Raw on the Road -- or Fasting, instead? [Archive]

Green_Woman

12-23-2009, 02:17 PM

I am taking a road-trip, most likely January 7-13th.

I was already considering kick-starting my new year with a 7-day Green Smoothie Feast... now I'm considering following that up with a 7-day Fast (it would simply make traveling easier, I think, but I'm also pretty nervous about it).

I've never fasted longer than 2 days at a time, and would like to know if the Fasting experts out there have some wisdom to share with me... or if there's an old thread on this I missed and should read, too.

Doing a GS Feast while on the road would be pretty tough (read: close to impossible) as I'm traveling with a staunch meat-eating friend who thinks my Raw Veganism is fascinating, but unhealthy. Methinks stopping frequently to purchase fresh fruit + veg would not make the trip any more pleasant for both of us. ;)

When doing a short-term (7 day) Fast, what are things to watch out for?

Will I need to be by a bathroom frequently? That could potentially be an issue.

Needless to say, my Body has been gradually convincing me that I should Fast... soon... I just want to know if Fasting on a Road-Trip is, well... done? ;)

BDraw

12-23-2009, 04:58 PM

fasting while traveling??? hm-m-m-m-m, don't know that I would try it. Fasting makes me rather tired and I often find I need naps.

How would I do this? Probably take fresh fruit and nuts for traveling and have a big green salad at the end of the day at a restuarant. Come to think of it -- I did do this. I took a train from MT to Chicago (23 hours on the train). I took fruit (fresh and dried) and nuts to snack on all day. Once I arrived in Chicago and had a rent car, I did go to the grocery store. But all meals at resturants were big salads. It worked.

Hope you figure out what you need to do.

raw runner

12-24-2009, 09:02 AM

eating is the best option when travelling because it is natural...

Aleesha Sattva

12-24-2009, 11:34 AM

nothing unnatural about fasting...

fasting could totally work for you except you will need the bathroom frequently. i know that matt monarch and david wolfe both fast when they take plane trips to avoid jet lag. i would think it would do the same for a road-trip. you know how you get that totally sluggish feeling (and esp from 7 days in the car)... well i doubt you'd get that if you fasted.

ultimately it's up to you... what you see as being possible for yourself.

remember, you can also juice with your teeth. angela stokes-monarch did this during her 92 day juice feast. she was in a country with no electricity in the forest, so she juiced with her teeth, spitting out the pulp.

i've done this with oranges and grapefruit and it worked great.

all the best on your trip my friend,
Aleesha

freshlight

12-24-2009, 02:06 PM

fasting feels even more natural to me than eating :) I know it sounds funny but I feel so GOOD when I fast. It's a beautiful feeling and you hardly ever need the bathroom at all,- in the contrary, you can have a break from everything: prepairing food, shopping etc. Enjoy your fast if you decide to do it. I enjoyed mine whether I was travelling or not,- it's a very special time.

stiggs

12-24-2009, 09:39 PM

ahhh Green Lady you are on 999 posts :]

how about bringing some fruit along so you can have an option? You never know you could end up walking/straining yourself and needing that extra energy. fruit is so handy and fast to eat -you can share some with your friends too.
If you say you only did a 2 day fast so far you might wanna be in more comfortable surroundings to go further. But since I havent fasted (intentionally:p) the others are probably a better judge.

What about honeydew melons? arent they great:)

Green_Woman

12-25-2009, 11:23 AM

Freshlight - I'm guessing you don't need the bathroom frequently because fasting for you is old hat! ;) For me, it would be the first time... unless I fast a few days after Christmas to see how my body handles it...

Stiggs - 1,002 now! Oh boy! I should've had some kind of celebration for that 1,000th post but I no doubt made it last night at 3am so it was probably far from special. :D

Everyone - Thanks for sharing experiences! My body is definitely telling me she wants to take it easy the next few weeks... been making (and devouring) some pretty heavy dishes lately and while I do LOVE a good gourmet (especially Alissa-recipe) raw dish, I also love and crave simplicity.

7 days to my GS Challenge...

2 wks to the road trip...

