Published 11.4.2025: So the answer is… about a month. That’s how long it took me to figure out the new program. Kind of. There are still things that are different and which I don’t understand, but I think the time has come for me to start writing again.

For that matter, I have no idea how the cookie thing works, I had to use a thrid party code, as Rapid Weaver (this site is made using their Elements program) does not yet have a cookie code to be used in the program. Not sure how you release a website builder WITHOUT a cookie code in 2025, but there it is.

Here is a link to the old content. I have no clue how the new formatting will deal with that.

Fasting is not always the Answer

Published 11.4.2025: So Netflix has a documentary series about various aspects of the Wellness Industry. I watched the first episode about Essential Oils, but the reality is that I know nothing about Essential Oils— and I'm not sure I want to learn about them. I think I've always assumed that they were a scam… and certainly the documentary doesn't dissuade me from that opinion.

So after that less than interesting beginning, I looked at the titles of the remaining segments, and the only one I wound up watching was about Fasting. Now, I do know a bit about fasting… though I've never done a "proper" fast where I didn't eat for days. I have intermittent fasted in the past. I have an entire series where I discuss the 5:2 "fast" diet (which was really intermittent fasting). However, my experience with the 5:2 came to an end after I suffered a bit of "distress" and I haven't done it since. I did lose weight on it, mostly because it imposed a calorie restriction (you can't lose weight unless you restrict calories in some way… there is no escaping the energy balance.)

At this point, I guess I'll just go ahead and do a personal update here, I am deliberately trying to maximize my fiber intake, and trying to let that create a deficit. I also added two cardio days to my gym workout, so that means I head to the gym 5 days a week. I think adding cardio has helped create a deficit as well. I am very slowly losing weight without tracking anything, except my heart rate during workouts. So I would consider this effort a success. Based on impedance, my body fat percentage continues to slowly decrease, which my lean mass remains roughly the same. So that's also good (if the numbers are to be believed… and for me, the trend if your friend, rather than fixating on the actual numbers.)

All of which is to say that fasting is not for me. Totally not eating for days is not something I've ever tried, nor is it anything that tempts me. And at least according to the documentary, total fasting or water fasting can be dangerous. Particularly during the refeeding portion of the experience, when food is re-introduced. That's why (and this was one of the main points of the documentary) having medical supervision (by ACTUAL doctors) is so important.

For the record: it’s been over a month since I watched the documentary and took notes. Bear this in mind when you read the following. Why am I posting it? I have to start somewhere, and here is where I’m starting. However, the documentary begins with a dude (and men apparently react better to fasting than woman or so my trainer says) who does intermittent fasting in Silicon Valley as well as real fasts. He eats a low carbohydrate diet (which I am unwilling to do) and sells a brand of ketone powders. I have never taken one, nor will I ever. He requires his employees at HVMN to fast— not sure how that would work as an Human Resources (HR) issue. He probably only hires true believers though.

Next they speak briefly to Tom Stackpole, who is a journalist. They mention One Meal A Day (OMAD) as part of intermittent fasting, which I suppose it is. Stackpole does not seem to be a fan and notes that it could be considered “optimizing” or “an eating disorder.” The OMAD thing is not something that I’ve tried, nor does it appeal.

Then the documentary talks to Christy Harrison, who is a registered dietitian. She says that fasting is not for everyone (something I can agree with) and then notes that fasting is one of the favorite diets. Which I guess makes sense— you will lose weight if you don’t eat. But then she goes on to spout Intuitive Eating nonsense, and in fairness, it’s not nonsense if you’re recovering from a restrictive eating disorder. But I don’t buy at all the argument that binge eaters benefit. Part of being a binge eater is that you don’t know how to adjust the amount you eat, and a binge is not normal eating. She discussing yo-yo dieting (not the term she used, but it’s what she meant.

Water fasting is mentioned, and this will be how they get to cancer treatment. They wind up talking to the “king” of water fasting, Dr. Alan Goldhammer, who is apparently a chiropractor… not an actual doctor. (I consider chiropractors to be quacks.) Anyway, Goldhammer runs True North, which is a spa in Northern California, where fasters are tightly monitored by real doctors, and closely monitored once they start eating again. Very, very different than Tanglewook Wellness Center (which is located in Costa Rica).

They talk to the widow of a guy who went to Tanglewood because it was cheaper than True North, and paid the ulitmate price when things went poorly. Loren Lockman is the director of Tanglewood, and he denies all responsibility. There is no monitoring at Tanglewood, and I doubt his is the only bad ending. Just the only one the documentary covered.

The dude fasted for 32 days, then started to refeed, which is (as noted) one of the most dangerous parts of water fasting. He tried to leave, but got left at a hotel by himself. He fell down the stairs and had head trauma. Lockman tries to say that he has cured cancer, but he has no medical degree, and no medical supervision of the fasters.

Lockman talks about how blood pressure plummets, but that alone can be dangerous— especially if you’re on medications. I’m sorry, no medical supervision is a HUGE red flag. Lockmand is a salesman, They go back to the dietitian and quote her as saying that there are daners to fasting, and that fasting can make some cancers worse. it’s not a panacea.

The penultimate person they talk to is Make Maser, who is listed as an entrepreneur. He was diagnosed with lymphoma. He wound up doing a water fast during chemo after doing his own research. Using the fast PLUS chemo, he is cancer free, but does not consider himself to be cured. He still fasts for 5 days every quarter, and eats low carb with lots of vegetables. He also intermittent fasts.

Finally they talk to Valter Longo, whic is as cautious as ever. At this point, he was only working with mice, but running tests in humans. At the time of the documentary, the human results were unknown.

True North came off a LOT better than Tanglewood… apparently with fasting, you get what you paid for.