I'm fasting again... anyone wanna join me?

[Aleesha Sattva]

Hi Everyone,

It's that time again... time to go inwards. To fast. To cleanse my body and to heal. (especially to heal)

I've fasted for three days so far. Day one was water, day two was water and coconut water and then I had 16 oz of freshly made OJ and a beet, parsley, celery, ginger, apple blend.

Today has been water and coconut water.

I have no idea how long I'll fast for but I expect myself to fast for at least a week... but who knows... with me you never know. Three months from now I may still be fasting LOL

So... here's my commitment to my Self:


The commitment I make to myself is:

I will not break my fast on a bad day.
I have to be experiencing a good day to break it.

I will not break this fast today.
I can break it the day after tomorrow, but not today.

(This way... I won't break the fast on a whim... I will only break the fast after pondering it for a few days.)

I will meditate at least twice a day - even if it's only for a few minutes. Finding time for Self during a fast (for me) is essential and this is one way I am able to do this.

These are the promises I make to my Self for my fast.

namaste'
Aleesha

And for those of you who haven't been in one of my fasting threads... This is a place where food is not discussed. If you choose to eat during your fast/feast, please don't share about it here other than to say "I ate" but please don't go into any details as the other people in this thread are fasting and come here to not read about food. (((hugs)))

So... any other fasters out there? Let's do this together!!! I've got my fasting socks on (that Ilse)... my love tea (thanks Lucy) and I'm ready, willing and able to do this!

Hubby ordered me another case of young coconuts since I only have two left in the fridge... I have a case (15) of cantaloupe, a case of apples and a case of pears. I'm SET!!!

[green jeanie]

hope to get a 1-3 day in with you this week aleesha.

i have been in and out of fasting the last few weeks and just want a couple of more days of juice!!

the hard thing is getting myself to go to the grocery store!!

i don't want to buy food these days with all of the trees and gardens going so full on but i don't really have anything to juice!!

ok that is such a lie........busted :eek:

i'm in :rolleyes:

[rawmom2006]

I am in it will be nice to have company. I am water fasting for a few days and then go on to juice fasting.

[Aleesha Sattva]

green and rawmom... welcome. let's get this party started!!!

i am feeling so empty, which is good and bad i guess. i went for a massage this afternoon with a infrared hot sauna... it was very healing and cleansing for me.

i'm finding that so far on this fast... i'm doing water for most of the day and just having juices (coconut water mostly) in the evening. seems to be working for me in this moment...

i can hear my greenstar and champion juicers fighting over who gets to be used first though LOL

(for those who don't know... i had a miscarriage so it's safe for me to be fasting - please don't mention it in this thread... i want a clean place to come and post and not have to read about it. cause when i am doing good... i like to feel good KWIM?)

[Invisible]

HI!!
May I join this group, too, please??
Allesa, I love your stated committment to yourself....may I borrow it, too?

This is going to take some real work to fast for even a day...I just tried it last week and didn't last and ended up bindgeing after 8 or more hours later...not good becusae it was cooked junk food, of all things. Fasting brings out my cravings.

God Bless you all.

Invis.

[Aleesha Sattva]

fasting can also heal your cravings... it's up to you which way it goes. of course you can join in... the more the better!!! and of course you can use the same commitments!

i'm ready for bed... my eyes are sooooooo tired.

remember everyone... let's start the day with water... i drink a litre... perhaps two when i first wake up. give it a try - you'll like it!!!

[Anastazia]

I want so much to join you, I've actually been craving fasting, but have been trying to find info on whether it's safe to fast with diabetes or not...I know a green juice fast is what reverses it (according to Dr. Gabriel Cousins) but I can't afford to do as much juicing as it requires...
...anyone know the result of fasting (total water-only fasting) on diabetes?

~Anastazia~

[Aleesha Sattva]

water only should be fine, since it's not at ALL high in sugars. you just need to watch how many fruit juices you do and watch how you feel.

at least that's my advice... from the experiences i've had.

[Aleesha Sattva]

not sure if this site can answer your questions: http://www.freedomyou.com/fasting_book/water%20fasting.htm

but i like that site a lot.

of course there's always: http://www.timelessspirit.com/JULY08/interview.shtml you could contact david and ask him his opinion!

[Aleesha Sattva]

and here http://www.juicefeasting.com/SearchResults/tabid/37/Default.aspx?Search=diabetes

[NYbutterfly]

Hi everyone! I'm finishing up day 5 of a juice fast. Not sure what my goal is or how long I'm going for. It just felt right! I would love to be a part of the group :)

[Invisible]

Hello everyone!

O.K. I am finishing up some food {edited to remove cooked food} and then tomorrow I am going to start this fast with all of you....I am hoping the fasting won't be too tough on me because i really want to stay on it for more then 24 hours at one time without bingeing on food at the end. soooo......

Here's to our health, eh?!!!

Invis

[spicyfull]

Excellent Links.......I started Juice Fast Sunday to assist a NON RAW Friend. We are suppose to do 30 days. I will do them but I don't think she will. I at least hope she gives it a Good Try. I'll share these Links with her.

[Katie P]

I'd like to join!!!! I wanna start Oct 1st---just kinda start the month of right! I've done a water fast for 1 day at the most then went to fruits & veggies. I know for sure I wanna do water Oct 1st, but I don't have a juicer for the days after. Any suggestions? I have a blender if that helps.

I kinda think I wanna do 9 days

[Invisible]

I like the idea of starting Oct. 1, too because that will give my mind more time to get ready for it and then I can eat some more things I shoulnd't really be eating {edited by moderator because discussing food is NOT allowed in this thread} SOO I'm with you all, starting Oct. 1. I hope that is O.K. and that I can really stick to it as I notice that I am procraastinating a little bit here, but don't want to be too strick, eaither because I will really fail if I'm too strickt.
Invis.

[Aleesha Sattva]

many people fast using a blender. they blend the food, then put it into a nut mylk bag and strain it. it's more work but totally worth it!

woke up this morning feeling like crap. got no sleep last night. my tongue feels like a cotton swab... my eyes are aching (although that's probably from crying so much the past few days)... but oh man... i feel like crappola

[Aleesha Sattva]

And for those of you who haven't been in one of my fasting threads... This is a place where food is not discussed. If you choose to eat during your fast/feast, please don't share about it here other than to say "I ate" but please don't go into any details as the other people in this thread are fasting and come here to not read about food. (((hugs)))


invis... please re-read this...

[rawwannabie]

I'm in.....starting tomorrow morning! But, with green smoothies and the occasional juice. Is that okay for this thread?

Picking up apples today (love apple season!), pineapple, and ordering some coconuts for fresh water!!!! Oh, and I have some beets to juice at home.

:) Leah

[Aleesha Sattva]

surrrrrrrre is (((hugs))) i love ya girl!!!

[Invisible]

My stomach is cramping up from hunger.......OH!! i forgot, sorry about mentioning food on this thread, I read your note but it did not register until I just re read it. SORRYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is there a remedy for hunger pangs when fasting? Is this natural feeling this way? Anyone else experiance this feeling in their tummies, too?

BYE! And yea for raw!!!!!!!!

[Aleesha Sattva]

there's a cure... drink some juice or water. go for a walk, take a bath, meditate... read a book, knit...

give your mind something else to think about!

[Invisible]

WHEW!! That was close. I had a green smootie with just spinach and spring greens and now I feel nauseated... Thanks, Aleesha for your concern. you've got some great suggestions, too. I sent you an email. Did you ever get it??

I'm preparing to go for a walk...IF this rainstorm lets up, that is!! Guess I'll go shopping, instead. At least my mind will be off FOOD and I'll get my exercise walking around the mall.

