How to prepare for a fast?

[Gorecki]

Hello everybody,

it's been a while since my last post. A lot of things happened the past year. I have been eating raw on and off. Mostly raw all day long until the sun sets. And then I turn into this sugar addict. It was also a very very emotional year, with lots of ups and downs. I want to change that, get a kickstart and take my life in my own hands. First of all as fresh start concerning my depression, second I want to get rid of my sugar addiction and cravings for meat.

Anyway I'm starting a juice fast/feast next wednesday, for about 21 day. I have guidance, but I really want to prepare myself mentally as I know this will be an intense journey. Do you guys have tips to prepare myself?

Second question: I can juice fast but I'll have to eat one mono meal a day because I'm on medication (anti-depressants). I know this will slow down the feast. But will I have the same benefits? Or there other people taking this medication? How do you guys experience your fast? I know this is not good for me, but I'm not in a state where I can quit them right now, I hope to do so after my juice fast!

Third: I am very very afraid to gain more weight after my juice fast than I originally was, because my metabolism will slow down. How can I counter this weightgain after the fast?

Thank you for your help everybody and sorry about my English, I'm Flemish ;) !!

[Dream]

Best advice I can give for not gaining weight back after a fast is to do intermittent fasting after. That is to say, fast 1 day, eat the next, fast for 2 days, eat for 2, fast for 1 day and so on. Or whatever you want, fast one day eat one fast one... For me, this helps me mentally so that I don't binge after easing out of a fast.

[Nancyyy]

I have been overweight and really needs to be on dite now.How ever, there has always been an excuse. There has always been a reason. It is too hard, I am addicted to sugar. I just like sweet foods too much. And the years have rolled on I am going to be doing some exercise, but the exercise I am doing is going to be pretty straightforward. I'm going to be walking.Now in terms of going through this program, it is extra ordinarily healthy for you. Juice. If you can imagine having all those nutrients... We are talking about real food the way nature intended. We're not talking about any thing processed. We are not talking about anything of that nature at all. It's all fresh fruit and vegetables. So I plan to buy the fruit and vegetables every day or every second day as I need them and put them straight into the blender and drink them.

[LexieW]

Mostly raw all day long until the sun sets. And then I turn into this sugar addict.

This is exactly what I went through, and what I go through if I "fall off the wagon." Usually, it means I haven't eatten enough during the day. You need to make sure you get enough calories when you eat raw, because if you don't and your body needs cravings while it's still trained to eat the bad stuff, you get this INTENSE "must eat sugar now!" feeling because your body needs energy.

A quick way to combat this feeling is fresh fruit of any kind. Seriously. Take a moment before you put something cooked in your mouth and just have a few grapes, or a piece of fruit. It will calm the craving, and then you can decide what you really want to have for dinner :)

As far as the fast - make sure you ease in to it to avoid bowel movement problems. Make sure you get plenty of water as well as juice. Pick up some new books from the library to help distract you from remembering the habits of wanting to eat at certain times.

And search this forum - there is a wealth of information. Good luck!

[newfie]

I am on anti-depressants and bipolar medications and do not feel as though they are bad for me. I do not have to eat with them though. Do not stop taking them on your own. ALWAYS consult your doctor, and you can spiral back into depression hard. I feel that when people say medications are poison you are putting into your body, many do not understand that ailments such as bipolar disorder, and many forms of depression, are not issues that can be cleared overnight, and they are indeed life threatening. Do not feel as though you need to give them up to be on a raw diet. I will continue to take mine, probably for the rest of my life.

[Nancyyy]

Well, I love all types of food, but I am fond of Italian food and Pizza most.