Dry Fasting: No Food, No Water for 72 Hours!

Have you been thinking about fasting without food or water? I already talked about water fasting and not eating. Fasting without water benefits you in many more ways. Today, let’s discuss dry fasting benefits. I’ll also answer such questions as “What is dry fasting?” and “Is dry fasting healthy?” as well as “How does dry fasting work?” I’ll share my own personal experience of abstaining from food and water for long periods. To learn more about me and understand my emotional struggles in life, as well as their origin, read “Getting to know Anna Szabo.” It will give you insights into my psyche, and you’ll know that fasting for me is the key to not only physical but also mental health. Below is my new dry fasting vlog from December 2020, which shares my most current experiences. This article explains how I originally discovered fasting without water and why I tried a dry fast in the first place.

Table of Content hide

1 Dry Fasting Saved My Life

2 What Is Dry Fasting?

3 Four Types of Dry Fasting

3.1 Soft Dry Fasting

3.2 Hard Dry Fasting

3.3 Fractional Dry Fasting

3.4 Combined Fasting

4 Dry Fasting Benefits

5 Is Dry Fasting Healthy?

6 How Long Can a Person Fast Without Food or Water?

7 What Is The Difference Between Dry Fasting and Water Fasting?

8 Does Dehydration Occur When Dry Fasting?

9 Which Is Easier: Dry Fasting or Water Fasting?

10 Why Should Fasting Be Done In Secret?

11 How Can I Pray When Fasting?

12.4 August 11th 2020

12.5 August 12th 2020

12.6 August 14th 2020

12.7 August 15th 2020

12.8 August 16th 2020

12.9 August 20th 2020

12.10 August 23rd 2020

12.11 August 24th 2020

12.12 August 25th 2020

12.13 August 26th 2020

Dry Fasting Saved My Life

July 30th, 2020 was International Friendship Day.

My best friend Maria invited me to have lunch. She wanted me to choose where to spend time. I chose a place with an outdoor patio as Maria loves. It was at Avalon in Alpharetta – one of my favorite places in Atlanta to enjoy dining, shopping, and walking.

I love spending time with Maria.

We support and respect each other and always have great conversations. This was her treat, and I appreciated the special gift of quality time. At first, it was a gorgeous and sunny day, then, there was a rainstorm, and then, it was pretty and sunny again. We got to enjoy both the outdoor patio and the beautiful inside of the restaurant.

Anna Szabo and Maria Rodriguez before dry fasting benefits explored

That day changed my life forever.

Before you read any further, you need to know that from the time when I typed up this entire blog post, ten months have passed, and I have completed prolonged dry fast dozens of times, up to 72 hours. Yes, I went for 3 days with no food no water. It’s incredible! At almost 40 years old, I’m enjoying the best health of my life and I’m staying slim and fit and energized! I’ve been sharing DOZENS of videos and live streams on my YouTube channel and helped hundreds of people globally! So, before you continue reading my original dry fasting blog, here’s a very important update from today, June 10th of 2021!

6/11/2021 Update! I created helpful YouTube videos for you about dry fasting:

Here’s an entire playlist about fasting

Maria picked me up around 2 pm in the afternoon, and we headed to Avalon taking backroads and catching up. Right before I went out, I wrote on my blog about fasting on water about one of the research studies regarding fasting, which was by Dr. Yuri Nikolayev from 1974 and stated clearly “after one has fasted, the body will not accept unphysiological substances like alcoholic beverages.” For me, it went into one ear and out the other. When Maria and I got to the restaurant, we had some wine. At the time, I had completed a water fast ten times.

I ate whole foods plant-based vegan soup and a veggie with ancient grains bawl. When the waitress brought me a couples of different white wine options to try, I liked one of them very much. However, she later informed me that the wine I liked was only available by bottle.

Maria asked how much it was. The waitress said it was $63. Maria said she wanted to buy the bottle for me. I was grateful and enjoyed the special gift together with her. In the next few hours, we finished the food and the wine, took a nice walk outside, and Maria brought me home. It was after 5 pm. We talked in the car for a while, and I felt good the entire time. We said goodbye and hugged. I walked home and was fine.

My intention was to go for a run. While changing from a white Summer dress into my running outfit, I began feeling a little weird. So, I went for a nap hoping that whatever that was would go away shortly.

When I woke up at 10 pm, I had a pounding headache and felt like I was about to die. I drank a little water, and hell broke loose within minutes. I had never been so sick from drinking alcohol, and the last time I vomited from drinking was forever ago. Well… Prior to that International Friendship Day…

In the next two hours, I vomited five times. Food came out again and again with bile, so it burned my throat and mouth. It hurt so bad! I was crying while vomiting. My stomach hurt. My head hurt. The moment I thought it was over, I would clean up my bathroom and toilet and myself, lie down, but vomiting would start all over again.

By midnight, I was terribly sick, weak, hurt in my throat and nose, and my headache of course was much worse. Acne started popping on my face, and my skin was itching. I prayed to God to give me wisdom as to how to help myself. I was genuinely regretting my foolishness: because I had been fasting regularly (every month and even to weekly), I was never to have any alcohol again. I did 24 Hour Water Fast, 48 Hour Water Fast, 3 Day Water Fast, and even 5 Day Water Fast several times.

I am not supposed to drink at all ever, yet, I disregarded the warning and drank half of a bottle of wine! This was a lesson learned. I was really angry with my own stupidity but chose to practice self-compassion. I decided to fast but definitely didn’t want to drink water. My body was rejecting water or anything. I just wanted nothing. I dreamed of some rest and peace. I wanted to heal.

That was when I stumbled upon dry fasting.

How did YOU hear about dry fasting?

How did YOU hear about dry fasting?x

Read About Dry Fasting

I googled: “what is dry fasting?” and “how doe dry fasting work?” and “is dry fasting healthy?” as well as a bunch of other search terms. I wanted to learn what would happen if I didn’t each or drink for a day or so. My goal was to help my body detox naturally while avoiding vomiting.

The first thing that popped was this interview about the benefits of dry fasting with Dr. Sergei Filonov from Russia. I decided to do my first-ever dry fast. I listened to the interview with curiosity and an open mind. Dr. Filonov confirmed that anyone who has already practically experienced the benefits of water fasting can do a dry fast safely. I was in!

I woke up in the morning without thirst or hunger. I felt some pain in my throat still but I had faith in my body’s healing abilities. With a lot of curiosity about how to help myself overcome a hangover quickly, I read about dry fasting and listened to Russian audiobooks on the topic.

Abstaining from food and water, I did my daily chores and work and felt good. At 2 pm, I pooped normally, which shocked me. It was as if dry fasting was welcomed by my body with joy.

Around 4 pm, I felt dizzy and weak for a minute. I decided to lie down. After a short time in bed, I was ready to rock my day again and finished a very expansive work project. So, on July 31st by the end of the day, my life changed by this incredible discovery that my body can go without food and water for 24 hours while being fully functional!

I went without food for 29 hours and without water for 24 hours. My stomach completely calmed down, my skin cleared up, and my throat was back to normal without any pain. I felt really good and was so grateful that God led me to trust my body and its natural lack of hunger or thirst. I decided to never feed myself again, unless I was actually hungry, or drink any water, unless I was actually thirsty.

My stomach shrank, and my abs became defined.

After midnight, I had a light water-deluged veggie broth made with broccoli, cabbage, onions, garlic, potatoes, herbs, etc. I drank the broth slowly and thoughtfully, brushed my teeth, and went to sleep.

In the morning, I woke up with a smile feeling so good! Since then, I’ve stopped carrying a bottle around. I can now go to the pool or the beach and just play without being obsessed with drinking or eating. I only drink when I’m truly thirsty. Yesterday, I completed another 19 hours without food or water and I did not stay away from seeing or touching food. That was excellent training, and I plan to continue conquering my flesh in this way. I did my morning exercise, made the bed, drove 30 minutes to Dekalb Farmer’s Market, shopped for herbs, fruits, and veggies, got back, unloaded my trunk, put everything away, cooked, ran some errands, walked 10000 steps, and only then had some water and food. It was incredible to let my body have a mini-vacation.

I feel amazing! My skin is clear. I poop every morning as soon as I wake up and twice during the day. I’m not worried about passing out if I don’t drink water because I know how resourceful God designed the human body to be. I plan to practice dry fasting at least once a week now.

After I watched that video with Dr. Sergei Filonov by Siberika, I reached out to him personally via email. I told him that I completed 24 hours of dry fasting, and he sent me the gift of his newest book about fasting without food or water. It’s in Russian. I’ve translated some of it for you here.

I hope this content helps you heal.

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I’m continuing to explore dry fasting today and will publish more details about my experiences, so bookmark this page and come back often to see new information, research, and practical testimonials. Also, subscribe via email to get notes from me in your inbox.

I wrote a prayer for you.

Fasting and prayer are an essential part of my healing and I recommend that you speak with God about this undertaking (and your doctor because I’m not offering you medical advice). Here’s a blog post on how to hear God’s voice. Also, you can read my other Christian prayers on this website about different life matters.