BYE!! Here's to our health!

Invis

[Invisible]

OH! NOOOOO!!! I forgot to strain my smootie!!! Does this mean I am not allowed to post here now???? SHOOT> maybe I should wait until Oct 1 and re start again??

invis

[Katie P]

Invisible.....when are you starting???? I want someone to start with me :) LOL!!!!

[Aleesha Sattva]

you can fast on green smoothies invis... and yes you can post here. a fast is a fast.

[Invisible]

Hi Katie,
WELLL....I thought I was starting today, but, I am not so sure now that I forgot to strain my smoothie!!
Invis

[Invisible]

HI Allesha,

O.K. Thanks!! I thought a fast was not a fast until you fasted with just liquids that were not full of fiber, LOL!!!:rolleyes:

[NYbutterfly]

Day 6 - I made 6 juices last night and sealed them up in mason jars, but have only had water so far (but it's still morning here). I'm gassy today :( I usually do colonics when I fast but I am a little tight on $ right now. I found a health center with an infrared sauna... has anyone tried one of those before? I feel I need to move some toxins out of me and am curious about that, plus they are affordable. Anyway, I woke up to a tsunami warning, so I'm a little on edge. We have about 3 hours to know if we're in real danger. I guess living in Hawaii has a small price, lol!

[Aleesha Sattva]

i love my time in an infrared sauna. had one yesterday!

soooo nice to be fasting with you again nybutterfly (((hugs)))

invis, it's called a feast when there's fibre in your juices... but it's still a form of fast. pick up a copy of jeremy safron's book "dining from an empty bowl (http://www.timelessspirit.com/JULY08/review1.shtml)"... you'll love it!

just did a bunch of errands and am sipping on some coconut water (i call it mylk)... only had a bit of water this morning. my detox has been nice and effective... felt like total crap while i was out. dizzy, lack of energy and nausea. good stuff to have while fasting IMO.

i went for a 30 minute walk on the way home (have my hubby drop me off out of town and i walk home)... and almost had to call him a few times to come get me but i was tough and made it home on my own. i soooooo needed to feel some movement.

my hips feel weird... so i need to gift them some exercise. i'm not ready to return to yoga yet... i hope i will be soon.

[Aleesha Sattva]

I feel sooooooooooooooooooooooo good tonight. Oh my gosh how good I feel. I could conquer the world right now!

Had a great juice tonight as well. Beet, apple, celery, parsley... mmmm so yummy.

((((((((((((((smiling)))))))))))))))))

[Anastazia]

Thanks so much for the links, Aleesha, I'm off to check 'em out now, & also was led in prayer this morning to begin Oct. 1st....

I just saw an article by Dr. Ben Kim that said fasting is particularily good for healing numerous conditions, & adult onset diabetes is one of them. What I've decided to do is LOTs of green juices until my fridge is empty & my blood sugars are a little lower, then just dive on in...

...not sure how long for, I believe ten days, but will take it one day at a time...

I can't wait to get started, it's been waaaaaaaay too long, & I know this is what my body is crying out for! I feel more toxic from going back & forth between raw & sad than I ever did when I wasn't raw at all (cuz I was so unaware of how my body was really reacting to what I was feeding it, I suppose!)

Remind me to order a case of coconuts tomorrow!!!

~Anastazia~

[Aleesha Sattva]

mmmm coconuts!!! may just have one now... then go to bed.

[Shoshannah]

I fasted for Yom Kippur on Monday and I felt great... absolutely no hunger pangs and I felt so wonderfully quiet and peaceful inside! I can see how fasting can be such a beautiful experience.

I am going to pick up my fast again tomorrow, and I am really feeling drawn to doing very weak, diluted juices with a shot of E3 live. I want to see how that makes me feel.

On a side note, my two teenage daughters are amazing! My 15 year old chose to water fast on Yom Kippur and didn't complain at all for the whole 27 hours. My 13 year old actually chose to dry fast and never even blinked a eye... just did it.

Thanks for starting this thread Aleesha! It is a privilege to be fasting with you.

[NYbutterfly]

Shoshanna - that's so cool about your kids, what troopers!

Aleesha - you've sold me on the infrared sauna! I want to go this week. Excited! And it's so exciting to be fasting with you again, too! (((hugs)) :)

Just got home from work (restaurant). My lower back has been in terrible pain during this fast and tonight it was at it's worst. I couldn't wait to get in my car and just sit down. I used to have adrenal and kidney and liver issues. Could this be detox? The pain getting worse before it gets better? I just wish it didn't manifest in my low back... it really hurts.

Excited to start day 7 tomorrow. On october 1st my local health food store is having 40% storewide to celebrate World Vegetarian month! I am going to buy the ENTIRE produce section, lol! Can't wait!

good night!

[rawwannabie]

Aleesha - so glad you felt great last night :)

I couldn't get in touch with the produce manager at my local store last night, so the coconuts will have to wait. This morning I've had 27 ounces of water to start. And, I have two green smoothies and two containers of orange/pineapple juice with me. Should last me the work day.

I already feel a cold coming on, so hopefully detox won't add to it and make it worse :(

Hmmm, wonder if there are any infrared saunas around here....

Have a great day everyone!

Leah

[Aleesha Sattva]

it's amazing how popular the saunas are. you'll be surprised at how many people and businesses offer them. i have a neighbour who does massage (best massage EVER) and before your massage you sit in the sauna for 30-45 minutes. i just love love love it. i did it a lot last year during my 84 day fast. i don't know if it does all that is claimed, but that's not why i do it. i figure sweat is sweat and sweat releases. period. so i'm in. also... since i'm so cold when i fast, it's a nice way to feel warm for awhile LOL

did not sleep well again last night. i was smart though. went to bed with long wool socks on and long underwear (top and bottom)... i have extra warm blankets on my bed - one under me and another two over me. the one under me really assists me to be much warmer at night.

i started my morning with water and am very excited to get my head shaved this afternoon. yes i may even post a pic for you all if you are good and promise to drink extra water today *giggling* - then i have a reiki client coming for a lovely group of 4 sessions in 3 days with an attunement as well. i don't know if you know much about reiki... but when i give a session, i get a session. so i'm looking forward to the healing and cleansing i'll receive from this set of sessions and attunement.

it's such a treat for me to fasting with you all. you all keep me fasting. if i was alone... i would have stopped my fast yesterday. i was having such a bad day (during the day) but i thought "oh man i just started that thread... i should keep going for at least a few more days"... hey whatever works right!?!? it kept me fasting and that's what matters.

so thanks everyone (((hugs)))

i forgot... how's everyone doing in the poop department. if you've fasted with me before this is a huge part of conversation in these threads. i've had a BM every day so far. nicely formed although yesterdays was more of 'GET TO THE TOILET NOW!' and i wasn't at home so i wasn't thrilled about that. i don't like to poop in public toilets LOL

as for weight... i started at 169 pounds and i'm at 161.8 this morning. i started fasting saturday morning... so i guess that (counting on my fingers) means today is day 5. i prefer to count my fasts in weeks instead of days cause often it'll push me to do just two more days to finish a week and then voila... i keep on going.

so friday makes the end of week one and saturday the beginning of week two for me. but really... i have no idea how long i'll fast. i hope to release all my weight gained from my pregnancy... and i have about 7 pounds to go.

okay i'm off to read the forum... have a great day everyone... or at least a liquid one!

[Aleesha Sattva]

On a side note, my two teenage daughters are amazing! My 15 year old chose to water fast on Yom Kippur and didn't complain at all for the whole 27 hours. My 13 year old actually chose to dry fast and never even blinked a eye... just did it.

