Would anyone like to join me for a ten day fast?

[Laura_nz]

Hi there,
I am going to begin a 10 day juice fast tomorrow night and was wondering if anyone would like to join me for some / all of the ride?

I plan to set my sprirtual intention for this time in the next day or so. Would be great to have and be able to provide support to someone else on this journey!

Many good wishes to all

[lisamarieraw]

Hi Laura! I would love to try to go the 10 days with you. I have struggled with fasting in the past and the longest I was able to go was 4 days (about a week ago--I posted about it) It really is a perfect time for me as I am beginning my dream job in about 20 days and am at a time of change. I really wanted to focus on cleaning up my mind/life and what a better way to catapult into that goal with cleaning my body! I think I really need support…like maybe someone to contact when I feel like I want to quit, to remind me why. Thanks for the opportunity!

[tonimurray]

Hey Laura I'm very new to fasting but I think it would be very beneficial. Do you have any good books or websites about this 10 day fasting, and fasting in general? I'd appreciate it. Have fun with the fasting!

[Laura_nz]

Yay! How fantastic :) Support is exactly what I am looking for too.
I realise that in this period of time for me there is likely to be a strong emotional detox and I am a little bit scared about doing it alone. If I can log in here, and feel like someone else is walking this path with me it will mean a lot to me.
Am happy to exchange numbers if that would help to check in daily in that way, whatever helps and people are comfortable with.

I am starting tomorrow morning. In terms of resources Toni, I am following the program found here http://franks-legacy.com/articles.html
I have done 3x5 day fasts before. The first two were group fasting retreats, and this is what they were like:
1. 3 big juices daily with 3 psyllium and bentonite shakes before each one. twice daily coffee enemas. 5 years ago
2. 3 juices, but much less each time, no psyllium and bentonite, 1 enema per day just water. 3 years ago
3. I did this one by myself, 3 juices more like the first one (bigger) and daily coffee enema. Really enjoyed this one. 3/4 a year ago.

I am looking forward to doing ten days. I expect the results to be clarifying and empowering as with previous experiences. I will continue working full time during this period, but expect the worst on day 3 and four which coincides with the weekend here. After that it will be keeping momentum and letting my body heal for the remaining 6-7 days. I will be employing a great level of organisation to make this work. Therefore there will be a great sense of acheivement if I can successfully complete 10 days. I believe I can.

All the best lovely people,
Laura

[lisamarieraw]

I'm afraid too…especially since I tried to fast just yesterday and I had an feeling of needing to eat. Like if my life depended on it I couldn't NOT eat. Then I remembered you said you were beginning today so I could have a salad yesterday. Then I thought how am I going to do this? But I think I really have to work on connecting to what my reasons are for wanting to do this. I DESPERATELY want to jump start change in my life. I already have in incredible ways, but I am very very urgently needing to take the next step as I have been in a slight rut. I really want to do this.
I just thought of an even deeper driving force here. I don't know how this just came up NOW but…I am getting my masters in social work and my long term vision is to combine al of the incredibly powerful tools I have learned from psychotherapy, mediation, yoga, nutrition, and quantum physics (I am sure this list will continue to grow) I want to combine western and eastern practices for the most effective treatment paradigm. I believe fasting has powerful emotional heeling abilities. How can I ever teach this to my future clients without substantial personal experience. I am doing this. I am fasting for 10 days beginning today. It is easy to fast. It is easy and natural to give my body, mind, and spirit and break and allow deep healing.

[michigan roman]

heres my favorite fasting info from the late great fasting expert herbert shelton

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

* lemon squeezed into ice water is my favorite appetite queller on a fast

[lisamarieraw]

thanks michigan! I will be looking into that right now for my lunch break! I had heard of him and the hygienic system. there is so much to learn...sometimes I feel overwhelmed by all of the raw food information. and I've been introduced to it for about a year and a half. but with patience it does all start to come together.

[Juniper44]

I've been semi fasting for the last 8 days. I've been drinking fresh and bottle organic juice through-out the day. When I feel like my head is completely block and I can't work I would eat an apple.Tonight I had sliced tomato . I would like to do a complete juice fast again like I did last year ( 10 days) but this year has been hard.

I do feel slightly stronger now that it's my 8th day and somewhat spiritual. I want to try a full fast I'm not sure for how long, but tomorrow can be...no, "It will" be by first.

Good luck all. We can do this!

P.s. I wish my financee would stop eating around me.

[Aleesha Sattva]

i've been fasting with ya today... just one day of water for me though... but i thought i'd pop in and say hello. ;)

one day of fasting suuuuuure makes me want to fast more... but i'll wait awhile before doing a longer fast.

