how long do you need to fast?

[Icequeen]

To get a good detox? I'm always confused by this.

I'd like to fast just to jump start my detox because I ate more cooked food than I would have liked right after surgery (hubby was the "cook") and now that I'm returning to 100% raw, I'd like to jump start things with a fast, but not sure how long I need to do it, to get the best benefits.

[Icequeen]

anybody???? Hello??? is this thing on???

I'm just curious what is an acceptable amount of time for fasting to get a good detox.

[Aleesha Sattva]

who knows really. detox just is. it happens when it's ready to.

so... i guess you just have to jump in and give it a try.

healing, detox, cleansing... all happens while fasting, the depth is different each time depending on what your body needs.

there have been times when i start a fast and am detoxing within an hour... other times i fast for 45 days and don't seem to detox at all.

[lafsalot]

You'll develop a white coated tongue while fasting. If you want a "good detox", continue until your tongue is clear pink and clean looking. The length of time varies with each individual.

[Aleesha Sattva]

AND... your tongue can clear and then go white again... and clear and go white again...

[lafsalot]

AND... your tongue can clear and then go white again... and clear and go white again...

True that, but the operative words here are "jump start". It's a great way to transition into and/or back to raw (which is and of itself, a cleansing diet).

[Aleesha Sattva]

true enough!!!

[Icequeen]

So... a rough estimate??? Are we talking a week, a month? or longer? I realize everybody is different, but what is a "norm" for a fast?

I have to order my bulk produce, so if I know that I'm looking at a month for good results then I'll order 4 cases of oranges and greens, versus 1 if it will be a week. See what I mean? I can only order once a month, so I need to plan ahead. And since juicing goes through SO much more produce than I eat, I need to get the extras ordered.

[Aleesha Sattva]

You are the only one who make that decision. You can start with 10 days... or you can start with 92 days... it's up to what YOU want and how long you want to fast.

There are no hard and fast rules to fasting... I suggest you read as much info as you can find (books, internet and the fasting threads in the archives of this forum for starters)... and figure out what you want to do.

[Aleesha Sattva]

I don't feel like I answered your question very well. So I'm here to answer it again.

Detox can begin within hours of beginning your fast although sometimes you can fast for 10 days not experience any detox. MOST people experience detox within the first three days.

A ten day fast is a nice place to start. You can guage how you are feeling and how much further you want to go from there.

Sorry I wasn't much help in my other posts. I was in a 'spacy' space. I'm deep into my fast and ... well that's my excuse. Please accept my apology for not being helpful.

[bing]

I'm not an expert on this but a regular fasting would sound nice.

You can fast for a day now. After a month,you can have 2-day fast. And then a 3-day fast a month after. I think eventually you will "know" that the detox took place.

It's just my opinion. My experience only involves a single 3-day dry fast... that was years ago and mainly due to family pressure. :D

[freelive]

If you never fasted before, I would start with one day juice fasts weekly. Just to ease in. Less chances of the headaches. Although, if you are willing to do enemas, you shouldn't get any headaches on the juice fast. Then longer fasts after a few of those. That said, some people like quantum leaps. Just decide, and then do it!

[MichelleLenore]

Have you had any luck fasting without a gallbladder? I had mine removed and I can't find any information on juicing or eating raw without a gallbladder...

[apensity]

I haven't completed one yet, but from the research I have done, it starts with a 7 day for a minimal fast, though most try a 10 day. If it is working for you, a lot of people stretch it out to be a 30 day. I have heard of a few doing a 60-90 day, but I just do not thin that is truly healthy, some solid raw foos at least at that point.

Good luck!! :cheer:

[jordansmith11]

At my first fasting I usually did it 3 days then in just a week, then slowly I'm increasing days, but it still depends on the person who is fasting, and it depends on your daily activity. :dance:

[Tguch]

My fasting experiences have been one week for water fasting--but I go somewhere to rest and vacation, I don't work during this period--and 10 day juice fasts (I'm currently on my second one!) :) where I stay in my normal environment, go to work etc. In both cases the first 3 days are the hardest, as it is during this time that your body adjusts and digestive system shuts down. So my thought is, if you can go for 3 days, keep going! But 1 day fasts are also great for you. I have read that 7 days are required for your body to completely clean itself - for all organs to be flushed etc. (source: The Tao of Detox)

As you fast, you will slow down and begin to listen better to your body. You will be able to distinguish between what your mind and what your body need, and your body will let you know how it's doing. :) So maybe, strat with a goal to give yourself an objective, and then be gentle with yourself and see how it goes. Any fasting you do is worth it and a wonderful gift to yourself.

[fastfreedom]

I've also read that around 5-7 days into a fast is when your body starts the healing.

I'm gonna give you another vague answer. Fast for what you need and everyone is different.

A 7-10 day fast is a nice start. You'll feel better and your body will be a bit cleaner.

I would say don't force yourself to fast any longer than you wish to. You can always fast for a little bit, eat raw foods for a bit, then go back to fasting. Your body will even be cleansing and detoxing while you are eating raw foods.

You can even do weekly one day fasts where you don't eat supper one night then wait until the next evening to have a meal. That's a nice little 24hr fast. And it's pretty simple cus by the time you wake up in the morning you have already been fasting for 12 hrs or so.