Fasting...

[RawSinger]

What are good reasons to fast? What are bad reasons to fast? When is it not a good idea to fast? How long should your first fast be? Should you simply listen to your body or choose a reasonable amount of time and stick it out until the end? Would appreciate any thoughts. TIA :)

[MOTH]

I can only speak for myself. When I first got into fasting a year ago, I did it because I was just so unhappy in my body that I could not possibly eat anymore. I woke up one morning and knew I wasn't going to eat for awhile. My early fasts were probably only a few days, on tea and juice only, but over the course of about five months I got used to fasting and could do longer and longer ones. Eventually I switched to water-only, experimented with a couple of 2 and 3 day ones, then did ten days on water alone, which was one of the most intense experiences of my entire life. Deep cleansing. My reasons for fasting started changing, too, as my body changed. I started appreciating the CHALLENGE of fasting and enjoying how disciplined it was making me. I loved the discipline of it. The control.

These days, I fast because of two things:

1. Cleansing. I love the efficiency of my body to heal itself during a fast. I absolutely love it. I even like the 'fasting taste' I get in my mouth, the sickness and weakness, because it means I am healing and my body is releasing toxins. Healing is primary.

2. Spiritual clarity. This goes along with the "discipline" bit, I think. The cleaner and more "pure" I feel inside, the closer I am in my walk with Spirit. I need to keep the channel as clean as possible! This is primary, and goes back to healing.

So that's it for me. I feel longer fasts are more beneficial then lots of many shorter ones; yo-yo fasting can be very confusing to the mind and body. Last year when I first got into fasting, I did lots of yo-yo fasting (fasting a bit, then binging) and it provoked an eating disorder in me. My mind and body were soo confused. Longer fasts treat me MUCH better; feel much healthier for me all the way around. They do take a serious commitment though, and when you're first starting out you may not be able to go more then a few days.

That is okay. Just make sure you refeed carefully and think honestly about whether fasting is right for you right now. I had to do that a few days ago myself because I noticed I was fitfully juice fasting and I could feel that confusion start to creep in again. I had to basically sit down with myself and reaffirm my motivations for fasting, and what I wanted to get out of the fast. I discovered in my soul-searching that yes, I feel very strongly compelled to fast right now, but it needs to be on water. So I switched to water, made a private commitment to a certain length of time, and now I feel sooo peaceful inside.

Yep, listening to your body is key. If you feel your mind/body becoming confused, maybe it's not the right time to fast for you just then, or maybe you need to adjust your approach.

It does take conviction to maintain a fast. Personally, I always have a goal when I fast, but I notice if I speak it aloud, it loses its power almost immediately. So now I keep my goal to myself, and just focus on staying in the Present Moment and that makes a big difference.

There's my rambly reply! I haven't slept recently. :o Hope I helped some and I am also interested in hearing other people's responses.

[RawSinger]

Thank you for your honest, thorough response. It is greatly appreciated.

[Raine]

Moth hit a lot of the reasons why people fast.

I like the way my body feels cleaner on a fast. The longest juice fast I did was 30 days. My first water fast was 8 days. I'm currently on my 2nd water fast and am at 5 days and it's a breeze compared to the first one with massive energy levels and weight loss (13.6 pounds in 5 days).

When I fast I don't set myself deadlines of how many days I will fast - I just go with the flow. I am committed to at least 10 days this time around though seeing how things progress and if my energy stays up like this, I may very well go longer.

If you decide to fast, also check out the Water Fasting board on www.CureZone.com. Some amazingly knowledgeable people there.

[Aleesha Sattva]

For everyone it's so different. I find that if I don't set a goal for myself, I always end up breaking my fast over "oh I want to eat NOW" and then regret it later that day or the next day and start fasting again. This is why I set a goal for myself but it's never set in stone. I also made a commitment to myself... here (http://aleeshasrawlife.blogspot.com/2008/07/commitment-to-my-self.html) it is.

My juice feasting goal was 92 days - on day 45 I ended my fast feeling very good about my choice to do so. My body was telling me it needed to eat. Then my friend committed suicide and so I fasted for the week to assist myself with his death. When I began eating again... I ate emotionally... lots of SAD food... so I began this 20 week fast I'm doing right now. (I'm in my 4th week). You can read this (http://aleeshasrawlife.blogspot.com/2008/07/fasting-goal.html) to understand my choice better.

Although it's been a very difficult time for me emotionally, dealing with his death (http://aleeshasrawlife.blogspot.com/2008/07/gone-but-never-forgotten.html), my loss of hugging him anymore (((definitely what I'm still missing today))) - fasting is really assisting me to process this. I don't know how I'd be doing if I wasn't fasting but I do know from my 45 day juice feast how much clarity I was able to achieve while fasting... so, once again I fast.