[Laura_nz]

Hey Juniper and Aleesha, welcome and thank you.
I am probably about 3/4 of a day ahead of most of you, and I am just winding up day 1.

Today I started with wheatgrass juice, followed by P & B (psyllium and bentonite) made my 3 juices then off to work.
Had my apple juice around 9.30am (4 apples juiced), then another P&B 11.30ish. Took my carrot and beet juice up to the park for lunch 1pm, and did some writing. Watched the clouds race across the sky and a swallow dance over a pool in front of me. It has been lighnting and thundering here for the last 3 evenings, but when I awake the signs are absent, and the days are nice, so you can imagine the clouds racing had that odd fervour to them.
I currently have a pterygium on my right eye that I am booked in for surgery mid October to have removed. It is an irritant. It came to me as I wrote in the park that this fast is about clarity and seeing clearly. I have a sense of humour so will keep up the carrot juice too ;)
Had my 3rd P&B at 4.30pm and then off to my meditation group. Did some cleaning and left early tonight. Had carrot and celery juice at 6.30pm.
Now home, I have to be at work at 4am tomorrow to do a site inspection, so will hit the sack early. I am beginning to notice the detox.

No hunger today, I drank peppermint and herbal tea throughout and water.
I read that you should try to maintain 1200 calories. That equates to a 4 apple juice, and 1kg of carrots juiced (2 juices from this). That's what I did today. They are quite big juices! But good to be doing it right.

Due to work starting time I won't be at home to do my 1st colon cleanse tomorrow before work. I guess that means I need to wait until I get home around 1pm (I get to finish early for starting early). I hope I don't get too cranky as a result of this and affect my work colleagues days.

Peace and best wishes,
Laura

[lisamarieraw]

Hi everyone! Aleesha I hope you're feeling better…I read your blog yesterday! The fasting must have helped at least a little because you were able to come on the forums :-) lucky us because your experience is invaluable!

Juniper this will be wonderful for you….as long as you are able to go with have great benefits. Just be kind, loving, and understanding to yourself.

Laura how is it going? Day 2 has been good…yesterday was super easy…I am thinking, like you, that day 3/4 will be the most difficult. Day 4 was for me last time. I find the difficult day seems to move further away with the more fasting experience I incur. I feel great. The only thing I notice is a feeling that I must sort everything out…NOW! I posted a little on this already but I just have this feeling like I have wasted so much of my life abusing myself in many way…I want to be fully healthy! I start to think and express this much more consciously and consistently when fasting. It's like i want to figure out my whole life and I become very indecisive about everything (this existed before it just gets amplified) this morning (beginning last night really) I came to the idea (HUUUUGE) that maybe I don't want to live the typical american life. I never really have. Maybe this is one of the reasons why I treated myself/my life so disrespectfully in the past. I want to feel free. I want to travel. I want to live somewhere else with very few responsibilities and very simply. I don’t think a family and kids is maybe for me? I could see myself living out my days in the helping profession and making that my focus. I guess I am thinking all of this because I just got a wonderful full time job that will pay for the rest of my masters degree. but I believe you have to stay there for 5 years post masters. So now I feel like I have to sort it all out! I do get a wave of rationalization telling me that I don't need to know right now. I can go with the flow and enjoy this starting right this second.

[Aleesha Sattva]

Yes fasting for the day (and some napping) did the trick. I'm all better today! Ahhhh gotta love a fast, even if just for a day!

[Laura_nz]

Hi all, Day 2 complete here.
Started my day at 3am to get out to site by 4am. Made 1 juice at home before leaving. Had a bit of a kip in the sickbay before everyone got to work, and had my 1st juice - apple and ginger, very delicious, at 8am. Had a P&B around 11.30am. Work kept on going, there was too much to do for me to leave when I had hoped, 1pm. So no juice, I started to get hungry. Finally left around 3pm, went to nearby shopping area and bought a medium juice from a juicing bar, apple, pineapple and kiwifruit. Also very yummy (but prob not organic). I wanted more after it, had that feeling of emptiness / lonliness, I wasn't really hungry, just not feeling fulfilled, and I reckon it was emotional, I needed something more from food than food is ever meant to give. Walking up and down busy shopping streets probably didn't help either. Consumer madness. Picked up a serious amount of carrots and apples at the organics store on way home, still feeling empty. Had a wheatgrass shot about 5pm, then another P&B, then finally my juice - 7pm

All in all, at best, very spaced out today. When I pushed it out to 3pm without juice I started feeling weak and knew I needed juice. As I came home I felt headachy, just like I used to on other detoxes. So I'm into it, but not achy, so that's good. Looking forward to doing my first gallbladder flush tomorrow night, something new. Also since I got home so late didn't do the colon clean, figured I do it tomorrow morning. That may make me feel better, I am going to do wheatgrass for that side of things for this fast.

