5 Day Water Fast - (A 7-Day Fast Attempt!)

[@kaijaful]

I began my fasting journey two years ago and this year I was able to complete a 21 day water fast! It was a journey and something I'll never forget. Fasting has definitely changed my life!

[@ChrisBranch]

Amazing! Did you do the 21 days on a retreat of sorts, of did you go about everyday life as normal? I would also say it's been life changing for me - thanks for your comment ☺️🙏

[@kaijaful]

@@ChrisBranch Sort of. I did it during quarantine since I was off work for 6 weeks. I was at home mostly and did a little exercise here and there. It was a great experience and a memory I'll have forever. I documented my journey as well. Would love if you could check it out and let me know what you think!

[@ChrisBranch]

@@kaijaful brilliant, I'll watch that later, I'm intrigued! ☺️🙏

[@YT313YT]

How did you break your fast? Thank you for sharing! 💛

[@mylifeasroxyr1306]

Im currently on my second day of my water fast i use electrolytes during my fast and it really helps when you experience lack of energy

[@C-U-IN-H3LL]

On my third, day 2 I was really hungry but pushed thru it. 7 days is the goal. Starting to feel a lift in mood because I’ve been in quite a dark place for sometime

[@immnotaboutthatlife2086]

Did a full body cardio weight training program everyday while on the 7 day fast. I was depleted by day 5 but once the workout was done, I felt good and actually did a walk in the evening. So it is possible to workout and fast but I don’t think I could have gone longer than 7 days working out. I definitely felt the most benefit after day 4. I watched Naked and Afraid to help motivate me, lol. They can’t even get clean water and they are out there in the wind, rain, and cold while having to build shelter, fire, and hunt for food. I figure, I have it easy. I have access to clean water and it’s my choice not to eat. Can’t get any easier compared the those on N&A. I also love the quote someone wrote online. It’s okay if someone else decides they can’t but I decided I can so I did. Good luck on your health journey everyone!

[@ChrisBranch]

Thank you for this wonderful comment. I haven't heard of that film, I'll watch it. And yes, I think I could have gone through the extra days if it was just me, but I was worried about looking after my kids well if I continued. I made lots of mistakes and I definitely want to do it again with better preparation. Good luck on your journey too 🙏

[@fish070912]

yes, fasting is always most benificial when combined with resting. that's how the body can use the energy to cleanse and heal itself.

[@ChrisBranch]

Totally, I learnt that the hard way! (Or the stupid way 🤔)

[@JordanPike]

Day 7 of my 7 day water fast! I understand why you felt like breaking yours after 5! Seven miles of walking with a backpack in London... yikes. You should listen to the Dr. Alan Goldhamer interview on the Rich Roll Podcast. The info in that is gold for fasting. He advises completely resting during a water fast and allowing your body to focus all it's energy on the healing benefits that you receive while fasting. Cheers!

[@JordanPike]

Reading through the comments I do see someone else recently said the point about resting as well. :P

[@ChrisBranch]

Well done! That's amazing! And yes, I was a complete donut trying to be so active. I really want to try it again and be more restful, I'm sure I can do the full 7 days if I do it properly - I just need to find a time to fit it in with family. I'll give the podcast a listen too - I recently went vegan so I've been devouring his podcast for inspiration! ☺️🙏

[@JordanPike]

@@ChrisBranch dude, I'm so happy to hear that! I was tempted to drop a snarky vegan comment like, maybe you should be more intentional about eating a whole foods plant based diet! Lol, I would never actually say those things seriously though. Doesn't help anything. And yes! The Rich Roll Podcast THE BEST. So many amazing episodes. The James Aspey one actually got me to finally pull the trigger on cutting dairy completely out of my diet. Happy for you brother! 👊🏻

[@ChrisBranch]

Haha brilliant 😂 I'm feeling really good on it, I've just done some blood tests after 6 weeks (I'm making a video about it too so keep an eye out if you're interested) and they came back the best they've ever been. I think it works for me ☺️

[@JordanPike]

@@ChrisBranch hell yeah man. Will do! I did a blood test a while back as well and the numbers were pretty astounding. :P

[@MsLaney234]

I just completed a 6 day fast. It was meant to be 7 days but I was feeling to sleepy and weak. I have 4 small children (7,2,2,1) with limited help, it was becoming difficult to take care of them. I lost 13.2 pounds in the process.

[@ChrisBranch]

Oh wow, you did it looking after 4 children! Amazing work!