I've got nothin' but time. ;)

freshlight

12-25-2009, 12:07 PM

Green Woman, I can feel your enthusiasm :) Fast only when you really feel like it because only then is it indescribably beautiful. And no: I did never need the bathroom much while doing a waterfast,- that's one of the so many advantages of it. Whatever you decide to do: ENJOY it!!! :)

P.S. when is your next performance? and what are you going to sing this time? Mozart? just curious

Aleesha Sattva

12-25-2009, 12:47 PM

freshlight, you must not have been drinking very much then. cause when i drink 2 litres of water in the morning... i'm in the bathroom!

chilove

12-25-2009, 01:06 PM

Hi there,

I would definitely not try to fast while traveling. All of the fasting experts that I've encountered all recommend complete bed rest during a fast. DO NOT fast if you are going to be doing any driving. You may very well get light headed and/or dizzy after a few days of fasting.

It's not that hard to stay raw while traveling. You can do it. :-ere are grocery stores everywhere to stock up on fruit and salad greens on. Lots of fast food places have salad options. You can bring along a cooler with some premade raw salad dressings and a few other things, just replace the ice in it every other day. I have done several road trips and didn't have any problems staying raw.

Blessings,

Audrey

Green_Woman

12-25-2009, 09:33 PM

Well, I generally have no trouble staying RAW on the road, thanks to all the tips I've learned from fellow RFT'ers! That's not really my concern because I could definitely keep myself fat and happy on RAW for a week on the road... it's just... I just... want to fast. :D

I don't think I've ever said that before!

I want to Fast.

Oh my gosh, how ODD to hear ME say that. :D

I think I will test the waters and see how MY wonderful Body responds to a water fast by trying it out before the trip (I have 12 days) and if She does well, I can see how She feels about fasting while traveling.

freshlight

12-26-2009, 10:12 AM

freshlight, you must not have been drinking very much then. cause when i drink 2 litres of water in the morning... i'm in the bathroom!

fasting is a very special time for me and I hardly drink anything at all, that's true :) It's like a 100% vacation :D

I don't even feel thirsty most of the time

Green_Woman

12-26-2009, 10:16 AM

Today is my first time choosing to fast consciously and purely because my Body says She wants it.

I was hesitant for a long while to give this a shot because in the past the only time I ever "fasted" was either religious reasons (pressure from peers) or because I was too stressed to eat (would starve myself for literally weeks... months...)

But this is so strange and actually feels like I'm gifting my Body with her own desires... she has clearly been asking me to take it easy, and so here I am.

Not setting any limits, not making this a "challenge"... just listening to Her today. Fasting truly is scary to me - but I have a feeling that scary aspect will not last long.

Green_Woman

12-26-2009, 10:17 AM

Oh, and I'm not driving anywhere today! Just resting at home with our three canine friends and taking a break from the "holyday buzz" that surrounded us there for awhile.

Seems even if YOU don't celebrate a certain holyday, it still gets under your skin. ;)

Aleesha Sattva

12-26-2009, 10:18 AM

all the best on your fast my friend.

islesgirl

12-26-2009, 12:56 PM

Just have to say that I think this a most interesting thread, Green Woman. I feel an urgent need to get serious and do a fast also. And somehow I feel that following your day-to-day experience with this may help me. I've done the Master Cleanse before and it was so successful and I did it for a little over 1 month! Felt wonderful and slept well and lost about 22 lbs if I remember right. I want to do a fast with water, but stop drinking it after about 3 p.m. - then it's easier on my bladder and I will sleep through the night.:)

Will you be sharing the driving? You have to be alert to do this of course. That would be my only concern and I know it would be yours also. But I think it might be just great - all you you have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy the view. You sound like you will do just fine whatever decision you make as you are already familiar with what your body is telling you is best for it, and you can always "change lanes" along the way?:D

xoxo

Sue

raw runner

12-26-2009, 01:57 PM

fasting is natural only if you are sick but when you travel it is better to eat...now if you are sick just fast otherwise eat...wisdom is great

Green_Woman

12-26-2009, 03:16 PM

Raw_Runner - I disagree, actually. Fasting is natural for many reasons, not simply if one is ill... but I am no expert so I will not seek to defend it. Yet. ;)

Islegirl - There you are, my rawbie friend! *hug* Can you believe, I've NEVER done the Master Cleanse? It intrigues me, too. Today I am just water fasting (and apparently sleeping, overly much, perhaps!)... and I honestly just feel tired.

But I've been fighting a cold/sore throat/allergic reaction (they're fewer and farther between since going all-raw) for a few days and my body is rather tired.