Hope everyone is going well, keep posting :)

[Laura_nz]

Hey everyone, day 3 complete.
Saturday over here, so did everything at my own pace, lots of napping this morning. Another apple and ginger for breakfast. Gorgeously yummy. Lunch was carrot, beet, and parsely, my goodness what a treat! I did it again for dinner.
Missed yoga today so went and had a sauna instead.
I have also been doing the hot cold hot cold showers when I have these each day.
All in all feeling well now, but I have to say that most of today I was feeling a bit average, that dehydrated feeling. Don't know if that's because I am or just part of the spacey feeling of releasing toxins. Had a moment or two when I questioned why am I doing this, if people knew I was they would discredit me for being wierd etc, but got over it. I feel good now.

Really looking forward to doing the gallbladder flush tonight. It says eat 2 oranges... isn't that cheating?!!! ha ha. no but I hear the rest of the process can be uncomfortable sometimes, so I suppose I best not get too excited :)

I was promised a quiet week at work next week, but that has been retracted, sounds like it's going to be pretty full on, and out in a site office to boot. Really not that happy about this. I want a low stress healing space for my fast, because the last year of work has certainly not been that, The last 3 months in particular have been insane. So I am definitely reflecting on that. Broken promises and unacceptable levels of stress have been dumped on me. I don't really want to continue on in this vein? But how to address it openly with a solution focus, rather than having to defend myself. It will all depend on whom I approach I guess. But the time is coming, sooner rather than later...

Hope you are all well, will be good to hear how life is having you Lisa, I fear that the timezone differences may be too much to overcome? :(

[Laura_nz]

Well I'm not conviced that the Gallbladder Flush did anything last night. It also did not cause me any major discomfort, but I had a semi sleepless night (as with the night before that) but this morning woke up feeling very rested and happy regardless. Today's energy levels have been excellent.

Today my attachment to food is upon me. I don't have much planned for today, and boredom usually is what precedes my pattern in overeating. This is something I would rather address than run from. I want to be gentle with myself, not make everything too confronting and scary, but by the same token address the issue. I am considering going to a movie to fill my afternoon, but after I have written this I will do some meditation instead. See if I can deal with being in the same space as food, and exercise non-attachment. What a wonderful opportunity! I am not hungry at all. Just have that 'longing'. Definitely old patterns. And I can't keep myself busy all my life, so I might as well experiment with sitting with this now. No time like the present.

This am I had apple and mint juice, it was good but not quite as awesome as the apple and ginger! Lunch I had a sweet grapefruit juice from a friends tree. Tasted all the better because it came from someone I love (and hey it was pretty good to start with anyway)

Yeah I definitely am a busy bod. Need to learn to slow down, big challenge for me. Will check in later tonight before bed. Later people, peace and wellness to all x

[Laura_nz]

Another good day. I had a nap after my "lunch". Actually fell quite heavily asleep. I did an hour and a half astanga yoga class first thing this am, so that has gotta help with the detox :)

This afternoon my ex came around to pick up his belongings. One of the main reasons I needed this fast, that and finishing a major project. I was stressed out and emotionally insecure. I needed to rebuild my spiritual strength, and make sure I was cleanly processing my life events so I could move on. We split about 4 weeks ago.

It was ok. I was beginning to want food (note I didn't say I was hungry!) but I did ok, drank 4 cups of peppermint tea when we went out instead! Came back and had early carrot, beet and parely juice (5pm). So delicious! wonder if I'll get sick of it. Out of beetroot anyway so I won't be having one tomorrow!

I feel great at mo. Wondering how I'm going to make it all happen tomorrow am with wheatgrass, p&b, meditation, colon cleansing, making 2 juices for day and getting out the door by 6.45am. But I've committed to it. This is my chance to see if I can make it work.

Was reading a bit of a zen buddhist book that my yoga teacher lent me this morning before I trundled off to catch up with previous partner. It's all about the metta sutra. I just happened to finish reciting it as I was just to that part of the book when he knocked. I would very highly recommend reciting this before you go into any situation you are concerned about whether you can act out of love. It really is quite magic.

