I just finished a 7-day fast where the only things I took in were water and strong black coffee (because weak coffee is the devil). I have done a bunch of these, stretching back to the mid-1990’s, and while there is a renewed interest in fasting as a result of the intermittent fasting diets, it would be a stretch to call it remotely new as we can trace it back to the cradle of civilization in ancient Greece. It is likely much, much older than modern civilization.

There are numerous health benefits to fasting, and thousands more are claimed by the latest health influencers. I have experienced some of them. My reason for bringing up my fasting habit is not to bombard you with health benefits. Rather, it is to extol the virtues of practicing what you preach.

I have been running wilderness survival courses for 24 years. In that time, my message has been the same: If you find yourself in a bad situation, whether lost or marooned in a remote area, make yourself comfortable, stay warm, hydrate and rest until you are rescued. Notice that there is not a mention of food in this.

I advocate that lost people should fast rather than undertake the food quest where, in an effort to live off the land, they employ a variety of techniques in order to get a few calories from the wild. I approach it like this for several reasons. First, without training and experience, they will likely come away with nothing. Second, they will expend energy while getting nothing back for its expenditure. Third, they will likely put themselves at greater risk as a result of engaging in those activities. Fourth, the average survival episode lasts less than 48 hours. So, the rational person, when examining this data, can see that there is no reason to undertake the food quest. But old ideas die hard, and in our modern era, are reinforced by silly reality television shows. The next time you see one of the reality survival tv shows, notice that most of the participants are always looking for calories.

This is not to say I think the food quest is a bad idea. I actually think it is a great idea. Just not in a survival situation with an inexperienced person. As part of daily life I enjoy looking for calories on the land and actively seek them out. Foraging, hunting, fishing, trapping, and any other way to live close to the land is a way of life for me. But again, not for an inexperienced person in a stressful situation.

Which brings me to my main point of the day; credibility. I fast for many reasons, one of which is because I advise others to do so when caught in a survival situation. For me it is a practice what you preach approach. Also, the more time I have spent fasting over the years, the more insights I have gained into how my body works and reacts to different stresses. This most recent fast was very pleasant from start to finish.

One last point; preparation. It is always better to fast a few times under controlled conditions before potentially relying on fasting in the backcountry because you have no other options. It gives you experience, teaches you what to expect, and instead of guessing how you will react to the stresses, you will know for certain, which not only makes you more resilient, but also more confident.