Not so fast...
Stephanie Mitchell Alby James hasn’t had a single bite to eat in 24 days and still has a further 16 to go until he can.
He’s in the midst of a 40-day fast where he only has water.
It’s the longest fast he’s ever undertaken and he’s past the point of being hungry and has lost 16 kilograms. It’s not something he’d recommend just anyone to try.
‘‘I got into fasting because that is the most complete way to heal your body. You can’t access healing abilities of your body when you’re eating food,’’ he said.
‘‘I’d fully tell people to do a threeday water fast or a five-day water fast. That’s completely safe. But I wouldn’t say you need to go do a
40-day water fast. People need guidance.’’
James, who started in the health industry as a personal trainer 10 years ago and now runs Body Rehab in Oakura, north of New Plymouth, had been fasting on and off for the past three years, usually having only one meal a day.
‘‘I had this feeling within myself telling me to do a 40-day water fast,’’ he said.
‘‘I coach people on listening to their inner intuition so I thought I’d roll with it and practise what I preach.’’
Surprisingly he hasn’t lacked energy or felt tired and had been doing all his regular activities like gardening and surfing.
He hopes the fast will bring awareness of the body’s natural healing ability.
‘‘Fasting is in all the major religions and it has been for thousands and thousands of years, but if you think about today’s society there’s so much media coverage on food and it’s just eat eat eat.’’
Even though he says he’s not hungry after 23 days fasting, he does get cravings. ’’
Energy for life dietician Lea Stening said some studies had found intermittent fasting can be beneficial to health but that it was not recommended for children, the elderly, people with low immune systems or pregnant women.