The Longest Time Without Food: My Personal Experience

Have you ever found yourself going without food for an extended period? If so, how long would you say this was? For me, the record stands at just over three weeks during a particularly trying time. While I didn't keep track diligently, I was in a state where fasting was necessary for financial reasons.

Engaging in fasting now leaves me feeling somewhat distressed, especially due to some physical reactions that made the experience quite uncomfortable. To elaborate, one of the most undesirable effects I've experienced is bile acid diarrhea, which can set in after about seven days. The thought of this alone might be unsettling. You don’t want to envision running to the bathroom mid-sleep to deal with this caustic, involuntary effluent. It truly is not a pleasant experience.

Further Discomforts: Low Blood Sugar

Another unpleasant side effect begins to manifest around the fourth day, known as hypoglycemia. Intense hunger and a dip in blood glucose levels to the 60s can make one feel quite miserable. I remember a time when I had to rely on someone to bring over raisins as a quick fix to prevent a dangerous drop. The fear I had of being unable to make my way to the front of my frozen house for a snack was quite real. That's why I now keep a stash of snacks by my side to manage these episodes.

It's worth noting that I am not diabetic, so my need for these snacks is simply a matter of managing fasting-induced hypoglycemia. This makes me feel somewhat weird at times, as I am one of the few people around who could find this routine necessary.

General Habits and Fasting Practices

When I'm not fasting, I don't typically feel hungry. Instead, I eat out of habit or in response to diet trends. My weight has remained fairly constant over the years. Sometimes, I might skip meals until the afternoon or even late afternoon, as I am often occupied with other tasks. For instance, I could find myself engrossed in Quora until it’s time to eat. This demonstrates that even 8 to 16 hours can slip by without wasting time, making me oblivious to my hunger.

Personal Experiences Without Food

Thanks to martial law in the Philippines, national emergencies, hurricanes, or being in a disaster shelter, I have never had to go without food during these events. The longest I’ve been without food was a mere 24 hours during a 15-page paper assignment in a mechanical engineering class in 1988. I stayed up all night and day, typing this comprehensive paper on the history of the MASER, a fascinating topic, on a typewriter. This wasn't a problem for me at the time.

Another notable incident was when my jaw was wired shut for six weeks in 1989 due to a severe injury. During this period, I survived on a diet of bodybuilders' protein powder blended with milk and bananas. This unique diet certainly made eating a challenge, to say the least. Once the wires were removed, I had to spend some time before my jaw could function normally again.

Conclusion

In conclusion, my experiences with fasting have been variable, ranging from helpful skills developed during stressful periods to deeply uncomfortable conditions like bile acid diarrhea and hypoglycemia. For those who might be interested in fasting or experiencing similar conditions, it's essential to be prepared physically and mentally to handle these challenges.