Can you work on a water fast?

[Veronica01]

I have always been afraid of failure when thinking about fasting. Only because until eating almost 100% raw I was constantly hungry and felt I could not live with myself if I was hungry, i'd be unfocused and irritable etc. Now on 3 weeks raw I am finding it easier and easier to go for hours on just a few pieces of fruit or a small salad and i am not longer scared of being hungry, it just doesn't get that bad anymore. So I am thinking ok I could probably do a fast then and get through the first few days of being hungry. I do not have a juicer though, nor do I want to spend an enormous amount of money on juice fasting. So i am asking has anyone who is not a well experienced faster, done water fasts and continued on with daily life? I am not expecting that I will be able to go to the gym every day, but I work in an office and sit all day, so it's not so hard, but i still need to be able to focus a bit and not pass out. I do not want to have to just work and sleep and fast and nothing else. Have you ever had problems functioning in normal life after 2 weeks of fasting? I just don't know how long I should expect. I want to try it, but I should probably eat through all my fruits and veggies first next week. The longest I've ever gone is water fasting for 24-28 hours I think, only because of being emotionally upset! This is not the case this time.

[Veganforlife]

I am on day 47 of my green smoothie/juice fast. Prior to that I tried a water fast. I made it for 2.5 days. It's extreme - to ME. I couldn't do it...but, everyBODY is different.

[rawmom2006]

I have done water fasting and I had a physical job. I did fine. The third day was hard but not too bad. Try one day and see how you feel. Or try to start on a Thursday and then it will be the weekend when you hit the third day. I think water fasting is harder for people coming off heavy meat and diary or smoking or drugs. Good luck with your fasting.:)

[Veronica01]

I think I could do it, because im not responsible for feeding anyone else anymore, and i always eat at my desk for breakfast and lunch anyways by myself so no one would notice or pressure me to eat. And I could handle a few days of feeling out of it, but i don't want to do more harm than good by starting it and ending it soon because i can't sit without passing out, you know?
Juice fasting would take up a lot of my time cutting and making juice all day and be expensive and when i drink juice i get hungry. water no

[rftm0115]

I'm an experienced faster. So that may be a problem.

For my first water fast as a newbie, I was constantly teaching. My energy only waned for 2-3 days. When walking, I had to stop every half mile or so. If you're just sitting, you will be fine.

Although you'll be fine, I don't particularly recommend being too active while water fasting. You will get the best benefit from water fasting if you get plenty of rest as possible, since the calories will be fully allocated to cleansing and healing.

If you work, work. Put your all into it. When you're home and have free time, put your all into cleansing and healing by resting, getting some sun & fresh air.

An enema for detox crisis. Pure water.

Water fasting while working is completely do-able.

[Aleesha Sattva]

it all depends... some people have heaps of energy on a water fast - other people can barely get out of bed. i would start your fast (as someone else suggested) on a thursday or even a wednesday... so you have the weekend to get into the groove... (i find it's the 3-7th days that can be the hardest)...

but honestly, you just gotta try it and see how you do. just remember... breaking a water fast gently is super important... it's not as forgiving as a juice fast (or a green smoothie fast)... so be super super gentle... you'll need to break it with juices.

you can use your blender to blend juices and then strain them using a nut mylk bag (or paint strainer bag from a paint store)... depending on the length of your water fast will change the amount of days you need to do juice before breaking your fast with easy to digest fruits.

the longer you fast... the longer you need to take to break your fast. :)

[Veronica01]

Thanks for the advice. I never thought about starting it on a wednesday or a thursday. I guess that would be better than having a saturday for day one. I am going to consider it, i think it could really help me. My skin is driving me crazy, so far that's the only negative thing im experiencing but it's always been like that. I want to eat through everything i bought and then do it. The first 24 hours isn't so bad and if im busy at work it should be easy to not think about it. I probably won't be able to go the gym, i get light headed if i work out without eating. Plus im thinking it will totally save me money to do a water fast, haha i spend a heck of a lot more on organic food now. :)

[Veronica01]

Also what about driving? I personally don't think i am overly toxic, as I never smoked, drank alcohol or coffee and pop very rarely, or took prescription drugs, and fruits and salad were most of my daily food intake as well... I am just reading some water fast diaries, all by men, so I'm sure it is different, but they are in pain and cannot function or concentrate at work or driving. I really have no idea. I know I can definitely do the first 24 hours as I'm not really hungry first thing in the morning anyways, once i start eating i get hungry for the day. I am contemplating starting wednesday or thursday night to see. I have not had any detox symptoms other than some fatigue going raw so far. My body has felt stronger.

