MAY 2012 - Fasting thread - Join any time of the month!

[Aleesha Sattva]

PLEASE... feel free to join this thread any time ... we loooove having new friends to fast with!!!

Here's are the 'rules' of this thread:

Please do not discuss specific food. Feel free to share "My hubby was eating and it was hard for me." Please don't share "My hubby was eating X, Y and Z..."

The reason we do this is so no one ends up getting a craving from a fasting thread. As a faster we can choose to click on a thread which discusses food but we need the safety within this thread to know food is not discussed. Juices are shared, M/C is shared, green smoothie recipes are shared... but not 'chewable' food.

Please join us... by listening to our theme song (http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741). We all come together... from around the world to fast together and support each other. Please join us!

There is a great deal of info in this stickie (http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=62026). Please take a moment to read it.

And here is a thread (http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=61603) where we share our favourite recipes. If you haven't contributed yours, please do!

Here's my commitment (when I'm fasting):

I'm here to fast. I'm not here to eat. I will fast until I choose to stop but I will NOT stop my fast on a bad day, at night or today. I can choose to break my fast tomorrow in the morning but not today.

I'm here to gain health.
I'm here to gift my body the time and energy to bring my body to a state of health.
I'm here to release - whatever needs to be released. Physical, emotional, conscious or unconscious out-moded things... I'm here to release them all.
I'm here to bring a greater depth to my spirituality.
I'm here to support myself and others.
I am here to continue to be mindful - focusing on this moment and not anticipating the next one.
I am here to share my experience and gain knowledge from what others share.
I'm here to feel whole. I'm here to give my beautiful, cherished body a break from digesting food!!!

This is the "Fellowship of the Fasters" - unlike the LOTRs fellowship of nine, we are a fellowship of many. We welcome newcomers daily and embrace everyone no matter what they are fasting on or their personal beliefs.

Yes you can prefer green juices to fruit. Yes you can use agave instead of maple syrup or raw honey. Yes you can juice in your Vita-Mix and use a nut mylk bag to extract your juices.

We don't care how you fast... we want to support you... and in turn, we ourselves get supported... so please... join us!!!

Come on everyone.. join in the fun and grab your Elf, Dwarf, Hobbit or Human names for our "Fellowship of the Fasters"... you just make them up, it isn't from the book/movie. (if you want to participate) and put it in your signature line!

Ever wonder how the Fellowship began?

Back when I first began fasting there were the Fasting Bandits. This was a group of amazing people who fasted together all the time. The 'theme' was a convoy of truckers. I was the water tanker! :throwhearts: Over time the Fasting Bandits moved on with their lives and weren't around much at all. A few of the members are still here... but seldom fasting anymore.

I was missing the camaraderie of the FB and was always hoping to find a new group to fast with, find support with and to support myself. The Fellowship of Fasters began because Cathy and I watch the movie Lord of the Rings a LOT and we fast together a LOT as well. We began speaking to each other as though we were Golum - and our juice was our precious.

And then the Fellowship of Fasters was born!

So to be a member... you simply need to choose a name, put it in your signature line and love fasting. You can become a life-time member or one for a short time... it's up to you.

I'm here for the long haul. My water tanker is here beside me - because I'll always be a Fasting Bandit... but now my precious walks beside on a slower path than the truckers... enjoying the grass at my feet and the flowers growing out of the cracks and crevices in the rocks around me.

[Adhina]

Hi! I would be so happy if I could join! I`ve totally fallen of the raw-food-wagon and need new inspiration to get back on my path!
I plan to go on a 10 days juicefast, longer if I feel motivated and my body agrees. Starting tomorrow, then! Looking forward to it! <3

[Dream]

This is a water and coffee fast for now. :) running with kids all day because Im a nanny so I'm a wee bit tired. Feels more like I'm starving than euphoria at the moment, but we will see how the day unfolds! I'd like to do 7 days. I've done at least 2 3 day fasts this year and I feel ready to stretch it out. If I start feeling better, maybe 10 days. 7 days is my lengthiest fast so far.

[michigan roman]

48 hours on tea and coffee , check

burning fat off and cellular pollution out , check

2012 the year of the fast , check ;-)

this fast to continue further , check

[joyfulyogi]

Day 14 of a juice feast for me. : )

[freelive]

Day two juice fast. Can't do more than 4 days, because on Saturday I am going to the dentist, and I don't think it is a good idea to be shot up with anestetics while fasting.

