Fasting Set Back

So what I learned from my last fast was that I should follow directions. When things get to going good I have a tendency to take the progress for granted and either push too hard forward or lie down and think it will coast. Just for the record that doesn't work out! You would think by mid 40's I would get that!

So Paul Bragg's suggestion is to fast 24 to 36 hours one day per week in order to give your body a day of rest. After a period of time do a 3 to 4 day fast. He recommends doing the 3 to 4 day fast every 3 to 4 months. Then work up to a 7 day fast, then a 10 day fast , a 21 day fast, then a 30 day fast. This happens over a period of years, not weeks as I would like to do things.

I had attempted a 6 day fast three weeks ago and ended up breaking it after 4 days. I had flown out of town which slows down my digestion. I had gotten discouraged by that and broke my fast with the intent to do another one the next week. So the following week I did another fast with only water. Monday was great. Tuesday was great. But then late Tuesday and into Wednesday I became very weak. I had committed myself to several things on Wednesday that I didn't feel I could get out of . I was serving dinner at church on Wednesday night and almost passed out on the line. That wasn't really beneficial to anyone, should have gotten someone to take my place.

So what I learned was that your body needs more time to recuperate between fasts. It is unreasonable to expect that much of your body. Secondly don't commit yourself to anything on day 3. Paul Bragg's book The Miracle of Fasting states that day 3 is the hardest so you should make sure you can rest when necessary. I however think I am above recommendations. Those apply to other people and I again paid the price for thinking that way.

The most interesting part of this fast debacle was that I was left with angry, irritable feelings that I am still trying to recover from. It really set me back personally.

I am having to work really hard to get back on track. I have been eating horrible this past week, almost punishing myself. It is interesting how I have felt with all that "bad" eating. I didn't realize how cleaned out my system had become. I ate Mexican food one afternoon and my ankles instantly swelled and my lower legs ached. You get so used to feeling that way that once your body is cleaner and that is eliminated you feel it worse when it returns. My face is bloated again. My liver is back to aching.

So we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and move on. I have had 45 years of eating poorly. I am probably not going to break all those habits without a fight from my flesh and my mind.

I am still drinking The Feast. I had backed down to once a day but am picking back up to three times per day. It fills my stomach so I can eat less, it makes me crave better foods and I feel more energetic when I drink it. And why wouldn't we want to do that as much as possible???? Dah!!!!

 

Continue to Trudge the Road to Good Nutrition,

Tammy

The Progress of the 4 Day Fast

Okay its day three of fasting. YUCK! I am not having fun. The first two days I felt energized. A little hunger pains but I could drink water and move past them. But then yesterday late afternoon I started feeling like I had the flu. I still have those symptoms today. You know the ones body aches, headache, tired, nausea, and feel like I could pass out at any time. I know it's just detox but it's hard to control your mind from thinking that if you just ate something you would immediately feel better. My flesh is screaming.

I keep reading Paul Bragg's book The Miracle of Fasting
for encouragement. There is actually an affirmation on page 77:

• I have this day put my body in the hands of God and Mother Nature. I turn to the highest power for internal purification and rejuvenation of body and soul.
  
• Every minute that I fast I am flushing dangerous poisons that do great damage from my wonderful body. Every hour that I fast I become happier, healthier and have more energy and youthfulness.
  
• Hour by hour, my body is cleansing and purifying itself.
  
• When I fast I am using the same method for physical, mental and spiritual purification that the greatest spiritual leaders have used throughout the ages.
  
• I am in complete control of my body during this fast. No false hunger pains will stop me from fasting! I will carry my fast through to a successful conclusion because I have total faith in God and Mother Nature!
  

I keep reading it but my flesh is loud today. My goal is to continue this fast through tomorrow evening at 8 p.m. That will be 4 days. I have already dropped 5 lbs in 2 days. My purpose for enduring this is twofold. I gained a lot of weight 18 months ago taking anti-depressants. I stopped the medications but the weight didn't go with it. The other issue is my liver aches most of the time. I know that it needs to be "cleaned" out. I had my gallbladder removed 5 or so years ago and my liver is overworking and I feel it.

I have been such a medicine junky my whole life and I know some of those medications are still stuck in my cells. Then we won't talk about the 20 year diet coke addiction or the alcohol and drug addictions or the eating junk that we Americans call food. All that on top of a sluggish digestive system. It has been hard for my body to process all this stuff out.

So writing today is about helping me remember why I am doing this. Losing weight is nice; making my heart, lungs, bones and vessels carry the burden of an extra 40 lbs is not in its best interest. I know when I am finished I will weigh less cause I already do, I will feel energized and alive because that is my past experience with fasting and my eyes will be clearer and bright.

You know all the changes that have taken place in my nutrition in the past 5 months have actually been encouraging other people to make changes. That is exciting. Considering my nutrition lifestyle would certainly not have gotten me "the most likely to eat healthy" award.

I will keep you posted on my progress.