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I'm planning to do a coconut oil fast for a day or five, six. Anyone out here who wants to join?

I plan to take about a 1000 calories in coconut oil per day. That's all I plan to eat. Nothing more. That would be roughly like 8 tablespoons, I believe. Reason for this fast is I'm a carb addict and I want to detox from sugar. Lost a lot of weight at the beginning of this year eating mostly VLC paleo. But my addiction is so severe that I gained a couple of lbs back, (no make that kilo's), eating plain crap. I feel miserable. Not so much physically but mentally cause it feels like I'm caught in the carb trap again.

I wanna keep things simple. So fat fasting seems an appropriate way to do this. I'll take it one day at a time and I would love people to join me in this. Will you? :)

I'm starting tomorrow.

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IMO: That sounds disgusting. Not to mention lacking in vital nutrients and protein. You don't need to "detox" from carbohydrates, as they are not toxic, nor are they addictive. If you're goal is weight loss you should eat less energy (calories) and exercise. Coconut oil fasts are not a balanced and reasonable approach and 1000 calories per day will trigger a starvation response in your body and ultimately make it more difficult to lose weight. – Andy Jun 23 at 15:37
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My mind is willing, but my bowels do protest. – Dave S. Jun 23 at 16:07
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I beg to differ,@Andy, carbohydrates are addictive. – Courtney Jun 23 at 17:57
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@Andy, specific types of carbs definitely have addictive properties. details.com/style-advice/the-body/201103/… interesting article. – McKenzie Jun 24 at 0:09
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@Andy: I was wondering if you meant paleo carbs (fruits and veggies) and not addictive, while processed sugar and wheat are? – Chinaeskimo Jun 24 at 3:57
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12 Answers

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These kinds of crash diets will send you running back to the carb wagon again. The best and most proven kind of weight loss is when you systematically lose weight over time. Besides a 1000 calorie diet is not enough to sustain and is extremely unhealthy for a variety of reasons.

A better idea is to follow Robb Wolf's 30 days meal plan in his book. Not much carbs in that diet and then you can take off from there. A quick solution to your problem is not a solution at all. It's a band-aid placed on a gaping wound.

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+1 for RWs 30 day meal plan. – Karen Jun 28 at 21:19
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I admire the idea. However, why not try something like a bone broth or grass-fed beef fast? Something that is going to give you more complete nutrition.

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Or you know... she could try actually following the Paleo diet. – Rob Jun 23 at 18:59
That too. I guess I was implying that I'm all for n=1 experiments to see how you respond. However, the reason to do it would not be what is stated, detoxing sugar addiction. If it was something used for fueling or seeing if you can enter Ketosis quicker, it would make sense. Maybe the mistake was calling it a "fast." – KA24 Jun 24 at 1:40
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What's this fast hype :D. It's so silly to think eating less will somehow give your body the rest it needs to clean up everything. – Korion Jun 25 at 5:38
I'm just here to second what Rob said. I enjoy my bone broth fasts and feel much better after. The thought of eating however many tablespoons of Coconut Oil just turns my stomach. But to each his or her own ... – Paul Jun 28 at 19:42
I think we're stretching the meaning of fast to the breaking point. I think I'm going to do an "Eat whatever you want fast". It'll detoxify, don't ya know! – trjones Jun 28 at 20:05
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This is a fantastic way to make diet the center of your life. If that's what you want, then by all means, sail the fast coconut oil ship to Obsession-opolis. Did I mention it's just a stone's throw from Hell? Ask me how I know.

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Agree with this. Like I posted above, the specific fast isn't a big deal. Everyone should embrace experimenting. However, the concerning thing is trying this idea as a way to "detox from sugar." It's not the actual plan, but the reasoning behind it that is the issue. – KA24 Jun 24 at 4:52
It almost seems like punishment. – Matthius Jun 24 at 9:58
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I'm planning on a water and Reliv fast starting Monday so I'll be fasting with you!

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So you are doing a fat fast. I will be starting something similar based on the BulletProof Diet. Check this out: http://www.bulletproofexec.com/rapid-fat-loss-protocol/

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I read the link and don't think it is at all similar to a coconut oil fast. He reccomends coffee and all sorts of supplements, plus doing prior blood work and the prerequisite that you have eaten healthfully all along and have stored nutrients. – Chinaeskimo Jun 24 at 3:55
I second this suggestion. I'm going to try it myself once I gather the ingredients... Coconut oil fast, though... I would have the sh*ts for weeks. – RaspberryCoconut Jun 25 at 0:02
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A 'detox' probably takes longer than 1 day, especally when feelings of depriviation might be fostered/increased by ingesting only coconut oil.

Paul Jaminet has written some useful stuff on 'ketogenic fasting' if you're interested in that sort of thing though... eg. http://perfecthealthdiet.com/2012/03/food-for-a-fast/

The link in this thread might also be useful... http://paleohacks.com/questions/125921/what-do-you-eat-on-a-fat-fast#axzz1ygrEnkhI

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I am all for self-experimentation, but I have some reservations about this particular protocol.