Dear God, you are my maker. You manufactured me so perfectly that I know confidently: my body can heal itself if I simply abstain from food and water. This takes faith and understanding. And I must trust you to be able to handle my food temptations.
Father God, you are creative, innovative, thoughtful, and perfect. And you made me in your image – perfectly. I have a perfectly made body that is perfectly capable of perfect divine healing.
I pray for divine healing and to restore my body to its original perfect conditions. I trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. I submit my every worldly thought about food, eating, drinking, and indulging in gluttony to the truth of Chris who
When I fast, let me do it in secret, according to Matthew 6:16-18. Help me during my dry fasting, oh God, to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to go free, and to break every bondage, according to Isaiah 58:3-7. Father God, let me weep and humble my soul with fasting so that I can experience healing, according to Psalm 69:10. Lead me to become more Christ-like, just like Jesus who “ate nothing for 40 days, according to Luke 4:2.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Dry Fasting Prayer by Anna Szabo

Now that I shared with you about my dry fasting adventures, how dry fasting works with my body, and how I even discovered it, I want to give you some helpful information about this healing method.

My primary resource is Dr. Sergei Filonov who clinically practiced dry fasting in Russia today. Also, I’ll share some testimonials from the people who’ve done it and healed in one way or another. And I’ll give you the history examples so that you can make your own decisions adequately in an informed manner. I’m not a doctor though and do not give medical advice. This content is for informational purposes only.

What Is Dry Fasting?

Dry fasting implies that you don’t eat and don’t drink anything. To the person who’s used to eating all day long this might sound insane. However, eating multiple times a day or drinking when not even thirsty – these are unnatural habits that cause diseases. I wrote about it in great detail when answering your question “What Is The History of Fasting?“

When I am writing this, it still sounds a little insane but trust me: I did it, and it’s perfectly normal for a human body. I must make a disclaimer: my body is very clean because I don’t eat fast food, sweets, white bread, anything fried, nothing packaged, and no junk. I eat a plant-based diet, which is mostly organic, and the only processed thing I eat is Mestemacher Organic Whole Rye Bread. If you are intoxicated by bad food and other poor lifestyle habits, fasting will at first be miserable. The cleaner is your body, the easier is fasting.

So, what is dry fasting?

Dry fasting is complete abstinence from food and drinks.

Abstaining from food for prolonged periods already sounds like a challenge. What about not being able to drink while you fast as well?As crazy as it may sound, it’s a thing, and it’s called dry fasting.
Dr Babar Shahzad on Dry Fasting

Dry fasting is one of the types of therapeutic fasting, during which not only food is excluded but also the consumption of water completely stops. This is called “absolute fasting.”
Types of dry fasting

Dr. Sergei Filonov in his books and video interviews highly recommends that you do not try dry fasting until you’ve experienced the benefits of fasting on water. Also, he strictly prohibits you from evolving your water fast into a dry fast. You can easily evolve a dry fast into a water fast but not vice versa. In other words, you must first try water fasting and then refeed properly. After that, you can start with dry fasting and then instead of refeeding, continue by fasting on water.

Four Types of Dry Fasting

Dry fasting has been known for a long time and even animals practice it when they get sick and refuse food and water in order to allow the inner resources of the body to heal them completely and naturally.

That being said, the scientific substantiation of this method of therapeutic fasting belongs to The Leningrad Research Institute of Pulmonology. The visionary and dry fasting practitioner of 30 years, whom I follow, is Dr. Sergei Filonov, the Head of the Health Center called “Sinegorye” in The Altai Mountains in Russia. Recently, dry fasting has actively been used in Ukraine, as well.

There are several types of dry fasting.

Soft Dry Fasting

With this type of dry fasting, drinking water completely stops, but water procedures in the form of baths, showers, brushing teeth, washing dishes, swimming in the pool or ocean or river, and the like are not excluded. This is the type of dry fast I did: I washed my face, brushed my teeth, took a shower, and did chores at home. Of course, I am writing this article in the midst of a global COVID-19 pandemic, so surely I do wash my hands a million times a day! No fast can stop that. With that being said, the skin suck water in during a dry fast, so water does make its way inside when practicing soft dry fasting.

Hard Dry Fasting

This type of dry fasting, any contact with water is completely excluded: no shower, no bath, no brushing teeth, no washing dishes, no water on the body or in the body. Hard dry fasting is rigid, so it’s not for me. I definitely can’t advocate for women not to shower if they have a period, and I believe everyone must brush their teeth and wash their hands multiple times a day. I have to have two showers every day.

Fractional Dry Fasting

Dr. Sergei Filonov invented fractional dry fasting when he realized how toxic the bodies of modern humans are today, which prevents most people from doing a full cycle of 11 days of complete abstinence from food and water. With fractional fasting, a dry fast is broken down to a few parts, each of which is carried out within a specific time limit, which makes it for the body as if it was a complete 11 day dry fast. Here’s what Dr. Filonov says about fractional fasting.

The healing timeline of a person on a dry fast is 11 days. Dry fasting for this entire period is very difficult for a modern human. It’s tough both physically and psychologically. People today have bodies overwhelmed with toxins. Hence, they risk dying but not from fasting – from self-intoxicating with their own toxins. So, we broke the fast to fractions.
Part One of a Fractional Dry Fast is called a “cleansing phase” and continues for as long as a person can tolerate safely. During this time, it’s recommended to swim in rivers or oceans to better detox and cleanse. This is the phase when the first ketosis occurs. Then, we perform refeeding.
Part Two of a Fractional Dry Fast is called a “healing phase” and continues longer in order to reach the second ketosis. It’s very therapeutic. This second fast is easier for a person both physically and psychologically.
Part Three of a Fractional Dry Fast is called a “concluding phase” and only takes place sometimes, in severe cases of serious diseases.
Fractional dry fasting is great because it doesn’t allow obese people to gain weight. Their weight loss continues to occur, progressively. They are typically able to completely normalize their weight. It changes their body and prevents weight gain in the future. Fat cells during dry fasting die, they dissolve permanently. Fat cells are only mobilized after ketosis has taken place in the body.
Once the full cycle of fractional dry fast is finalized, the number of fat cells in the body normalizes. In other words, the person will return to the number of fat cells they had in their youth, so they start looking younger, not just more fit.
Complete eradication of fat cells is only possible via fasting.
Diets don’t work because they only reduce fat cells, which recover after the dieting ends, and the person gains the weight back (plus some). Fractional dry fasting is very effective in cases of obesity.
This pendulum-like cycle of dry fasting голодания offers the body to regain its natural strength, cleanness, and purity.
Dr. Sergei Filonov About Fractional Fasting

Combined Fasting

Dr. Sergei Filonov promotes combined fasting, which helps people start with dry fasting for 2-3 days and then continue fasting with water only for as long as they can. This is the type of fasting I plan to try next. I have completed ten water fasts and one dry fast, so now, I’m ready to test combined fasting and see how long I can go on in a stage of ketosis. I’m so excited! Here’s what Dr. Filonov says about this type of fasting.

Combined fasting provides a greater therapeutic effect than just water fasting because ketosis results on dry fasting after the third day already, unlike on a water fast, which takes longer. After the body begins using ketones for food, a fasting person feels better and experiences deep healing.
Dr. Sergei Filonov About Combined Fasting

Dry Fasting Benefits

This fasting method has tremendous healing powers! It helps fight obesity, cancer, infertility, diabetes, high blood pressure, and even grow stem cells all by yourself naturally! Let’s take a look at this first.

Dry fasting helps you grow stem cells. Here’s science.

Many doctors discuss the importance of stem cells. They mention that not only can stem cells heal a particular organ but also perform a natural skin lift, produce high levels of energy, stop and even reverse aging, including eliminating grey hair.
Having practiced fasting for the last 20 years for as long as 1-5 weeks at a time, I have observed the same results when people ave completed fasting. So, I proposed to one of my colleagues to conduct a scientific experiment and explore the relationship between stem cells and fasting.
I continued going to work, exercise, and practice breathing. I spent a week preparing for fasting. Then, I did seven days of fasting. Then, I continued refeeding for three weeks.
After seven days of fasting, the number of stem cells decreased. But after a week of refeeding following the fast, the number of stem cells increased and after two more weeks, the number of stem cells tripled as compared to the volume before the fast.
This was the first scientific experiment proving that fasting results in stem cells growth in the body, aka regeneration! It’s been proven that fasting can add 15-25 years to human life, thanks to stem cells.
Grow Your Own Stem Cells by Fasting!

Dry fasting eradicates swelling and inflammation.

The dry fasting method was scientifically-proven at The Leningrad Research Institute of Pulmonology, which produced recommendations to leverage this method of healing when dealing with lung diseases.
Dry fasting activates previously-unknown natural reserves of the body and its God-given strength. It is an innate, universal, and effective way of detoxification, healing, and rejuvenation.
Inflammation can’t exist without water. Water deficit kills harmful microbes, cells, and inflammation. So, dry fasting is an effective method of curing chronic inflammation.
Also, short periods of dry fasting can be used when dealing with trauma, bruising, and fractures. Why? Because any physical trauma is always accompanied by the swelling of soft tissue. During dry fasting, swelling, pain, and inflammation dissolve quickly.
The Effects of Dry Fasting by Dr. Filonov

Dry fasting destroys infections.