This would seem to support Runner's theory. :D Ha! Though I honestly have been feeling a "need" to Fast for many weeks now... long before I started feeling poorly.

islesgirl

12-26-2009, 04:21 PM

Hi again pretty lady (you have the kind of beauty I see in my own gorgeous daughter, (I think you saw some pics of her in my album and I may have added a couple more) - that's why I am calling you "pretty lady".:D

I have read lots and lots about fasting and almost everything I can remember about it was positive. It has been used to allow the body to completely rest and heal itself when seriously diseased too. Makes sense to me. I would have to go through my books to find the info (maybe I will) where it says that your body will actually "eat up" the garbage that is stored in our fat. I am not good at relaying this sort of research so don't quote me on anything, but this made a lot of sense to me.

Glad to hear your colds are becoming less frequent. I am so looking forward to presenting myself to my daughter at a "family reunion" where she will be blown away by the change in me. She, too, has had many, many colds etc. over the years (among other nasty health problems) and I am so convinced that a raw living food diet would heal her beautifully.

I have been watching the videos of "Dave, the Truck Driver's" Transformation and complete healing from cancer. On uTube. (got to learn how to do "links".) Marvelous.

Hope you can take it easy a bit since you are tired.:)

xoxo
Sue.

Green_Woman

12-26-2009, 04:36 PM

Sue - I'll trot over to Youtube and look those up. I LOVE watching men's testimonies because it gives me more fodder for my raw-curious brothers and birthdad! :D

Also, the fact that my extremely healthy, handsome 6'2" male (hee hee) fiance is ALSO primarily Raw Vegan, helps my "case" when talking to family!

Thank you for calling me pretty lady. I remember your daughter's pics! Is she around my age (24)? Sometimes it can be inspiring to hear that something HEALS and WORKS coming straight from your peers!

Tell her that a girl you know has healed herself of

Fibro
Arthritis-resemblant joint pain
Migraines (I only get them after exposure to toxins/allergens, now, and not EVER DAY like I did from age 10-20+!)
And holy smokes, I can't even remember what else right nowbecause nowadays I feel so good 90% of the time, I've forgotten so much of what life USED to be like for me! :D

The Endometriosis still lingers, but I am ready and willing to give my body the time she deserves to heal herself of it - and I KNOW she will!!!!

Show her this (http://dauntlessdiva.com/raw/), if she's interested! It's my "story", which is of course always ongoing (http://rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=54100)...

islesgirl

12-26-2009, 07:08 PM

This is a wonderful story and I have already told her that I know of many who have allowed raw food to enable their bodies to heal themselves of many diseases including pco, migraines, diabetes and cancer, and chronic fatigue syndrome etc. etc.

She also knows she can have my vita-mix, juicer and every single one of my books if she wishes and of course I'd, more specifically point her right to your experience. But the time isn't quite right yet. Thanks so much for your support.:)

I tried to look at your "before & afters" again but couldn't. I haven't a clue how to get permission to do so. May I have your permission? And how do I go about it?

xoxo
Me.

Aleesha Sattva

12-26-2009, 07:58 PM

fasting is natural only if you are sick but when you travel it is better to eat...now if you are sick just fast otherwise eat...wisdom is great

everyone is welcome to their own opinion but honestly... if i subscribed to your reasoning... can't we then make the leap to... "if you body is not in 100% perfect health - then fasting will assist you"?

i fast (can't remember the exact amount in this moment) something like 260 days in a year and it did tremendous things for my mind, body and health!

edited to add: i checked... it was 262 days.

Aleesha Sattva

12-26-2009, 08:01 PM

Green_Woman

12-26-2009, 08:17 PM

I tried to look at your "before & afters" again but couldn't. I haven't a clue how to get permission to do so. May I have your permission? And how do I go about it?

I'm not sure I have any good BEFORES posted right now! When I first went RAW in 2006, I looked much as I do now. My BEFORE/AFTER is more the story of what's been happening INSIDE my body! The external transformation is not as prominent.

RFT'ers usually post Befores to evidence weight loss and I actually started back on RAW in 2008 to GAIN weight, initially. :D I was struggling with anorexia... long story, but feels like it was a century ago, already. Raw is so healing, SO healing. :)

I don't think she's driving... I think she's the passenger. If she's driving - I agree that she shouldn't be fasting.

I MIGHT be driving. Not sure yet... that will play a role in my ultimate decision, of course. And as someone mentioned before, never hurts to just bring along a bag of fruit in case I feel a need to break fast.

Today has been/is quite an experience! I've had LOTS of water, LOTS of down-time, and some Kombucha tea. I'm feeling hungry now for the first time today, but I'm still not feeling like EATING. It's a quiet hunger, and not demanding.

