How long have your fasted/feasted?

[Aleesha Sattva]

I'm curious... I'd love to know how long you've fasted/feasted and how many you've done (approx.) Perhaps how long you've been raw and if you did your fasting/feasting before raw or during?

I'll start:

longest feast 45 days
i've done approx. 6 or 7 in total.

5 day fast years ago when vegetarian immeditately after my son weaned.
9 day feast and another 8 day feast which created the question in my mind "should i be eating cooked foods" and thereby bringing me to raw.
one or two 8 day feasts since becoming raw Aug 23 2007
20 day green smoothie feast with 5 days of water fasting
45 day juice feast which ended a few weeks ago.

plan to do another extended juice feast late august.

[rawstrength]

Wow! That's a lot of fasting/feasting, Aleesha! Way to go :) .
I never fasted before being raw. I've done probably 4 or 5 one day water fasts since going raw. I did one 3 day water fast upon coming home to China. I had breathed in a lot of pollution in Shanghai and on two 14 hour flights, so I figured I could use some detox. I don't like juice feasting because I find it very difficult. I can't make it through one day on only juice because the juice makes me very hungry for some reason. I prefer water fasting, but I have a fast metabolism and I get very weak if I do it for longer than a day or so.
So I basically just fast for a day when I feel I need some detox or some rest for my digestive system. Maybe someday I will attempt a longer fast.

[linda7276]

I have never fasted either, but yesterday was my first totally raw day and I enjoyed it immensely. I did have a lot of hunger, but I worked in walnuts and almonds to get me through that and it worked nicely. I've never been able to fast because I have a problem with low blood sugar, but the juice feasting sounds like something I might be able to certainly try. I just purchased a Champion Juicer but I don't have it yet, and I was hoping maybe I could get some information on that too...did I get a good one. I have been reading on this forum, and just absolutely loving it..so much information from everyone, I hope I'll be able to contribute too. For now I'm a taker....and a grateful one too....:D

Aleesha I read your story on Timeless Spirit and have seen some of your blog, and just wanted to say I'm so impressed with what I've read, thank you for sharing all of that. :D

[phedre]

I've only done one green smoothie feast and I only lasted 5 days. Before that I've been about 65% raw for a month. I think as I go more raw I might like to do a 1 day gs feast a week or so, but I'm not sure if I'll be going for long ones any time soon after my recent experience :)

[JEN]

Ive done
1) 21 day feast
1) 7 day feast
2) 5 day feast
1) 7 day mc
several 1-3 day feast

Keeping my energy up for work and getting in enough greens was the hardest part of my 21 days. I really want to do another one to see if I can get more greens in this time for energy.

[oceanee]

Years ago I did some 3-5 day juice fasts along with occasional day water fasts.
3 years ago - 14 day mc - kidney & liver cleanse
Last few years attempted mc again several times but I don't think I made it past 5 days.
Fall 2007 mc for 10 days
May 2008 mc for 18 days

I really like the mc to reset my inner clock. Usually I have gone on one when I have fallen off raw or when I was cooked vegan when I needed serious resetting.

I will do the mc again and again in my life. I prefer it to juicing although I would love to juice feast. Right now the mc allows for a break in food preparation which can be a gift as my life is often very busy.

I enjoy all that my body expresses and learns from each and every fast.

Oceanee

[Aleesha Sattva]

such great info being shared here... thank you all. i love hearing about other people's fasts/feasts/mc experiences.

linda i have a champion and honestly, i love it! quick, easy and i usually put the pulp through a few times and get so much more juice out of my product. like pineapples for example... i get another 12 oz out of the pulp! very efficient!

and... i'm so glad my sharing is assisting you. that's why i do it... to assist :)

i'm starting another fast today. water only today, see where tomorrow takes me. i have no idea how long i'll do this one for... we'll see.

