Fasting for weight loss can have some very advantageous side effects like quick results and detoxification. There are several ways you can do a fasting diet; you can restrict all foods and only have liquids, restrict some food groups for a certain period of time, or restrict foods on alternating days. Some of them are considered as fad diet because it deliver fast result but it is so hard to keep the weight off once you return to your old eating habits.

Is a fasting diet a safe way to lose weight? It's depends on many factors; people with specific health problems such as cancer, diabetes, failing liver, kidney, or lung disease should not do this sort of program. A fasting diet program also not recommended for pregnant or lactating women; the side effects can harm both the mother and the baby.

If not, if you believe that you have a healthy body, just go for it; a day fast is unlikely to cause any harm to a sound body, even a little longer fast is still passable when you have a fit body.

If you are thinking about a fasting weight loss program you should take some time to prepare your body first; the type of preparations will depend on the length of the fast. Whether you're planning a short fast (anywhere from 5 days to 2 weeks) or a long fast (lasting more than 3 weeks), there are some things you need to keep in mind before you start:

1. Cut out heavy physical activity during your fast; it will cause unnecessary stress on your body if you ask it to work so hard with such a limited amount of nutrients coming in.

2. Reduce your usual consumption of canned and processed foods, alcohol, caffeine, salt, refined sugar, cigarette, and any foods that cause food allergies and toxic reaction for a few days before start fasting. Cut them off totally suddenly will result in head aches, stomach aches, and other uncomfortableness.

3. Reduce your meal portion and increase the times between meals gradually before begin the first fasting day. That way, it will be easier during the fast to control your hunger.

4. Make sure you have a thorough knowledge of what you should be doing during the fast. Keep remind yourself of the reason and objectives of the project, this should help you to stay away from any desire to give up halfway.

5. If you are under 18 or having any chronic disease, consult a doctor beforehand.

This type of fasting usually accompany by other benefits such as detoxification and a fast weight loss. For a 'short complete fasting', you should repeat it periodically until you get the results that you want. Remember NOT to extend it more than recommended. As for the extended fasting, do it with physician supervision.

Another variety is the 'short fast'; it will last only 1 or 2 days. Only a handful of diet programs can use this type of fasting and still create great result. Personally, I’m recommend this type more since it is not difficult to do and doesn’t generate side effects like a longer fasting do.

Fasting weight loss has many variations, benefits and level of results. In the hand of knowledgeable dietician, fasting can be a powerful way to attain fast weight loss while keeping the user healthy for his/her everyday’s activities.