In answer to your questions... there is no good or bad reasons to fast... only YOUR reasons to fast. There is no right or wrong time to fast... and no correct or incorrect length to fast. It's so personal... soooo personal. Follow what your body asks of you and gift it what it needs regardless of what your mind may want... follow your body. The most precious gift I received from fasting is a deeper connection to Self and my body.

[RawSinger]

For everyone it's so different. I find that if I don't set a goal for myself, I always end up breaking my fast over "oh I want to eat NOW" and then regret it later that day or the next day and start fasting again. This is why I set a goal for myself but it's never set in stone. I also made a commitment to myself... here (http://aleeshasrawlife.blogspot.com/2008/07/commitment-to-my-self.html) it is.

My juice feasting goal was 92 days - on day 45 I ended my fast feeling very good about my choice to do so. My body was telling me it needed to eat. Then my friend committed suicide and so I fasted for the week to assist myself with his death. When I began eating again... I ate emotionally... lots of SAD food... so I began this 20 week fast I'm doing right now. (I'm in my 4th week). You can read this (http://aleeshasrawlife.blogspot.com/2008/07/fasting-goal.html) to understand my choice better.

Although it's been a very difficult time for me emotionally, dealing with his death (http://aleeshasrawlife.blogspot.com/2008/07/gone-but-never-forgotten.html), my loss of hugging him anymore (((definitely what I'm still missing today))) - fasting is really assisting me to process this. I don't know how I'd be doing if I wasn't fasting but I do know from my 45 day juice feast how much clarity I was able to achieve while fasting... so, once again I fast.

In answer to your questions... there is no good or bad reasons to fast... only YOUR reasons to fast. There is no right or wrong time to fast... and no correct or incorrect length to fast. It's so personal... soooo personal. Follow what your body asks of you and gift it what it needs regardless of what your mind may want... follow your body. The most precious gift I received from fasting is a deeper connection to Self and my body.

I so value everything you've shared with me. My deepest condolences for the loss of your friend. My kindest thoughts go out to you.

As for fasting, I think you're right on. You have a great attitude and I will definitely be referring back to what you've said when I'm ready to do a fast.

Thank you very much!

[michigan roman]

heres my favorite fasting expert , dr herbert shelton .
at site scroll down to index and click on the appropriate
chapters to get to pages , link =

http://www.soilandhealth.org/02/0201hyglibcat/020127shelton.III/020127.toc.htm ..

my fasting likes =

- save money on food :D
- save time on preparing meals and washing dishes :D
- feels GREAT having and empty gut when i run , i can FLY :cool:
- burns off flab
- kind of makes one calmer
- i truely believe , as stated by dr's like sheldon , that im flushing out
unwanted pollutants that could lead to disease if not removed

ps - hi aleesha :)

[RawHeaven]

Great way to heal and cleanse the body

Gives your digestive system a rest and a chance to further heal

Regenerate cells

Helps you get in better touch with your relationship wth eating food - fasting is a great way to observe yourself and your emotional triggers when you're not eating

A great way to experience the difference between true hunger and false emotional hunger which leads to bingeing and eating disorders generally

[Aleesha Sattva]

ps - hi aleesha :)

hi MR! *waves like crazy*

[Raine]

heres my favorite fasting expert , dr herbert shelton .
at site scroll down to index and click on the appropriate
chapters to get to pages , link =

http://www.soilandhealth.org/02/0201hyglibcat/020127shelton.III/020127.toc.htm ..

my fasting likes =

- save money on food :D
- save time on preparing meals and washing dishes :D
- feels GREAT having and empty gut when i run , i can FLY :cool:
- burns off flab
- kind of makes one calmer
- i truely believe , as stated by dr's like sheldon , that im flushing out
unwanted pollutants that could lead to disease if not removed

ps - hi aleesha :)

Michigan - the gentleman that authored that information on Dr. Shelton is Chrisb1 who is daily on the water fasting board at www.CureZone.com. He's a wealth of knowledge when it comes to fasting.

[MOTH]

heres my favorite fasting expert , dr herbert shelton .
at site scroll down to index and click on the appropriate
chapters to get to pages , link =

http://www.soilandhealth.org/02/0201hyglibcat/020127shelton.III/020127.toc.htm ..


I LOVE that site! It answers all fasting questions.

[michigan roman]

thanx for the heads up raine :)

and moth i swear that doc shelton soil and health
link / site is great to me also , he and norman walker
are my two best medicine men ever .