Cascade fasting for weight loss: results and reviews

The Roots of Fasting

Since ancient times, the idea of ​​fasting has settled in the minds of people. Philosophers and scientists practiced abstaining from food to purify the body and spirit.

Among them are such famous personalities as Herodotus, Pythagoras, Plato, Plutarch, Hippocrates. They believed that food is the main source of many diseases, and fasting is the best medicine that prolongs life and improves health.

Hippocrates said:

If the body is not cleansed, then the more you nourish it, the more you will harm it. When the sick person is fed too much, the disease is also fed.

The question of the physiological effect of fasting worries the minds of scientists even now. Proponents of the benefits of fasting focus on the method of carrying out fasting days, trying to find a middle ground in which the effect and safety will be equivalent. Official medicine is still against hunger strikes, but despite this, methods of temporarily refusing food continue to appear. This is due to the fact that in alternative medicine, in some teachings and religions, the issue of fasting has always been relevant and had adherents and propagandists, and also because changes have occurred in the scientific world on this issue.

Eating every other day for weight loss: reviews

Eating every other day for weight loss leads to good results.
If you are still choosing a diet plan in order to lose weight, then read the reviews of other people. They preferred to lose weight by eating every other day.

Irina, 26 years old

After the birth of my second child, I gained a lot of weight, as I was on hormones throughout my pregnancy to maintain them. As a result, with a pre-pregnancy weight of 70 kilograms, I left the maternity hospital weighing 110 kilograms. I breastfed my baby for 4 months, then the milk disappeared, and I started thinking about losing weight. I found a nutrition plan every other day, it interested me. As a result, after a month I lost 15 kilograms. During the break I ate salads and chicken fillet. Sometimes I could afford buckwheat. Cottage cheese and kefir were in the diet every day. Now, 6 months have passed and I weigh even less than before pregnancy - 64 kg.

Igor Petrovich, 53 years old

Excess weight was always with me, but after 45 years it became difficult to walk and work. I decided to lose weight and found a method of eating every other day. But I decided to first consult a therapist and nutritionist. I took tests and went through some examinations. It turned out that I was forbidden to fast - low sugar levels and intestinal problems. Now I eat right and exercise - brisk walking.

Alena, 30 years old

Honestly, I’m tired of being fat and I decided to lose weight. I was attracted to the every other day diet by its simplicity. On ordinary days, you could eat whatever you wanted, and then just starve. But I didn’t fully study the rules of the method and thought that on ordinary days I could eat whatever I love - cakes, pastries, potatoes with pork, and so on. As a result, she did even worse - she gained additional kilograms and developed gastritis from the hunger strike. Therefore, carefully study all the rules of the method and consult with doctors before starting a diet.

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

In 2021, the Japanese scientist Yoshinori Ohsumi won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, who described the process of autophagy - the digestion by cells of their own obsolete parts. This process is activated at the moment when the body experiences stress, for example, during fasting. “Cellular recycling” with controlled food refusal allows you to renew cells and normalize metabolism. At the same time, the body receives energy from accumulated surpluses, which, on the one hand, starts the process of losing weight, on the other hand, with the right approach, it does not harm health in any way; on the contrary, it even helps to cope with some ailments. Dr. Ohsumi's research has revived interest in the topic of therapeutic fasting.

What results can you achieve?

Dry fasting has healing and cleansing properties. During the period of his practice the following occurs:

• getting rid of worms,
• death of viruses, foreign, diseased cells,
• slag compounds dissolve,
• cholesterol decreases,
• dead water leaves
• blood is purified
• organ tissues are restored and renewed,
• the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is restored,
• allergic reactions occur,
• skin becomes younger,
• metabolism is activated,
• tumors resolve,
• immunity is restored.

Nature is smart, Dr. Lavrov managed to use its power in the right direction.

