“I’m Starving!” are you really?

If you’ve never fasted before and someone suggests you go 16 hours without food, the first thing that comes to mind is hunger. You believe you’re going to be starved! I guess we all have used the expression “I’m starving” at some point in between meals. 

Allow me to change your mindset once and for all in an empowering way!

WHAT IS (INTERMITTENT) FASTING

Generally the definition of fasting goes something like this; voluntary abstinence from food or wilful refrainment from eating for a set period of time.  

Key phrases are voluntary, wilful but also set period of time. 

Intermittent fasting methods recommend not eating anywhere between 12-24 hours only. These periods of fasting are followed by regular periods of eating. Intermittent fasting is done with the purpose of losing weight, improve health, combat food addiction, or for spiritual, religious purposes. 

When you fast, your insulin will be lowered and your body will eventually switch from burning sugar to burning fat for energy. Fasting intermittently is centred around fat burning and none of the most common methods put you at risk of burning muscle tissue. Extended fasts may carry this risk and should only be done under supervision. 

Paying attention to nutrition after a fast is highly encouraged in order to maintain adequate health and reap the benefits of fasting fully. 

WHAT IS STARVING

Starving is essentially malnourishment due to a lack of food availability or nutrient quality. 

Starvation, in most cases happens involuntary. It can be imposed or caused by outside forces, such as socio-economic conditions, seasonal food scarcity, geographical location, misinformation. Starvation can also be self-induced by sufferers from eating disorders, such as anorexia, when a person intentionally starves themselves. 

It is fair to say that extended fasting can lead to starvation when you deplete your sugar and fat stores thus force your body to start breaking down muscle tissue in order to survive. Starvation will inevitably lead to health problems, even death, if someone is starved for a long period of time. People being subjected to starvation generally do not know when their next meal is going to come and even if there is food available they have no choice over the quality or the quantity of their meal. 

Starvation is dangerous and a horrendous state of being.

FASTING VS STARVING

The main distinguishing factors separating fasting from starvation are CHOICE and DURATION. We could also include OUTCOME or IMPACT on one’s mental and physical wellbeing. 

CHOICE

Fasting is voluntary whereas starvation is involuntary. A hunger strike for political reasons is seemingly self imposed, however one could also argue it is indirectly forced upon someone by circumstances. 

DURATION

Intermittent fasting methods are all based around 12 to 24hour periods of fasting always followed by re-feeding. The aim is to switch from using sugar as a primary source of energy and start burning fat.

During starvation your body is pushed beyond the point of fat burning. Once your body has to attack its own muscle tissue, in order to generate some energy for survival, you are considered to be in a starvation mode.

OUTCOME

Fasting outcomes can be very beneficial for one’s health, mental and spiritual wellbeing. Fasting has been widely studied and recommended since the ancient times.

Starving on the other hand is an acute and dangerous problem which everyone agrees ought to be completely eradicated.

POWER

When you choose to fast in order to heal yourself whether it be to lose weight, lower insulin, improve cognitive function, prolong your lifespan, you do it with a specific goal in mind. You are 100% in charge. 

Starvation is an unfortunate state whereby people fall victim to their circumstances whether it be mental or socio-economic, the power of an individual has been taken away.

From victimhood to empowerment

To be completely honest, writing this post has been such a boost for my mindset, despite completely believing in the power of fasting. Hopefully this will help you shift your mindset from feeling deprived and somewhat a victim to a completely empowered  and grateful attitude towards the fasting lifestyle.