It might seem like an extreme diet tactic, but going without food for two weeks can be quite effective, provided you do it safely. The only problem with such a diet is that it’s not exactly enjoyable. As such, you have to decide if the results are worth it and what you’re willing to sacrifice to achieve them. Regardless of your decision, this article will give you an idea of what happens when you stop eating for two weeks and the results that come from it.

Day 1

• By now, you’ve probably felt a change in your body. The first day is always tough because there isn’t much food, to begin with, but it gets easier as you progress. Your body is also adjusting to not having food enter your system, so you may feel pretty tired today. Be sure to drink plenty of water and don’t worry if it comes out as urine--that’s just your body flushing out anything extra. Day 2: If yesterday was about subsisting on almost nothing, today is about delving into how little you can actually eat and still maintain energy levels throughout the day.

Day 5

• It’s day 5 and things are hard. I haven’t eaten anything and my body feels weak, but I’m also feeling pretty good. I expected to be starving by now, but I only feel hungry when I think about food. The best thing about doing a fast like this is that it makes you realize how much of your diet comes from eating out of boredom or habit, not because you need to eat something. And once you eliminate those urges—at least temporarily—you start thinking about all those calories in an entirely new way. Tomorrow will probably be easier—I hope!

Day 8

• I’m surprised that I feel OK. I have a slight headache, but it’s nothing too serious, and I don’t feel lightheaded or dizzy. At all times, my stomach is feeling pretty full, which is strange considering there is no food to fill it. (Here are 7 reasons why going without food makes you hungry.) As far as mood swings go—I don’t have any of those either! I still wake up each morning energized and ready to take on the day...and so far that's been true every day since I stopped eating two weeks ago!

Day 15

• It's weird how much your body starts to feel like a furnace when you don't feed it. That's my last thought as I lie down on my bed, trying to block out thoughts of food—and sleep. Because what comes next is even harder than going without sustenance: It's time to say goodnight to sunlight and fresh air. For two solid weeks, I'll be holed up in an apartment, hermetically sealed away from any natural light or whiff of fresh air. No going outside; no getting under fluorescent lights at work; no sitting by an open window on a train ride. No sunshine.

The Results - The Numbers Are In!

• After two weeks without food, it’s pretty amazing that I didn’t die. A post-experiment blood test showed a serious drop in my protein levels, which would have been disastrous in one of those situations where you find yourself climbing Mount Everest but is probably fine otherwise. My levels came back after a few days of eating normally, but they never reached their pre-experiment state. (I’m told by most doctors that is impossible to fully replenish your system after starving yourself.) More importantly, though, was what happened with my weight. The chart shows how much weight I lost per day and how many days it took me to reach each milestone. That 20-pound spike at Day 28?