Breaking the fast

[joy]

To me, the most difficult thing about fasting is introducing foods at the end of it. I'm on day seven of a water only fast, which I'll break within the next few days, and it's got me thinking about what to eat when the time comes.

While I'd love the mock turkey, or the fab cashew cheesecake, I know these things are far from ideal for digestion! So--without being too food obsessed ;) --I planned what to eat for the first week or so. The best foods with which to break a fast are those with a high water content, and a decent amount of fiber (as we've got to push the old stuff through!).

Here's my list for the first three or so days:
-Oranges, grapefruits, and tangerines sprinkled with jewel-y pomegranite seeds (first thing)
-Cucumber and carrot slices marinated in lemon juice and a bit of sea salt
-The lovely Pineapple Gazpacho recipe posted here (minus the spices/garlic)
-Gazpacho with fresh tomatoes, celery, cucumber, and lime juice
-Juicy, dripping papaya with lime
-Tangy granny smith apple juice
-Cantaloupe, and raspberries after I've let that settle

Then I'll add:
-Some wonderfully tart sauerkraut
-Sea vegetable salad with cucumber
-The soups above, with jalapeno, garlic, onions, and sea salt
-Mildly wonderful young coconut, with a squeeze of lime
-Lettuce wraps with pico de gallo and loads of spicy guacamole
-Creamy bananas spread with almond butter
-Kale and spinach salad marinated in savory cider vinegar, garlic, olive oil, and lemon zest...with almonds

Forgive the profuse usage of adjectives; I'm just really relishing the idea of eating again. :)

So, water/juice fasters and master cleansers, what are you going to break your fast with?

[misslinda]

Joy!

Wosers on your water fast :) that is incredible. I'm on my 8th day of juice fasting and have one more week to go. How long are you doing yours? I too, have been thinking about what foods to introduce after my fast. so far this is what I will be eating


1 apple chewed extremely well, 2 bananas, pear

celtic sea salt broth, banana, kiwis


I may even do smoothies until my stomach can handle the bulk.


Have you done a fast before? this is my first one. :)

[joy]

Misslinda, congrats on making it to day 8, on your first fast. You're over halfway there!

Last spring, I did a 20+ day juice fast, with 5 days of water in the middle of it. It was an amazing experience, and really freed me to eat completely raw for some time. And I do occasional 1-2 day water or juice fasts.

I'll probably do one or two more days, as I'm going home for Christmas and want time to readjust to eating before the flight.

By the way, smoothies are a great way to get re-accustomed to food.

Blessings :)

[misslinda]

it's day 10 for me and feeling like I CAN do this for longer than I expected. I am really enjoying this!!!

Joy, I'm inspired by your water fasts and will incorporate a juice meal for water instead.

How are your results coming along?

:)

[joy]

Yay Misslinda, 10 days is a great accomplishment!

I broke my fast last night, after 8 days, with some fresh apple juice and raspberries. Then I had a very simple tomato gazpacho a few hours later. It was absolutely lovely. (It's in the last few days of my journal, if you're interested.)

Great idea to incorporate some water fasting into a juice fast; it allows for deeper cleansing and resets the tastebuds, too. Just a word of caution: if you ever do a water-only fast, read about it extensively to understand what is happening within the body; it's a very different process from juicing or the M.C.

Today for breakfast, I had a fruit plate of pineapple, grapefruit, persimmon, and raspberries. No desire for fat yet, as my body just wants sour/salty things. Must watch salt intake...

[misslinda]

Hey Joy,

i completed a 12 day fast a few days earlier than I planned due to my stomach problems not repsonding very well to salt flush--I boke it with a banana and raspberries. been out doing some light jogging and still experiecing detox. i was suprised but my bowels are sarting to slowly regulate into day 2 of breaking my fast. i may do another mini fast here in a few days. i really enjoyed fasting and actually miss it !!! :)

[SparklePlenty]

Great suggestions from all of you for breakfast. I am on Day one of a Master Cleanser and thinking that diluted juices will be the way I'll break the fast for a day or day.I did a 21 day MC last year at this time, but was not mentally prepared and went back to SAD pretty fast.
This time I will pay attention to how I break the fast and segue into raw, since I've been increasing my percentage of raw over the past few months.

[misslinda]

sparkles,

wow, 21 day master cleanser is pretty awesome!!! right now, i'm doing mostly fruits as i transition out of fasting but my body is craaving a water fast so in a few days i'll go back to fasting.

what results did you get from the MC?

[mbf]

I have a question, do any of you have children or others to cook for ? and if so how did you do it !? It was so hard to feed my family and try to fast ! My husband and I did 3 days on master cleanse,we just could not do more with our work schedule and caring for 3 children. Any suggestions ?