Peace and love to everyone

[Laura_nz]

Today was hard going.
I started with wheatgrass, made my juices, apple and ginger for breakfast, carrot and parsely for lunch. had breakfast about 8.30am did not feel well all throughout the morning. I attributed much of this to the gallbladder flush I attempted last night again. I remain very unconvinced about the effectiveness / relevance of this flush. At least for me I think it has been more disruptive than helpful, and I have seen no benefits I can relate. I had lunch just before 12pm. I got really hungry in the afternoon. I haven't had any hunger like this so far on the fast and it may be a sign for me to look at moving on. I will see how I feel tomorrow (maybe eating the oranges / fats last night started up my metabolism somewhat)

Brought my friend home. She is having major emotional issues with her partner. It is a verbally abusive relationship. I am happy to be able to help. She has also helped me stay on track as I have had someone here so I didn't slink into bad habits and letting go of my path. Made a carrot / beet / parsely juice for dinner (big one!) but stopped into supermarket to get the beets and parsely beforehand (and Jo some dinner). So beets and parsely were not organic. Damn I can taste the pesticides! pretty nasty aftertaste. Goes to show what you notice when your body / tastebuds are cleaner.
When I went to gas station to fill up heater gas bottle I bought a little tropical fruit and veg V8 juice. That has pretty much cleared out the taste, but I must try and stay away from these juices with food acid in them. Fresh is best! If I feel hungry tomorrow it may be due to the influence of this juice, as I hear pasteurised juices can really get the digestive system going again, hopefully tomorrow will be easy again, but if it's not, I don't think I'm going to put up that kind of fight if my body is saying eat! I actually started to feel a bit light headed as the afternoon progressed.

I bought a bunch of beets, but I'm not willing to spoil my juices tomorrow with their aftertaste. Maybe I'll got for a walk to a juicebar tomorrow for lunch. It's a long walk though.

On the plus side, I addressed my overwork issues confidently and effectively today. I said no! It was pretty hard but so cool that I did. I love my job again :)

Peace out to everyone. It is a crazy bumpy road sometimes, but so full of light and hope. I just think of my friend Jo. God bless her

Night everyone xx

[Nubianess]

Hey laura. Hows your fast going? ive been secretly stalking you through it lol.
How are you finding adding wheatgrass to your fast compared to your other fast, are you getting more detox symptoms than usual?

keep up the good work.

Nubianessxx

[Laura_nz]

How did I find myself here?
I have been having the odd moment during the day where I question why I'm doing this, I should just throw in the towel, not that I'm particulary hungry. But then I find myself at the end of Day 6!! Which is longer than I've ever done a juice only diet, and it's unsupervised (except by you fine people).

Today was more like the first 4. No ravishing hunger of which I can comment. You really are naked though. It makes me realise what a crutch food is for me in Everything. And the moments where I want to give up, those bored nervous moments during the day at work, are the same ones where I feel like falling off the wagon with the healthy food that I have planned for the day, and find myself drifting over to make a hot chocolate. Madness. I see, just see it. No opinion.

Thank you Nubianess for your comments, I really love it that someone else is a silent watcher and is supporting me. Now I'm at day 6 I will start wavering more I feel. The newness is gone, I can tell myself the major clean is done, might as well finish up, don't want to be extremist etc... and on that note we come to the wheatgrass!

I have been doing the cleanses with wheatgrass, and I have to say there is definitely still old stuff that I could do myself the discipline of letting my body release for the next 4 days. Detox has been really mild in comparison to previous experiences. Just a lot more sleeping on day 3 & 4 (luckily the weekend), and didn't feel so great after gallbladder attempts. Beside that I have had a very mild but persistent leaky nose! going through the tissues, but it seemed to be worst on day 5, and is slowly dissipating.
So far my weight has come down a bit on the scales everyday, which has been a little bit of encouragement to keep my motivation high, and although it shouldn't be relevant, it's just one thing that helps me keep going in those low spots where I find my spiritual resolve flagging. The material motivation! But that won't last forever, and one of these days (I feel like it will be tomorrow?) they will go a bit the other way. Which makes sense, because on something like this so much of that is just measuring levels of hydration. Don't give up Laura! Do yourself the amazing service of 10 full wonderful days! 6 days in itself is nothing short of earth changing for this little life. I am definitely in rapid progress, everything is moving and shifting around me in a way it hasn't for probably a year. It definitely was time to move on from that relationship.

So anyway the day. Started well, energy was great all day. Apple, orange and ginger for breakfast - 8.30am. wasn't hungry but had it then as that's when I used to have brekkie. Slipping into the old work habits. Lunch was apple and ginger - 12pm. dinner was carrot and ginger - 5pm. All quite nice (but never as nice as fresh out of the juicer! you can taste the diff). I'm not getting sick of my flavours. Soooo in love with apple! As I walked away from work I had a full glimpse of how my bossy boot self makes me feel like I respect myself just a little bit less. I can act overconfidently. That is what makes me want to eat and give up this fast = treating myself with love and courageously seeking true aliveness and grace for my life. It won't be the only thing that does that in my life, but it is one, and I saw it today.
After work I headed to organic store and got some more beets, ginger and apples, then after that astanga yoga! 1.5hrs of it, great stuff. P.s. to all others, I don't do any exercise when juicing except yoga and a bit of walking.
On way home I picked up a sparkling water from gas station to have something on way home. It made me feel a little bit headachy at first but now I feel fine.

