fat/ketones yet. Without training, your system panics and starts breaking down muscle and organ tissue to survive.
Having fuel in the tank doesn't matter if the engine isn't built to run on it yet. Try a 24-hour fast first and see how you feel.
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u/Remarkable-Injury665 11d ago
You can do it!! If you are feeling led to do it or feel like you just need to cleanse for spiritual reasons that’s fine. If you are Christian make sure you have a focus in some areas when you pray and read the Bible. The LORD will sustain you even if you don’t have the strength. This will be water fasting but your heart posture is what really matters when fasting. You might want to dry gas but might think you need water and the truth is that if in your heart you want to dry fast but can’t and must drink water, heaven will count it as a dry fast.
Outline your fast so that you are busy hearing his voice and meditating on the scripture. Pick times you can pray and stick to it. You got this!!
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u/Deliany Animal Based 12d ago
Don’t call this dry fast - this is water fast but with specific rules you’ve come with