I do feel we got something out of the 3 days and it really helped enhance an appreciation our raw food lifestyle.

MBF

[Vandy]

When you break a fast your first meal should be something like prunes to make sure you have cleaned the colon. Be careful and don't eat too heavy at first. After you eat the prunes wait a while and then eat a fruit meal. There is one thread that talks about this with John Rose. I think it is very important, you might wanna look it up.

[misslinda]

MBF,

hi, i don't cook for my sis but she was always eating foods that i use to view as temptations. i know it must be more challenging when you cook for other people.

my suggestions for doing a fast when working, is try to do complete juice fast starting friday night (assuming you work a standard m-f 9-5 job) and up until monday morning that way, you have several days into your fast and that is where i've read that the body is at approx 80 % toxins so then you can start incorporating water fasts during work...............and go back to jucing after work if that is what your body tells you.


for me, by the 12 day, my body only wanted water. however, i transitioned out of my fast and into raw. my body is craving another fast so today is going to be another 7-12 day fast.

it's also important to flush your system when doing a fast. i did the salt water flush every morning and using triphala.

Vandy, thanks for the suggestion. for myself personally, prunes would have been to harsh for my upper stomach so i tailored my transition according to my health concerns. I found that my bowels returned that same day. i'm big on triphala for the correcting in digestive/eliminating timing.

:)

[mbf]

Thanks for the good ideas MissLinda. I have 3 children to cook and pack lunches etc... for so it's been tough to fast. About working and fasting it's the bathroom issue ! After the saltwater I had to stay by the bathroom for about an hour and half ! That was for 3 days, does it get better ?

thanks again

MBF

[misslinda]

hmmmm,

i never had my "flush" have prolonged effects. i know that its suggested to modify the slat water flush to your body's response. have you tried lessening the salt in the water? i didn't flush intensely as i only drank at 2-3 12 oz servings then i just drank more water during the day.

it's quite a powerful experience but if you can just get to the point and convict yourself to do it, you will experience a clamness within while fasting.....i reached this by the 5th day and it felt so good and i didn't even think about food ,eating and what i wanted to eat.

i love fasting and please keep us updated! :)

[SparklePlenty]

Miss Linda, I had amazing results from that 21 day MC! Lost 21 lbs, face was slimmer and skin clear, mood was amazingly stable and high. And thru it all I preparing cooked food for my family and for the holidays. My husband was in awe!
I've managed to keep 12 of those 21 lbs off since then. And have been rocking toward more and more raw. I am trusting this process and figure I'll be 100% pretty darn soon.

[misslinda]

sparkles and fellow fasters,

i'm starting another fasting today!!!

i'm going to do it a little differently..............


fasting menu
-------------

12 oz water

salt flush

marshmallow root tea

fruit/veggie juice combo
4-5 x day

water in between juice meals

end with yellow dock tea

water thru the night

;)

[joy]

misslinda, isn't it a nice feeling to be peacefully enjoying fasting in the midst of holiday overconsumption?

About cooking for others: I always feel like this is going to be a huge challenge, but it seldom is. I made veggie chili and several other meals for my husband, and it was wonderful to just experience the smells without eating. It made me realize how connected those two senses are, but they don't necessarily have to be. I think the key to surviving those sorts of things is to do them when you have the energy, realizing that it could be gone 20 minutes later.

I don't have children, and am in awe of those who can fast and successfully manage a large family!

In the aftermath of this fast, I'm still eating huge amounts of vegetables and fruits. I haven't craved much fat, just salty things. I didn't do anything to encourage elimination (flushes, etc.), and my digestion returned to normal almost immediately. For me, water rich foods were the way to go, in terms of breaking the fast.

[misslinda]

Joy Joy Joy,

your name speak truth as I finally realized that is you in your journal............I tend to forget at times that the journals exist when i get cauht up in the threads. that mus be your wedding day photo---gorgeous dress??? so inspiring was you photos and journal as i sense your inner peacefulness that you speak when you write.

Yes, I really enjoyed that state of stillness when fasting and am intending to go for a month---right now i am juicing and more to allow my stomach lining to repair and if it allows me, i will continue to fast as long as possible.

has your hubby ever fasted with you? that would be so romantic !!! ;)

[joy]

misslinda, just saw your post. Yes, my husband and I used to fast for a day each week (for spiritual reasons), usually starting with the previous evening. It was great to come together at the end of the day for a meal. I'm so glad you asked; it reminds me how wonderful an experience that was, and I'm inspired to resume it!