[beckx]

41 day feast
10 day feast
a few 6-8 day feasts and fasts
a bunch of 1-3 day feasts and fasts

i did a 7 day fast and a few shorter fasts before going raw, the rest have been since going raw in december. i've been on juice probably 70-75 days of this year.

[joyfulGIRL]

50 day juice feast
14 day master cleanse
several 1-3 day green juice or smoothie feasts
One 3 day water fast

[Draginvry]

I did a 21 day water fast back in college. It took about 2 months of preparation

[RawHeaven]

I'm curious... I'd love to know how long you've fasted/feasted and how many you've done (approx.) Perhaps how long you've been raw and if you did your fasting/feasting before raw or during?




Great thread.

I've completed cleanses & fasts both pre-raw and during:

1) 30 day master cleanse (MC) - May/Jun '07

Became raw in June 2007 - about 90%

2) 34 day MC - Aug/Sept '07

3) 18 day green juice fast/feast - Oct '07

4) 40 day MC - Dec '07/Jan '08

Became 100% raw after the 40 dayer

5) 9 day water fast - April '08

6) 7 day water fast - July '08

[linda7276]

linda i have a champion and honestly, i love it! quick, easy and i usually put the pulp through a few times and get so much more juice out of my product. like pineapples for example... i get another 12 oz out of the pulp! very efficient!

and... i'm so glad my sharing is assisting you. that's why i do it... to assist :)




Thanks Aleesha, I can't wait to get mine. Do you peel your pineapple or other fruits before juicing. I saw a video yesterday where someone said to leave the peel on, and I did but I had to use my food processor, while I'm waiting for my new BlendTec, and juicer.

I'm curious about why all the fasting and cleansing while on a raw diet, isn't the raw diet cleansing already? I've been reading tons of information, watching video's, and reading books, I got Green for Life and 12 Steps to Raw yesterday and I'm looking forward to delving in. Still waiting for Alissa's book.

I can be a kind of "all or nothing" type, and I'm trying not to have any rules about this process, because I do want to enjoy it and not feel too rigid about anything, anyway can you overdue it starting raw? I am having some stomach distress, ok that's an understatement, LOL. I mean, if you stuck me with a pin I'd fly around on the ceiling for hours...haha. And I'm thinking that's probably normal because it's a 'change' but then again that can also mean things are 'not agreeing' with me?? Any help would be appreciated, thanks, Linda

[Aleesha Sattva]

Linda,

I cut the outside off my pineapple simply cause I can juice more before the little screen gets full. Otherwise I don't peep anything except citrus.

F(e)asting brings a great sense of centredness, groundness and assists you to really get in touch with your body. It feels so amazingly light and free. Free from digesting. Your body takes the opportunity to do some really deep healing - as it has all the energy you normally use for digestion to put elsewhere (like healing your organs, blood etc).

Some of us, get a little addicted to the feeling of being so light and centred *holds up hand* and that's why we continue to do it. It's also a good challenge... to see how grounded you can be with each f(e)ast... at least for me it is. I love watching how each time I bring a different part of my Self to the experience. You have to do it, to get it I think *shrugs*

I went 100% from the get go... many people have. Others go a different route and just increase their raw stuff. I can't do that, or I'll be eating totally SAD again in no time. So I focus on being 100% raw and simply allow myself to gain the max healing possible.

As for gas... try cutting down your sugars... that may assist you.

[linda7276]

Linda,

I cut the outside off my pineapple simply cause I can juice more before the little screen gets full. Otherwise I don't peep anything except citrus.

F(e)asting brings a great sense of centredness, groundness and assists you to really get in touch with your body. It feels so amazingly light and free. Free from digesting. Your body takes the opportunity to do some really deep healing - as it has all the energy you normally use for digestion to put elsewhere (like healing your organs, blood etc).