Types of fasting

According to the method of implementation, there is a distinction between “dry” and “classical” fasting. If you are “dry,” you can’t take any food or water. In “classical” fasting, you can drink water. Both types, depending on the methodology, have their own scheme: this concerns the duration, features of each stage (from preparation for fasting to recovery) and some rules (volume of fluid, physical activity, water and cleansing procedures, etc.). During “dry” fasting, drinking is excluded; moreover, with some methods of such fasting, any contact with water is prohibited. “Dry” fasting is considered the most severe and stressful for the body, but at the same time, according to some data, the most effective. The body mobilizes all its resources, due to which the breakdown of fats and the elimination of toxins occurs at an accelerated rate. There are many methods of fasting for weight loss. There are many positive reviews about cascade fasting. It is practiced by women for the purpose of correcting their figure, maintaining a stable weight, unloading after feasts, as well as to cleanse and renew the body.

Is this type of fasting beneficial for people of normal weight?

HDCH is useful not only for obese people, but also for people with normal weight.

The three-week study analyzed normal weight people following a strict HDF diet with zero calories on fasting days.

The researchers found that this resulted in increased burning of unhealthy fat, decreased fasting insulin levels and a 4% reduction in fat mass.

Another controlled study in both normal-weight and overweight people found that following an HDF diet for 12 weeks, there was a decrease in fat mass and favorable changes in cardiovascular disease risk factors.

However, HDF usually gives you far fewer calories than you need to maintain your weight, which is why people end up losing weight.

If you don't want to lose weight or fat mass, then other diet methods will probably be better for you.

Cascade fasting

The cascade fasting technique is a certain cycle when fasting days alternate with days of eating. As a rule, the number of days of abstaining from food in cascade fasting is equal to the number of days of eating. Those. one day fasting - one day eating, two days fasting - two days eating, etc. But there may be other options:

• A simplified scheme: 1 day of fasting - 2 days of eating, 2 days of fasting - 3 days of eating (i.e., one more day of eating).
• Free scheme: the person losing weight chooses the number of days without food.

The essence of the technique is to change the “work activity” of the body. Now he spends energy not on digesting food, but on restoring cells and removing everything unnecessary. The standard alternate-day fasting regimen for weight loss is considered the most optimal and effective, as well as psychologically convenient.

General information

There are many ways to get rid of excess weight and make your diet healthier and more nutritious.
One of them is the so-called cascade fasting, which is carried out in cycles of alternating fasting days and eating plant foods. The periods of such alternation may vary. Adhering to a free fasting scheme, this method can be practiced both by those who have already fasted in their time and by beginner adherents of healthy eating. Cascade fasting is considered to be one of the most effective ways to cleanse the body. By practicing this method, you can gradually develop the habit of eating right and reducing body weight. However, it is easier to sustain such nutrition if you properly prepare for this practice. How to act to get the maximum effect and what constitutes cascade fasting will be discussed in this article.

Entry and exit from cascade fasting

One- and two-day fasts do not require special preparation. For a three-day (or more) fast, you need to properly prepare: two weeks in advance you should eat low-calorie foods, vegetables and fruits are ideal.

The way out of fasting should also be careful: under no circumstances should you indulge in junk food, otherwise you can cause irreparable harm to your health. The way out of fasting begins with drinking clean water. After a couple of hours, you can drink kefir or boiled milk, yogurt is also allowed. Fish or chicken broth are suitable alternatives. This will help start the pancreas. After another 2 hours, you can eat your usual food, but carefully and little by little. This scheme is proposed by V.P. Lavrova. Below we will consider the process of fasting that she proposes.

What can you eat and drink?

This diet does not have rules regarding specific foods and drinks.

The main thing is to monitor your daily caloric intake: on the day of fasting - up to 500 calories, the next day - within the maximum recommended daily allowance, which can be calculated using the formulas:

• For men: BMR = 88.36 + (13.4 x weight, kg) + (4.8 x height, cm) – (5.7 x age, years);
• For women: BMR = 447.6 + (9.2 x weight, kg) + (3.1 x height, cm) – (4.3 x age, years).

During the fasting period, in order to reduce the feeling of hunger, you should divide your food intake into 2-4 meals. Preference should be given to natural products rich in proteins, fiber, vitamins, macro- and microelements.

Below are several meal options that are ideal for fasting days:

• vegetables;
• fruits;
• yoghurts with berries;
• eggs;
• lean meat with vegetables (chicken);
• vegetable soups;
• fresh green salads;
• fried or boiled fish.