I made particularly big juices today as I didn't want to risk being hungry like yesterday, but it's a bit of a drag having to drink so much, takes the beautiful edge off it a bit. Since I have never been able to throw food out I will make less tomorrow.

This has been a particularly long post. I have been thinking today that I may continue to use this thread to document my transition diet for a few days - a week following this fast. To keep me honest, but also to paint a realistic picture for others on the path.

Love and encouragement to all,
Laura

[lisamarieraw]

Hello all! I had computer difficulties over the weekend…that coupled with visotors made my fast too difficult to pursue. However I am back online and think I am ready to revisit my never ending fasting journey! I hope everyone is doing well!

[lisamarieraw]

Oh Laura! Doesn't it feel great to be on the outside of an emotionally unhealthy relationship? I don't know how unhealthy your relationship was but it must have not served you in some way. To be able to see and hear your friend MUST be confirming to you that you made the right decision to move on from your last relationship. I bet you feel grateful!

I haven't been online in quite a few days so I was just reading your posts now…and catching up. I found it really interesting when you referred to that lonely/hungry feeling. I knew exactly what you meant!

My life has seemed so scattered…like my mind lately. And I guess my emotions too. I was fighting it at first but now I'm just feeling it and waiting for it to pass. As I notice that when I fight things, or avoid feeling them (depression, loneliness, grief), I either make poor choices or the feeling just pops back up (or both) usually more severe then the first time around.

[Laura_nz]

Hey everyone,
Today I broke the fast. All was going well, but I was exceptionally hypo and away with the fairies this morning. This was an issue as I had a full day of work ahead and I was unable to function. Odd how some days are fine and then you have a day like this. If I had been relaxing at home it wouldn't have been a problem.
I had my usual apple juice, then at about 10am I decided that I needed desperate measures to ground myself so I had my vegetable juice (carrot and beet). It helped a little, and I think that it was the right general idea, but unfortunately I was still all over the show. I couldn't go into an important meeting at 11am in such a way so I decided to do a well known detox slowing process, and grabbed an apple. This was successful. I was still a little vague, but reentered the world of flesh and bone so to speak.
I took this as a natural sign indicative of my own personal situation, and decided to start into the transition today :)
For lunch I had another apple, a pear and a banana. Today energywise I felt great (after the apple). Around 5pm I had a gold kiwifruit. Got home an hour or so ago, and have had 2 apples. Body feels good, and I feel very grateful for everything.
Also can't wait to have my first natural BM...!

Tomorrow I will have apple juice for bfast, and fruit for lunch again (up to 4-5 pieces throughout the day) and in the evening I will have a carrot and beet juice, with a fresh tomato. Tomorrow I will go for my first run in over a week. Yay!

Friday I am going out for vietnamese with friends so I need to prepare my body for that, although I would love to stay on just juice and fruit for a while longer (I feel fantastic!). So Friday may be the day to do juice for bfast, snack on a piece of fruit, and then have a raw vege salad for lunch. That will likely be carrot, beet and goji berries (I will need to diversify at some stage, but I have a heck of a lot of carrots here!)

I thereon plan to experiment with having just vege juice for dinner every now and then. I have thought about fasting for a day-a day and a half over the weekend, but don't quite know what that will look like. I really hope my food addiction doesn't come back full force like before, but for now everything is rosy. I certainly started this fast for the right reasons which helps. In a few days will post on weight loss (looks like there might be a little bit, but I didn't need to lose any) once my body stabilises back to ingesting food.

Tempted not to eat anything but fruit until my bowels start moving so I can be sure things aren't just stagnant. Otherwise can be constituted as poor food combining, and I know the only reason my energy has stayed so great today was the fruit only thing. I feel so strong.

I am so thankful for this wonderful little interlude in my life. I will keep trying to approach everyday as a healing day, as I have for the last 7. It had been incredibly abundant and fertile in that respect.

Thanks to everyone for helping me on my fast!

Peace and happiness to all,
Laura

[lisamarieraw]

Great job laura!!! I think you are also breaking the fast very wisely…which is really my goal this time around…I don't care as much how long I go but I want to break smart. Each time around I focus on a different aspect of fasting. I am so proud of you!