I do, however, feel VERY clear-headed! VERY! Wonderful stillness in my brain. Even just the brief break from the kitchen and food preparation in itself has been a welcomed experience.

Fasting = not nearly as terrifying as I thought... of course, I'm not quite a day in. ;)

Green_Woman

12-26-2009, 08:19 PM

But the time isn't quite right yet.

I understand this, I really do! It has taken me years to reach the point in my journey where I could make RAW happen, and where it was RIGHT for me. Timing is crucial...

islesgirl

12-26-2009, 09:19 PM

Yes, even though I know this is what I want for myself (and I am still struggling to stick with it consistently), she has so much going on in her life at the moment, and she is only 28, and I am positive that it will only be my example (visible change) or someone else's (one she knows and respects) that will move her to serious investigation and when she researches it and tries it, she will grab hold of it and never let go - I am pretty sure of this.:) When she sets her mind to do something she really goes for it.

Okay, I am going to "try" to post that link about the "truck driver". Here goes....http://Dave the Truck No, I still haven't figured this out.

Green_Woman

12-26-2009, 09:57 PM

Here you go, Islegirl!

Dave the Raw Food Truck Driver (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ip-VkRgHkM)

Aleesha Sattva

12-26-2009, 10:38 PM

GW, if you are driving here's a tip. i drive when i'm fasting, just not on days when i feel lightheaded or detoxing... i take it moment by moment, day by day. so if you can pick and choose the days/times you drive... you can pick the times when you are feeling totally fine cause trust me... there are LOTS of totally fine moments when fasting.

of course fasting on water is much more intense than fasting on juices... ;)

Green_Woman

12-26-2009, 10:43 PM

What if you just generally feel rather ditzy and lightheaded... err... I mean dizzy? ;)

Hee hee....

Aleesha Sattva

12-26-2009, 11:01 PM

hahahahahahaha then perhaps you should never be driving LOL

raw runner

12-27-2009, 07:34 AM

everyone is welcome to their own opinion but honestly... if i subscribed to your reasoning... can't we then make the leap to... "if you body is not in 100% perfect health - then fasting will assist you"?

i fast (can't remember the exact amount in this moment) something like 260 days in a year and it did tremendous things for my mind, body and health!

edited to add: i checked... it was 262 days.

do you think animals fast if they aren't sick???

islesgirl

12-27-2009, 07:57 AM

Here you go, Islegirl!

Dave the Raw Food Truck Driver (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ip-VkRgHkM)

Thanks Green Woman, but I did know how to find it - it's just that I don't know how to "share" it - post the "link" for others to see it too - like you did for me. :)

Aleesha Sattva

12-27-2009, 10:16 AM

do you think animals fast if they aren't sick???

i don't think they floss either, but that's not gonna stop me from doing it! http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x87/recyclinggoddess/throlleye00181.gif

Green_Woman

12-27-2009, 12:31 PM

Islegirl -- *slaps forehead* Dur, me! Sorry! Okay, here's how to share a link on RFT (and I'm really bad at directions so I hope I get this right...)

0) Write the title down of what you want linked in this discussion box and then minimize the screen (ex: Ani Phyo's Spanish Scramble Recipe )

1) Pull up a second browser,find your link and right click - select copy for the entire URL (ex: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gvrEj2H36w )

2) Open this box again, and highlight the title you wrote in earlier... then on the top center of this discussion box is a symbol of earth + paper clip - left click on this symbol to open.

3) Paste your copied link where it says: "Please enter URL of your link". NOTE: Make sure when you do this that there is only ONE "http://" before your link... you may want to just delete the blue-highlighted "http://" inside this box before pasting your link just to be sure!

4) After your link is pasted in this box, select OK and your link will be posted with it's NEW title! Voila! :D

Ani Phyo's Spanish Scramble (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gvrEj2H36w)

islesgirl

12-27-2009, 01:31 PM

I so appreciate your making such an effort to teach me how to do this, Green Woman, but I just can't figure it out. Every time I try to get the two different windows on my screen, one disappears. It seems I can't keep 2 from Google open at the same time. Guess I will have to get someone to walk me through this on the phone or get someone over to my house to show me.:)

Green_Woman

12-27-2009, 02:37 PM

You wouldn't technically have to have two windows open at once.

Just open the page you want to link, copy the link, and close that page. The link will STILL be in your "clipboard", saved to the memory of your computer and ready for you to paste into this post.

islesgirl

12-27-2009, 03:37 PM

RawKnitster

12-28-2009, 01:05 AM

Here you go, Islegirl!