Thanks for starting this thread Aleesha! It is a privilege to be fasting with you.

very cool. make sure that if you or your kids dry fast... that you start the next day with a couple of litres of water first thing. you need to rehydrate your organs. sooooooo important!!!


I used to have adrenal and kidney and liver issues. Could this be detox? The pain getting worse before it gets better? I just wish it didn't manifest in my low back... it really hurts.


i would think it was detox. do you do yoga? try doing a wide legged child's pose (http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/yogapractice/childpose.asp) and cat (http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/yogapractice/cat.asp) and cow (opposite stretch of cat) - then back into child's pose. repeat for as long as you have time for.




Aleesha - so glad you felt great last night :)



thanks leah

[rawmom2006]

Still water fasting and I am feeling good. I am a little cold but nothing too bad.
I think I will stay water fasting until I feel the need to switch over to juice.
I am having a sauna tonight and I plan to have one everyday until I am done with my fast.
I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying their fast.

[rawwannabie]

Crap, I didn't even make it through one day. I think I need therapy or something. Starting again tomorrow....

Aleesha where's the pic? I did drink all my water today!!!

:o

[Aleesha Sattva]

well... since you drank your water... here they are!!!

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x87/recyclinggoddess/misc/front.jpg

and

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x87/recyclinggoddess/misc/side.jpg

rawmom, i hear you on being cold. i am sooooooooo friggin' cold. that may be what stops me from fasting right now (unless i can figure something out to warm me up) between the 'shock' my body seems to be in and refuses to come out of, and how cold i am constantly --- well this part is sucking.

it's snowing near us right now :(

leah, fasting is not easy. so don't beat yourself up. do exactly what you are doing... dust yourself off and get back on the bandwagon. :) i'm here for ya! (you know that!)

so... anyone love my hair as much as i do? i know they are crumby pics but oh man i'm in love with this new super short hair. you probably can't tell but my eyes literally POPPED when my stylist cut my hair off. it was GREAT.

i got sooooo pampered today. my friend is my stylist and she cut my hair for free and gave me a manicure and a neck and shoulder massage. oh she is soooo good to me. then a great reiki session with a new client (but good friend)... i'm blissed OUT!

dusted off my greenstar tonight and made some cantaloupe/apple juice. it was lovely but soooooo thick compared to the water i've been drinking. my tummy isn't sure about what i'm doing. it's been gurgling since i drank it. LOL

and i notice no else is talking about their poo but... alas... i still am. i didn't release any today... perhaps tomorrow!

smile... it feels good!

[Shoshannah]

Love the hair Aleesha!

I water fasted yesterday and felt quite blissful. Yep, a little cold but I am blessed to live in hot, sunny Florida so I just stepped outside on the porch and baked in the sun for 15 minutes. Loved it!!

Then I realized.... uh oh... today is my husband's birthday and he is expecting to go out to dinner to his favorite vegan restaurant! He didn't want to eat alone, so I broke my fast for that one meal, and I am glad that I did. He is important to me and I wanted his birthday to be special. There's always tomorrow to fast, so.....

Back to water again today! I am adding a tiny drop of edible essential grapefruit oil to my glasses of water and it is really amazing...gives the water a little fruity twang which I really love.

Hope everyone else is doing great and has a blissful Thursday!

[NYbutterfly]

Did someone say "poo"?! LOL, Aleesha you crack me up and you know I am poop obsessed so I'm happy to share, always! But FIRST let me say that I adore the new hair cut... it rocks! Wow, you look gorgeous! I could never pull off that edgy look.

Ok, now back to poo... I always do colonics while fasting but since I'm tight on money I must forego them this time around. I have eliminated all but 2 days so far (starting day 8 now). I feel really good! No tummy upsets, but a little gas after I drank some OJ today. Oh and my lower back is feeling SOOO much better today! Maybe it really was some detox. Oh Aleesha thank you for the yoga pose suggestions... so thoughtful. Cat/Cow was always my fave :)

So far, as I move into day 8, I feel strong and fantastic, and not at all hungry. Just overall great! I hate to complain about being cold since I'm blessed to live in Hawaii, but I am pretty cold. I can't wait to dig my toes into the hot sand when the sun comes up. I used to fast in the wintertime in NH and drank so much herbal tea, hot water with lemon, and miso soup broth. It helped.

OK, happy fasting to all! I'm so glad we have each other :)

[rawwannabie]

I LOVE it Aleesha!!!!! Wow you are one brave woman. I wish I had the guts to do that!

Back to fasting today, already had my water and I'm on to my first green smoothie.

I'm freezing too, but I think has more to do with the weather. Apparently I decided to start this fast at the same time we started getting into 40 degree temps over here in MA. :eek: NYbutterfly, I'll be on vaca in Hawaii in December. Can't wait!!!!! Save some sun for me :)

Not much to say on the poo subject.......yet!

Have a great day!

[Aleesha Sattva]

nyb, it's always nice to have a pooping buddy... *smiles and giggles* so glad to hear your back is easing up.

leah (rawwannabie), come on girlfriend... it's time to poo and then talk about it :p

i sure love my hair. i didn't even have to do it this morning... woke up looking exactly like it did when i went to bed. how GREAT is that?!!!

as for fasting... i have water beside me (just looked over to check) and it's still dark in the house. i'm under a blankee with the fireplace on. i have no desire to drink, but will force down some water when i'm done this post cause that's what this is... fasting... and sometimes i forget that and just don't drink. that doesn't assist me to cleanse... so i will drink. (notice the little self-lecture there?)

i walked about 10 miles yesterday (not sure exactly how far it was - but from my town to the next town). doubt i'll get any exercise in today. i do, however get my tattoo tonight. i'll share a pic with you all tomorrow. (tribute for my babe(s))

mental note: need to drink some hot water or hot tea today...

[Aleesha Sattva]

Shoshannah, sorry... I forgot you. :(

Good job putting what needs doing first. You are right... there is always another day to fast. I discovered that last year. When I was fasting pretty much every day, lots of different occasions came and went. It became a balancing act for me. Was this particular occasion worth breaking my fast over? Was this one better to attend but only drink juices so my fast continued? Only I could answer that... and I tried different things for myself. Depending on how far into my fast I was definitely played into the mix.

Congrats on making a choice that worked for you.

In the future (not that I have any idea what you ate)... try to perhaps have a soup as your meal... or a plate of soft fruit. Having something too complex to digest is really hard on your body. Especially when it's been sleeping on water.

[fruitandveggies]

Aleesha, your chelsea is awesome!! I wish I could get away with that at my job, I'm currently growing out a deathhawk at the mo.

I'm on day 17 of my juice fast and it's going great. I've lost 31 pounds and I'm detoxing my eczema like crazy. I really don't feel like making juice ever, but I force myself to do it at least once a day because my one day of all water was very scary (nearly passed out driving). I'm thinking of starting some yoga, did a little rebounding today.

I think I need to break down and do an enema, I barely have any BMs. So....and tips on that? Never done it before!

[Aleesha Sattva]

no tips from me... i don't do them.

i did have a BM today though! *smiles proudly*

i'm thrilled for your fast and weight release... nice. i'm not releasing any weight now... which is annoying. that's really the main reason i'm doing this fast... other than obviously using it to deal with my emotions. but i did want to release this 'babe weight' and now i'm sitting here at 161.8 and not moving. even with my huge walk yesterday.

oh well... it is what it is.

[Aleesha Sattva]

i'm not sure how much longer i'm going to fast. i'll continue today and think about whether or not i'll continue. i'm such a mess... i'm not sure what to do. i know i'll figure it out though.

[rawrawks]

I sure want to fast at some point. I think it will be a profound experience for me. A discipline as well. Hmmmmmm

No hair to do in the morn!!! I love that!!!