[freshlight]

I have heaps of energy on a water fast. Yes, you definitely can work and it's more enjoyable than ever.
Have fun :)

[rftm0115]

I actually would not recommend driving during a prolonged water fast. When energy drops, it can be sudden.

I either walked or caught public transportation during my extended fasts. See if anyone can drive you for a while.

Or maybe consider doing 36 hours long water fasts first during the weekends.

[Aleesha Sattva]

really? if i felt fine when it was time to go out... i would drive. as you go further on a fast... your energy increases... at least in my and many other fasters (that's i've read about) experiences... melissa who fasts more than she eats every year does everything while she's fasting. walks for miles, rebounds, yoga... runs after her toddler... she slows down for a couple days here and there but really quite seldom.

i guess it's another one of those... personal experiences things.

[Veronica01]

Hmm both comments are interesting. I won't be a lot of driving, just 10 min to and from work and i figured i wouldn't push going to the gym on the fast. But I thought it'd be a nice way to try to end my first month of raw. And I am finding that I am a lot stronger than I thought when it comes to food and i am not constantly hungry or over eating. :) I'm excited

[rftm0115]

Yeah. This is from my personal experience. Maybe I'm more toxic than those who don't get weak on a water fast. There could be some other factors. I've also never drank, smoked, etc....

Although I did have tons of energy on a water fast and walked miles as well as others, there are times where I did have *sudden* dips of energy, and I know I have to sit it out before I continue walking.

Because of those sudden dips, I can't imagine anyone driving esp. on a prolonged fast. Maybe a short one of 2-3 days but definitely not on a prolonged one.

It may also depend on weight. My highest ever was 135 lbs. Those who weigh more will have more energy, but then again, from my own experience, I wouldn't risk harming myself or others by driving while on a prolonged fast. If there's an alternative, I'd take it. :)

[Veronica01]

Right now I'm at 130 lbs, and i rarely ever feel weak or lightheaded. The only time i've ever felt that would be working out for 2 straight hours without eating before or after, then you feel a little shakey. I don't do that anymore. I am thinking if i do 2 days at work i will know if i am ok or not. Right now I am thinking i am mostly going to be bored as i like planning out my meals and making dinner. lol

[rftm0115]

I've got by my water fasts, because I'm usually at least 30 episodes behind watching my favorite anime. :p I also like going to Home Depot and snapping pictures outdoors. Is there anything else you like to do besides planning and preparing meals?

Water fasting is actually really fun, b/c I get so much more time to do the things I usually don't make time for and of course, the energy. :)

[Veronica01]

I usually like watching some of my favourite tv shows, i record them and fastforward the horrible commercials lol. Right now it keeps snowing in calgary, so i can't say i can plan on going outside for long walks. My knees seize in the cold. I don't know how much energy i would have or how early i will want to go to bed. I think it'd be relaxing to take baths after work instead of rushing around to make dinner. I don't have any friends in town that are into raw or even health so I am not sure hanging out with them would be a good idea, unless it's maybe a movie or herbal tea. :)

[SimplyFabulush]

It definitely depends on the person. But I've done quite a few water fasts and have always had loads of energy, especially after day 3 or 4 like others have said. I've always been able to workout for an hour at the very least and never had a problem. And work is fine too. I find that my clarity of mind is much much better on a fast. In fact, I just started another water fast this week because I have loads of homework and a huge research paper I have to work on within the next two weeks, plus a new position I have to learn at work, so I want to be in the best mindset and have the most concentration since I have so many things to focus on right now. That's what fasting does for me, and I hope it does the same for you! :)

[Veronica01]

My friend and I are starting a fast on wednesday evening after dinner. Anyone else plan on doing one towards the weekend?

[SimplyFabulush]

I am starting day 4 of my fast tomorrow (Thursday) so I'll be right there with you!

[Veronica01]

Oh Awesome! You should keep me posted. I am thinking i will start a blog since i will have a lot of spare time, not eating on lunch break! haha. :)