Hungerstrike Aborted: Day 6

[Prospero]

I've received too much wise counsel, and I've seen those close to me affected so negatively, that I've decided to call off my hunger strike.

The unknowns are too serious, the knowns have been too negative, and the benefits to myself and others are too real to continue this.

Maybe another day, when the benefits outweight the costs. I no longer believe that day is today.

Thank you, every one of you, for all of the support.

In retrospect: the first three days were simple; on the fourth day I began to feel the differences; and on the fifth day I started to sense that I was probably doing myself a little harm. The most difficult thing was to see how my fasting was worrying my family and friends. I still believe this kind of action can make a difference, but one person in relative isolation and anonymity is unlikely to to more good than harm this way.

[Mike]

I've received too much wise counsel, and I've seen those close to me affected so negatively, that I've decided to call off my hunger strike.

The unknowns are too serious, the knowns have been too negative, and the benefits to myself and others are too real to continue this.

Maybe another day, when the benefits outweight the costs. I no longer believe that day is today.

Thank you, every one of you, for all of the support.

In retrospect: the first three days were simple; on the fourth day I began to feel the differences; and on the fifth day I started to sense that I was probably doing myself a little harm. The most difficult thing was to see how my fasting was worrying my family and friends. I still believe this kind of action can make a difference, but one person in relative isolation and anonymity is unlikely to to more good than harm this way.

You touched many people with this. It was not a failure or wasted.

[Bellator]

I've received too much wise counsel, and I've seen those close to me affected so negatively, that I've decided to call off my hunger strike.

The unknowns are too serious, the knowns have been too negative, and the benefits to myself and others are too real to continue this.

Maybe another day, when the benefits outweight the costs. I no longer believe that day is today.

Thank you, every one of you, for all of the support.

In retrospect: the first three days were simple; on the fourth day I began to feel the differences; and on the fifth day I started to sense that I was probably doing myself a little harm. The most difficult thing was to see how my fasting was worrying my family and friends. I still believe this kind of action can make a difference, but one person in relative isolation and anonymity is unlikely to to more good than harm this way.

I would second Mike's statement.

I agree with your decision and admire your tenacity. You seem to be the type of person who would walk the talk. That is much needed in this country today.

Like I said....I never went over three days and don't have clue as to what that would be like. Day three was a snap for me and I did consider going four one time just to see....that really isn't a good reason. I trust what you have reported as the way it would be for me too.

[Nikki Stone 1]

Have you thought of a modified fast?  Something where you'd get basic nutrients--around 1000 calories a day--so that you wouldn't harm your body, but where you'd still be striking?  Many religious traditions have this kind of cleansing fast or ritual. 

[waiting for hope]

Prospero -  , not one moment was lost or wasted, your strength and courage for your son is a beautiful and wonderful thing, and thank you for sharing it all with us.

[Prospero]

Have you thought of a modified fast?  Something where you'd get basic nutrients--around 1000 calories a day--so that you wouldn't harm your body, but where you'd still be striking?  Many religious traditions have this kind of cleansing fast or ritual. 

Yes, that is what I'm now considering.

[Nikki Stone 1]

http://www.weightlossreso...unting/1000_diet_menu.htm


1000 Calorie Diet Sample Menu


Drinks throughout the day can include water, black tea and/or coffee without sugar and negligible calorie carbonated drinks such as Diet Coke.

This menu provides 1000 calories, 60g protein, 145g carbohydrate, 21g fat.

Breakfast

Banana sandwich made with 2 small slices of wholemeal bread and a small banana.
200ml glass of orange juice
Morning Snack

100g pot of low fat fruit yoghurt

Lunch

1 wholemeal roll (45g) filled with 70g tuna (canned in brine) and 10g reduced calorie mayonnaise
Mixed salad of 50g lettuce, 50g red or yellow sweet peppers, 10g spring onions.
Afternoon Snack

28g bag of lower fat crisps (eg. Walkers Lites)

Dinner

70g Roast Chicken breast (without skin)
80g Potatoes, mashed with 30ml semi-skimmed milk
60g Broccoli, steamed or boiled
50g Carrots, boiled
100ml Gravy (made from granules)

Evening

1 serving of low calorie Hot Chocolate Drink made with powder and water (eg. Cadbury's Highlights)
Women will lose 2-4 lbs in a week, men 3-5 lbs in a week, depending on start weight and activity level. It is not recommended that calories be so restricted for more than one week - for most people this level of calories is too low to obtain enough nutrition, and may have the effect of slowing metabolism.

[Prospero]

http://www.weightlossreso...unting/1000_diet_menu.htm
1000 Calorie Diet Sample Menu

You found it!