[freelive]

I have question-how come people are using coffee while fasting -is it something like coffee enema -stimulates the liver to release more or something in those lines?

[freelive]

So you are in Euphoria already!

[michigan roman]

i use coffee while fasting because im a coffee addict with no choice in the matter , lol

also for some reason coffee leaves me with a content feeling on a fast like i just ate

and i go on / off coffee constantly over the years , currently past 4 months in a heavy fasting mode
i had to get back on coffee after being off it like a year or so because the coffee allowed me to go without
eating . if i wasnt using coffee a whole bunch of my fasts this past 4 months would have ended much sooner

so for me evenb though i dont see coffee as the healthiest thing its more important to keep the g.i. tract
empty as long as i can in order to cleanse out my cells / tissues / etc so coffee it is

[michigan roman]

yea 14 days joyfulyogi , i know it aint easy to keep the focus that long :cheer:

[joyfulyogi]

Thanks! : ) Been a little distracted today, but stickin' to it!

[RawGirl4Health]

Hi all, I am presently in the midst of a 30 day juice fast. I am part of a group on facebook, and am on day 23 i believe. I almost caved today but with the support from the group, i did not! Apparently I was drinking way too much fruit juices, and the veggie / green juices are what keep me stable. I have a question - I was thinking of adding 1/2 tsp of coconut oil into my fast at night. In fact, i did it tonight. (tummy is making a little weird sounds).. am I too far along in my fast to add any fats like this? I felt a few odd pains on my left side/back area. Now i feel a little hungry; several times through the fast when i drank a thick juice (ie: papaya) i felt my digestion start up a little. Im sure its not legitimately breaking the fast, as the next morning it was gone. Anyway, I am going for 1 more week, then my goal is 30 days 100% raw. Likely raw vegan. Nice to be here and meet you all. I have been a long time lurker / infrequent poster on the forums. =)

oh and so far i have released 17lbs. However i have been stuck there for about 5 days. Heres hoping to a woosh fairy visit tomorrow to take some more lbs w/ her.

:)

[ykmaggie]

Hi all

Rawgirl4health, congrats on 23 days!

So I'm back after undoing some of my progress after my 40 day juice fast ended in February

The chest congestion and asthma has come back which really has me annoyed. After I did my coffee enema today I thought I noticed an ascaris friend again. I got rid of a bunch of those in my last fast. I guess I should have followed through with the parasite cleanse I was planning to do

I was hoping to do a 10 day water fast, until I received the syllabus for my final MBA class today. It starts Monday with a bang, and just reading it really stressed me out

I'm settling for a quick 10 day juice fast, which is all I really have the time to do now. Oh well. Today is day 2 and my body is really loving it. It's amazing before that 10 days to me seemed an eternity, and now feels 'short'

I'm going to focus on self care for this fast and really try to after myself well, and give myself a break. For instance, I decided I am not going to give up the one cup of morning chai tea I love, and I'm not going to bother with fruit juice because it makes me hungry

Good luck to everything no matter what your goals!

[Dream]

Day 14 of a juice feast for me. : )

Wow! how does that feel, joyful? I don't know if I mentioned this before, but I too am a yogi! I imagine there are quite a few on this site. Do you still exercise while you fast? I'm calming down on my Ashtanga practice but love meditation and breathing exercises and such!
Abby

[Dream]

I have question-how come people are using coffee while fasting -is it something like coffee enema -stimulates the liver to release more or something in those lines?

Coffee enemas are suppose to be good for the liver. But I am similar to roman in that I am a coffee addict! So I let myself maintain my daily cappuccino addiction. Usually after the 3rd day though, I get over it. I don't recommend picking up the habit if you are already practicing fasting without!

[Dream]

Day 3 now. I was slow getting started this morning but am feeling much better now! I've allowed my cappuccino, spiced chai, and a kombucha. Yesterday I had plenty of honey and creamer with my tea. I think I'll be lessening those little bits of sugar and stuff as the fast moves forward. Yesterday I was practically burning inside at certain moments to eat. It hasn't been as challenging today.
It's nice to stick to something once your mind is made up.