If you often get sick with a common cold or the flu, it means that your immune system is compromised. If all of a sudden you’re not feeling well (you get a sore throat or a running nose), start dry fasting immediately. Do not delay!
Only in a wet environment microbes and viruses are able to spread. The water deficit kills inflammation. Microbes and viruses die without water instantly.
Dry F asting Kills Infections by Dr. Filonov

The list of dry fasting benefits continues. However, given that I have to personally translate every word from Russian to English and my time is limited, I’ll leave this section for now. The other benefits that I still have to translate address diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cystic neoplasms (ovarian cysts), infertility, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, mastopathy, prostatitis and prostate adenoma, bronchial asthma, osteochondrosis, herniated discs of the spine, rheumatoid arthritis, neurodermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, functional disorders of the nervous system, traumatic brain injury, obesity, and opisthorchiasis. Content will be regularly added here, so bookmark this page and come back often.

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Is Dry Fasting Healthy?

Yes, dry fasting is healthy and has been practiced for decades by Dr. Sergei Filonov (he started in the 1990s) and other doctors in Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, and many other countries. Today, the list also includes India, Germany, Italy, and France.

Silvio Berlusconi’s government has made its own, characteristically unconventional contribution to the growing debate in Europe on how to curb obesity. In a newspaper interview, the health minister in Italy’s right-of-center administration, Girolamo Sirchia, announced that he would be doing what he could to reinstate Friday as a day of fasting throughout Italy.
Italy’s fasting solution

In the olden days, people ate early because there was hardly any light after sunset. Their next meal would only be after sunrise. This practice spread to all religions as a discipline due to its health and spiritual benefits. Today, it is called the dry fasting diet-the most superior form of fasting and cleansing. Replicating it requires abstinence from all food and water for twelve or more hours.
Luke Coutinho and Sheikh Abdul Aziz Nuaimi teach us how this diet can stimulate the body, help one find the right balance between the ‘elimination phase’ and the ‘building phase’, aid weight loss and avoid a number of diseases. From beauty to general well-being, discover the miracle of dry fasting and the route to a new you.
The Dry fasting Miracle in Mumbai

The aim of this study was to provide a deeper insight into dry fasting (DF) physiology. Ten participants performed DF for 5 consecutive days. Conclusion: dry fasting demonstrated antioxidant, anti-ischemic, immune-stimulating, anti-edematous, and anti-inflammatory effects. The results may have an impact on treatment of edema, obesity, and inflammatory, and ischemic diseases.
Dry Fasting Physiology (Germany)

How Long Can a Person Fast Without Food or Water?

According to the German study presented above, a person can complete five days of dry fasting abstaining from food and water. According to Dr. Filonov who has practiced this fasting method since the 1990s, a person can go on for 11 days without food and water. From my personal experience, I can go for 24 hours without food and water. I’m 37 years old. My size is XS, or double-zero. My hight is 5:10′ and my weight is 116 lb. Below is a picture of me from a few days ago.

In conclusion, it has been proven by both scientific research and clinical practice that dry fasting is safe and effective therapeutic method for healing various diseases: from physical to mental and emotional. I plan to continue dry fasting and publish updates here for you. May this information be a blessing to you and help you achieve optimal health so that you can leave out God’s purpose and glorify Him.

You were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.
1 Corinthians 6:20

What Is The Difference Between Dry Fasting and Water Fasting?

Water fasting means you fast from food and everything else but can drink water to thirst. Dry fasting means you do not drink or eat anything at all. You need prior water fasting tenure before trying a dry fast. Abstaining from all food intake is a very radical cleansing method. Your body reorganizes itself completely, and you need to have both theoretical knowledge and practical understanding of what is happening to the fasted body. If you don’t have such knowledge and experience, you may make mistakes that will compromise your health.

The most common factor that causes people to make mistakes is fear. It is absolutely normal for all people who fast from food to feel fear at some point. If you have no experience fasting on water, your fear may cause you to take actions that will damage your wellbeing, even permanently. To dry fast, try water fasting first, and go for longer periods.

On a water fast, ketoacidosis causes unbearable acetone breath, which sinks. It feels like a rat crawled into your mouth and died there several days ago. Everyone experiences this on a water fast. When dry fasting, this is almost not the case. I’m not saying that you have roses or tulips grow out of your mouth, I’m just saying your breath doesn’t stink badly and there’s no awful taste. While we’re talking about ketosis, I want to mention that on a dry fast, ketosis happens within 24 hours as opposed to 72 hours on a water fast. So, dry fasting activates fat for fuel within a day.

When fasting on water, the body temperature goes up and down, up and down. You feel hot, cold, hot, cold… This doesn’t happen on a dry fast because it causes your body to turn itself into a burning oven, so you’re at comfortable temperature consistently. I actually really value this difference because the ups and downs of body temperature on a water fast exhaust and aggravate me, that’s just me being frank.

As of 8/26/2020, I completed 11 prolonged water fasts and four prolonged dry fasts. So, I have a lot of experience and insights to share. If I were to honestly sum up the difference in one sentence, I’d say this: dry fasting is way less miserable than water fasting and it delivers better results, however it’s way more scary!

Acne clears up within a day on a dry fast because inflammation needs humidity to live and grow. Likewise, any couching, nasal discomfort, vaginal discharge, skin rash, or even hangover symptoms will all clear up within 24 hours if you abstain from all food and water. The body turns is temperature up and burns whatever inflammation there is, so only the strongest and the healthiest cells survive.

Water fasting is known to cause bile vomiting or at least nausea. None of this happens on a dry fast. On a water fast, thirst is common and dehydration occurs. On a dry fast, this is not as severe because the body produces its own metabolic water. This is exactly why dry fast eradicates fat cells permanently: 80% of a fat cell is water, which is used by the body, causing fat cells to cease their existence.

The utilization by the body of ingested food substances and of tissue reserves yields quantities of metabolic water. Complete combustion of 100 gm of fat produces about 110 gm of metabolic water, whereas 100 gm of carbohydrate yields only 55 gm of water.
Metabolic Water

If you read the research above, you can understand why at first there might be some thirst, while the body is using glycogen, food remains, and old cells for fuel. Once ketosis occurs and the body activates fat cells for fuel, it makes twice as much metabolic water and meets all of its own water needs. The process of recycling old and damaged cells for fuel, including loose skin, results is a facelift and overall rejuvenation. Because fat cells are not eradicated permanently on a water fast, the rejuvenation result is not as dramatic, though it still is visible.

On a water fast, I did sometimes experienced constipation but never on a dry fast. I worked out during both dry and water fasting, and I can testify that exercise is easier on a dry fast and doesn’t have as much lightheadedness as water fasting may cause.

I love dry fasting. It cleanses the body faster. It’s easier for me to endure. It has less side effects, especially given that I did personally experienced bile vomiting on a water fast. I like not having body temperature swings. I like how I feel when abstaining from both food and water. It is a more peaceful and serene spiritual experience. My preference is dry fasting.

Here’s a poem I wrote.

“Dry Fasting vs Water Fasting” #PoemsFromGod

Water fasting implies only drinking water
While completely abstaining from all food.
Dry fasting implies abstaining from both food and water
And is actually really good.

Water fasting works magic with you health
Cleansing, detoxing, and renewing you.
Dry fasting does all that but much faster,
Plus, it prevents the spread of viruses and the flu. 

Viruses need water to survive 
And so does cancer, too.
Fasting from both food and water,
All inflammation you strive through.

For your essential survival, 
Your body is well-prepared.
It makes its own metabolic water.
When God made you, He really cared! 

God thoughtfully built into your body 
What scientists call “a physician within.”
God gave you autophagy, ketosis, epigenetics - 
All to help your insides to naturally clean. 

God created miraculous genetic processes
Which cause your good cells to eat your unhealthy aged cells,
By doing so, fasting makes you feel and look younger.
Fasting and longevity exist in parallels. 

Both water fasting and dry fasting do it,
Only dry fasting speeds the entire healing process up.
When your body gets total rest from digestion,
All your natural healing resources free up.

During water fasting, intense and deep detoxification 
May make you feel sick and nauseous.
Dry fasting prevents that from happening
So, it’s more tolerable and less obnoxious. 

During water fasting, you also experience 
A bad breath and very stinky sweating.
While dry fasting, you don’t sweat much.
Your body odor and breath are less upsetting.

During water fasting, your body temperature 
Annoyingly goes up and down a lot. 
On a dry fast, it doesn’t happen.
Also, your stomach doesn’t growl or bloat. 

I’ve completed 14 fasts in two years:
Eleven on water and three completely dry.
I recommend both methods for health optimization 
But dry fasting is definitely a must-try! 


8/21/2020 © Anna Szabo, JD, MBA

I want to make a disclaimer once again that I am not a medical professional and do not give medical advice. This content is for general information purposes only. If you use anything you’ve learned from my experiences, you re responsible for your own results. I recommend consulting a licensed physician if you want to get medical advice.