There are no strict rules regarding the quality of the diet. The main thing is to monitor the total calorie content and give preference to natural products.

Cascade fasting according to V.P. Lavrova

One of the most famous methods involving the refusal of food is considered to be the method of writer and researcher V.P. Lavrova. Based on reviews of cascade fasting, Lavrova’s scheme is the most effective and convenient. The researcher suggests a systematic approach to five-day fasting days, starting with one- and two-day fasting periods.

1st period. 24 hours – dry fasting, 24 hours – food intake (diet food).

2nd period. Two days - dry fasting, two days - eating (diet food).

3rd period. Three days - dry fasting, three days - eating (plant foods).

4th period. Four days – dry fasting, four days – eating (plant foods).

5th period. Five days – dry fasting, five days – eating (plant foods).

Some researchers who study cyclical fasting do not recommend dry fasting because... this harms the body; on the contrary, on fasting days you need to drink plenty of water in order to cleanse the body as much as possible.

Important Tips

• Cascade fasting can be practiced without risk to health only by those people who are ready to change their eating habits in general. On ordinary days, you should also try to eat healthy foods and remove unhealthy foods from the menu. Healthy food is especially important on days that alternate with hunger. If, after a period of alternating abstinence from food, you start eating again, the lost kilograms will quickly return.
• On days of hunger, you should not overwork and overcool your body. The room should be well ventilated to provide the body with sufficient oxygen.
• You should not use additional weight loss medications during this period.
• You can practice cascade fasting no more than four times a year.
• On a “hungry” day, you should walk in the fresh air and do light exercises. You can jog a little or walk briskly.
• During the period of fasting, you should not drink honey. drugs, so people who are forced to take any medications are better off choosing a different weight loss system.
• Another important piece of advice is that before you start this cascade, you need to clearly focus yourself on getting healthy, losing weight and making lifestyle changes. You should properly tune in to the process - it should not be perceived as an unpleasant and forced measure. If you think about the benefits of such a method, then its effect will be more pronounced.

Cycle duration

Duration of alternation according to V.P. Laurel is selected individually. It is best to let the body adapt and stick to a 1:1 fast for a month. Then smoothly move to a 2:2 scheme, etc. Starting with a scheme of 5 days after 5 is harmful to health, but 5 to 5 is considered the most powerful in terms of the depth of cleansing, so those losing weight along the cascade strive for this level. Everyone chooses the duration of periods individually, depending on their well-being and goals. The five-day system is, for the most part, necessary for those who want to get rid of diseases. For those who want to lose excess weight, one- and two-day cycles are usually enough.

According to reviews of cascading dry fasting, every other day, from 5 to 10 kg are lost in a month. An important rule for fasting days: do not have any contact with water (again, according to Lavrova), try to exercise in the fresh air to minimize thoughts about food, and reconfigure your thoughts in a positive way. When you have achieved the desired result, you should adhere to the principles of a healthy diet and moderate portions. If you eat junk food after a hunger strike, then, as reviews of cascade fasting show, the kilograms will come back again and even double, because the body, after experiencing stress, will decide to put everything in reserve.

steps

If we are talking about a standard scheme, then in order to better adapt to such a system, you need to get used to fasting days gradually, going through certain steps.

• The first step is to alternate one hungry and a “fed” day. Before a fasting day, you need to drink a lot of clean water. Neither water nor food should be consumed directly on the day of fasting. After a day you can eat any food. But ideally, such days of hunger should be alternated with a plant-based diet - in this case, it will be easier for the body to adapt. In addition, such fasting for weight loss every other day is more effective.
• The second stage is already more complex, and you can withstand it after some time of practicing the first stage. During this period, hunger lasts two days, and the person eats normally for two days. On hungry days, again, you can’t drink water either. When you come out of fasting, you must initially drink water, and two days after that, start eating fermented milk products. It is best if it is kefir. After kefir, it is advisable to consume light foods to prevent stress on the pancreas. After two hours, the diet can be diversified with other dishes.
• The third - it becomes even more difficult: hunger lasts for three days. Considering that during the fasting period it is forbidden to drink any liquid, not everyone can withstand this stage. During a period without food and liquid, a person will be thirsty. However, adherents of this fasting method claim that the digestive system self-cleanses only without water consumption.
• Fourth - now we have to live without water and food for four days. It is extremely difficult to endure so many hungry days. Those who practiced this claim that during this period the skin on the lips may peel off and the mouth constantly dries out. You also need to “enter” your nutrition days, starting with water consumption.
• The fifth is a very difficult stage, when a person may feel short of breath, have difficulty sleeping, and have difficulty speaking. Fans of this method claim that it is possible to withstand such a period without water. But unprepared people need to understand that prolonged dry fasting can be very life-threatening.

