How long before first fast??

[pollyana]

I've been following a fairly high raw diet for a few months now and I've been thinking about doing a juice fast. It's been happening quite regularly in the last few weeks that I lose my appetite and just don't want food and I can tell my body is telling me to fast. I was wondering though, should I wait until I reach the 99-100% mark before doing the fast? My thinking is that the longer I am raw the less severe my detox will be. I know some people start off with a fast but is there anyone who waited a few months or even years of being raw before fasting?

Another reason I'm wary of doing a fast is that I suffer from recurring bulimia and so while fasting may be good for my physical health, it mightn't be so good for my mental health.

Any thoughts anyone?

[Bananna]

Well the bulemia thing might be a bit a predicament that I have no experience to form any kind of opinion...I mean on the one hand, maybe it will make it worse...but on the other, maybe it will make it better? I honestly don't know, I've heard that fasting can cure psychological problems, not just because it's a spiritual type of thing, but also because toxins etc, can cause a lot of mental imbalances. .....so I could see the case for either/or.

For sure though I would spend a lot of time thinking about that one. Because ultimately you are the only person who knows your recovery from bulemia best. I mean, a sort of question you might think lightly on over a longer period to gain some real perspective. To incubate as they say.

In the meantime, eat lighter if you don't feel so hungry. I have also heard that we do need less food once our bodies catch up to optimal nutrient levels....we end up needing and craving a lot less food since we are eating Quality food sources All the time.

As far as how long to be raw first I don't think it's a hugely important as ridding yourself of things like caffiene or smoking (not that you smoke), but whatever things might cuz you to suffer if you were to just stop them cold turkey.

[NYbutterfly]

I was about 70% raw for 6 months before doing my first juice fast, but let me tell you, the 30% that was not raw was junk, IMO. Soon I was eating less raw and just SAD vegan stuff. Then I was getting really heavy into my bulimia again after doing so well for so long. I knew that I needed to do something to set me straight, so I jumped... I dove head first.... into this juice fast and let me tell you, it saved my life. I have been 100 percent raw every since, I have had no eating disorder relapses and my mind is completely clear from "food clutter".

I say... go for it! The best part is that now I have finally learned to "listen to my body"... a term that once really ticked me off bc I felt it was meaningless to me.

Best of luck to you! Tell us how you do!

[rawinspired]

Hi NYButterfly

I suffer from recurring bulemia and right now I'm pretty deep. I started off RAW 1/21/08 for weight loss and for greater well-being. I was doing so so well for about 16 days. Thats huge for me. I was loosing about a pound a day and I felt great. I was finally free of my food shackles. I have a food addiction that pretty much rules my life and my self image. Well after about 16 days I started to eat SAD food and my bulemia creeped back.
I wake up everyday with the intention of going RAW, and around 1pm I'm binging. I would love to hear how you got through and back on track to RAW. I am very reluctant to do a fast. I have never been able to go without food so fasting is very scary to me. I would love your input.

Thank you so much

[Blazin'Jane]

Pollyanna, I think you're very wise to be cautious about fasting. I think it might be good to give it a try in a very manageable way, however that is for you. I mean, don't go for a big 3 day thing....just start out easy and skip a meal and see what happens. If that goes well, try skipping 2 meals, and so on. I stepped very lightly into fasting myself after being very high raw for a year, and still I just do fasting a day at a time...sometimes 2 days in a week, but that's about all I can manage. I do water only fasts, work full time, and am very physical. Good luck. I agree with all those who advised you to pay close atttention to yur own body and your own psyche. There is no harm in a conservative approach so you can monitor your progress and succeed, rather than take on too much and have it backfire. ;)

[Aleesha Sattva]

i started out fasting... and then went raw. i didn't know about raw foodists when i started off fasting. the detox wasn't that bad at all to be honest... and i ate horrible before.

it's a personal choice... one only you can make.