[rawwannabie]

fruitandveggies, holy cow!!!! That's enough to keep me motivated for a few more days. WOW!

Aleesha, I'm sure you'll make the best decision for you. ((hugs)) Hope getting your tat wasn't too painful. :(

So, I had three green smoothies during the day and a large glass of canteloupe juice this evening. Yummy! Oh, and lots of water (I'm peeing every 30 minutes) Had a slight headache throughout the day, but I really think it was from staring at a computer all day long.

Looking forward to tomorrow.:)

[Aleesha Sattva]

tat was cancelled till sat. oh well... it is what it is.

i'm hoping to meditate on it tonight. i'm just not 'clear' today... very fuzzy.

[Veganforlife]

tat was cancelled till sat. oh well... it is what it is.

i'm hoping to meditate on it tonight. i'm just not 'clear' today... very fuzzy.

ah...that's only a day away...

[Aleesha Sattva]

oh i'm not upset about it at all.

[Conscious Midwife]

I'll join you Sunday,the next full moon!

Won't commit to a time frame yet but I know the benefits I'm desiring from the fast and what I hope to accomplish...

~Return to a least 1 BM per day, preferably 2-3 ( my bar use to be 3)
~Segway into high raw vegan
~toxin and weight release
~clarity of mind
~time to revisit Beckwith's life vision process
~breaking away from some personal habits and crutches

Not sure if I'll juice everything (got a cheapy juicer) or if I'll just vitamix and strain. Need a concrete plan for the excess pulp.

Mason jars sound like a good investment for juices and toting my spring water

Definately will do some REIKI and set a date for Reattunement {{{ALEESHA}}}


Getting back in the flow with Yoga too!

[Aleesha Sattva]

ohhhhhhhh yaaaaaaaaaa i love a girl with a plan!!!

[NYbutterfly]

I know what you mean, Aleesha, about forgetting to drink when you fast. I never intend to dry fast, but often I forget to nourish myself with pure water throughout the day, and then only drink one 6 oz juice. Not ideal! This fast I've been good at remembering to drink a lot of water. I so envy your new easy 'do and can't wait to see pics of the new tat!

Today my local health food store had a HUGE sale to kick off "world vegetarian month" (whatever that means). Produce was 40% off! My fridge is exploding with every fruit and veggie imaginable... so much motivation to keep juicing. Kind of like when I am planning a fast and say "I'll start once I've eaten all this food"... now I say "I'll start eating food after I've juiced all this produce"! Not that I intend to break this fast any time soon... it's going so well, I have no desire to eat yet. Happy! Tomorrow a.m I'll get on the scale... I think I've lost 8 lbs in 8 days so far, but I am curious to see how far I've come.

[rawwannabie]

Day 2 for me!

Very cold, but they seem to have turned the heat on already at work, so I'm sure it'll be better by afternoon.

I have my green smoothies ready to go for today (already drank one!), and picked up some freshly picked apples. Apple juice for dinner!?! Need to start trying out some new smoothie flavors. Does it still count if I do a smoothie that's not green, made with almond mylk? I can't remember, I'll have to go look that one up.

Those of you drinking juice...how much do you usually average per day?

Have a great day!

Leah

[Aleesha Sattva]

well i've decided to keep fasting. i'm still so raw and numb (amazingly at the same time) that i figure fasting is the best thing for me right now. i'll probably emotionally eat otherwise and this is not only a great way to avoid that but... it also creates a new mental-memory for my body on how to deal with things. instead of eating... fasting. i figure that's so much healthier than raiding the fridge!

i have a full day of reiki ahead of me. my client comes for her 4th session and her attunement. it'll be great to sit in the energy for so many hours.

i've never heard of world vegetarian month... but think that's GREAT.

[Aleesha Sattva]

Does it still count if I do a smoothie that's not green, made with almond mylk?

Those of you drinking juice...how much do you usually average per day?


Leah, it's up to you if you want to add almond mylk to your smoothie feast. When you feast on smoothies you aren't shutting down your digestion like you do with a straight juice or water fast (water fast more than juice)... so having some almond mylk won't harm your body. I wouldn't do more than one a day max (or every few days actually) - but it's your choice. There are no feasting police! (((hugs)))

As for how much juice I do. It all depends. Some days I do 6+ litres, other days I do one litre. I just go with the flow of what my body wants.

[RawSar]

Hey hey everyone ! Thought I'd finally post on this thread since I am on day 9 today of juice fasting !
How's everyone feeling?
What kinds of juice are we making?

I had such an awful day yesterday.. but feel so much better today! So glad I didnt give up yesterday and just kept going. :)

[Aleesha Sattva]

cantaloupe/apple
and
coconut water.

that's it for me so far... ;)

i feel great. absolutely great. just finished up with my client... and i'm in heaven!

[RawSar]

mmmm cantaloupe juice sounds really good!! I never thought of juicing them. I'm definitely going to grab one tomorrow morning.

I just made a big batch of celery+cucumber+parsely+bok choy+purple kale+spinach+apple.

I have zero energy but am doing alright..

[Aleesha Sattva]

the cantaloupe juice will gift you some energy. it does for me. it's soooooooooo yummy.

[NYbutterfly]

Glad we still have you fasting with us, Aleesha. For some reason I feel better when you're here :) Of course, we all must break a fast at some point I suppose!

I am on day 9. Haven't been drinking much juice - I only consume about 8 oz a day, plus 6 oz of coconut water and a kombucha tea. It seems to get me by just fine. I've lost 7 lbs so far. I'm hoping for more... I started at my all time highest weight ever. Losing lbs isn't why I chose to fast, but it's such a nice benefit and I usually do a good job keeping it off once the fast is broken.

I'd like to go for another 6 days (for a total of 15). Judging by how easy this has been and how great I feel, that won't be too hard!

[RawSar]

HI NYbutterfly ! We are on the same day!
I'm hoping to continue the fast till the 13th. My birthday is on the 18th and I'm gonna want to eat at my family dinner :)

When having some juice but not enough to call it a juice feast is it best to break the fast with green smoothies for a couple days or 3 days before eating gourmet raw food?

[Aleesha Sattva]

I would break for 3 days if it were me. ;)

Ya I'm here... keepin' on keepin' on. ;)

Let's see what day is this... day seven.

[RawSar]

Three days it is then...

Aleesha how would you do it?

How many smoothies in those 3 days?

Do three meals of smoothie all three days? 2 cups each?
Or one smoothie the first day then 2 the next day then 3 the 3rd day?

[Aleesha Sattva]

so what have you fasted on and for exactly how long... then i can answer. sorry... i've really been in my own world this week so i haven't retained any info on any of you like i usually do.

i'm off to get my tat in a bit. i haven't been sleeping well. i'll be sure to pick up some freshly squeezed oj before my tat so my sugar levels are too low.

[rawwannabie]

Still going....

Sticking to mainly green smoothies and few juices here and there. I feel a little off today, a little weak. But, I did get to do 45 minutes on the treadmill! My next goal is to try some new smoothies and juices. I've had so many RAW foods that I've disliked, that when I find one I like I stick to it, over and over again. So, I picked up a few new ingredients.. we'll see.

Mmmmm, canteloupe juice is soooo yummy!!!

I think I will skip adding almond mylk to my smoothies for now. Pretty sure it was just a craving and I was trying to find something yummy.

Can't wait to see the tat, Aleesha! Maybe you could take a nap, I'm learning to love them!!!

Leah

[Anastazia]

Howdy, everyone~
I was hoping to be joinging you here on the 1st, & have begun juicing again, but numerous things are showing me it's not quite time to 100% juice, but hopefully very soon...I'm committed to juicing daily, as much as possible, & will join you when I'm able.
It's been good reading this thread, thanks for all your sharing.