Does Dehydration Occur When Dry Fasting?

During dry fasting, dehydration doesn’t occur as long as you have fat reserves. The body mobilizes the fat you have and burns it for fuel, making its own metabolic water to sustain all its essential processes.

Complete combustion of 100 gm of fat produces about 110 gm of metabolic water. You can enjoy dry fasting without any side effects of dehydration if you sleep with your mouth closed, breathe out of your nose, and do not talk or sing. That being said, I personally dry fasted for 16 hours this Summer while traveling to Destin, FL. I sang songs to stay awake at 3 am while driving 6 hours non-stop. I wasn’t thirsty even when I arrived to the beach, and spent two hours setting up before drinking and eating, all in 90F.

My body was not dehydrated even a little bit. Consider that I am an experienced faster. The more you fast, the faster will your body adapt to fasting when you abstain from food and water. In the beginning, that metabolic adaptation will take longer and require more effort. As you earn some fasting tenure, it will become easier.

Read About Dry Fasting

Once you run out of fat reserves, dehydration is a risk factor. That is why the length of a fast is always determined individually by the fat percentage and health conditions of each person. Dry fasting is not for everyone. It also takes mental stamina to fast without food and water. If fear sets in and you are not mentally prepared, the improper refeeding may result in a refeeding syndrome and death.

Which Is Easier: Dry Fasting or Water Fasting?

Once you have some experience with both water fasting and dry fasting, it becomes easier to fast from everything: complete fasting. However, initially, you must start by fasting on water. You need to allow your body to adapt, however, it is your mind that needs real adaptation.

Once you decide to abstain from food, you’ll face a dark battle with yourself, your food addictions, your eating history, your childhood memories, your emotional trauma from the past, and other things, which are well-hidden in the deep and dark dungeon of your soul while you’re constantly eating. What we all want is to feel loved, which is very hard, so it is easier to eat away our emotional pain and emptiness.

Once you stop eating and start fasting, your open a can of worms, You’ll struggle and suffer, then, you will experience healing. But if you take away water and stop drinking… Oh my! It’s going to be so tough! The culture is against you. Additionally, you will also at some point be against yourself and begin persuading yourself to quit.

Physically, fasting on water is easier.

Emotionally, dry fasting is very difficult at first.

You can not go in one fasting experience from water fasting to dry fasting. You can only go from dry fasting to water fasting. It means this: if you’re new to fasting, start with water fasting, then refeed. Once you gain some skills with fasting on water, you can try dry fasting. You can abstain from food and water, then start drinking water and keep fasting from food. You can not, however, start fasting on water, then ditch water and do dry fasting. Never do that! After you fast on water, you must refeeed, not dry fast. That’s why knowledge is key.

Why Should Fasting Be Done In Secret?

I began fasting in 2018. It was totally new to me. I personally didn’t know anyone who had ever done either water fasting or dry fasting. I was on my depression recovery journey at the time trying to go on when suicidal thoughts were dominating my headspace. I had no energy, no strength, no clarity, and no zeal for life.

It was after my marriage with the narcissist. That season was difficult and devastating but God led me to this ministry, though through pain and suffering. My goal at the time was to jumpstart my new life and to regain my vitality and wellbeing.

I wanted to heal while also helping others.

So, I started a water fasting vlog on YouTube where I published my videos about the experience of fasting on water. I released a new video daily. From my personal experience of completing a prolonged fast, both dry and wet, multiple times over the last two years, I want to tell you this. Undoubtedly, you will be tempted to quit.

In the moments of experiencing those temptations, you will suffer and struggle. On the other side of that suffering is your personal growth: spiritual, mental, intellectual, emotional, and physical. If you don’t dive deep into your soul, you will rob yourself of genuine healing. That is why proper fasting must be done in secret.

Proper Fasting
When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Mathew 6:16-18

Often, people tell me: if I fast, they will fast. Also, I hear people say: we started fasting together but then the other person quit and so I quit, too. That kind of fasting is not at all what I encourage. To me, it’s like habitual Christianity described in my blog post called “What Is Faith?” It doesn’t entice your own growth, healing, an intimate knowing of God. It hinders your spiritual awakening.

Habitual Christians go to church, volunteer, do mission trips, and give to charities because it looks good or because that’s what mom and dad want them to do or because their monetary inheritance depends on this behavior. That is as far from genuine faith as Bali from Russia. Faith is a personal and scared quest. It requires seeking God, which happens on your own when no one is looking. Fasting is like that, too. Fasting must be done in secret because it is a personal, sacred quest toward God. It is not something you do to show off.

Let me tell you about my own vanity.

When I fasted by vlogging on YouTube and I’d want to quit, I didn’t quit because my earlier vlogs said I was going to continue fasting, so I knew my subscribers expected a new video. That was why I didn’t quit. It’s vain. It isn’t a sacred quest toward God. There’s no growth in this kind of fasting motivation. It’s rooted in the human desire to look good, to avoid failure, and to be accepted by others. It’s vanity.

There is no spiritual growth in this kind of public accountability. You need to fast alone with God to face yourself and dig deep into the dark dungeon of your soul where pain, trauma, insecurities, fears, doubts, and repressed and suppressed memories are stored away from your immediate awareness. That’s where healing comes from.

By fasting in secret, I face my own accountability within, and I fight myself, facing my own desire to quit, to eat, to turn around when no one is watching, to avoid pain, to not deal with my wounds, to be only half-alive and pretend to be happy all the time. During the brutal fight in my mind, I seek God, His strength, His word, His truth, His power, and His divine healing. By doing so, I grow and heal. No one is there with me. It’s me, myself, and I, alone with God. Every time!

Had I continued fasting “with others” per se, I would have never suffered, searched the Bible for truth, written poetry that inspires others, created prayers that provide encouragement… None of these blessings would be mine had I not retreated to fast in secret. God convicted me this year and called me to fast with Him, secretly, without telling anyone. That’s how I fast now: in secret. It is the proper way to do it.

I received a letter on Instagram from a lady asking to fast together with me. I was honored to have this beautiful lady as a part of my discipleship community. All my readers mean the world to me. As of today, my ministry blog reached over 50,000 people in 198 countries in only 11 months of its existence. I was blessed by this woman’s sharing how my Christian blog has inspired her and helped her. I was touched. I thanked God for her letters, enthusiasm, and honesty.

It is a privilege to receive such a special letter. While my heart was overcome with gratitude for this woman, I prayed for wisdom and kindly told her the truth: I fast in secret. However, she continued to send me letters asking me when I plan to fast again.

From her multiple messages to me, it appeared as if she wanted to fast with me and others so that people could pray for her and help her to not quit. It also looked like she tried fasting before and had some valuable insights to share. That was wonderful and I was delighted to hear about her enthusiasm. I encouraged her to comment on my blog. I gave her a link to my entire library of free articles about fasting. I invited her to post comments and prayer requests to give other readers an opportunity to lift her up in prayer, as well as benefit from her helpful insights regarding fasting. It would have helped many people.

Though I communicated very clearly how I fast and why, this enthusiastic lady kept sending me messages, again and again, wanting to know when I plan to fast and asking me to fast together. While I encourage fasting, it is not an invitation to fast with me. It is an invitation to fast with God. Eventually, she sent me a message revealing her true fears: the fears of temptations. She wanted to rely on me when tempted instead of relying on God. That can hinder her growth.

Temptations will come when you fast. I have read many books about fasting, even from the 1800s, books from many different authors, various countries and cultural backgrounds, and every book mentions intense fears experienced during fasting. The Bible says you must cast your fears on God and pray without ceasing.

The best way I can explain my point of view is like this. I started Online Discipleship For Women online because many people said over the years they stopped growing with God because their church closed or they moved or their pastor cheated on his wife or committed suicide, which is so common. Read “Pastors Who Died By Suicide.”

God is everywhere all the time.

You don’t need a church or a pastor to grow closer to God. If you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, God gave you His Spirit called The Holy Spirit, which lives in you and is your direct dial with God. If I was on a plane and it crashed, everyone died, and I was thrown on a wild island with no humans, no churches, no pastors to tell me about God, I would still be a Christian, a disciple of Jesus, and be in an intimate relationship with God. How? The Holy Spirit wouldn’t abandon me on a wild island or anywhere. God would be with me, and I would still be His. This is how I understand faith. It’s mine! It is not influenced by cities, churches, pastors, politics, none of that. I grow in faith because of God’s sacred works in me and through me. I own this process. It is a daily pursuit.

I pursue God. Fasting helps me with this sacred journey. I pursue intimacy with God through fasting. It happens in secret, away from people, away from busyness, away from talking, or phones, or distractions. It is a divine pursuit, in which I chase God.

If you have a group of buddies on a fasting journey with you, it is much easier to fast because there’s a sense of competition and you don’t want to quit while others are still going. It’s group-think! It’s like when you have a church group, with which you like eating out, and you keep going to a Bible study just to keep hanging out with your group, though you don’t feel God’s presence and you only talk about Him out of habit, not wanting to appear a misfit to that group.

