Advice for a First Timer?

[mommamia]

I really feel the need to fast. I haven't been hungry lately, I"ve had a few relapses in staying 100% raw. Not major ones, but they are there. I feel the need to detox and "get the lead out" as it were.

I have read myriads of posts on fasting but I"m still a bit nervous. The Master Cleanse seems a bit too intense and sugary. All water doesn't seem like enough, so I"m toying with a juice fast. I was going to try for three days, if all is well go for five. I have a pretty laid back week coming up so feel this may be the right time.

I was hoping some of you more experienced fasters would like to tell me what you reccomend for a first timer. Recommended fast, how to's or what to expect.

Thanks so much

[Karen_in_FLA]

Hi. I hope you get some responses from the experienced fasters on here. I posted a question a few days ago asking about fasting, and master cleanse, and Misslinda was almost the only one who tried help. She steered me to the master cleanse site. With so many people on here who have fasted, and are fasting now, I was VERY disappointed in the response to my question. We are supposed to be here to support each other, and yet, I got almost NO HELP. It bugs me when you can see how many people have checked out the thread, read the question, and then don't take the time to help you at all.

So.....I hope, for BOTH our sakes, more people respond to YOU. Wish I could help.

Here's the link to my almost ignored thread:
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10280

[Rainbow]

hi, I am on my third time of fasting. I only experienced juice fasting. I can say juice fasting is very safe. You can start with 3 days, or one week and see how it is going. If you can handle detox, you might do a bit longer.

I mainly juice, carrot, beet, celery, apple and cabbages,or sometimes, pear(pear is to expensive for me). Remember to dress warmly and drink a lot!
Happy fasting,

[misslinda]

I really feel the need to fast. I haven't been hungry lately, I"ve had a few relapses in staying 100% raw. Not major ones, but they are there. I feel the need to detox and "get the lead out" as it were.

I have read myriads of posts on fasting but I"m still a bit nervous. The Master Cleanse seems a bit too intense and sugary. All water doesn't seem like enough, so I"m toying with a juice fast. I was going to try for three days, if all is well go for five. I have a pretty laid back week coming up so feel this may be the right time.

I was hoping some of you more experienced fasters would like to tell me what you reccomend for a first timer. Recommended fast, how to's or what to expect.

Thanks so much

Hey peoples :)

Karen, I'm sorry you felt ignored---trust me, sometimes as I have experienced myself, start a thread and get no repsonses........there are so many reasons for it. I often picture people picking their noses and missing it!

No but really, I think we at times get caught up in our own journeys that we go to threads that pertain to our own needs. By all means, don't ever hesitate to pm any of us directly. Over a year ago I posted a MC htread and got 2 responses. I ended up emailing one of the members here and got alot of assistance. WE STILL LOVE YOU !!!!!!!!!!! Muah ;)

Juice fasting is alot more "sugary" concentrated it is a slower process of detoxifying than MC or water fasting b/c of the vitamins/minerals and sugar content.

If yhou are blood sugar prone, I would suggest a juice fast with a good protion of greens and fruits.

Personally, the more simple the juice recipe the better.

Make sure you hydrate as juices are concentrated

Elimination as in enemas or flushes are optional--this time around, I've only done it 2x and don't intend to do it anymore.

The first 2-3 days are the toughest by day 5 usually is when the body is 80% toxins.

Helpful tips:

night before a juice fast, eat light fruits and veggies.

rest and stay warm

massage and detox baths

bounce or some form of blood moving exercise doesn't have to be strenuous b/c you need the energy for detox,cleanse adn repair

Seems as though the longer the juice fast, the more your body craves water and eventually will just want water

[twinyoga]

I'll comment on this thread. For the new people here, I've been raw for quite a while and always had a fasting phobia. This last Friday, at noon, I decided to have only juices the rest of the day and then a juice this morning. I broke the fast with bananas at noon today. So I did a 24 hour fast. My first one.

My observations:
1. I was never hungry, but I was very, very thirsty. I drank 1.5 liters of water by 9am (and I awoke around 7:30).
2. I felt major detox hit me this morning. My nose kept running and I was feeling "detoxy" (if that's a word). I think it would've been fabulous to continue the fast, but I wasn't prepared for it either mentally or in my kitchen.

Anyway, I think a juice fast is a great way to go. But remember no pulp! Strain your juices.

Hope this helps a bit.

[mommamia]

THanks so much everyone!

Karen: I'd be on here all day if I read adn responded to all posts! It's true that you gravitate toward your interests. I've never even been on the fasting threads til now! I had a post that got one answer. I bumped it up after a week or so and got all my questions answered. Bump, baby, bump!!

Rainbow and MissLinda: THanks for the info on the juice fasting! It sounds very straight foward, doesn't it! I thought of doing the master cleanse on my own (ie w/out ordering the books) but am a bit afraid of a major cleansing at this point!

(BTW MissLinda I"ve been wondering how your doing! Following your mall trip...(from the other thread

TwinYoga:Thanks for responding, I've read lots of your posts and get alot out of them! Great experience! 24 hours and your body was doing the detox thing! I've basically just done juices today and think I will keep it up tomorrow as I am just not hungry. Gonna listen to the body.