[@MsLaney234]

Chris Branch thank you!!! I honestly don’t think I’ll do a prolonged fast again. Unless I have some more help with my kids lol. Thank you for your video!

[@ChrisBranch]

@@MsLaney234 haha I'm in the same mind frame! I want to try the 7 days again, but it's got to be super chill ... which will probably be in 15 years time when the kids leave home! 🤦‍♂️

[@MsLaney234]

Chris Branch Exactly lol. You still did great man. It takes will power and discipline to do what you did. You still get the credit for your effort 🙂

[@richardlawson6787]

Just go to one meal a day ...I guarantee you will lose weight fast and easy

[@fittaku]

Water fasting help me big time Losing weight is not easy…🔥🔥🔥 It takes a lot of hard work and dedication. And while there are no shortcuts to reaching your health and fitness goals, looking back 6 months ago I was 264lbs but now I’m 163lbs. I was pure sacrifice, so I’m here to encourage you not to give up 🔥🔥🔥

[@ChrisBranch]

Wow that's amazing! Well done on all that hard work ☺️🙏

[@steven5746]

My brother is around 260lbs like when you first started. Just did a 4 day fast with him and hes down 10 lbs. did you knock down all the weight in one go? Or was it a bunch of smaller extended fasts?

[@richardlawson6787]

Actually the body sheds weight fast and easy when fasting so I disagree it's hard work...hard work is trying to gain weight but losing weight is easy and automatic...it's easy people!!!

[@carbonpictures]

MY story. I went to bed Sunday night after eating a pizza, big bag of chips, 6 pack of beer and a couple cocktails. Woke up Monday at 7. Fell back asleep. Got back up at 11 and had to cancel work. Felt so horrible I decided to stop everything and go on a fast. I had done one 10 years ago for 3 days and knew I'd feel great after a couple days. I stayed on for 128 hours till Saturday morning. I went from 155lbs to 144.2lbs. I did moderate exercise for an hour as much as my body would handle. TRUTH- this time I felt out of it till Friday. It's now saturday morning as I type and I'm drinking coffee and going to eat in about an hour. I feel like a new man...Fasting works- even if you dont do it right- it's the hardest "easy" thing you'll ever do.

[@ChrisBranch]

I love that! "The hardest easy thing you'll ever do" is so right. People often ask me how to do it, and I'm like, 'well, you just don't eat stuff'. It helps to eat healthily leading up to it, but you don't have to (as you've proven!) , you just need to make the decision and the benefits lie waiting for you on the other side of a few days of hardship. Easy. Thanks for sharing your story and I'm so glad you are feeling better 😊🙏

[@sterlingforbes3872]

Dude, your voice is so soothing! You should be making money off audio books or something :-) kudos on your fasting journey and thanks for sharing.

[@ChrisBranch]

😂 thanks so much! And funnily enough, you're not the first person to tell me that :) Maybe there's a side-hustle for me... 🤔

[@MyBelch]

I just passed day 5 on my way to 7. I feel OK. But hungry. It's my first fast. Water only. My wife says my face, hands, and feet are noticeably thinner, with no swelling or puffiness. I don't feel spiritual or meditative. Just hungry. 48 hours to go.

[@ChrisBranch]

Amazing! You're doing better than I did, and I can't believe your first fast is a 7-day one 💪 The weightloss is short lived - you face will fill out again over the next few days. And I know what you mean about the spiritual feeling - it comes in waves, but so does the hunger - it will pass ... Or not, and that's why I failed at day 5! Good luck with the rest of it 🙏

[@MyBelch]

@@ChrisBranch Finished up today with a big glass of apple cider vinegar/water and 3 scrambled eggs. Man, I'm full! :)

[@ChrisBranch]

@@MyBelch bliss ☺️🙏 enjoy feeling light and clean, both physically and mentally, for a while now. Well done, that's an amazing first effort 🙏

[@SweeturKraut]

Speaking of birthdays. I’m doing a seven day fast (my first) in the run up to my 40th birthday.

[@ChrisBranch]

Wonderful! What a lovely way to mark your next decade. I hope you do better than I did ☺️🙏

[@monicamccarthy3782]

Ah Chris well done on the fast and the video. 👏 I've done a few three days but, like you, I feel I want to go further and this video really helped. I think I might try a four day...before a five day...based in your report🙏

[@ChrisBranch]

Honestly, I'm sure I could have gone through until at least 6 days if I wasn't so active on day 4 and 5. I felt SO good on day 4 that I stopped listening to my body and pushed through when I should have been resting more. Maybe just have a goal of 'going more than 3 days' - you'll know when to stop and it may well be a whole week later..!