This is exactly what robs you of your spiritual searching and ultimate growth. It is better to lock yourself up in a room alone and be silent. Suffer, struggle, weep, feel pain, and get to know God personally so that He can heal your soul. That’s the kind of faith and fasting I encourage on this blog. Not a group-think. Not a habit that makes you look good. No. I encourage you to pursue God through fasting.

When you reach out to people asking for help with your temptations, you rob yourself of intimacy and closeness with God who promised to provide an escape from every temptation and comfort you. If only you’d tune in and listen to His voice, you’d hear God speak to you directly revealing His purpose for your life, the direction in which you must go, your identity, and even secrets about your destiny.

If you rely on your phone, social media, email, or meetings to help you through a fast, you aren’t relying on God wholeheartedly. You aren’t seeking His comfort. You aren’t growing intimate with Him. You aren’t getting to know God better.

Fasting in secret is how you get to know God and hear God’s voice. If you seek a human company to rescue you from your fasting-related emotional suffering, you aren’t facing your giants, you aren’t growing, and in fact, you hinder your own healing.

How Can I Pray When Fasting?

When fasting, I encourage you to pray from the heart. What to pray about will be revealed to you once you begin abstaining from food or both food and water. God will convict you of that which needs to be surrendered to Him. You will know it in your spirit. All you need s to get quiet and listen to hear God’s voice. I highly recommend having a journal and keeping a log of your spiritual breakthroughs. If you still have no idea how to even get started, here’s my personal fasting prayer.

“Fasting and Prayer” #PoemsFromGod

Dear God, I’m praying and fasting.
Special blessings from you I’m requesting.

I’m surrendering everything to you, Father.
Draw me closer. Lead me in faith further.

My desire, God, is to serve your kingdom.
I‘m fasting and praying for divine wisdom. 

Show me, God, which way I need to go. 
Reveal to me whatever I need to know.

Lead me every day in the direction of you.
Rid me of the old. Make me sacredly new.

I’m surrendering and giving up even food,
Relying on you, trusting that you’re good.

During fasting, you sustain me every day.
Speak to me. I’m ready to do as you say.

God, I love you. I‘m wholeheartedly yours!
Heal my spirit while fasting my flesh cures. 


8/23/2020 © Anna Szabo, JD, MBA

Dry Fasting Diary

I have completed a prolonged fast (no food or water for 24-36 hours) four times as of today (8/26/2020) but I also fasted for more than 12 hours many-many times. So, I’ve kept a fasting diary to document my experiences. I’m sharing my thoughts openly hoping that this information will encourage and empower you.

My perspective is unique. It’s evolving the more experience I gain. Fasting has helped me conquer my food addiction, binge-eating, and weight gain. It allowed me to lose 22 lb since April this year at 37 years old. I’m enjoying the best health of my life, and I want the same for you. That is why I’m willing to share my fasting diary.

Dry fasting is hard, and the hardest part is not the physical aspect of fasting but the emotional, spiritual, mental, intellectual, and cultural aspects, which often hinder your healing and growth.

May this fasting diary bless you today!

Before I ever fasted, I had to find out who I was. To help me be strong in the Lord and own my own mind, God led me toward a breakthrough: searching, understanding, exploring, accepting, and wearing confidently my identity in Christ. He revealed to me 52 things the Bible says about me, which empower me every day. I wrote an ebook about it called #52Devotionals. Download it now for free.

52 things God says about you and your identity in Christ

August 5th 2020

Today is my grandma’s birthday. It was always a family get together: drinking, arguing, and fighting. Hatred and violence were common themes, year after year. My neighbors Gabby, Ashlyn, and Susan had dinner with me at the pool tonight: all plant-based vegan. The last time I ate was 8:30 pm. In the morning, I’m going to Henderson Beach State Park in Destin, FL. I plan to dry fast as long as possible.

August 6th 2020

I got up at 2 am and left at 3 am to hit the road. I had no food and no water until 10 am local time, which was 11 am my time, so I dry fasted for a little over 14 hours. How awesome to do it on the road and on the beach! Though it was 90F, I was fine. Then, I had plant-based food and played all day at the beach coming back home to Atlanta GA at 2:30 am. So it was almost a 24-hour day but I napped in Destin a bit.

August 9th 2020

My last day-long fast was last week on Friday (7/31/2020) celebrating my 12th anniversary since I came to America and saving my life from alcoholic intoxication. It was the first time I ever tried dry fasting, which I loved and even wrote a dedicated blog post about it.

Considering that on Thursday this week I fasted from both food and water for 14 hours, today I’ll be dry fasting for as long as I can again and see how I feel. My prefasting meal was cantaloupe and a sip of water at 1 am, so I’ll be dry fasting for however many hours I can, but definitely more than ten, to give me that 24-hour fast this week.

Of course fasting for the full day is not the same as fasting for half a day twice. The longer the better! But I’m already at my ideal weight of 116 lb so this will work for me to allow my body to rest and repair.

It’s 11 am. I just worked out after reading a book. I’m feeling excited about this beautiful sunny Sunday and all the things I’m going to accomplish today!

It’s 12:40 pm. I’m going for a walk outside, however, it’s very hot and the sun is so harsh here at the Lodge, so it might be a short walk, we shall see. One thing I noticed: after I had done exercises where I had to breathe out of my mouth and not nose, dry fasting became more difficult. That’s why Dr. Filonov recommends that during a dry fast people only breathe out of their nose and don’t talk much. At the same time, I was dry fasting on Thursday and I talked 8 out of the 14 hours of my dry fast. I also sang in my car, I was the driver with two passengers, and I was also on the beach! It is very interesting to observe how differently my body reacts to abstinence from food and water each time I do it. I plan to only breathe out of my nose for the rest of the day as long as I’m fasting. I also plan to be completely silent.

It’s 1:49 pm, and the silent day didn’t happen for me because so many neighbors are out at the pool, so we said hi and chatted. The pool is the center point of our neighborhood, so it’s impossible to walk outside without passing the pool. I don’t want to be rude.

As I’m finishing my 10000 steps, I’m thinking this: fasting makes me feel so empowered! Why? Because food is not my master! Food doesn’t own my mind. One of my neighbors is a 17-year-old gild who always talks about how she doesn’t like vegetables and how her stomach often hurts after her junk-food binge-eating. Recently, she was admitted to a hospital for seven days and her kidney was removed after she damaged her kidney with crappy junk food.

Junk can cause as much damage to the kidney as diabetes, research has revealed. The study, published in the journal Experimental Physiology, showed that eating junk food, such as fizzy drinks, burgers, cakes, biscuits, and fast food, causes similar blood sugar levels as Type 2 diabetes.
Study highlights:
1. Eating junk and fatty food regularly can cause damage to your kidneys
2. Accumulation of sugar in the blood can lead to diabetic kidney disease
Eating junk food can damage your kidneys as much as DIABETES

My neighbor is a young girl. She went to the beach with me recently and was complaining about junk food cravings the entire time, saying she was afraid “to starve to death.”

Those were her exact words. This 17-year-old is of a pretty large size and obese, carrying a substantial amount of dangerous fat in the belly, knee areas, hip, and back areas, which typically causes cancer, diabetes, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and early death.

Hearing her explain how she ate herself to the point of losing a kidney at 17 years old was scary to me. But watching her being terrified of dying “from starvation” if she didn’t eat her junk food was even scarier! She was irritated and rude on the trip. Her attitude from her food addiction almost spoiled my day but I didn’t let it. She carried a huge wheeled cooler of junk crap to the beach. At the beach, she didn’t want to play the ball or run or walk or swim because after she ate all that crap from her cooler, she felt like crap. This was sad to observe all day. She was with me for 23.5 hours. I looked at her with compassion and sadness: here was a slave who was owned by food totally and completely, feeling disengaged from her life after surrendering her mind and body to the pleasure trap.

I could relate because I used to be the same way. It was slavery! Fasting prevents this from happening. By practicing dry fasting and water fasting, I empower myself and reclaim my freedom from food and from slavery to the pleasure trap.

God is my only master. Food is not my master.

I know that I’m finally healthy and will stay healthy for decades to come, thanks to fasting. I’m not a victim of the bad food environment. I’m not going to let the evil Department of Agriculture and Big Pharma take advantage of my health. I’m not helpless. I’m not going to surrender to food temptations. There is something I can do every day to protect my health, body, mind, and spirit: I can fast to stay slim, fit, active, young, well, and free from slavery.

Famine is required for all humans.

We must allow our bodies to rest and repair.

It’s 2:14 pm and I got back home. I’ve been without food or water for 13 hours now. But because it’s so hot and I breathed out of my mouth during a workout, plus talked to the neighbors, I might transition to a water fast after I take a shower, depending on how I feel.

It’s 5:10 pm and I am pooping for the first time today after drinking a glass of water. Now, it’s a water fast! I’m feeling great! One thing I’m realizing: fasting from food makes me appreciate food so much more when I feast on it! I love my colorful, flavorful, homemade, delicious, and nutritious food so much! I learned to cherish it from this sacred experience of abstinence.

