i was just released from prison on december during the period ending about november i engaged in a day hunger strike actually and days started pounds ended up an estimated pounds generally i drank two cups of milk in the morning and drank water as needed i was never force fed nor oddly enough was i ever hungry or in appreciable discomfort i was examined almost daily by prison medical staff probably the reason that i did so well was that i understood that the most important thing is to maintain the body's electrolytes calcium potassium sodium magnesium phosphate and to consume just enough amino acids to supply neurotransmitters if you merely drink water after a couple weeks you'll lose enough electrolytes to cause an imbalance and you'll feel terrible most people attribute this to not eating but i learned that it's actually due to the electrolyte imbalance not the lack of calories at the time the longest hunger strike i'd ever heard of was referred to in the capote book in cold blood by perry smith in the early 's days i could probably have gone two more months