According to the authors of this system, on about 4 days an acidotic crisis , as a result of which there is an active cleansing of toxins that have accumulated in the body. Moreover, the authors of the system claim that during dry fasting one should not wash, go outside in the rain, or allow any contact of the body surface with water.

Despite the fact that cascade fasting is described in this way in the specialized literature, it is extremely dangerous for unprepared people to practice long-term abstinence from liquids. Therefore, cascade fasting for weight loss should last no longer than every other day. A person adapts to such a scheme relatively quickly and gets the desired result without risk to health.

Cascade is contraindicated

Cascade weight loss is a radical measure of figure correction, which has a number of contraindications:

• pregnancy and lactation;
• disruption of the endocrine system;
• acute and chronic diseases of the liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract;
• diabetes;
• disorders of the cardiovascular system;
• inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system;
• poor blood clotting;
• tuberculosis;
• hepatitis;
• thrombosis;
• tumors and malignant formations;
• underweight.

In any case, if you decide to go on a hunger strike, it is better to consult a doctor so that in pursuit of beauty you do not end up with a bunch of diseases.

Basic Rules

A specific cascade diet technique can be harmful to health if done incorrectly. Follow the rules to protect yourself:

• Don't suddenly rush into the embrasure. Start preparing to give up food 3 weeks in advance. Gradually eliminate all prohibited foods from your diet. 7 days before the cascade system, switch to products of plant origin.
• To get the effect, you need to give up bad habits. Smoking and alcohol destroy the body and prevent it from healing.
• During breaks between abstaining from food, you should not eat after 7 pm, 3-4 hours before bedtime.
• Gradually reduce the serving size by half.
• In between fasting periods, you can only eat vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains, and honey.
• After completing the fasting course, return to your usual food gradually, follow the rules for exiting the system.
• Use the method no more than once a year. Frequent refusals to eat will lead to health problems.
• Consult your physician before starting the cascade system.

Cascade fasting: reviews and results

Many people, when choosing a method of fasting, choose the cascade. Its scheme is quite simple, understandable and accessible to everyone. Below are the results of cascade fasting (pictured) and reviews of this method.

Practitioners of cascade fasting note the following advantages of this method:

• rapid weight loss;
• the most gentle of all types of fasting;
• the likelihood of breakdowns is reduced;
• the risk of harm to health is minimized;
• there is a change in values ​​and eating habits (the attitude towards food changes);
• the general condition of the body is normalized: mood improves, lightness is felt, strength appears, irritability and anxiety go away, thought processes are activated, etc.

However, judging by some results and reviews of cascade fasting for weight loss, if you exit the cycle incorrectly and start eating high-calorie foods, you will quickly gain excess weight. Therefore, if the goal of cascade fasting is solely to lose weight, then it is best to consider other options: reducing calories, mono-diets, etc. Fasting is still designed to improve the health of the body, cleanse it and remove toxins, and for body correction it is not suitable for everyone. Of course, if there are no contraindications, you can try and decide for yourself whether the game is worth the candle. Some consider this method the most optimal and use it regularly.

What to choose: dry cascade fasting or cascade fasting on water?

Opinions about whether or not you can drink water during cascade fasting are controversial. Judging by the reviews and results of cascade dry fasting, this type of cascade is difficult for some to tolerate, while others, on the contrary, say that during fasting it is easier not to eat or drink at all. As for expert opinions, experts note that due to the lack of water, the body becomes dehydrated, and this leads to the loss of some areas of metabolism, which negatively affects the body. Therefore, not everyone decides to undertake long-term experiments “without water”. The “liquid” analogue is much more reliable and safe. Together with water, toxins are removed from the body, metabolism and blood circulation are normalized. And psychologically it is much easier to endure such fasting. As reviews and results of cascade fasting on water show, weight is lost at the same rate as during dry fasting, only the body does not find itself in conditions of extreme survival.