Some of us, get a little addicted to the feeling of being so light and centred *holds up hand* and that's why we continue to do it. It's also a good challenge... to see how grounded you can be with each f(e)ast... at least for me it is. I love watching how each time I bring a different part of my Self to the experience. You have to do it, to get it I think *shrugs*

I went 100% from the get go... many people have. Others go a different route and just increase their raw stuff. I can't do that, or I'll be eating totally SAD again in no time. So I focus on being 100% raw and simply allow myself to gain the max healing possible.

As for gas... try cutting down your sugars... that may assist you.

Thank you Aleesha, I think I know what you mean, it's a challenge too and an accomplishment. I always feel good when I know I'm doing good things for my body. I appreciate the help, lots of good info...and I'll take to heart or should I say stomach the 'cutting down on the sugars'...:D I'm assuming that that's a pretty typical reaction, yes?

I just got my dehydrator....oh boy, oh boy!!

[Aleesha Sattva]

i have no idea... i've just heard that adding sugars after fasting can cause gas... so i would assume it works in reverse LOL

[Sacristia]

1. I water fasted and veggie juice fasted for 55 days in 2006 during the Lenten Season

2. I water fasted for 2 weeks in 2007 in February

3. I am currently on a water fast and I am on my 21 day right now.

[Ginger]

I fast a LOT. Longest was 30 something days earlier this year. Plan to do 40 days soon.

[StarFire]

super interesting thread Aleesha....

okay let's see I've done...
1 -- 40 day Water fast (in 1985 or '86 ?? I was a major SAD eater/indulger this fast was for spiritual purposes - detoxing the poisons (laughingly) was not even a thought in my SAD stuffed overwhelmed brain... lol ;) !!)

one -- 40 day Master Cleanse fast (2007 - RAWbie)
one -- 21 day MC fast (2007 - RAWbie)
one -- 21 day MC/Water fast combo (2007 - RAWbie)
two or three -- 3 day MC fasts (2007 - RAWbie)

and a sprinkling here and there of 1 meal or 1 day MC fasts or Water Fasts - just when I felt that my body needed a little mini cleanse or perhaps a break from working so hard digesting here or there....

and I'm about to do a 10 day MC and Water Fast combo starting the 28th of July... a birthday present to my body (before I turn 52)... so that I can start out my 52nd year 'on track' and in the right frame of health...

I friend of mine is journaling her progress right now - - and she said something that really touched me... she said she decided that she was finally 'willing' to be willing... and to 'show up for her life' and be responsible.... wow...

that truly touched my heart -- sooo.... I too am willing to be willing ~ and.. I am willing to be responsible and to 'show up' for my life too!!

RAWk on!

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/eyes-colors.gif

[Aleesha Sattva]

isn't fasting the most amazing experience? i just love it. i'm planning on doing another extended fast either late august or jan. hoping to go another 45 days or more.

last week i did a 7 day fast... to assist me with the death of a friend... saved me from a lot of emotional eating but unfortunately, my 'grieving self' seems to be making up for the last couple of days :(

[ncadotte]

Sorry for your loss Aleesha. I'm Nikki btw.

The longest fast I have done was 5 days. I did an orange juice fast. Between Sept 07 and Mar 08, I did weekly 3 day fasts. I'd do and OJ fast every Mon - Wed. I felt soooo good during that time. I'm not sure why I stopped. I do want to make it thru a 14 day fast someday. It just seems like there's always something going on!

It seems like things are so easy when your doing them but sooo hard to get started. :confused: Well, maybe not "so easy", but at least not so hard?!

[Aleesha Sattva]

yup it's one day of fasting and then one more. taking it daily helps to get you through those longer fasts... but you also need to look ahead and make sure there isn't anything coming up that you know will sabotage your fast.

ellen is amazing... she's going to weddings, family functions and even supporting her mom during chemo - all while fasting.

melissa was homeless and still fasted the entire time. months!!! amazing stuff indeed.

i'm not so good with functions... so i have to stay away from them... but hopefully i'll get better with more practice. cause as i tell my kids "practice makes better!"