~Anastazia~

[Aleesha Sattva]

here is it! it was a great session... nice to have the babe(s) goddaddy doing the tat. made it extra special.

[Veganforlife]

Oh wow! where on your body is it? can't tell if that's an arm or a leg! It doesn't even look sore! Did he draw it?

[Aleesha Sattva]

Ya he drew it. We took forever to get the wings the way we wanted them but I'm super pleased with how it turned out. It's in my full sleeve (right arm) right near the crook of my arm. that black-eyed susan (flower) is right above the crook of my elbow.

it looks better in person, cause it's smaller than the image you are looking at so it doesn't look so 'drawn'... i don't know how to explain it.

i'm really really pleased with it. it goes with my sleeve so nicely. i feel like they are safe now...

[rawmom2006]

I doing well with the water fasting. I am just a little tired and still cold but I feel good.
Aleesha your juice sounds yummy. Your tat looks nice.

I hope everyone is doing well. I feel good about continuing with water so I plan to continue with the month of October at least.

Does anyone else notice their emotions get more intense when they fast. Mine do and with this fast it seems to be more intense. I would like this to be my longest fast that I have ever done which would be 50 days I think.

[RawSar]

Nice tattoo Aleesha !

To answer your question today is the 10th day. I have been having a mix of fruit and veggie juices approx 3-6 cups of juice a day with some water. I also have been having lemon water with a tablespoon of chlorella.

[Aleesha Sattva]

I would take my time breaking that fast. Having some watered down green smoothies for the first day and then adding in some soft fruits at lunch on the second day and getting to a nice green salad for dinner on the third day would be a gentle way to progress.

green smoothies watered down - day one
green smoothies not watered down, fruit for lunch and dinner - day two
green smoothies, fruit and salad - day three

of course you can do a more aggressive break if you wish, but that's a nice gentle way to break. ;)

rawmom... ah a nice fast indeed. i plan to break my fast tomorrow... for a couple of days and then fast again on monday next week (after thanksgiving). my 10 year old daughter did NOT like that i fasted through thanksgiving last year so i promised her i wouldn't this year. she doesn't mind me eating raw... just doesn't like me to not join in the meal at all.

so i'll keep up with this thread, providing support since i'll be back again in a matter of days... AND while i'm breaking my fast... i plan to do a little mono fruit fasting.

pears day one
cantaloupe day two
pears day three etc.

[Rachiel]

It is funny how sometimes things just seem to click. This month I comitted to 100% raw. Yesterday I wasnt feeling great so didn't eat, had some fresh carrot juice in town. Last night I got this sickness which I have had a couple of times, it is basically a stomach bug. I get it when I am rundown and stressed. I have never considered fasting before but I am doing it now (juice). I dont know how many days I will fast for. I think I will just wait and see what feels right. So here I am on this thread with you guys. Through day two and feeling fine although still not 100% better from the bug thing. It is really cold here today so am hoping it warms back up this week cause I think that will make it a lot easier. I will be on here a bit for support I expect! Cheers guys.

[Aleesha Sattva]

welcome rachiel!!!

[Aleesha Sattva]

thought i'd add a pic of my full sleeve so you can see how big my little tats are that i got done today: (that is a nickel on my arm to show size)

[Veganforlife]

Oh wow! I'm just amazed it doesn't look sore and all. VERY COOL!

[Aleesha Sattva]

it hasn't been sore. which is the complete opposite of how i usually feel my tats. (doesn't hurt getting them but hurts after).

i'm starting today with coconut water and perhaps the meat from the coconut as well. then it'll be either coconut meat and water all day (most likely cause i didn't realize how much i had in the fridge) or pears and coconut water all day.

i'll see where the mood takes me.

then i'll be mono fasting for most of the week (as a gentle way to break) so i won't discuss food... just what fruit i'm using (strictly for information sharing purposes). if this makes anyone uncomfy... please let me know and i won't do it.

love and light,
me

[NYbutterfly]

LOVE the tat, Aleesha! Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

Today is day 11... going strong. Think I'll go until day 15. I have so much produce to juice I don't even know where to begin!

[rawwannabie]

HI Everyone,

Still going....had sort of a rough day today. Went to one of my favorite fall festivals (Garlic & Arts) and the smells and sights of SAD food got to me. After a minor breakdown in the car (tears streaming down my face while sucking down my green smoothie) I pulled myself back together and enjoyed myself. Yay!!! So happy with myself! So, rawmom, apparently my emotions are a bit more intense than usual :D

Not sure how much longer I'll fast...can't really decide. But, I feel great! Lots of energy! We'll see....

I have the day off to myself tomorrow, so excited. I think I'll treat myself to a great place nearby that serves fresh juices.:)

Have a great night!

[katchmoleen]

I am starting a water fast tomorrow. Going to try to make it three days, then do an apple juice day with a liver flush at the end.

[Aleesha Sattva]

sooooooooooooo happy to hear you made it through leah. that is just so powerful and empowering!!!

day 11... niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice nyb very nice indeed :)

welcome kat! i'll be back fasting with you all soon... i already miss it LOL i'm sooooooooooooooooooooo in love with fasting.

[RawSar]

Way to tough it out Leah !

Welcome katchmoleen !

Today was a bit exhausting. Went to Castle fun Park for mini golf and go carts and games for my sisters birthday. I made 3.5 cups of apple+celery+bok choy juice.

I am just so tired now. Can't wait for bed... but still somethings to do around the house...

[Rachiel]

Man, I have been not at all hungry but craving WATER!!!! So lots of juice and lots of water. Also got sick of sweet juice. Carrot too sweet, celery too sweet so just made some tomato, onion, herb, capsicum(bell pepper) and spinich "soup" juice. It is yummy and hitting the spot :)

Also... I thought it was warming up here... I was wrong it is like mid spring, daylight savings has just begun and yet it snowed here today. Brrrrrrrr!!! I heated my juice in a bain-marie to a very luke warm... def still raw temp!

I am so glad to have you gals here to support me through reading this. I have been a bit grumpy today too, especially with the guy sitting behind me on the bus eating smelly SAD food(nuf said)

[Aleesha Sattva]

if you are thirsty... then up your intake definitely. try adding a litre or two more of water a day.

i loooooooooooove having tomato juice/soup for dinner. i like adding cayenne, kelp powder and smoked sea salt to my juice/soup. i also added an oil (like hemp or flax) as well as a little fresh garlic to the juicer. make sure it's not too much.

i'm didn't do all that well today with breaking my fast but i hope to do better tomorrow. lots of emotional stuff happening... oh well... it is what it is.

[Rachiel]

Yeah, I don't have a set water intake but I think I must have had about 4L today. I added a bit of salt and some chilli powder to the soup. Yummy!

I'm sorry you had a hard time with your fasting/breaking. I hope that you will find the strength that you need to get through in the best way. It is amazing how emotions are so tied in to everything.

[Aleesha Sattva]

4 litres is a good amount unless you live in a very dry/hot climate which from what I know about NZ... it isn't.

i like to start my day with about 2 litres (before noon) and then add another 2 litres throughout the day.

today is a new day... another day to gently break my fast. i am open to it. :D

[Seductive Arts]

This is day 2 for me. I lost 4 lbs in 24 hours. I know it is from excess water retention and elimination of waste.

Brunch is warm Miso soup (I am feeling cold), tea and juice of bell pepper, orange collard and turnip greens, green onion and honey.

Yesterday I didn't have detox symptoms, but even though I juiced and drank a lot of tea, I did want to just munch on something for the sake of chewing. But that craving passed after 20 minutes.