Indications and contraindications

Lavrova paid great attention to this issue. The fasting she proposes, as she herself noted, is intended for the treatment of various diseases and general improvement of the body. And losing weight along the way is already a side effect. In this regard, in her work she listed in detail the conditions and pathologies for which she recommends practicing this technique and for which it is undesirable to do so.

Indications:

• adenoma;
• atherosclerosis;
• infertility;
• bronchial asthma;
• low-grade schizophrenia;
• gastritis, gastroduodenitis;
• hypertension, dystonia, ischemia;
• allergic skin reactions, tissue atrophy and ulceration;
• depression, stress, emotional breakdowns;
• obesity;
• osteoarthritis, osteochondrosis, rheumatism;
• lack of response to drug treatment;
• sarcoidosis;
• cholecystitis, pancreatitis, enteritis, colitis.

Diseases for which it is not contraindicated, but the consequences can be unpredictable, so you must constantly be under medical supervision throughout the experiment:

• anemia;
• varicose veins;
• age up to 14 and after 70;
• helminthiases;
• gallstones;
• exacerbation of infectious diseases;
• poor urine tests;
• gout;
• stomach and duodenal ulcers.

Contraindications:

• anorexia, rickets, weight less than normal;
• pregnancy, lactation;
• liver and kidney pathologies;
• purulent diseases, foci of inflammation in the body;
• tachycardia;
• circulatory failure, thrombosis, thrombophlebitis, poor blood clotting;
• oncology;
• diabetes;
• thyrotoxicosis, hyper- and hypothyroidism, acromegaly;
• active tuberculosis.

At the same time, Lavrova noted that these lists are conditional, since everyone’s body reacts differently to dry fasting. In this regard, she strongly recommended that in the presence of any diseases and pathologies, first consult with doctors whether or not it is possible to practice a similar technique in the face of existing health problems.

Conclusion

Fasting is a radical way to lose extra pounds, so when choosing this method, the main tenet will be to do no harm. With the right approach, you can achieve good results and at the same time cleanse the body. For weight loss, fasting every other day will be enough. Those. One day is a hunger strike, the second day is a dietary (preferably plant-based) diet. Practice shows that cascade fasting can help you lose up to 10 kg in a month. In this case, no unpleasant consequences for the body are observed; on the contrary, lightness comes and an emotional uplift is felt. After the cascade cycle, it is important to switch to a healthy diet and limit your portions, otherwise, judging by the reviews of cascade fasting, there is a risk of regaining your previous weight, and in the worst case, increasing it.

The essence of the technique

Cascade fasting for weight loss is alternating regular days and days without food.

At the same time, the following changes occur in the body:

• blood, intestines and liver are cleansed of toxins and poisons;
• pathogenic microflora dies;
• oxidative processes in cells stop, which leads to skin rejuvenation and improved functioning of internal organs;
• immunity is strengthened;
• Due to a lack of glucose, the body is forced to break down fats for energy - this process leads to weight loss.

Alternating fasting and normal days protects a person from breakdowns. Periodically, the body receives useful substances: vitamins, minerals, fiber.

Interesting fact! In the book about dry fasting by S.I. Filonov talks about a resident of the Hindustan Peninsula, Pralada Jani, who has not taken food or water for 68 years. Doctors took tests from this man for 10 days and found out that his body was functioning normally. Pralad Jani is physically fit and never goes to the toilet.

But cascade fasting has clear contraindications.

Lavrova V.P. names the following contraindications to cascade fasting:

• cancer;
• tuberculosis;
• endocrine diseases;
• blood clotting disorders;
• insulin-dependent diabetes;
• chronic renal or liver failure.

At the same time, the researcher points out that each case is individual. The same disease can become both an indication and a contraindication to the use of the technique.

Important! Cascade fasting should be carried out under strict medical supervision.