It’s 6:30 pm, and I just finished eating: kiwi, cantaloupe, blackberries, blueberries, a half of a peach, a slice of papaya, and farro with three types of mushrooms and Brussels sprouts. I only ate to satiety and stopped. I have a portion left in the fridge, which is so empowering: my binge-eating is over for good, and time has proved that I’ve learned how to eat to live. I’m about to have a cup of herbal tea while working on a client project. So, I did a 17-hour long dry fast. That’s really good!

It’s 6:35 pm, and I just pooped for the second time today. Thank God for a poop-strong body! This is definitely one of the natural secrets to holistic health: poop! I feel so good! Today, I created the rules for how to feel good every day, and I’m just reflecting on the journey from me quitting my job almost 16 months ago and embarking on this unique health optimization adventure…

I’m in awe from God’s amazing grace!

How To Feel Good Every Day

August 11th 2020

Last time I ate was fruit at 11 pm yesterday. I did all my morning exercises already and plan to dry fast today for as long as I can. I really enjoy these periods of rest and repair for my body. I feel really good and see that my skin looks tighter, more glowing, and younger; my stomach looks flat; and I also have a very tiny waist now. The pink dress into which I could hardly fit just a couple of months ago is not hanging loose on me. I feel light, detoxed, and healthy!

It’s 9 pm. A Russian lady who does illustrations and wants to work on my fairytale book invited me to visit her. I went. She lives in a retirement home 15 minutes away. Her mom also stays there. She showed me her illustrations and then invited me to have tea.

Well, I wasn’t asked if I want any; I was told we will have some. So, I was in agony: what should I do? Do I tell her “no thank you!” right now? Her heart would be broken because serving tea is how Russians show hospitality and appreciation. I was tortured on the inside waiting and not saying anything yet but I asked for a glass of water.

At 5 pm I drank it. So my dry fast ended at 18 hours. I drank water and heard her enthusiastically tell me about the sweets she was about to serve with tea. I asked to see the box. She was puzzled but gave me the box. I saw eggs listed as an ingredient. She looked at me so confused. I was uncomfortable but I said to her: “I am vegan.” She immediately understood and asked if I could eat fruits and berries. I said yes. She wanted me to eat with them to bond.

She wanted to serve me to be hospitable. I was appreciative and decided to eat peaches, apples, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. I had some tea and we talked. Her 88-year-old mom with diabetes was insisting that I eat some of those cookies with eggs, so I had to repeatedly say “no thank you,” and it was a good practice.

I’m realizing how important it is to practice my boundaries yet also understand the meaning of social eating as an act of bonding and self-expression of a good hostess. I did share with her about my dry fasting and she wanted to listen to Dr. Filonov’s book. Great! I hope this will be of huge help because she suffers from asthma and liver disease. This can save her health for sure and maybe even prolong her life. Definitely, fasting could improve her quality of life. She said her son practiced intermittent fasting and has been trying for years to get her to do it, too. I hope she gives it a try. Her coughing was intense!

I was called a fat girl for the first time! How? This lady’s mom watched my “Forgiveness” poem on YouTube and said: “This can’t be you! This is a fatty!” On that video, I had a double-chin and was at my heaviest weight ever: 136 lb. It was from a couple of months ago.

Interesting! This was a unique experience.

A fat girl… Ok.

August 12th 2020

The last time I drank water was midnight. I’m dry fasting today for as long as I can. Just finished my exercise and feeling excellent! Yesterday, the Russian ladies talked to me about my single and celibate lifestyle asking who will take care of me when I’m sick and old. I guess in their mind old means sick and helpless.

In my mind old means wise, strong, independent, adventurer, traveler, and yogi. In my mind, 100 years means running marathons and practicing handstands. I’ve watched so many documentaries about people over 100 years old writing books, doing handstands, and living completely alone, being fully independent.

The Russian ladies see aging as full of inevitable diseases. I see aging as reversible and disease-free. I know what causes diseases and so I don’t feel a victim of aging. I watched many documentaries about marathon-running, book-writing, lawn-mowing, hand-standing centenarians who do all kinds of amazing things at 100 years old and even older! All of them eat only a few calories and practice fasting and exercise.

So, I told the lady that I’ll be active and healthy. She had a hard time imagining and nodded in disbelief. They have many illnesses, and their bookshelves are filled with books such as “How To Live with Diabetes.” I told her they don’t have to have asthma and diabetes and that Dr. Filonov cures these diseases with dry fasting.

They said they won’t do it, most likely.

I totally understand.

It’s bedtime. I ate at 10:20 am and also 9 pm dinner. I don’t like eating dinners. I feel heavy after dinners. My preference is to go to bed hungry. I’m planning to attempt a dry fast for longer than 24 hours. I won’t be breathing out of my mouth and I’ll stay inside.

Interestingly, I saw a woman from the domestic violence shelter where I volunteer every Christmas Day. I saw her tonight right next door to where I live. She was a resident at the safe house on Christmas. She recognized me but said: “Wow! You lost so much weight!”

I was like: “Why did no one tell me I was fat?” So, I can definitely witness from such comments, as today’s woman and yesterday’s comment, how fast fasting works. Only a few months – all weight and fat are gone! No loose skin either. I’m going to continue this journey!

My goal is to ditch dinner and fast for as long as possible every day but eat before 5 pm. If I eat after 5 pm, I feel heavy. My weight in Russia was 46 kg. That’s 101 lb. I’m going to try to get to that weight, though it was 12 years ago. I’m almost 40 now!

101 lb is 15 lb lighter than I what am now.

August 14th 2020

Yesterday, I met a 38-year-old Christian woman whose father died from cancer. We talked for hours about water fasting and dry fasting. She did 40 days of plant-based eating in July but is addicted to chicken wings, ribs, and fast food, as well as sweets. We took 10000 steps up and down the hill walking and talking in the rain at night. She asked me so many questions: about healthy eating, living, pooping, fasting, feasting, spiritual warfare, and celibacy. God revealed Himself to me through that experience. I am thinking about a new TEDx talk about celibacy.

Today, I’m doing my first-ever hard dry fast: no food, no water, no brushing teeth, no washing hands, no showering. Before I pooped after waking up, I put gloves on. Then, I threw them away.

My face is not used to not being washed. Frankly, I feel very uncomfortable. But I’m willing to try it for God. I’m writing poetry and prayers today. No exercise. No going outside. No talking. Breathing out of my nose only. It’s 1 pm and I’m feeling ok so far, though I do love washing my face and body, as well as brushing my teeth. I plan to go for as long as I can and see what happens.

My goal is communion with God.

The lady I walked with yesterday asked how often I fast and why. For me, now that I’m at my ideal weight already, fasting is about surrendering my desires and temptations to God. Communion with God is what I’m after. Fasting quiets my mind. It allows me to hear God’s voice. Also, it’s a good way for me to detox my body and headspace regularly while experiencing profound peace and calm. Fasting is sacred to me. It helps me conquer my flesh. Fasting is a way of renewing myself.

It’s 1:49 pm. This is the first time I’m hearing my stomach growling a little bit. My face is itching in need of its expected daily morning wash. I’m very thirsty but committed to continuing. I’m having a little headache. But I feel lightness and ease in my belly. Also, my nasal breathing is so so easy and so deep and comfortable! I pray that it will be possible for me to go for at least 24 hours of hard dry fasting. This self-care strategy is holistic as it helps improve all aspects of my health: physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional. The last time I ate was yesterday before 9 pm. The last water I had was at 11:30 pm yesterday.

It’s 5 pm. I exercised slightly without sweating. Feeling good! One thing I’m noticing is how much easier dry fasting is as compared to water fasting. Dry fasting doesn’t cause significant growling in the belly, ups and downs in the body temperature, flu-like symptoms, or even bad body and breath odor from ketoacidosis. None of that! It’s easier to tolerate. One day of dry fasting results in ketosis and fat burning.

I’m feeling really good and very peaceful. I’m reading a book and thinking about the world, the people I’ve helped recently, especially those who write me letters on Instagram and via email, and I’m reflecting on the purpose of my life overall.

I’m so grateful for this journey.

I feel blessed and peaceful.

It’s 6:23 pm. I’m back in bed after I did a load of laundry, cleaned both bathrooms, and sliced a large papaya, honeydew melon, three peaches, five oranges, and a kiwi for when I’m ready to refeed. I’m 5 hours away from completing a 24-hour dry fast.

I feel good, definitely better than on a water fast! At 6 pm, I pooped for the second time today. Amazing, it proves that the body is designed perfectly by God. After I pooped, I did wash my hands because I didn’t have any more gloves. Then, I also washed my face but no showering or brushing teeth. Now, I’m resting. I do feel a bit tired and lightheaded but it’s expected.

It’s 7:30 pm, and I’m feeling really good but thirsty, and my lips and skin are dry. I’m not using any lotions.

It’s 9 pm. I didn’t even take one nap today! I just finished cooking vegetable soup for when I’m ready to eat. At the end of 1-hour cooking, I started feeling dizzy and lightheaded so I’m in bed now. I plan to rest a little and go clean the kitchen. Other than that, I feel excellent: no severe hunger pangs or nausea or stomach growling like when water fasting. Dry fasting rocks!