[Aleesha Sattva]

Why does everyone seem to "know" that any weight they release at the start of a fast is only water and waste and not any fat?

Honestly... why would you release that in the first couple of days and THEN go on to releasing fat?

You took nothing in. Your body lives on calories for energy. When there is none... it goes to the sugar in your blood and then to your fat stores. So yes... chances are some of it IS fat.

I have a fancy scale that tells me how much body fat etc. At the beginning of some of my fasts I used to and it showed that I was increasing in water and releasing fat.

So I have to say... I really don't agree with the "old-wives-tale" that states we don't release weight at the beginning (of a diet or fast).

[Aleesha Sattva]

Brunch is warm Miso soup (I am feeling cold)

When I feel cold and I'm fasting... putting a tsp of honey (raw) on my tongue warms me up! Muuuuuuch better than consuming miso (soooooooooooo high in salt) on a fast.

[Seductive Arts]

When I feel cold and I'm fasting... putting a tsp of honey (raw) on my tongue warms me up! Muuuuuuch better than consuming miso (soooooooooooo high in salt) on a fast.


Is there information on raw honey warming up the body?

[Aleesha Sattva]

google is your friend.

[Aleesha Sattva]

the only info i have for you is from many experienced fasters... we all use it and it works. ;)

[Rachiel]

Day five.... YEAH!

I am still feeling really positive about this fast and haven't experienced any hunger yet nor cravings really. I Had half the milk if a yummy young coconut this morning and am super full right now! Trying to get in lots of water too. I am taking about 500 ml of carot juice and 600 ml of pineapple and apple to uni cause I can't really take my juicer there. I only have one class and am going to the movies with friends this afternoon to see "500 Days of Summer" and there is a juice place there so will probably get a massive "liver lover" which is beet, celery and carrot for dinner/afternooon.

I'm feeling good. Was going to go for a big walk today but my friend bailed so we shall see... She is doing the master cleanse but doing it very poorly :S she wants to do it for 10 days in a row but gets to about 3 and has a massive binge on SAD junk food. She has been doing this for about a month now. I keep trying to give her advice on breaking it... like to have a light smoothie or a couple of soaked prunes but she wont listen.... That was a rant...sorry. I am just concerned sor her safety, especially since she has been complaining of terrible stomach cramps and whatnot.

For all you seasoned fasters- this is my first fast, do you have any suggestions as to length or just go as long as I feel comfortable? That is what I feel I should do.

Best wishes to all,
Rachel!

[Aleesha Sattva]

every fast is unique. every faster is as well.

you can only choose how long you will fast.

i've known people who start with 92 days... others start with 1 day. there is no right or wrong way to do this :)

[Rachiel]

Thanks Aleesha, that is exactly what I thought I would and wanted to hear. :D

[RawSar]

day 12. just had my chlorella drink. Feeling a little better.. getting closer to my goal I can feel it!
I weighed myself today. I've lost 7pounds and started at 19% body fat (says my fancy scale that I have too ;) ) and am now at 17% body fat.
This is usually a time where I tend to eat a little more, my birthday month..Halloween.. thanksgiving.. I have had food on the brain a lot but of course its all SAD food on my brain which we have none in the house, so glad, and all our fruits and veggies just dont seem to be what I want so I feel good to keep going. ..
I had a bm today which I cant believe! I havent had one in a few days... I really do believe now that stuff does get stuck! Why else would I have a bm on day 12!?!?lol
I think I'll make a green juice today. We're getting low on fruit.

[Aleesha Sattva]

i had bowel movements throughout my entire 84 day fast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! how freaky is THAT!

[Aleesha Sattva]

glad to hear it was useful to ya rach!

[lizbar]

I am going to do a modified MC. I'll do mostly lemonade, but add a juice and maybe a smoothie if needed. I actually have a ton of celery and romaine and I really need to juice that.
I have been yo yo fasting for months now. can't seem to get myself to stick with it. So tomorrow is going to be my day 1 and see how it goes.
liz

[NYbutterfly]

Day 12 and this is the first day that I felt like breaking my fast. I'm not craving any type of food, I'm just tired and weak and hungry and cranky... ALL good reasons to NOT eat!!! So I'm sticking it out as planned. Tomorrow is a new day to re-evaluate :)

Oh and I had a bm yesterday (my first in days!) but none today and I feel pretty gassy. Maybe that's making me cranky...

So I am in the market for one of the "fancy scales" you girls speak of... one that measures water and fat percentage. Do you have any recommendations?

[Aleesha Sattva]

nyb, just get one that looks good. i got mine free with my airmiles LOL

liz, adding a green smoothie to a MC and juice fast will cause you to break it more chances than naught cause you are going to restart your digestion by adding in the fibre. i highly recommend you rethink that plan.

but... do as you want. it's your fast. ;)

only cantaloupe for me today... mmmmmmmmm taking it slow and easy. feeling much better today as well.

[katchmoleen]

Day one of my water fast. I have been very hungry but very busy so not much time to think about it. I plan to go three days. I have a mild headache but very bearable.

[lizbar]

Thanks Aleesha,
I'll leave out the smoothies then. Didn't think how it would stir up my digestion. I really want to follow through with this at least for 10 day's. I have a wedding Oct 17 and I want to be able to have some wine.
Thanks again for the quick reply and also for all the info you give on this forum.
Liz

[Aleesha Sattva]

you are welcome :)

[RawSar]

Today didnt go as planned. I wanted to make a green juice today but my energy level was waaaaaaaay low today. I didnt want to do anything. I was getting kinda grumpy. Really wanted to binge eat....

I didn't binge eat, and I didnt make a green juice. I didnt make any juice today thats how lazy I was. Just some water. Not even lots of water. Until an house ago I had 4 cups of water. I'm constantly sipping on water now. I also had 3 spoonfuls of honey.. wish I just made fruit juice instead. Honey did give me energy, I finished the laundry did a bunch of cleaning... I'm pretty sugared out though so hopefully tomorrow will be lots of green juice because I need to use up whats in the fridge!!

You think that the honey messed up the fast? I feel fine but I am guessing it could slow down any healing ??

Liz I tried to find the scale that we have online for you but I couldn't find it...

[Aleesha Sattva]

honey is healing!!! read rev's thread about last night (it's titled last night i believe).

[Aleesha Sattva]

here's a link to her thread:

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=53991

[RawSar]

I did read it thanks. I know honey is very healing. We only use raw honey. I just felt that I was 'eating' ... maybe cheating ? lol.
I'm not worried about it. Just was a bad day to me.
I had been going through a bunch of recipes deciding what to make for my birthday and today that just made me want food so bad lol. But I'm done planning it now.

[Aleesha Sattva]

it is only a bad day if you see it in that light.

i don't see having some honey as a bad day. i see it as a good and healthy choice in that moment.

but you are you and that's the beauty of this. just cause i believe in something doesn't mean you have to. (((hugs)))

[rawmom2006]

I lost count of the days I think it is day 8. Today was hard because it was so cold and I was hungry, but I made it through. I do not think I had enough water. i am planning to weigh myself on day 10.

[NYbutterfly]

Rawsar... we are on the same day (12) and I felt the exact same way today. I was too weak to make one juice. I had a kombucha and some water. I wanted to curl up and nap all day long... really, I could hardly move, I was SOOO hungry and super cranky. Must be detox!

[RawSar]

Hopefully detox! lol.

Here's hoping tomorrow will be better for us ! :D

[rawwannabie]

Hi Everyone,

Um I think it's day 6 for me of smoothies and juice. Thanks for the support everyone!!! Yesterday I had the day off of work and was super excited to have some time for myself...until I realized that I was all alone in a house filled with food :eek: So, took my pugs out in the car and drove around, took them on walks, got some juice, for pretty much the entire day. (They're exhausted!) It's crazy, I was actually afraid to be alone, I didn't trust myself at all.