If you have obsessive sugar cravings I would start with an anti-candida protocol, including the strongest probiotics you can find (not store shelf variety, but pharmaceutical grade). I did 2 months of Theramedix DGX, CDX, and PRX, and about 4 weeks in that little voice in my head that insisted on sugar just went away.

Coconut oil is also contraindicated in the presence of systemic candida even though it is technically anti-fungal. If the candida is solely in the gut it can help, but if it is systemic, the ketones produced by the coconut oil will actually act as food for the candida and make the infection worse. You might want to try olive oil instead if the idea of a fat fast interests you, but you suspect candida.

8 Tablespoons of coconut oil per day is going to be unpleasant for a number of reasons. Do you normally eat much coconut oil? I started with 1 Tbsp., and it brought on sudden and intense nausea. I can now eat up to 3 Tbsp. per day, but I had to work up to it over months starting with just a fraction of a spoonful. Straight fat can sometimes be difficult to digest, and that is a lot to ask of your stomach acid and gal bladder if you haven't prepared it for that radical shift in macros. Slowly building up your fat intake will increase your bile and make it much easier.

I'm not saying it can't be done, but patience and slowly shifting your macros to favor fat will make your digestive tract much happier with less nausea and diarrhea (most people can't get past 80% fat without serious diarrhea). It sounds like you want to punish your system for craving naughty things, but it doesn't need to be punished or shocked, it needs to gently be healed. Again, patience. It is also summer (at least here), and the longer light cycles are going to make you crave fruit, so if you are craving sugar, try some fruit and see how you feel (if you feel yucky, that would make me think candida or leaky gut).

I know I sound like a bone broth pusher, but I would make that an at least a once daily addition to your diet for a one month experiment. A lot of the mid-section weight gain we blame on eating things we shouldn't is more from having excess intestinal permeability, and the inflammation from things escaping into our system that shouldn't, rather than the badness of the food itself. The healthier you can make your gut, the less crappy you'll feel when you do stray.

Good luck, and if you do manage to successfully digest 8 tablespoons of coconut oil per day without digestive distress let us know.

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Yeah, when I first tried coconut oil I thought it smelled and tasted so good that I downed a couple of tablespoons at once. Got wicked nausea that lasted the rest of the day. Eight tablespoons would probably destroy me. – Kay Jun 28 at 20:01
That first spoonful I took was in the evening, about an hour before bed, and it destroyed me. I was up with the worst stomach ache of my life for half the night. I have since smartened up, and only have it right before eating other food, especially if I'm really hungry and impatient while cooking. – Happy Now Jun 29 at 4:40
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I'd recommend Dr. David Getoff's 30 day health diet. I have done it with outstanding results. Have never felt better.

http://www.naturopath4you.com/21DayDiet.htm

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Long before I knew about paleo, I did Anne Louise Gittleman's 1 Day Detox Diet (which is actually 7 days prep, one day juice fast, and 3 days come-down) and it was terrific. It could be paleo adapted. I agree with most, that many days, at that few calories sounds dangerous (not to mention icky).

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During a water or juice fast, the body goes into autolysis. Would the same thing happen during a fat fast? I am currently fasting with water and clear broth and would like to add some CO - no more than 1 or 2 T a day - but I don't want to autolysis to stop.

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You might want to open this up as a new question- it'll be more visible that way and you could get more answers! I myself don't know what autolusis is; sorry :( – Jules K Jun 28 at 19:08
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It's when the body "consumes" its own fat as well as crap, like tumors, bacteria, parasites, etc. for energy. – Kania Jun 28 at 19:15
Usually referred to as autophagy around these parts. Basically the same thing. I think most would agree that a few TBSP CO would not halt autophagy. – Shari Bambino Sep 15 at 22:07
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coconut oil fast is very very healthy and has many benefits read coconut cures... its been around for thousands of years. It works and don't listen to people who diss diets they don't research before giving their opinion upon. Good luck. Don't do it for too long though and then go back to low carb.. low carb means, no white refined carbs. It does not mean the good carbs in veg etc.

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Coconut oil has been around for thousands of years? – Dan Dec 13 at 19:48
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I needed a break from eating. Stomach was churning from my allergic foods (wheat, milk, corn, oats) and I was gaining a huge belly, itching skin, bad breath & rashy face because of it. So, I decided to water fast a day with 2 tsps of coconut oil breakfast, lunch and dinner. I drank lots of water with a splash of apple cider vinegar. I never got hungry. Next morning results: inflamed face rash GONE; 3 lbs LOST; looked younger! Then, I drove out of town for a meeting with family, ate allergy laden meals. BUT, I did prove something to myself -- coconut oil fasts work! However, I'd only do it for 1-3 days then get back to my paleo plan which eliminates my inflammatory foods and includes the protein I crave. I am a celiac sufferer and carb addict who finds coconut oil very stomach soothing, mood elevating, & brain boosting whenever I take it.

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