I just received this letter from a woman.

I’m so thankful for this dry fast and its divine impact globally through my Christian ministry! It’s almost midnight. I completed my second 24-hour dry fast. Actually, I’m feeling really good and will not be drinking water or refeeding. I’m going to keep fasting from both food and water. I haven’t brushed my teeth since yesterday’s bedtime. I haven’t had anything in my mouth. One thing that’s really important is that on a dry fast, I don’t experience rapid heartbeat. I feel really good, just dizzy if I move too fast. That’s all. Today was a very productive day. No headache. Very short very little quiet stomach growling for just a few minutes. No nausea or vomiting. No bad body odor despite the fact that I haven’t showered since yesterday evening. No heart or breathing issues.

My dry fasting continues.

August 15th 2020

It’s 12:44 am and I just finished cleaning the kitchen after all that cooking, after which I took a shower and brushed my teeth for the first time since 8/13/2020. I couldn’t go to sleep without my daily hot shower, face wash, teeth brushing, and other typical personal hygiene routines that make me clean and happy, allowing me to sleep like a baby all night. I definitely feel amazing!

I’ve been 25 hours without any food or water. I cooked, cleaned, did light exercises, and even finished laundry! I read, wrote, and prayed during this time. And I’ve stayed inside. I did talk a little bit on the phone when a domestic violence survivor I’m helping called me up. Now, I’m going to bed. I’m going to sleep in complete calm, serenity, peace, and joy. No intrusive thoughts of food like I had experienced during my earlier fasting this year. My mind is peaceful. There’s nothing I want, except to continue my fasting and prayer.

It’s 1 am. I’m off to bed! My weight is 114.1 lb.

August 16th 2020

It’s 9:25 am. I just woke up after 8 h 25 min of sleep. One thing for sure: I opened my mouth to breathe at some point at night, and now my skin feels very dry, my mouth is super dry, and I feel a little bit of a rapid heartbeat. Other than that, I feel good.

So, I think I might get up, brush my teeth, and work out a little bit, then see how I feel. I really want to continue dry fasting at least until 11:40 am so that I reach 36 hours. But before I get up, I am going to go deep inside and pray, especially spiritual warfare prayers.

The lady, whom I walked with in the rain, told me that her ex-husband was dedicated to some evil spirits who then came to attack her and she had three miscarriages, never having a child in their 14 years of marriage. I know that God gave us the spirit of power over Satan. I want to continue writing powerful warfare prayers to help people. I remember how much the spiritual warfare prayers I wrote and prayed helped me when Satan came at me looking Saint and attacked me.

It’s 11 am. I exercised and wrote many prayers against spiritual warfare. I brushed my teeth, washed my face, put avocado oil on it, and I’m also soaking my hair and scalp in avocado oil, wearing a shower cap. One thing I noticed: there’s huge acne, red and inflamed, on my chin. Detoxification is happening, that’s good. I folded my laundry and prepared my food.

It is 11:40 am. I am sitting at a table in my dining room with a glass of water and a bowl of soup in front of me. My sense of smell is strong and my gratitude for this simple homemade healthy delicious meal is even stronger. I still do not feel hungry at all. However, I will be refeeding just because Dr. Filonov says trying dry fasting at home must happen in stages. My first dry fast was 24 hours. Then, completed multiple shorter dry fasts intermittently. Now, I completed a 36-hour dry fast.

Next, I’ll go for 48 hours of dry gasting.

It’s 11:56 am. I’m still slowly eating this small bowl of soup. I’m taking a lot of time and put my spoon down after each intake. It smells incredible, and it looks amazing! There’s even a little kick to it from herbs and organic spices. I feel so blessed to have my extraordinary cooking skills! In my soup, I have my homemade veggie broth made with dill, arugula, spinach, kale, and asparagus, but then veggies were thrown out, so the vegetable broth is clear. I added to my soup celery, Japanese purple potatoes, red onions, garlic, carrots, squash, eggplant, two types of mushrooms, millet, hemp heart seeds, parsley, green onions, cumin, curry, red pepper, black pepper, sea salt, and dill. It smells and tastes absolutely divine.

I’m feeling extremely cold and even turned off the AC completely. However, until I started drinking water a few moments ago and eating soup, my body temperature was consistent and comfortable, though on the hot side, for sure, since I had to have 70F at home, and typically I’m good with 74F inside my apartment.

I made myself a special drink, which I’m sipping on while it’s warm but I’m taking very small sips. The drink is this. I boiled filtered water. Then, I added orange peel, banana, apple, cranberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and a banana. After the whole thing came to boil, I turned the stove off, put a lid on, and let the drink sit there. It’s called “kampot” in Russian. It smells incredible and is naturally sweet. It has no added sweeteners, and I don’t have any artificial sweeteners at home. It’s bright red and delicious!

My meal is so refreshing!

It’s 12:23 pm, and I’m still eating because I’ve taken breaks in between food intake to process everything slowly. I’m breathing deeply, eating mindfully, chewing every bite until it melts in my mouth, and I’m enjoying the process so much. I’ve been getting hot. My heart is now beating rapidly and loudly, which isn’t something I experienced to this extent while dry fasting but it is typical of a water fast. I just added more water to my kampot and I’m going to make more of it. It’s so so good! I took a few sips and it’s delightful!

It’s 12:45 pm. Now that I’m done dry fasting, I want to say this: the best benefit of fasting for me is the peace and calm, which always accompany both water fasting and dry fasting. I love disconnecting from the busyness of the outside world, from people, from drama, and from haze. I love focusing on God. I just got a new prayer request on my blog. Praise the Lord for this ministry! I’m so grateful and humbled. It’s so sacred to me! God is my one desire, and all I want is to serve Him until my last breath.

It’s 4:39 pm. I ate again an hour ago and pooped a lot right away. I ate steamed farro with mushrooms, eggplant, squash, carrots, onions, garlic – all sautéed together- and a half of an avocado. I drank more water, about half a glass. And I took a few sips of kampot. Later, I ate 10 cherries. In about 15 min, I’m going to eat 1 or 2 boiled potatoes with garlic and herbs and may add some more mushrooms or even make guacamole.

I wrote several more powerful warfare prayers as my heart is on fire for God and I feel unstoppable! I’ll be publishing them tonight or tomorrow but I have four more prayers against spiritual attacks to write. I just found this unique video about the benefits of fasting for the brain. It’s by Dr. Caroline Leaf who is a Christian brain scientist.

It’s 5:30 pm and I finished eating my third small meal. I had three small boiled potatoes with eggplant and mushrooms and a skinny piece of wholesome bread. No more eating!

August 20th 2020

It’s 2 am. After a trip to DeKalb Farmer’s Market yesterday, I’m now coughing a little bit, so, of course, my first aid is dry fasting, as Dr. Filonov recommends. I am going to do my third prolonged dry fast starting immediately. My plan is to do basic exercises and continue writing. I know fasting kills viruses, improves the immune system, and renews the body. So, I expect to refresh for my upcoming TED talk!

It’s 2:09 am and I just pooped. I ate watermelon and buckwheat with garlic and mushrooms for dinner, so my gut is loaded with good microbes and various nutrients. I’m ready! Ok. I’m going to sleep.

I woke up after 8 hours of peaceful and restful sleep. No alarm, I woke up on my own. Once I got up and did my ab workout, I pooped a ton immediately. I took a shower, unloaded my dishwasher, and started working. The feeling of hunger became very intense after I did a little bit of work. But I’m not eating or drinking.

It’s 2:38 pm and I’m walking 10000 steps up and down the hills. Thank God there’s a little wind, otherwise, it’s too hot! After I finished some work, I did abs, glutes, and plank on the mat. Then, I got my hula hoop and trampoline out and went on for a walk. Around 1 pm, my temptations to break this dry fast were strong but what I did was switch my focus: I took the trash out and went to get my mail, during which my temptations disappeared. Where focus goes energy flows.

Whenever tempted, refocus!

That’s the secret to sticking with dry fasting. Now, I’m feeling excellent, though there’s some thirst in my throat but nothing intolerable so I can go on and continue my dry fast number three and my fast number fourteen. Wow! It’s so cool to think about my journey. All things are possible with Christ! Indeed… Thank you, God.

It’s 3:33 pm, and the rain forced me to hide under the roof outside my front door walking and jumping on the trampoline while reading Tony Robbins’ book. I did 6000 steps but now I’m walking the hills again. Now, it’s sunny and super hot! I have been true to my dry fast but I’m concerned about the heat, though the rain and wind helped. One moment at a time!

It’s 4:23 pm. I just got home after hula hooping and finishing 10000 steps. I’m now tired and my heart is racing, so I plan to shower and lie down for a moment. I’m not breaking my dry fast.

No food, no water! It’s good for my health.

It’s 4:53 pm. I just got out of the shower and am lying down. I now feel dizzy and even had a short blackout while I was chasing a couple of butterflies outside. This is when fear creeps in, just like Dr. Sergei Filonov mentioned, just like Professor Arnold Ehret talks about in his books. Fear… It prevents people from fasting.