I'm impressed by all you water fasters. I don't know how you do it!

Glad to hear all the good things about honey. I just got some raw honey on Sunday.

Have a great day!

Leah

[Aleesha Sattva]

Leah how can you not trust yourself when you did exactly what you needed to do yesterday to stay on your fast? I'm soooooo darned proud of you I could reach through the screen and just hug you!!! (((hugs)))

Ahhhhh detox. Isn't it the BEST. Wanna know why? Cause all those emotions, toxins etc are now NOT in your body. That's right... they are gone gone gone. Forever. What a gift!!!

I'm here with you all in spirit.

[rawwannabie]

Aleesha, I don't want a screen hug, I want you to come here, now, and give me a real one :D I was very proud of myself too, but I was also with Katie on Sunday. Yesterday I was by myself. Big difference!

How are the water fasters doing today?

Leah

[Aleesha Sattva]

I'm on my way!!!

[rawrawks]

honey is healing!!! read rev's thread about last night (it's titled last night i believe).

I had stuff last night..like Revvell and took honey and went to sleep..woke up sick,very sick. Not sure why..detox prob.

I have been fasting of sorts due to not wanting to give my body work to do as well as I am not hungry at all. I am drinking water,lots and tea and honey.

Thankx for all your help.

[Seductive Arts]

If this is day 3 for me and I feel pretty darn good, does everything get easier after the 3 day hump, or can I expect it to get challenging? I want to fast for a total of 14 days.

[Aleesha Sattva]

it's up and down... in and out... flow and blockage... a fast changes - sometimes moment to moment. just because i'm doing great one minute doesn't mean i don't wanna end my fast in three minutes LOL

hence why i suggest to people... wait till tomorrow to break your fast cause things may change before then!

[katchmoleen]

I broke my fast earlier than intended and need some advice for next time. Last time I fasted beyond one day, school had not started yet. If I needed to rest or whatever, I did it. This time, my first day was on a work day, which was fine, but this second day, I was trying to do schoolwork with my kiddos and found myself getting HORRIBLY grouchy with them because I was tired and hungry. It was not going well AT ALL. I have a short school week with them due to a lot of stuff going on, so I gave myself permission to break the fast. I ate lunch, felt MUCH better, and then we had a productive afternoon.

So how do you deal with PEOPLE while fasting? How do you handle irritations and annoyances that normally come up when you feel so weak and tired and hungry? I want to keep fasting but I never have a day off, it's either work or school. Do I have to wait till next summer to go beyond one day? Any advice or life experiences to share would be appreciated.

PS talking about water fasting here. My blood sugar is not ready for juice fasting yet.;)

[Aleesha Sattva]

water fasting is harrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrd. what i do is tell the people around me that i'm fasting and grumpy. my family (and friends) are very understanding. i've done a lot of fasting and that hasn't changed... i still get grumpy. and they are mega supportive.

i would think starting a fast on a work day and then having two days off would be the best case scenerio. but hey, you work with what ya got!

[katchmoleen]

Aleesha, it makes me feel good to know it is not just me! I was being hard on myself, I think,

[Aleesha Sattva]

i think so too.

the most important thing on a fast... i love. jeremy safron said that... and i couldn't agree more!

[Rachiel]

I didn't take enough juice to uni and then instead of going to town to get juice I ate (something raw but quite rich.) I am a bit disapointed with myself. I still want to fast. is it ok to continue as though I didnt break my fast or should I come off for a week or so and then start again? I was thinking about learning from my mistake and continuing straight away. Maybe have some senna tea to try and clear my intestines out...
I don't know. Any ideas? Sorry to be so needy in this thead. :(

[Aleesha Sattva]

i ALWAYS just continue on fasting. don't guilt yourself over it... just move forward.

(((hugging ya)))

this used to be on my blog... since it's no longer available for people to read... i'll post it here:



Someone asked me today - If they slip up and eat something while fasting, does that mean they've broken their fast. My answer to them was simple.

You are not breaking your fast if your next 'meal' is juice!

I'm not recommending you eat during a fast... as this really does put a huge strain on your organs and digestion BUT... if you do slip up... own it, and move on. There are no 'fasting police' - there is no right or wrong way to fast... there is simply YOUR way.

Some people drink huge amounts of juice, others simply water... while others mix it up, juice one day, water the next and then perhaps a master cleanse the next. All of these work - and there is no wrong way to do it. Just remember, the more stress and strain you put on your body during fasting the less benefits you receive... so try to stay with liquids.

During one of my fasts I was out and didn't want to buy some bottled juice, so instead I went to a restaurant and ordered broth. Was it raw... nope. Was it, in my opinion at the time my best option... yup. So I smiled, enjoyed my broth and moved forward from there.

Other times I've been stuck and so I picked up some grapes. Chewed them up and spit them out. Swallowing my "teeth made" juice. I learned this little trick from Angela Stokes in her book "Juice Feasters Handbook". I was glad I was able to do this as my options on that particular day were limited indeed.

So remember, be gentle with yourself and if you choose to eat something during your fast - try to keep it raw and simple - like a tomato or apple - and own your choice. No guilt - own it. And then... move forward.

Just because you've had a slip does not mean you can't continue with your fast... it is your choice.

Hope this assists others - cause honestly, guilt during a fast is NOT healthy at all so be kind to yourself.

namaste'
Aleesha

[RawSar]

Thanks for posting that Aleesha !

[Aleesha Sattva]

you are welcome!

[Rachiel]

Thanks Aleesha *hugs* My next meal will def be juice or water!!! Probably water tonight. It is so great to have a seasoned faster here :D Google cant answer my questions all the time... and websites aren't so good for reassurance!:D:D:D

Edit: It has also prompted me to think about the things that aren't going quite as I want them at the moment and know that they are under my control! Such as my living space being an utter tip.... I really mean that! So I have just cleaned up my lounge and my bedroom is next on the list. I have a lot of emotional baggage which is sitting around my bedroom and it needs to be packed into boxes and put in the roof. Such as relics of my 5+ year relationship which need to be out of my current living space. PHEWF... Why did this take so long!?!

[Aleesha Sattva]

ahhhhhhhhhh you've hit the fasting cleaning phase!!! i loooooooove the fasting cleaning phase!!! my kitchen got totally reorganized and a second fridge added during one fast LOL

as for a seasoned faster... i gotta tell you ALL... having seasoned fasters assisting me when i began kept me fasting. i simply can't imagine that i would have achieved 262 days in a year without them.

so being here assisting you all... is my pleasure!!!

[Rachiel]

I love the cleaning phase!!! I have a spotless lounge which is unheard of, a clean kitchen without any clutter, I have got rid of a whole recycling bin of papers and cleaned my bedroom... My bed now has two sheets and hospital corners!!! I have even come up with a name for what I am experiencing S.O.D or "Sudden Onset Domesticity"!!!! Best wishes to everyone for your day and my night!!! :D

[rawwannabie]

Hmm, I never hit the fasting cleaning phase, maybe because I was only doing smoothies :p

So, I've decided that this will be the last day of my green smoothie feast. Seven days is longer then I've ever gone before. And, I've lost 7 lbs, yippeeee!! I thought that I might loose more since the change in my eating was so drastic, but I'll take what I can get.

I'm very happy with my decision and that I made it after much thought (and I didn't quit on a bad day!). I've also started to really crave RAW food, which is pretty unusual for me so I've decided to just go with it. I may do a few short fasts during the week (tuesday-thursday) each week, we'll see.