[joyfulyogi]

Hi, Abby!

Yesterday was tough, and today has been tough, too. I'm not gonna lie - I wanted to eat the apple instead of juice it! I forget what food feels like on my teeth! LOL And I'm really craving salt. Not sure what that's all about. Well, maybe because I'm a salt fiend...?

I do practice still, but slow vinyasa (I'm a hot powerful kinda girl). Interesting how slowing down is affecting everything else in my life. Without mindfully changing anything, my pranayama and meditation have become much stronger!

How is Day 3 winding down for you?

[countitjoy5]

That should be a goal of the fast - to break caffeine addiction. But anything liquid I suppose (within reason) to break the compulsion to want solid food.

[countitjoy5]

I know the feeling - I think caffeine might precipitate more intense cleansing crisis though... so take your pick - lack of energy or intense cleansing crisis.

[ykmaggie]

I detoxed from caffeine about 5 years ago when I first started fasting. It was not a fun experience. I never went back because I realized how toxic it is. Apparently it's one of the most toxic substances for our livers to process. I switched to decaf, then lost my taste for it entirely and switched to Chai tea, which still has some caffeine. I've been trying to get my husband off coffee, but I'm losing the battle

Day 4 and feeling great

[joyfulyogi]

Day 16

I'm dreaming of all kinds of things that I shouldn't be dreaming of!! : ( Is this just another hump? or a signal that I'm ready to be done? For what it's worth, these foods are NOT the foods that I will be eating once I break... LOL

[ykmaggie]

Does anyone know if I am allowed tea on a water fast? I want to add a few days of water fasting starting tomorrow, but I'm not sure what if I can only just do water...also want to use sparkling mineral water. Opinions?

Thanks all

[freelive]

Oh, I see, so if I don't drink coffee anyway, it wouldn't be any benefit to do it on the fast. But tea with some honey would be fine, right?

[Dream]

I ate yesterday, so I guess I'm doing intermittent fasting. Herbal tea can be nice but I would avoid the honey if possible!

[joyfulyogi]

Day 17 and I'm breaking tonight! Traveling for my grandpa's funeral : ( , environment not conducive for juicing. I'm ready - not feeling any sadness or pressure about my decision at all.

See you all next week! I plan to eat lightly this week, then fast the following week for at least a couple of days before moving full speed ahead into raw FOR GOOD!!

Rock on!!

[missyc]

I haven't fasted since January, but I'm ready to get back into it! I've been eating about 90% raw
and some days 100%, so it's been good in that area. I have some lbs to take off, though, so it's time to get back to fasting. That's about the only way I am ever able to lose. I've been using Dr. Robert Morse's herbs since last fall. They have helped me a lot with detoxing and healing my body. Still working on my thyroid and adrenals, but I've got more energy than I had before.
Joyful- I'm sorry about your grandpa and hope you will be able to have an unstressful time in the coming days.

[Omega]

I've been trying desperately to do a 30 day juice fast for weight loss, detox, and to start eating more raw afterwards but I keep giving in after 3 or 4 days, and usually its not from hunger but from emotional eating or cravings (I binge on ALL of the bad foods). I always jump right back and get back to juicing/healthy eating but it seems like an endless cycle- whenever I'm doing really well I self sabotage and then end up eating fast food or sweets and gain all of the weight right back.

I love the way I feel when I'm juicing, and without juicing my fruit and veg intake plummets. I feel crappy cause I know that juicing is what my body is craving right now (I feel horrible if I dont have my juice) but my mind keeps getting in the way. Im depriving my body of the nutrients its begging for and giving it toxic waste instead. :sad:

What can I do to not give into these cravings and to keep going? I know it's all mental but it's crazy, I can be about to break my fast and thinking all the reasons why I shouldnt eat but I always end up giving in anyways. Any suggestions or tips on how to stop yourself from breaking your fast?

[michigan roman]

back on the fasting highway

ohm :meditating:

[joyfulyogi]

Thanks, Missy... xoxo

Omega, the 4-5 day mark is the hump - stick with it!! Once you get past Day 5, it's smooth(er) sailing, I promise!! When I felt like I wanted to quit, I drank a glass of water and then took a nap. No lie. I felt like a million bucks when I woke and everything was more clear - the reason I wanted to fast, the reason I needed to fast, the reason that I was going to finish just this one day of fasting.

