How to Think Thin Blog

Weight loss on day two - 3 pounds
Total lost so far - 6 pounds

Yesterday was another normal day, except for not eating anything. The caffeine headache was gone by afternoon, and I enjoyed a walk downtown to pick up a few gifts from Sunflower books. (My dog loves this fast, because Dr. Allan Cott, in his book Fasting as a Way of Life, insists on one hour of walking every day during the fast. That means my trusting companion gets an extra walk in the middle of the day - a treat he seems to greatly appreciate. Continue Reading »

Weight loss on Day One - 3 pounds.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I decided (rather on a whim, actually), to start a 5-day water fast. My intention is to personally test a claim made by Allan Cott, MD., in his book Fasting as a Way of Life.

Dr. Cott claimed that fasting (water fasting, not juice fasting), is beneficial to anyone addicted to a harmful substance, like alcohol or other drugs, because the body will reject these drugs after a fast. He also claimed that a person who fasts is less likely to return to old, bad eating habits, because the cleansing process that happens naturally during a water fast will make your body abhor all toxins - like refined sugar and other processed foods.

So, is he right? I decided to find out. Continue Reading »

Interesting things have happened since I wrote my first post on fasting for weight loss. I found some information that disagrees, at least slightly, with what I wrote in that post. Here’s how I found it:

That evening I finished my last mystery novel from the library, and needed something to read, so I started rummaging through my bookshelves. I did find an old book I hadn’t read for a long time, but it wasn’t a mystery - it was Fasting as a Way of Life, by Allan Cott, MD.

I’ve owned this book for years, but it’s been ages since I read it. Dr. Cott was quite well known back the the ’70s, and many celebrities, athletes and business executives were following his instructions to fast - which he called the “ultimate diet.” He recommends only a true fast - or water fast, so there are no juices to buy or make, no points to count, no menu charts to read, and no special foods to buy. You just stop eating. Continue Reading »

If you are considering fasting for weight loss, there are a few things you should consider before you put a temporary lock on your refrigerator door.

Many spiritual leaders swear by fasting as a way to cleanse the body and the mind, but many medical doctors believe that a few days or weeks without food is dangerous. Ironically, these same doctors might suggest gastric bypass surgery if you are heavy enough to qualify, and the surgery will force you to fast. The problem seems to be a general lack of training among medical practitioners, and a deep-seated pessimism when it comes to suggesting any drastic plans to help their patients lose weight. Continue Reading »