Can anyone tell me anything about the salt water thing that I saw recommended to start the a.m. with? Saw this on another thread but not much on it.

Thanks!

[misslinda]

Rainbow and MissLinda[/B]: THanks for the info on the juice fasting! It sounds very straight foward, doesn't it! I thought of doing the master cleanse on my own (ie w/out ordering the books) but am a bit afraid of a major cleansing at this point!

(BTW MissLinda I"ve been wondering how your doing! Following your mall trip...(from the other thread

Ugh........ yep. gotta cross the bridge to get to the mall ;) Muchos Gracias!

I agree with that. Personally, anytime there is fear, I don't do it at least that is how I see it until it is right. I believe the body's nervous system (and energy) field can affect our dietary intake. I am a firm believer that if our emotional,mental or spiritual (not neccessarily religous) state is not in a state of honoring or welcoming a change, then our intake becomes toxic.

Suggestion: Perhaps talking to your body and tell it what you plan to do and let them know that it is okay. :)


;) a votre sante,
ml

[michigan roman]

i just started fasting a year ago and have since done around 10 anywhere from 3 to 16 days , on only water ive got up to 9 days . and what ide say to you is look at the big picture , momamia and karen youve probably aten the basic american way for all of your previous body span . thusly you are not going to detox/cleanse in one fast , i dont care if you could go 30 days on water alone youd still have all kinds of goop in you from your previous bad eating habits . so look at it long term life habit , maybe every 2 weeks you do a 3 day water , or every month . then twice a year you do a bigger one , or more . point is look at fasting as life habit from here on out , theres many benefits = save money , save time from preparing and cleaning , rest gi tract giving you strength/energy to do other things with , flush dead cells and toxins . we should have been raised with the habit if we were wiser , now we know better and its time for adjustment . so dont think you have to do a 20 day fast and youll be clean , youll have to spend and want to spend many more days fasting than that . dont torture yourself , start of with a 2 or 3 day water , then go back to eating raw , youll really appreciate any food making raw great . then come right back a week later and do same thing . then when you feel ready come back again and push it further til it becomes a way of life , its logical to do so , youll find to be just as strong once you adjust on a 3 day water fast as youd be fat fed . and youd be saving money and time not eating plus cleaning out your cells like cleaning your house leading to a more vital long lasting body . its stupid behavior to not fast knowing what we now know . and on fasting i like warm water with lemon juice squeezed because it quells my appetite and the vita c is antigerm and cleansing . greentea i like also cuz it quells appetite . applejuice i like to for vita c plus ease of juicing . some sites i found = www.falconblanco.com has some good fasting points , www.drbenkim.com is an knowledgable man in the field to me . just punch in fasting on your browser and youll find site after site . and to me youll want to build up to doing long fast , 7 days and longer , which the experts say is whats needed , but youll have to get in shape to do so . thats what im doing now , since november ive done 4 fast from 7 to 16 days , some mostly or only water . im changing myself to being an habitual faster , and its results are nothing but good . so starting out youll be pouting , youll be worried about detox syptoms - headaches , lighthheadedness, whatever . just blow it off and keep focused on the big picture of what you want to become which is an habitual faster and a year from now youll be way more alive and energy rich . take care , ps - fleetwood mac is good music to fast by . :)

[twinyoga]

I never thought of fasting to music! I like that idea, though. And I'm going to put in a CD right now as I mop the floor.

I just have to add that for some people (like me) fasting even 24 hours needs to be practiced. I think looking at the big picture is very important. My first goal is to have a one day fast weekly. And now I'm practicing for that. I fasted from 5:30 last night till noon today. I only had a nut milk/banana smoothie (strained) at noon. Now I'm planning on starting a 24 hour fast till tomorrow at noon. It might be all water and tea, maybe juices, I'm not sure. I am slowly becoming comfortable with some of the detox symptoms and practicing helps.

Have a good day.

[mommamia]

Mich. roman: Wow.

Thanks so much for posting. Your post made so much sense. I have been thinking that perhaps I was maybe putting to much importance on the need to fast. I really like the thought of practicing and working up to it, that makes sense. I also appreciated that you said that fasting isn't going to clean everything out right away. I knew that intellectually, but I still think I was wanting results NOW. Good to be reminded of the big picture!

It's interesting you mentioned the warm water/lemon. That is pretty much what I have been donig the last couple mornings, too.My body has seemed to go on it's own fast for the last couple days. I've been mostly drinking juices. No desire for anything else.

My husband would be thrilled if I listened to more Fleetwood Mac~he'll ask me to fast all the time! Thanks for the sites too! I'll be sure to check them out.

[pdx kris]

twinyoga,

a weekly one day fast is a great way to get your body used to fasting. for the last two years, i have fasted on water one day a week and for three days once a month. it becomes a very spiritual practice, and is great for the body!

mommamia,

i am starting an extended juice fast on thursday if you want a buddy!

[sport]

Karen
I understand you being upset at getting few responses but I possibly was one of the people that read your tread but I have never fasted so can not give any advice.