From the sacrifice/activism perspective, I'm considering fasting on odd-numbered days. Possibly for the duration of my son's stay in Iraq. I'm researching the metabolic effects of that sort of schedule.

Thanks!

[Andrea]

Prospero, I'm impressed. Not only do you have the dedication and discipline to fast for five+ days, but you also have the wisdom and caring to pay attention to your family's concerns. Now that you have started eating again, how do you feel?  I hope that you are okay. I know you will find another way to make your statement.

[Prospero]

Now that you have started eating again, how do you feel?

Stuffed. I feel stuffed with the slightest meal. Even after only five days of fasting, my digestive tract had some trouble getting back into gear. I won't include the icky details.

My wife has a beautiful smile with big Eskimo dimples, which greeted my announcement that I was going to eat and wanted sushi. Wasabi turned out to be a poor choice of condiment for breaking a 5-day fast.

I really appreciate your concern and support. Working on Plan B.

My son's deployment has been moved from the 22nd up to the 17th. He just moved into a new house; our granddaughter isn't walking yet; he'll miss her first birthday; they have an armadillo living in the foundation.

[Andrea]

My son's deployment has been moved from the 22nd up to the 17th. He just moved into a new house; our granddaughter isn't walking yet; he'll miss her first birthday; they have an armadillo living in the foundation.

I'm so sorry that he's going to miss these precious milestones in her life.

Do they really have an armadillo living in their foundation, or is that an expression I'm not familiar with?

BTW, when I was 24 I had surgery on my jaw and had my mouth wired shut for six weeks. I had a rubber splint between my upper and lower jaw, so only liquids could get through. The blenderized spaghetti with tomato sauce and other recipes the surgeon provided me with were impossible. The tiny particles of food would clog up the tiny space for stuff to get through. So, for six weeks it was Ensure, chicken broth, milk, and water. I was supposed to drink three or four Ensure a day, but I got so sick of them that most days I could only get one down. I lost 30 lbs. in six weeks. I was so excited to eat the morning that the wires were removed. It turned out that the muscles in my jaw had atrophied so severely that I couldn't chew anything. After talking and eating pudding and jello for a few days, the movement came back. Then I found out about the toll that had been taken on my digestive system. So, I know exactly what you are talking about. 

[Prospero]

BTW, when I was 24 I had surgery on my jaw and had my mouth wired shut for six weeks... So, I know exactly what you are talking about.

Wow! I'd say you had it a lot worse than a guy who didn't eat for five days.

I had a friend who was mauled by a brown bear on Kodiak Island during a photography trip. He had serious head injuries, including a crushed jaw, which was wired shut for a very long time. He had the wires removed in Fairbanks, then drove north to Pump Station 6 on the Yukon River, where his buddies were waiting for him with a big steak--his first solid meal in many months. Like you, he no longer had the strength to eat the steak, so his buddies in the kitchen chopped it for him. He at it, and he couldn't keep it down.


All I had was a little indigestion from some wasabi.

[Prospero]

What would have been Day 8:

Here I sit, drinking a big glass of water and munching corn-sweat potato tortilla chips with green salsa.

[Andrea]

BTW, when I was 24 I had surgery on my jaw and had my mouth wired shut for six weeks... So, I know exactly what you are talking about.

Wow! I'd say you had it a lot worse than a guy who didn't eat for five days.

I had a friend who was mauled by a brown bear on Kodiak Island during a photography trip. He had serious head injuries, including a crushed jaw, which was wired shut for a very long time. He had the wires removed in Fairbanks, then drove north to Pump Station 6 on the Yukon River, where his buddies were waiting for him with a big steak--his first solid meal in many months. Like you, he no longer had the strength to eat the steak, so his buddies in the kitchen chopped it for him. He at it, and he couldn't keep it down.


All I had was a little indigestion from some wasabi.

At least I was getting some calories, even if only 400-800 a day. Your buddy definitely had it the worst. There's a big difference between surgically cutting and moving bones versus violent crushing. That poor guy. 

[Prospero]

That poor guy. 

He was a mess. And he loved bears. All he was trying to do was set up in a good spot to photograph a bear returning to a food cache (a deer kill).

Usually, all you see of bears up close is their butts disappearing into the alders.

Bear story:

Two tourists were visiting Alaska for the first time, and were worried when they learned they were going to be hiking in bear country. But the owner of the B&B where they were staying told them not to worry and gave them each a set of jingle bells to wear around their ankles, telling them, “When you see bear poop, just make sure you put these on so the bears will know where you are.” This sounded like a great idea, but they had to ask, “How do we know when we see bear poop?” The owner of the B&B smiled at the silly question, “You can’t miss it. It’s full of bells!”