New to fasting! Could someone please answer some questions!

[RAWmanda]

I used to be heavy into raw foods but over the last five years have just slipped away from it. The last 2 months I have been trying to find my way back as it is obvious my health is not benefiting from the way I have been eating.

I am new to fasting and to be honest I am being forced into it by a health struggle that appears to be affecting my lymphatic system.

I started with the first 3 days of smoothies, with a small amount of cooked food. The following 2 days I continued on with the smoothies and cut the cooked food in half. Then on day number 5, I went to just smoothies.

I am now on day number 9. Two days ago I had a "green smoothie" and ended up with a severe bowel flare up which threw me straight into a juice fast. And now I am not sure about anything. I have read quite a bit on fasting but still am not sure about things.

For example: yesterday was my first day just doing juices and my lymphatic system was in so much pain on my left side. I am rebounding to try and assist it but I am only up to about 15 minutes a day.

One of the things I am wondering is if it is normal for a health struggle that you are having to get worse when you start fasting?

I am taking enzymes on an empty stomach to assist my body with clean-up, but am curious if it is okay to take a laxative tea if I do not have an enema bag? Does anyone know the answer to this?

I have chosen not to go get a diagnosis from a medical doctor, but am seeing a Naturopathic doctor on Monday. Not sure if he can let me know what is going on with my lymphatic system or not.

I take numerous showers a day cause my feet are so cold, and I don't have a lot of energy. BUT I refuse to give into my desire to quit. For me this is all or nothing and is vitally important to my health and life.

I chose to come to these boards because I feel I trust Alissa and know that there are like-minded people.

Thank you for any help or feedback!

fresh blessings,

~Amanda

[Aleesha Sattva]

your lymphatic system is how you drain the toxins from your body so fasting while your system is over-taxed is only going to do one thing. over-tax it even more!

yes you can take lax tea... Triphala is good and so is Cascara Sagrada. I personally find a litre of apple juice does the trick for me!

make sure your showers are warm but not hot. you should not take hot showers or baths while fasting. your blood pressure is lower and this will lower it further.

here's what i would do, if this was me.

i would eat 100% raw and do short 3 day fasts every two weeks. giving my body some extra assistance via the fasting but supporting my body through raw live foods.

[RAWmanda]

Thank you Aleesha!

I like what you said and thank you for your input. What if I just did smoothies? Would smoothies and juices be too taxing on the system? Raw Food seems to make my bowel flare right now. Never mind I cannot eat any fat of any kind or my lymphatics seem to struggle.

My lymphatic system seems to be compromised and I am trying to find the best way to clear my system in a short order. My left side has lots of pain and the nodes swell and then seem to get better. I am concerned about what it is so I just want to do the best I can as fast as I can. Which is why I wanted to fast. But considering I am new to fasting, I will for certain listen to what those of you have to say that know about fasting. Thank you!

Right now I am struggling to get my ph up to 8, which I have heard is where it is best to be at when you are dealing with a serious health situations. I wish I had access to wheatgrass.:(


Trying to find my way.
Thanks so much!

fresh blessings,
Amanda

[Aleesha Sattva]

try adding more rebounding into your day. three times a day... 5-15 minutes each time. that'll help to drain your lymphs.

amanda try what you feel you need to do and see how it works for you. honestly... if you were my client i'd have 3 hours of conversation with you and be able to make some suggestions but two posts in a forum just doesn't give me the kinda info i need to make any kind of a plan for you. so follow your heart.

and if it's not working, don't force it! (((hugs)))

[fastfreedom]

I'm no expert nor am I a medical pro. I just research healing of the human body. And this is a couple of things I recall from the hours I've spent researching.

Something you could google is contrast showers. It's basically taking a hot/warm shower then switching it to COLD, back to hot/warm, then back to COLD. You just keep doing that over and again. I recall reading that it is good for helping the lymph system. Basically you are making your body hot and then quickly making it cold. Back and forth.

Also skin brushing is supposed to be good for the lymph system.

Also strecthing is good to help move the lymphatic fluids.

Oh... I just remembered the comment on blood pressure while fasting and hot showers so maybe if you do the contrast showers then just go to warm and back to freezing.

[Aleesha Sattva]

it's also called hydrotherapy and it is a very effective treatment. one of the side effects can be vericose veins.

and skin brushing is a GREAT idea!!!

[fastfreedom]

it's also called hydrotherapy and it is a very effective treatment. one of the side effects can be vericose veins.

:eek:

Do you by chance have any more info about that Aleesha? I do contrast showers from time to time and I wanna make sure I keep myself healthy instead of doing harm. I actually just did a search and it said that's it's an effective treatement for varicose veins. But I couldn't find anyone mentioning that it made em go away nor did they say they were created by em. Just that it releived the pain by increasing circulation.

I really don't think I'll be at risk cus I don't do em that often...But I still wanna make sure. And is it linked to something else that I may do before a contrast shower? Or even a cold shower?... For example, maybe something like exercising real hard then taking a contrast shower or a cold one...? Or maybe it's just happened to people that did em too often? I just wanna make sure I don't harm myself....

[Aleesha Sattva]

i don't know where i read it... i'm sorry. but if you are finding info to the contrary, then don't listen to me.

i've had hydrotherapy in a clinic setting before (went to a chinese dr years ago) and it didn't help me at all. so... i'm not much of a fan to be honest. LOL