This is not meant to be a scientific study, but a reference for those curious about the effects of a hungerstrike on the body. I sent a list of questions that I thought would be relevant to people within the animal rights community. Again, there is nothing at all scientific about my approach, and I make no claims about the usefulness of the information gathered.

(all questions pertain to the time of the hungerstrike)

age: 28

sex: Male

height: 5'10"

number of hungerstrikes undertaken and their durations

1 for 10 days

duration of hungerstrike (I guess choose one or amalgamate the info if it is consistent)

what you consumed during the strike (water, juice, salt, vitamins, etc.) exact quantities if possible

Juice and water.

For the next five questions, "before" means up to the point of the strike, during is obvious, and after means any time within a month of ending the strike. Please give the number of days between ending the strike and consuming the substance.

did you smoke before, during, or after the strike

NO

did you drink alcohol, before, during or after the strike

NO 

did you drink caffeinated drinks before, during, or after strike

NO

did you drink coffee before during or after the strike

NO

did you take aspirin or ibuprofen before during or after the strike

NO

amount of activity engaged in (jail/vigil/rest, school work, work, exercise, debates, etc.) again as specific as possible

I was incarcerated during the strike so my activity was limited to walking around casually on the range for about three hours a day and walking in the yard for about 20 minutes.

weight before and after

Before the hunger strike - 202
On day 10 of the strike - 197
A month after the hunger strike - 202

% body fat before and after (or if you don't know, below, at, or above "normal" body fat levels for your sex and height)

10% before and after

muscle build (non-athletic, athletic, body builder)

athletic, Tae-Bo, bodybuilder

your state of mind during the strike. did it change considerably. when and how. Were you able to think clearly

I was not able to think that clearly. I felt cloudy and unfocused. I constantly thought about food. Since the jail fed me vegan food, I could not get into an angry mind-set ... so it was difficult.

the state of your body. energy levels, bowel movements, feelings of discomfort or hunger, all at different phases of the strike.

Bowel movements were actually normal throughout. The first four days were easy and then day 5 hit. DAMN! It was very difficult from then on. Food, food, food was all I thought about.

how did you sleep during the strike. did the amount or quality of sleep change and how so. Did you dream and what about

I slept fine throughout. I, of course, took naps during the day and evening, too. (That's because I was in lockdown for most of the day.) Sleeping was the best because I didn't think about food. I don't recall any dreams or any abnormal dreams.

how did you come off the strike. What did you consume when you first came off the strike, and how did your body feel and handle the food

My body handled the food well. I ate stir-fried tofu. And didn't even skip a meal at any point after coming off the strike. My body reacted as if it hadn't missed a meal.

did you experience any negative health affects during or after you came off the hungerstrike (acid reflux, gastritis, ulcers, bowel or digestion problems, etc.)

NONE

anything else that you experienced that would be helpful for others to know

I have a new-found respect for hunger strikes. It was the most difficult thing I ever had to do.

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last updated 11/29/00.