Fasting: Fitting it in, mainly for collegiates/workers

[SmilingRawDancer]

I'm a college student, 18 years old. When I was in my senior year of HS, and the summer afterwards, I fasted at least once a week on water, and it was easy and fine because I really had nothing to do, so I could just relax and rest for a day a week with no responsibilities to hold to.
The semester is almost over, but I know that many students on this forum fast often and diligently, and I'd love to get their insight on HOW they do it.

I can't manage a fast when I feel that I need the energy from food to perform well in school, and maintain my good grades. I'm always on the go, studying, and on the weekends when I have time to spend out doing something, the last thing I want to do is spend the day at home on the couch.

So I guess I'd like some insight on how others manage to fast, how they begin their fast, what conditions they require, how they go to work/perform in lifetime activites etc.

I have about 2 more weeks of school, then I plan on a week fast. Hopefully water the whole time, but if need be then I'll do SOME juices as well. Most likely Coconut water.

(I'm SO happy that I'll have time to cleanse again. I feel the DEEP need for a fast, so much so that I'm thinking of spending the next 2 weeks on solely green smoothies...I just feel clogged up and....well, bad, for the first time ever on raw.)

[cayako]

have you looked into the master cleanse? It's awesome, tasty and easier than straight water..and a little more nutritious. You can do a search here and probably find some info. (also called the lemonade diet). any health food store who also has a book section should carry it (i think that it's around $7).

I also had the same problem with you in terms of fitting it into my lifestyle. So for my first time, here is what I did, I tried it out on my camping/backpacking trip. I thought, hey! less food to carry, we only had two destinations to hike to, and it was all about relaxing on the beach and focusing inward. We were out in the field for 4 days and when I came back, it wasn't a problem to continue. Not sure if backpacking part of your lifestyle, but it worked for me! And remember..the first three days are always the worst!!! Major detoxing at a rapid rate, but after that..you fee like you are floating and you are super aware of the healing in your body.

good luck! you're already halfway there by doing it on a regular basis.

[Sunshine9]

hey girl! fellow college student here :) I totally understand, I have wanted to do lots of cleansing and was always putting it off because of work/school/obligations. I find that if i'm REALLY feeling drawn to fast, it's pretty effortless. Perhaps begin at 5pm on Thursday, and break the fast at 5pm on Friday. It's easy and pretty brief period of time you would have to function. You could even juice fast for that period of time.

If that's too much, one day a week on all blended food would give your system a break.

For MY body, fasting is really intense, so I generally don't. Unless i'm feeling spiritually drawn. I'm considering the 24 hour thing though, because when I was doing it a while ago my body felt so happy.

Could you take the time to plan one saturday where you wouldn't have to do anything, and you could water fast and rest?

glad there are more college students out there!! :)

[JRSummer]

I'm going to agree with cayako and say that the Master Cleanse is super easy and you maintain plenty of energy. And you will DEFINITELY feel cleansed. I'm a studetn as well and am doing the Master Cleanse right now. All i do is drink the salt water flush and make the lemonade in the morning, and then drink a laxative tea at night. Other than that, my enitre day is 100% worry free when it comes to food and drink. Just water and the juice. It's easy enough that i almost don't want to go back to food because it's so much more trouble!

If you're feeling so clogged up, then a longer fast (the MC is a minimum of 10 days) sounds like it'd be a good idea. All other fasts that i've tried didn't give me enough energy or didn't cleanse the same.

Anyway, that's my two cents!

Good luck!

[SmilingRawDancer]

I dunno, I'm slightly iffy about consuming naught but sugar for a week, which is also why I'm hesitant to juice fast.....it seems like it would be blood sugar overload. Perhaps I'm still thinking of cooked/pasturized sugars, and raw has no such association....but I'll do some research. I think water fasts would be more beneficial...
What are some energy filled liquids that are lower in sugar?
I'll look at nutritional value of coconut water.

[RawGoddess13]

I'm a college student as well and I find that I can focus more on school and work when I am fasting vs. not fasting. I am trying to become 100% raw (at about 85% right now) to try and overcome binge eating and mental issues with food. When I am fasting I find that I never have to worry about what to eat, how much, when to eat, blah blah blah. I just feel free, fast, and am at peace. I have only done one water fast and I got really emotional. I think it was because I actually had to recognize my feelings and acknowledge them, instead of being an emotinal eater and turing to food and ignoring my feelings. I had to say, wow I am stressed, geez I am upset, or I am happy because...I even cried, it was weird but peaceful. I am on a juice fast right now and my biggest issue is bringing two large flasks to work full of fresh juice or smoothies. I couldn't be happier, but it draws a lot of unwnated attention from co-workers and members of the gym I work at. There are dozens of people slugging down sodas and coffee, yet I seem to be the outcast with the bright green liquid lunch. It sparks a lot of questions and even arguments/debates about my beliefs on nutrition. Kudos for being a college student that is raw & interested in fasting:) Most of the students on my campus are only interested in beer fasting and binge drinking.