Mildy traumatised by 1st fast....now preparing for 2nd

[Azaria]

:o

So almost 3 months ago I attempted a 10 day master cleanse. I am not raw, but have a decent whole foods veggie diet and pretty athletic lifestyle. I have never voluntarily missed a meal or bite of food in my life:)

I was greatly humbled by the cleanse and the mental and spiritual navigations it took to last the 8 days that I did. I am simply blown away by the extended fasts I have been reading about, or any fast that is seemingly done with more ease and grace than I was able to manage. I felt *amazing* every single day of the MC...I have never experienced such energy and clarity.....but the endless demonic feelings of hunger and the constant struggle to overcome, transcend, reckon with....this is what I am hoping to come to terms with before starting my next fast this week. Ideally I would have loved to embrace the feelings of hunger but didn't get even close. It was blinding at times, and I found the feeling incredibly frightening.

So let me have it...even if it means taking the gloves off and bluntly telling me to suck it up! I am beginning to feel like the only person who cannot embrace the hunger!

[Aleesha Sattva]

oh no you are not!!!

every fast i do... i do better
every fast i do... i cope in a healthier way
every fast i do... i learn more about my Self and my ability to fast with more grace

so give yourself a break... and know that with each fast, you will get better at it, you will do it with greater ease and the grace that you desire will come in time. if not this time... in time.

and know that we are here, supporting you... holding your hand and walking beside you.

[spicyfull]

congratulations............

[freshlight]

my first fast when I wasn't raw was a difficult one as well (at the end) but the more often you fast and the healthier you eat, the more beautiful they become and the hunger disappears completely.
Enjoy the N2 :)

[Azaria]

Thanks for your support everyone :) I am sure I'll be back in the next few weeks with my tail between my legs asking for some reminders of your words of wisdom!

On the MC I followed it to the letter. I am finding the approach to juice fasting a bit more relaxed. I have a few questions though:

1) How much juice do you drink per day? Do you mix veggie and fruit or keep them separate? (Bear in mind my juicer may be older than religion!)
2) Do you drink herbal / nutritive teas as well?
3) I'm keen to do some sort of a flushing as well - SWF and senna tea is the only thing I have any experience with. What are some other options? How I would love to see some mucoid plaque eliminated!!:D
4) Would you recommend doing this liver cleanse during the fast or after?
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?p=255204#post255204

I am planning on starting on NY's day (not cause it is NY's but because it will be 12 days before my 33rd bday, and I can't think of a better way to end my 32nd year:))

Thanks for taking the time to answer :o I know these are pretty basic questions but I am just trying to learn.

[Aleesha Sattva]

spend some time reading the threads in this section. all of your questions are answered many times over and by lots of different people. it'll give you a better scope of what you can do on a juice fast.

in essence: drink as much or as little as you wish - drink whatever concoctions you desire. some of us prefer to not mix fruit and veggies while others do it all the time. some water down their juices, others don't. some drink teas, some don't. some assist their colons... other's do not.

so since this is YOUR fast, you have to research and make those decisions for yourself. :D

[Azaria]

That's exactly what I am trying to do! For example, I am up in the air about whether or not to pay heed to the needs of my colon during this fast....I think I would like to, but I would love to hear what has worked for other people - or what hasn't worked.

This is a pretty big world to walk into - like a whole new language really, and certainly a brand new way of communicating with the body - and I am so grateful for the incredible experience of the people on these boards. I have read plenty of posts, but until you speak the language, it is hard to decipher between the quality stuff and the random bits of advice.

[Aleesha Sattva]

oh i hear ya. have you read any of my blog? i share honestly and deeply about my fasting experiences.

here's a blog posting about your colon:

http://aleeshasrawlife.blogspot.com/2008/05/enemas-colonics-and-swfs-oh-my.html

if you scroll down and look at the blog postings i've linked on the lower right hand side you'll get some good info about fasting. and i hear ya about the 'new language' - i remember how totally overwhelmed and confused i was when i started. i didn't want to do it wrong... now i know there is no wrong way to do it. remember that... there is no wrong way to do this... just listen to your body. if it wants oj, give it oj. if it wants greens... give it more greens.

when you walk into the market you'll find your eye and your salivatory glands speaking to you. you'll keep looking at different things again and again, chances are (if it's not cookies) your body is saying "hey azaria i could use some citrus" and so you don't nec have to choose the citrus it's looking at but choose a citrus you love.

over time, your body will get better at communicating with you and you'll get better at hearing it. till then, just try to be balanced in your fasting.

1/3 water
1/3 fruit juices
1/3 green and veggies juices

this way you are guaranteed to be balanced! if you have some issues with candida etc so you don't want the sweet fruits, then choose the not-sweet juices instead.

and remember... you can't do this wrong!

(((hugs)))

[Ilse W.]

You know, Aleesha, you are so wise and wonderful, sometimes I want to just reach through my computer and hug you. {{{{{{HUUUUUUUG}}}}}}}