Have a great day everyone and thanks for all of your support!

Leah

[rawwannabie]

I have even come up with a name for what I am experiencing S.O.D or "Sudden Onset Domesticity"!!!!

I love that!!!!! :D

[Aleesha Sattva]

yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Leah I'm soooooo proud of you. This is truly truly wonderful. You are taking control of your choice and that is something so many of us struggle with. (((hugs)))

So... be sure to still break this gently. No nuts for a day or two. And... keep drinking a GS every day (at least one)...

:D:D:D
Aleesha

[kiropa]

Aleesha, thank you for that blog post. LOVE it. do it, own it, move on. that is what life is all about. i can't tell you how many times bending a 'rule' has cause me to uber-backslide. no longer! there are no raw, fasting or food police. your words are perfect! they will help me.

as for SOD -- i packed up and donated 16 hefty-size bags of clothes this past weekend during my fast PLUS 20-something bags of trash (old kids toy parts, papers, things we don't need). felt sooooooo good!

[Nubianess]

Hi guys! Hi Aleesha,
Guess who's back on the fasting bandwagon?
My last fast stirred up so many emotions in me,. I haven't been able to deal with them properly. I LOVED the fact that I fasted, but wow, I didnt expect so much stuff to come up from it.
Im working my way thorugh stuff and healing myself, But I havent been able to eat properly since I broke it, so im back!

Im doing a green smoothie feast, for about 21 days I think, I still drink juices everyday. especially ginger and lemon juice. SO ill be doing a juice/GS feast.

Im having the wierdest cravings ever. SO far its been ginger and spirulina and ive been indulging myself!

Hope evryone else is doing great!

Lots of love
Nub
xx

[Aleesha Sattva]

yipppeeeeeeee nub is back!!! (((hugs)))

i'm hoping to do thanksgiving on sat... so i can start fasting again on sunday... it all depends on whether or not my hubby has to work.

i soooooooooooooooooooo wanna fast again. at this point i'm only eating once a day... doing juices otherwise...

[Nubianess]

Aleesha! ((hugs)) thanks for the warm welcome, how are ya? wow its thanks giving already! Feels like this year has sped by!
Im so excited to be fasting again, feels a bit daunting though. i always feel a lil bit daunted when I start fasting, but once I hit the 3 day mark, im pretty much cruising through.
I downloaded a pretty good programme on my laptop... the best thing is that its free!
You type in your affirmation and it flashes them onto your screen at intervals that you choose. Its pretty cool. Ive been puttin gmy daily affirmations in. I spend hours on my laptop working or researching, so I might as well keep my goals in mind while doing that.
I still have this wierd hankering for ginger, its lasted well over 6 weeks now! Im using up nearly 1/2 kilo of ginger a week. My greengrocers pretty much know what im gonna buy as soon as I walk in the shop, lol. I always have extra ginger at the juice bar, My mom n sis call me "ginger" now lol. its nearly 1am and im wanting some ginger juice. its crraaazy. Im off to la la land now, have lectures in the morning.

ttfn
xx

[Aleesha Sattva]

for me... the first 21 days kinda feel like foreplay... once i hit day 22... i feel like i'm fasting LOL weird but anything less just feels like an intro...

anyway... i can't wait to begin another fast. i'm even dreaming about it LOL

ginger... mmmm i love ginger too!

[Rachiel]

Hey guys... Nice to meet you Nub! Well I am back on track today! I have come up with a pretty bad rash on my hands and wonder if it might be cause of eating yesterday or some sign of detox. I want to keep fasting until the 20th so that I can ease myself off without being surrounded by the temptation to binge at uni but am unsure if I can make it through this coming week. So am half considering coming off this weekend. I think I will see how tomorrow goes. Sigh.

[Aleesha Sattva]

could be detox... or stress. ???

[RawSar]

Hey Rachiel could the rash be from putting something on your hands?
Sometimes I forget that I tried a hand lotion or tested a patch of cosmetic product of some kind on my hand and end up with an allergic reaction...

I have 5 more days to go here on my fast. Its gotten hard. I really want to break it every day more and more. My boyfriend had a SAD dinner last night and so I locked myself in the bedroom and waited till he was done cleaning up from him dinner. lol. He wasn't supporting me like he has this whole time last night for some reason...I think he was feeding his emotions/stress. I didn't think I could handle being in the same room. Nothing wrong with that though. Once he was done he was back to being very supportive and was proud of me.. wish I could have said the same thing about him... but thats how it went last night.

Because its gotten tough I bought some of my fav fruits to juice over the next 5 days. Something yummy to look forward to every day! :)

Hope everyone is doing well !

[Rachiel]

Yeah, could be some product or stress. Probably stress. I haven't been sleeping either, I got about 3 hours last night. I will probably be on this thread periodically from now on but I have broken my fast this morning.

Thanks for all the support, I have learnt so much and wont hesitate to fast again if I feel the time is right!

XOXOX Rachel XOXOXO

[Aleesha Sattva]

all the best on your journey rachel!

[Nubianess]

Hey raich, nice to meet you too.i think your rash may be a detox On my fast earlier, I broke out in a rash all over my back, they grew into spots, i had never had anything like it,... cleard up in a few days though. If it lasts longer than you're comfortable with maybe you should get it checked out, but remember your skin gets moe sensitve on a fast. I had to throw out some makeup/skin products on my fast because they just smelt horrible to me,.. and before fasting I thought they smelt nice! lol

Hows everyone doing? Im sipping on water here and its freezin cold outside! BRrrr... think its time for a shot of ginger!

[Rachiel]

I will probably be back to fasting sooner rather than later! Probably this week at some point. Not feeling fantastic.

[Aleesha Sattva]

ya going back to a non-fasting world isn't always what our minds make it out to be. i know i prefer to fast... i just really love the way i feel when i'm fasting!

[RawSar]

Heeelllllloooooo... any fasters out there...

Am I the only one right now?

My time is coming to an end soon and I soooo cant wait.

3 more days !

[Aleesha Sattva]

really you are almost done? i'm going to start up again tomorrow. i guess i'll start a new thread... we'll see where this fast takes me. :D

[skygazer]

HEy guys, Im new on the board and joining this discussion!
Im on day 7 and feeling OK. I had a tough time a few days ago but ive been taking it easy this weekend and not doing much... Its easy when Im out of a job and the weather is SO COLD!

I really really want to get a colonic, as I feel releasing waste is really important. But like I said, Im out of a job. I want to try to sell things. I make greeting cards by hand and notebooks, maybe I will make a bunch and post them to etsy or something.

I also got a COLD SORE! I havent had one of those in almost a year now, I used to get them so bad! Anybody know why I got one? Maybe my immune system is down, Should I add vitamin C (water soluable)? or would garlic help?

Also, Aleesha do you blend your coconut meat and coconut water and put through a bag to make your mylk? or just the juice alone? I need to get some coconuts.

For those of you who are cold: Juicing chili peppers, ginger, garlic, turmeric and radishes are great for warming up! I really like juicing daikon! Its spicy and yeilds lots of juice!

Who here is including tea in their fast?


What day is everyone on and how far is everyone going? Any other day 7s out there that want to pal up!?

[Aleesha Sattva]

i use the coconut water alone and call it mylk. it's just habit... sorry to be so confusing. when i eat the meat, i eat it, when i fast... i drink the water alone.

i have tea if i have the desire... lucy sends me yogi tea and i just love it.

all the best on your fast!

[NYbutterfly]

Sorry that it's been so long since I've posted... I broke my fast on day 15, as planned. Things are going great, and I feel wonderful and very happy. Best of luck to everyone else! I look forward to my next fast!