Once the glycogen store are used up, the body turns first to fat stores for energy. Athletes range from 6-13% "Fit" men 14-17% body fat. At the start of my fast, I was at about 14% maybe a little higher. Essential fat stores (those required for normal physiological functioning) for a man are 2-4%. I carefully monitored my weight and during the ten days, went from 157 to 142, a loss of 15 lbs, slightly less than 10% of my body weight.
The experience was, overall, a positive one. (It was completed successfully before Thanksgiving) This is not something I am encouraging others to try, but without a doubt, it improved my health. I deal with arthritis in my hands (moderate pain and stiffness), knees and ankles (minor pain and stiffness) Near the middle of the fast, the pain in my hands disappeared and has, at this point over 3 months later, only just begun to come back.
It is possible that some of the claims made by people who encourage extreme fasting are snake oil. But the medical community has, on the whole, rejected what has been, for me, a beneficial therapy. And they have done this with very little scientific evidence one way or the other. In my opinion, most of the medical community does not want people to be able to manage their own ailments without their (the medical establishment's) assistance.
I did not have the time to chronicle my experience on all of the various threads and online venues that I visit on occasion. That is why I provided the link- www.michael-selmer.com. I did my best to give a thorough recounting of the running fast.
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