Fasting, simply put, means consuming nothing. Specifically, it refers to abstaining from grains—a practice adopted by Taoist alchemists as a method for cultivating immortality. Drink plenty of water during the fast.
Note: Avoid sugary drinks and milk during fasting, as these acidic substances can cause metabolic acidosis. Refrain from consuming anything hot, avoid sitting near fires, and do not use heating appliances.Daily cold water body rinses and mouth rinses are permitted; warm baths are prohibited. If discomfort becomes unbearable, pause the fast and resume once the body recovers. It turns out abstaining from food isn't as agonizing as imagined. See the detailed, honest account by netizen whl77824: Morning of Day 12: Weight 66kg. Consumed only several cups of chrysanthemum tea throughout the day with no adverse effects. Retired at 9:30 PM.
Weight on the 13th: 65 kg. Again, only a few cups of chrysanthemum tea. Felt hungry around lunchtime, but sat with colleagues watching them eat without taking a single bite. Went to bed very early, before 9 PM, only to wake up starving at 4 AM. Felt heat in my hands and feet, sweating profusely.Drank several cups of flower tea. No hunger at all today, but felt chills all over around 4 a.m.
15th Weight: 63 kg. Tricked myself into eating an apple. Felt great after three cups of flower tea. Walked around for three hours at night without feeling tired at all. My weight has never dipped below 60 kg before. This time, I'm aiming to lose weight and regulate my body—giving it a thorough cleanse.
16th Weight: 62 kg. Went to bed too late last night, so I slept until almost 10 AM. Fortunately, when I craved food most last night, I was busy with something else, so it passed easily—just a fleeting thought. Woke up feeling great this morning, drank a small cup of water, and even helped the water delivery guy carry a bucket up to the third floor.I wish I could lose a kilo every day like this! But after reading up, I learned weight loss tends to plateau once you get close to your goal. Fasting has dual regulatory effects—it genuinely helps the overweight slim down and the leaner become healthier. I'll persevere and keep pushing!
(PS: Only had one bowel movement on the third day; nothing at all these past two days—so frustrating!)
Weight on the 17th: 62 kg (My scale is analog; though it didn’t quite hit 62, it definitely didn’t look like 61.5 either, so I’ll round it up). Yesterday I walked about a kilometer, then sat down to work without much extra exercise. Went to bed very early.Then I woke up at 3 AM and couldn't fall back asleep for an hour or two. When I woke up in the middle of the night, my mind was filled with thoughts of delicious food. Luckily, there were no snacks or ready-to-eat meals at home—otherwise, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to resist.
Weight on the 18th: 61 kg. (The needle finally pointed precisely to 61 kg). Today I feel great—I didn’t even want water when I woke up. After a busy morning, I’m not the least bit tired. I’m impressed with myself! I told my husband how I feel, and he said I’m turning into an immortal. So far, I’ve only had about 300 ml of water.
Lynn has also heard that fasting truly benefits the body's natural detoxification and cleansing. Here are some basics about grain-free fasting:
Grain-free fasting aids weight loss and body purification.
It clears the body's storage, expels toxins, calms the mind, brings clarity about life, reveals truth, and unlocks potential.The primary purpose of grain-fasting is to cleanse the body internally, eliminating toxins accumulated from overeating, poor dietary habits (such as picky eating or excessive consumption of rich, greasy foods), insufficient exercise, and medication. It transforms the body's energy from impure to pure, promotes smooth circulation of qi and blood, and consequently enhances the skin's external appearance, making it smooth and beautiful.Simultaneously, fasting significantly enhances digestive and nutritional absorption capabilities, boosts vitality, and activates the body's latent functions and innate unique qualities. The Taoist master Lü Dongbin stated: "To seek longevity, keep the belly clear; to avoid death, ensure the intestines are free of residue."
1. Weight Changes
Weight loss is most pronounced from the first to the fifth day of fasting, averaging 1 to 2 kilograms daily. From the fifth day onward, daily weight loss typically ranges from 0.5 to 1 kilogram, continuing at a gradually decreasing rate thereafter (though exceptions may occur depending on individual constitution and compliance).
2. Physiological Changes
During fasting, hypertension patients experience significant blood pressure reduction, while some hypotension patients may see slight increases. However, senses like vision, hearing, and touch become heightened, and memory and associative thinking improve. White blood cell counts remain stable during the first week of fasting,beginning to increase on the 7th day and rising rapidly from the 11th day, with daily increases of 1.57 times or more. This indicates that fasting can enhance the body's immunity. Some individuals may emit a distinctive odor from their entire body during fasting, including foul-smelling breath. This occurs because metabolic waste and toxic substances are being expelled through the skin.
3. Changes in Tongue Coatings
Early in fasting, oral viscosity increases. Observing the tongue in a mirror reveals a yellow coating, and some may even develop a black coating. This rarely clears within 10 days. However, continuing the fast leads to a clean tongue, signifying toxin elimination and purification of both body and mind.