Dave the Raw Food Truck Driver (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ip-VkRgHkM)

I met Dave at a raw pot luck a few weeks ago. He is looking even better these days. He didn't eat at the pot luck 'cause he was just coming off (another) 118 day juice fast. He said he had learned to have only low fiber smoothies for the first week after a juice fast.

He is an awesome dude. A big hugger, too. He likes to connect with and surround himself with other people that he can help and that can help him.

I gotta say, a juice fast on a road trip would be a lot easier for a guy, if you know what I mean.

islesgirl

12-28-2009, 09:14 AM

Yup, makes me think so much about my husband. I just know he'd be here today and our lives would have been so different had we known about the value of a raw food diet.:D

Aleesha Sattva

12-28-2009, 09:54 AM

sue (((hugs)))

raw runner

12-29-2009, 05:33 AM

i 'd like to reply to a main thing that dave and i have in common, we are truck drivers and as such i'd like to say that for him doing juice fasting has saved his life and it is really good,thanks to God.But in my case, it looks like i do the same,i mean i don't do juice fasting but i eat 5 fruits a day in my truck...why 5 because i eat one every 2 hours and i am not bothered if i need to pee...BUT i remember dave talking in one of his youtube videos that he had so much trouble
because of the juice,he had to pee so often during the day...that's why i don't juice fast...

Dave said hte trick is to add live enzymes to the juice???someone could explain please???which brand???because if it reduces the trips to the toilet,i might be really interested...

Aleesha Sattva

12-29-2009, 10:46 AM

i suppose you should ask him.

Green_Woman

12-29-2009, 12:25 PM

Aaaaaand.... sheeee's back!

That little 1-day fasting experiment a few days ago was so... rewarding... that I'm back at it. This time, I'm going to be Fasting-in-the-New-Year! ;)

Clarity...

Energy...

Healing...

And all that extra time to write, prepare for the neighborhood Yard Sale (woo-hoo!), create Vision Boards, help my Sweetie clean up his old house and move into his New House, play witha' puppies, and just EXIST in BLISS.

Aleesha! You may have just opened the Floodgates on this one! ;) :D

Green_Woman

12-29-2009, 12:27 PM

P.S. Today is Day #80 of my 90-Days Challenge... wooOOOot!!!

Aleesha Sattva

12-29-2009, 12:35 PM

sooooooooo cool GW, i'm thrilled for ya!!! fasting is like tattoos... you can't do just one LOL

off to my reiki session... and infrared sauna...

Green_Woman

12-29-2009, 01:04 PM

Reiki! I do so love Reiki.

One of my fellow classmates is a gorgeous woman in her early 50's who practices Reiki. She also sings, is multi-lingual, and a millionaire. I LOVE, love, LOVE her... her energy is SO strong, SO pure, SO revitalizing and she is one of those rare women who seems to grow and glow the more she gives!

I just need a photo of her on my Vision Board, too... because she's one of the few women I've met in my lifetime who I genuinely want to resemble when I, too, am a glorious 50 years old!

Exciting times!!!

Which reminds me... OMG... I turn 25 in a few months. I'll be HALFWAY to 50!!! HOORAY!!!

Uh oh... maybe Fasting is getting to my brain. ;)

Green_Woman

12-29-2009, 01:06 PM

And now I'm off to round up some magazines and start finding pictures for my Vision Board... and also downstairs to pick out the lovely antique furniture pieces my Fiance is letting me take from the Sale for my house!!!

Aleesha Sattva

12-29-2009, 06:09 PM

i make vision boards but i do on the puter. i make up a desktop image for myself by making a collage in photoshop. approx. 90% of everything i put on my boards comes true!!!

Green_Woman

12-29-2009, 06:23 PM

Why am I not surprised? ;)

Aleesha Sattva

12-29-2009, 06:55 PM

*giggling*

Green_Woman

12-29-2009, 07:00 PM

:D

It's my usual time to be stuffing my face with something delicious fresh out of the dehydrator or blender, and guess what?

I'm not hungry. Or rather... no appetite.

I think my Body is really happy that I am listening to Her today. I tried eating super lightly the last couple of days (a banana here, a sip of GS there) and even that was just too much! She quite simply wants a BREAK from EATING, DRINKING or DIGESTING anything right now!

She shall have it. :D

I love my Body!!!