What's the worst that could happen if you just finish this one day? ; ) Imagine the cell in the body that is on the verge of dis-ease and continue for that one cell...just this day.

[joyfulyogi]

Michigan Roman - what is your fasting schedule? I thought I saw it posted once, but can't remember what it is... My break is going well, but thinking of fasting Thurs - Tues next week. How intermittent are you?

[muzica]

I have been alternating juice fasting during the week and mostly raw foods on weekends but always vegan. I have decided, as of today, to stay on a juice fast until all the weight I want to shed comes off. Since beginning veganism on 4/12 I have lost 21.4 pounds. I have to wonder how much more it would have been if I has stuck to juicing only.

[missyc]

joyful- That is a great way of thinking. "What's the worst that could happen if you just finish this one day? ; ) Imagine the cell in the body that is on the verge of dis-ease and continue for that one cell...just this day."

I'm finishing day 2. I was really tired and run down feeling part of yesterday. I felt crappy thru a lot of today but this afternoon I started feeling better. I still feel like I could lay down and fall asleep! Not long till bedtime for me! My January fast was a breeze, but this one is kickin' butt a bit! But it's all good! Detox is good!

[joyfulyogi]

Detox IS good!!! : D

[michigan roman]

entering day 2 . drank can of 100% pure frozen orange juice without pulp today

\m/ 2012 YEAR OF THE FAST \m/

[missyc]

Starting day 3. Slept really good. If I didn't have to work, I would still be sleeping! I feel pretty good so far. On with the day!
Happy Fasting everyone!

[missyc]

I had a really good day today. Felt so much better and it was an easy day. I will be doing citrus and having smoothies tomorrow, but will be back to veggie juice Thursday. We're getting some much needed rain tonight! Saved me from having to water my garden!
Hope everyone had a great day today!

[Omega]

Day 3
For some reason fasting this time around I am much hungrier than usual. Usually I only drink around 4 16 oz glasses of green juice or "fruity" green juice a day, and I'm full. Some days I wouldnt even have the desire to drink ANY juice. But the past two days I felt like that was not enough. I drank 5 green juices throughout the day and a very thick mango orange juice in the evening and was STILL hungry. When I say I'm "hungry" I mean tummy emptiness, growling, and slight discomfort. Should I just continue with my regular 4-5 glasses a day or just drink whenever I get the hungry sensation? Should I worry about drinking too much juice? Will drinking more than 4-5 16 oz glasses a day impede weight loss? Thanks.

[missyc]

Omega- I wouldn't worry about drinking more juice when you need to. You will have other days where you won't want as much. It's better to drink more juice than to cave in to food.

[Gorecki]

Hello! I'm in my third day of preparation because I was on a SAD diet. Still have one day left tomorrow and then my juice fast starts. I am very very hungry already so I'm a bit nervous what will happen if I fast :-) Anyway will keep you posted!

[joyfulyogi]

Gorecki, how's it going?

I'm ready for another! Not sure how long I'll go this time, but today is Day 1 and that is my only goal - I will finish today. : )

Have a great day, everyone!

[OpenAir]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum, because it took me some time to find you guys :)

I am frustrated with my juice fast right now, and hoping to get some comments. It's day 4; I have been drinking herbal/fasting teas, fresh pressed vegetable juice with just a little fruit in it, and water. Typically, my days 1 and 2 are really hard, but then I get over it and stop feeling hungry, in other words my body finally starts using stored fat for energy. This time I feel nothing. It's been so easy that I don't even feel like I'm fasting. No headaches, no healing crisis what so ever. But I still get hungry -- so my body has not switched over to fat-burning stage. I know for sure I'm not in ketosis yet.

I am wondering if this might be because I was not eating very much before the fast. The whole spring I have lacked appetite and eaten much less than usual. Perhaps my body has grown accustomed to reduced-calorie diet, and now I can survive just fine with a couple of glasses of juice. (This would suck, because I do want to eat again without putting on too much weight!)

Anybody experienced something similar? I guess I need to boost up my metabolism, or reduce calories even more, but I'd hate to put my body on a starvation mode and do a water fast. Any comments welcome! Thanks.