[@patriciaacevedo4429]

Thanks thanks, you sound genuine, it is a similar experience that I had.

[@ChrisBranch]

Thanks so much. I hope you got the benefits you were looking for 🙏

[@patriciaacevedo4429]

@@ChrisBranch hola, I think I having good results, a clear mind, a more sense of myself, more control of of what I eat, a better mood, an overall wellness, more energy, it takes time but fasting gives its results, practice makes the master, anything you want to share you are welcome, not all fasting endurances are the same, sometimes you can sometimes you can not, the energy you have is barely to live your normal life and do basics doings.

[@patriciaacevedo4429]

@@ChrisBranch I am in my fifth day fasting now man, I do not know what is going to happen.

[@blinkspacestudio8892]

5 days is amazing. I have only been doing 3 days max and Im ok with that for now.

[@ChrisBranch]

My 7-day attempt was more of a personal challenge / spiritual thing; I don't think it's necessary from a health perspective. I haven't tried again since this video because my life is too hectic, but I would like to try again one day. Since then I've been doing lower level fasting and the occasional 3-day fast, and this feels good for my health - I don't need more right now either. Good luck with it 😊🙏

[@MrPunchStrong]

Thank you, this is really making me think about food.... think I will try a 4-5 day fast soon 👊🏼 Want to get that day 4 feeling

[@ChrisBranch]

Nice one Alex! Yeah, day 4 is really interesting, it's eerie how much easier it is than day 2 and 3

[@magicaree]

I'm on day 4 and feel absolutely dreadful

[@ChrisBranch]

@@magicaree Oh no! Well we're all different, there are so many variables involved. As I said in the video, if you feel REALLY bad, there's nothing wrong with breaking the fast. The annoying thing I find about fasting is that often the discomfort comes in waves - you might feel amazing in a couple of hours!

[@magicaree]

@@ChrisBranch Appreciate the reply Chris. I'm on day 5 now and so so much easier today! I really think much of the desperation to eat is because of the early detox symptoms. I think we are programmed to mis-read detox discomfort for hunger. Today I feel much more in control

[@ChrisBranch]

@@magicaree fantastic! I'm so pleased! And yes, I totally agree. Well done for pushing through 👊

[@carospinks]

thanks for the video, day 5 tomorrow beginning to miss food although I have not felt hungry. lets see….

[@ChrisBranch]

Oh wow, congratulations! You're doing a lot better than me 😂🤦‍♂️ I still have unfinished business with the 7-day fast. I feel like a marathon runner that bonked at 22 miles and couldn't finish. I'll try again when I can plan a restful week. Best of luck with your fast, I hope it goes well 🙏🙏🙏

[@DylanPompa]

Great video!

[@ChrisBranch]

Thanks Dylan ☺️🙏

[@dobiedogdebbie4859]

That's a fantastic video Chris, really informative and supportive. Thank you

[@ChrisBranch]

Thanks so much Debbie :)

[@opral4679]

A 5-day water fast was your birthday treat? That feels so wrong! Makes me feel so sad lol

[@ChrisBranch]

🤣🤣🤣 don't be sad, I enjoyed it in a strange way 😊 and it stopped me stuffing my face with cake too..!

[@mattjeandons1004]

hi can you water fast and also go gym or nah ?

[@ChrisBranch]

I would suggest listening to your body and making the decision as you go. On 3-day fasts I normally train on day 1 to accelerate the depletion of glycogen, then take it easy on day 2 and 3. On this attempt to do 7 days, I regret being as active as I was and wish I took it easy from the beginning. So I guess it depends how long you're aiming for and how you feel :)

[@bruceakido6675]

Am only doing it for the mentality and brain health.

[@ChrisBranch]

This is the best reason, I think 😊🙏

[@tastenc42]

Christ what did you eat to break your fast

[@ChrisBranch]

I had a mug of bone broth and some scrambled eggs. Then an hour or so later I had a home-cooked vegetable soup and ate it very slowly. Hope that helps 😊🙏

[@bohemianphotographer6843]

One of the reason why you felt bad is that you are pretty skinny..

[@ChrisBranch]

Yeah, I think you're right. I was keto at the time and pretty shredded. Not much for me to feed off in an extended fast 🤷‍♂️😂