When I was walking home after working out and experienced a blackout, I was thinking about eating. Then, a beautiful yellow butterfly flew at me and began spinning me around as I looked at her while she flew in close circles. The butterfly didn’t want me to go home and eat. That’s how I knew that God was telling me to continue dry fasting. I’m not afraid of blackouts or rapid heartbeat. These are normal detoxification symptoms. My body is cleansing. It’s God’s natural healing tool. I trust God who manufactured my body in His perfect image.

It’s 7 pm. My hair dried after I washed it. I just saw myself in the mirror in my bathroom and noticed that my skin looks so young, toned, bright, and glowing without any makeup or lotions. Nothing on my face at all! I did put lotion on my belly and arms and inner thighs as I did my daily self-massage. I feel amazing! A little hunger and a little stomach growling but that’s it. My body smells really good, unlike on a water fast, and there’s no nausea. I’m excited to see how long I can go on this dry fast number three and my fast number fourteen!

Maybe for my 38th birthday I will give myself a gift of 38th fast! I’d need to complete 24 more fasts between after this fast and January 18th, 2021 in the next five months, aka 20 weeks! I’d need to do multiple fasts a week. Maybe I could fast for 24 hours every 4-5 days?

Something to consider.

I love the person in my mirror. I love being in my beautiful body! I love seeing it and I love how I’m feeling in it! I love my energy. I love how my clothes fit. I love my strength. I love the natural glow of my skin, hair, and eyes. I love how strong my teeth and nails are and how well my metabolism works cleansing my system multiple times a day through healthy and natural poop. I love not taking drugs. I love being healthy and doing what I love to do: running, hula hooping, pushups…

I don’t have to wear a bra all the time.

I love my small boobs that fit perfectly my small and fit body. I have nothing fake on me: no botox, implants, tattoos, and I even took my piercing out two years ago. I love being natural. I love my natural beauty at 37 years old. I love being exactly that way God intended for me to be. I love loving my body. I love loving being in my body! I love being able not to eat. I love being able to focus on other things in my life and not be constantly chewing, snacking, eating, or thinking about eating, or researching where to eat. Recently, I was at the neighborhood pool. Four women were there right next to me. For an entire hour, all they did was talk about what chicken to phone-order and from where.

It was a gorgeous day but I don’t think they had the mental bandwidth to notice it because food occupied all their mental space and time. It was disturbing. I used to be like that, too. Fasting helped me heal and focus on my actual living. Now, I notice even butterflies! I love my life! Here’s what I wrote on my Facebook.

I completed a prolonged fast 14 times in the last two years. All my extra-weight and illnesses melted away. I’m almost 40 and finally enjoy perfect health.
I meditate, run barefoot on the beach, kayak, stand on my head under water, hike, push-up, jump on the trampoline, hold long planks, hula hoop, swim, and have a ton of energy.
I feel good every day, don’t take any drugs, don’t spend any money on medications or doctors or surgeries, don’t waste any time in hospitals, don’t suffer from insomnia, the metabolic syndrome, or any common diseases of civilization.
I praise God for this gift
Anna Szabo on Facebook

It’s now 12:43 am, and I’m not sleeping because I’m exercising again! I have so much energy and feel so so amazing! I am continuing my dry fasting adventures for sure but I plan a refeeding after this 24-hour fast ends. I want to do 24 more dry fasts before my 38th birthday so I’m going to make them 24 hours long each.

It’s 2 am. My third dry fast has ended and I am eating a few chunks of a watermelon and a few chunks of an orange, plus a few sips of water. I pooped immediately after I started eating. It all came out easily and in large amounts. Dry fasting is easier than water fasting because there are no body temperature troubles, no vomiting, and no nausea. I love it! My starting weight was 114 lb. My final weight after 24 hours of dry fasting is 114 lb. It’s in accordance with what Dr. Joel Fuhrman teaches: once your body reaches its ideal weight, it will reorganize itself to stay in its naturally-perfect state and size. So, I think completing two dry fasting periods of 24 and 36 hours with zero weight change confirms that it’s accurate.

Ok. It’s bed time now.

August 23rd 2020

Today is my 15th fast, which is my prolonged dry fast number four. It is a 24-hour dry fast. Last time I ate was yesterday at 10 pm and I had water at 10:30 pm. It’s 7:35 am and I’m going for a run outside in the neighborhood. I’m going to still include heels and weights.

It’s 8:56 am. I took a shower and am going to rest a bit. Today, I ran 2.1 miles in 25 minutes dry fasted (no food and no water since yesterday). This is faster than 2.3 miles in 34 minutes yesterday after drinking water in the morning. I pooped immediately after that. I haven’t finished my typical 10000 steps because I was red like a tomato and covered in sweat. It’s because on a dry fast, the body increases its temperature. So, I decided to take a cold shower and lie down for a minute.

I’m not going to break my dry fast.

My plan is to continue running and see how I can improve both my speed and my distance. I ran with my eyes closed today a lot! It helps me grow my faith and have visions about my future. This is such a good habit!

It’s 2:37 pm. I’m going strong on my dry fast. No body temperature jumps, no bloating, growling, nausea, nothing. Dry fasting is just perfect for me! My legs hurt from this morning’s run, and it’s a great thing. I did my arm workout, as well as leg exercises, and abs. I’m working.

I pooped after 4 pm for the second time. Amazing how the body continues to work normally without any food or water!

It is 4:45 pm. I went to Publix and got some fruits and veggies, as well as pickles and olives. I also took the trash out, unloaded my groceries, and now I’m getting ready to vacuum. Feeling a little bit of a rapid heartbeat but it’s tolerable and I’m continuing my dry fasting. Hot day outside! I did 5.5 miles today: running and walking. It’s 11300 steps. Feeling great!

August 24th 2020

Today, I wrote a new poem.

It’s a reflection on my conversation with a good friend, which took place on Saturday. She shared how hard it is to give up cheese and cream and butter and how many medications she has to take because of her illnesses. I cried. Why? I love her so much and I want her to be healthy. I know how and why she got sick, and that’s why I felt so sad.

It’s the pleasure trap!

#114 “Food Is Not My Master” #PoemsFromGod

Dear God, 

You are my one and only master.
My eating habits became a total disaster.

I eat multiple times throughout each day.
I am the food industry’s unsuspected prey.

Addictive chemicals added to the human food
Altered my brain, so now I don’t feel good.

Unless I eat constantly, over and over again.
That’s how I overwhelm my digestion and experience weight gain. 
  
Intrusive thoughts about food dominate my mind.
Food is my master! How do I freedom find? 

I only want you, God, to dominate my thoughts.
I’m going to have to detangle my food addiction knots. 

It’s difficult and complicated but I’m ready to understand 
How I fell prey to addictive food substances, and take a stand! 

Fasting and prayer is my way back to you, God.
What it’s like to be at peace every day I almost entirely forgot.

I’m obsessing about food because of my toxic hunger.
I’m ready to withdraw, detox, heal, and get younger.

I’m ready to heal physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.
I’m ready to establish boundaries with food at home and socially. 

I’m ready to fast from food and surrender all my temptations. 
I’m ready to trust you, God, completely in all situations.

I’m ready to fast and pray to draw closer to you.
You are my only master, God, please make me new. 


8/24/2020 © Anna Szabo, JD, MBA

A woman from Israel reached out on Instagram today saying she found my blog and wants to fast together. I was honored to have her as my blog reader but told her that I fast in secret with God. She was enthusiastic and kept messaging me, trying to persuade me to fast together. It was an interesting experience. But I fast in secret.

August 25th 2020

It’s 9:17 am. As soon as I started my morning workout, I pooped a ton. It’s a rainy morning, very gloomy weather, but I’m excited about working out and writing.

It’s 3 pm. I’m eating fruit after 17.5 hours of dry fasting.

August 26th 2020

This morning is hot and humid, yet I did complete my first-ever 5K at 37 years old, running 3.17 miles in 36.04 min fasted on water. My heart is racing and I’m sweating but I feel like this is just the beginning! Tomorrow, I will be dry fasting again and try to go for 48 hours.

My dry fasting diary ends here but my journey continues. Watch my fasting vlogs on YouTube in this playlist. If you want to start dry fasting, you will need to go against what the culture teaches, which is to eat six times a day.

To do so, you need to have spiritual strength and own your own mind. This is only possible if you know exactly who you are, whose you are, why you’re here, where you’re going, and how to get there. If you want God to be your only master, you must accept and embrace what He says about you. Here’s an ebook about it to help you.

Anna Szabo

Anna Szabo is the founder of Online Discipleship For Women, a Christian ministry committed to helping alleviate suicide among women globally by sharing hope in Christ. Anna teaches how to create a joyful life by embracing God’s word based on her six pillars of joyful living: faith, food, fitness, finances, felicity, and fortitude. She is a Christian speaker, YouTuber, artist, poet, and blogger who created 2,000,000 words of Gospel-focused content to encourage and empower you. Donate to show your support.

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