Does this happen to you?

[Sygma]

I did an MC once but only lasted about three days and then I would have a bad day but then try again and last a little longer. After I found out about raw veganism I stopped fasting. Now, after about three weeks of 90-95% raw, I am hungry all the time and have cravings all the time like before my fasts. Could this mean it is time to do another fast?

[Lady Green Jeans]

Are you eating enough?

[Aleesha Sattva]

no one can answer that question for you. fasting is a personal decision... only you know if you want to do one.

[Aleesha Sattva]

Probably not. Sounds like you're not mentally ready to fast.

really? from what information are you making this judgement?

there have been times that i've been a mess... and fasting has sooooo assisted me to become clear and much more functional. (like after the suicide of my friend last summer)

so why would you tell someone they are not mentally ready to fast? only the faster knows if they are ready... no one else.

*gets off her soapbox*

[Aleesha Sattva]

there is no failing when it comes to fasting. absolutely no failing at all. sometimes your body (and mind) are in the space and other times they are not. sometimes you are in the space to fast for one day, other times 12 weeks... there is no pass or fail.

it is what it is. nothing more nothing less.

and if someone has an eating disorder... then they have an eating disorder. eating disorders aren't actually about eating... so how in the world could a fast cause an eating disorder??? and exactly how many people do you know who started an eating disorder by fasting when they weren't mentally ready to do so?

you sound very rigid and strict with your ideals about fasting. i believe in allowing... flowing... and being gentle and loving with yourself when you are fasting. i don't ever say "there is no room for failure" in anything in life and certainly not in conjunction with fasting.

but that's just my knowledge and experience talking... perhaps you know more than i.

[RaisingAlex]

Sygma
It sounds to me like you just needed a little support while you fast. Since you have only attempted it 1-2 times. Normally if you make it past the first three days most of the craving's you have go away and then you are free and clear to continue with the fast having little or no cravings at all.

The length of time you spend on a fast is a personal choice, 1-2-6-14 days it is all good for you. Even 1 day fasting is excellent for your body. When I fast I ever tell myself how long it will go for, No stress!

IMO since you have been eating raw for such a short time that you really need to be gentle with yourself, take it slow and eat more raw foods. Personally I do believe that you are ready for a fast. A Green Smoothie Fast/cleanse. If you were to consume Green Smoothies for 7-14 days all your craving will go away and you will set your body up for succeed eating raw foods 100% of the time. I do believe you would benefit from this. When you consume GS only you can have 3-6 liters or however many to fill you up each day, in other words there are no rules there! You will notice a huge difference within the first two days.

As far as eating disorders go, I have NEVER experienced a person or client ever getting a eating disorder from fasting. AND there is no FAILURE while one fasts. Fasting is what the person that is fasting makes it. It is what it is!

Personally (again) have never heard of anyone having to be "Mentally" ready to fast. Sounds like something a uneducated Medical Doctor would say. Good job scaring the poor girl away!

[Sygma]

Thank you so much for the encouragement, Melissa! I've actually planned to start a green smoothie cleanse tomorrow. I hope to be able to access these forums for support and guidance throughout my cleanse, however long it is.

I am not sure how one "mentally prepares" for fasting. Perhaps you can expound on what it means to be mentally prepared and how one can tell if one is ready or not. Moreover, how is researching and deciding not enough? What else is there?

I actually believe my first two "failures" benefited me a great deal and propelled me in the direction of raw veganism and healthy habits. After much reflection, I came to the conclusion that I didn't fast longer because I had not been doing raw long enough.

Thank you all for you input, I greatly appreciate all the effort that is put into helping others through this form. :D

[Aleesha Sattva]

i 'think' that being mentally ready (since i don't believe in this myself) means that your mind is focused on fasting.

but i could be wrong. i'm cool with that LOL

[RaisingAlex]

Keep us posted in what direction (fasting) you decide to go. Good Luck! We are here for you.

[Aleesha Sattva]

She posted a thread Liss...

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=46866

All the best on your feast!!!

[Ilse W.]

I sure hope fasting does not cause an eating disorder, because I will terminate my fast in two days at exactly 5 weeks, and just bought a ton of yummy stuff that I want to eat. I'm off to make a boatload of kimchi.

[Green Diva]

I thought I read once that you get cravings because your body is detoxing. I cant' remember where I read this but it was over a year ago when I first went raw and read everything I could get my hands on.

Greens did help me eliminate my cravings.

[Aleesha Sattva]

really? who do you hang out with that so many of your friends become reliant on fasting? i have one friend who lives near me who fasts a couple times a year, other than that... it's just me who's fasting.

i have some online friends who are fasting divas (and fasting bandits)... and they don't have any eating disorders to the best of my knowledge.

so your friends who are becoming reliant on fasting are becoming bulimic or otherwise compulsive? are any of your fasting friends doing great with fasting?

while i do fully agree that fasting should not be used in place of eating healthy or used an excuse to pig out and then fast to release the weight gained... i am just wondering how much of what you are sharing is fact and how much is 'elaboration'. i don't agree with promoting scare tactics and that's what i'm feeling like you are doing here. if i'm wrong, then i apologize for my error.

[Aleesha Sattva]

i was not trying to shoot you down, i was simply attempting to find out if you were using scare tactics as that is how i read your posts. had you said "i've volunteered in organizations where i saw... " then your post would have been taken very differently by me and probably others as well.

information is a gift. thank you for gifting us some.

[Aleesha Sattva]

it's all in how it's given cranberry... when we post with loving intent, it comes across in our posts. i wish you a lovingly joy-filled day.