Newbie - when to do first fast/cleanse?

[curlygirl82]

Hey all,

100% raw for 1 week today. (except vices, see below) I'm loving how I feel, cravings and hunger subsiding, etc. But I keep thinking about fasting (never done it before). I feel like I surely have tons of toxins and junk inside - even wondering if I don't have parasites, since I've had a big, swollen, pregnant-looking stomach since I can remember. The first few days I was raw, I was constantly cleaning out my system, but that's slowed down quite a bit, and honestly I feel like I need it. But I don't want to get too extreme here, since I just went raw (from the Zone - how SAD can you get?!)

So I'm wondering if I could go ahead and give fasting a go, or if I should wait for my body to adjust to 100% raw for a bit first?

Also, how do you deal with going on a fast while going to work? I wait tables 5 days a week, and after reading some of the symptoms of a detox/cleanse, I don't know if I shouldn't wait for some sort of extended vacation to do it (which never happens, just so ya know!)
I'm also concerned because I just started a workout program I'm really enjoying and excited about, and I know I'd have to give that a rest during a fast.
Should I give up all my other vices first (I still drink some coffee, some alcohol, and smoke cigarettes) before a cleanse, or would one help in that, too?
Basically I have a lot of reasons to hesitate, but my body is hinting that I should give it a go...
What have your experiences been? Any advice?
Thanks so much, guys!

[Eva]

Whew! In my case -- which is all I really know -- I got rid of coffee and all meat/dairy/cooked food on day #1. Day #2, my detox was SO bad, that I had a small amount of coffee to ease up. I almost had my husband bring me to the ER, that's how bad it was. Day #3 and beyond, I was off coffee, and life was so good.

I was previously smoking here and there socially, drinking 1-2 glasses wine (usually more like 1) socially and at dinner quite regularly, and I just told you about the coffee (always at least a cup, sometimes up to 5).

I did, at first, still have organic, no-sulfites added wine. I don't desire that anymore, but it did seem OK at first.

After 2 weeks or so, I decided to go off Ritalin cold turkey. That is not recommended, and I did go through some weird emotional and physical issues, but it was over quickly enough and I was able to concentrate without it... although I did and do have a lot of coping strategies and must continue at 100% and using my strategies to NOT have ADHD issues take over my life.

All that to say... my detox from coffee was so bad that I know it was poisoning me. My detox from Ritalin was less bad, funnily enough. I don't know what my life changes would have been had I NOT rid myself of those vices. I DO know that my life changed drastically and quickly. I felt like I was seeing sunshine and hearing music for the first time. And like the clouds had lifted. I didn't have weight issues, but my belly pooch was GONE like a snap, acne went from constant to almost nonexistent.

I did cleanses after being raw for awhile, not before. That worked very well for me personally. I would think that you might have a plan of attack for getting rid of the vices, then do a cleanse after that.

There are people who have done it the other way around, and I hope they'll see your thread to comment on their experience. :)

[Eva]

P.S. Congrats on completing your first week! That's huge. :D

[Raine]

I was doing fasts long before I even heard about "raw foods". There are some sites to help you with questions and what to expect in addition to this site:


www.FreedomYou.com
www.JuiceFasting.org
Water fasting board at CureZone.com (http://www.curezone.com/forums/f.asp?f=335)
Water fasting group on Facebook.com (http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=27004018655&ref=mf)


You might want to consider juice fasting for 3-5 days initially and from that strive for a longer juice fast (up to 30 days). On a longer juice fast, it's typical to feel lethargic around the Day 3 to Day 5 marks. However, typically your energy will skyrocket after that and remain constant. If you decide to this and considering your work, if you plan for a couple days off in a row, strive for those to be at the Day 3 - 5 mark. Your energy resources should be fine the first 72 hours and and again beginning Day 6.

As for your exercise, you might want to consider light rebounding (10 minutes), pilates or yoga during the fast.

Water fasts are typically easier to undertake after a person has juice fasted because the first wave of detox will have happened on longer juice fasts.

Good luck!


.

[tanishamarshall]

I believe that doing fasting can be beneficial at anytime during your journey. I also beleive that our body can signal us to fast as well, but sometimes when you are coming from a SAD diet you might not be able to tell what your body is trying to tell you.

I believe that we have to find what works for us, if during your fast you do not feel as well, or you are detoxing to fast, you can add some raw foods to slow the process, but I think you should give it a try, if you feel it is the right thing to do, then go ahead and try it.

There are a ton of great books and websites with lots of great info on fasting.

As for coffee, I believe that is one of the most toxic drinks we can put into our body. I had a really bad detox when I stop drinking it, and I went to the ER twice because the head ache was so bad I thought I was dying. I am not saying this to scare you but to show you how bad coffee is for us. There is no food or drink that should have control over us, if something has taken control over you it isn't good for you, well that is how I feel.

I believe removing all addictions is important, but you might have to work on one at a time.

When you remove coffee just be aware that you might have a headache for a week or so. No one told me that I would have a withdrawal from coffee, so just know it could happen to you and that it happens to most people. Some people say that they slowly remove coffee from their diet and it doesn't cause as bad of detox, so I guess it's up to you to figure out what you feel works best for you.

[annavon]

Withdrawal/detox from coffee can be pretty unpleasant:(. This might sound funny, but it will be easier to quit both if you quit the cigarettes and coffee at the same time. You might want to get the book Caffiene Blues. It gives a step by step instruction for getting off coffee. For me, I didn't attempt to fast until I was off of coffee. I had tried in the past and the withdrawal from the caffiene was so bad that I had to go back to drinking it. I now drink a small amount of green tea in the morning, but I am working my way towards getting off that too.

[curlygirl82]

Hey guys, thanks for the tips!
Annavon, actually, it makes total sense to me to give up cigs and coffee at the same time. That's the way I did it before - just rip the whole band-aid off at once! I only ever drink half-caff anyway (because of a history of heart palpitations, eek), so I'm hoping it won't be too bad of a withdrawal. Not quite ready to do it yet, but it's coming, I can feel it!
Docsharp - I really appreciate your emphasis on listening to your body. This is one of the huge things I'm getting out of going raw, and it's so sacred to me.
Eva- Thanks for the congrats! :) Everybody at work is making fun of my green pond scum smoothies. I just smile. I think you're totally right about having a plan of attack. I think I'm going to maybe go a few days with just smoothies, see how that goes, then think about giving up some vices before a cleanse. Makes total sense to me! Thanks so much for sharing your experience about detox. I've been through them before, and I know it ain't pretty! Right now I'm trying to cut down on my alcohol - before going raw, it wasn't uncommon for me to drink a bottle of wine every night. Now when I get to the bottom of the first glass, I feel a bit queasy. So I stop. I still like to have 1 glass at night, but I'm learning to listen to my body when it says, "that's enough, you don't need any more." I simply feel like my desire for it is evaporating.

Raine -thanks so much for the links and tips. What's rebounding?

Love you guys, you're awesome!

[Raine]

Raine -thanks so much for the links and tips. What's rebounding?


Rebounding takes place on those little, round trampolines. You can use them inside. Amazing exercise for all cells in your body.

[Eva]

Amazing exercise for all cells in your body.

I've got to agree! I almost either sacrificed a piece of luggage or paid an extra $75 just to bring mine to Hungary with me. But then I thought that I was being silly and extravagant. LOL, and I ended up having to remove my energy transformer and blender too because I brought so much raw food goodness with me.

Anyways, all that to say, I agree. :eek::D