Fasting -- anybody do it?

[Will]

Hello. Thanks to everyone who posted in my intro thread and gave me such a warm welcome. I'm returning to veganism after a 6 year lapse and just began (yesterday) a weekly atonement/cleansing fast. I'd never done it before and was surprised at how difficult it was to just not eat for 1 day!!! Do any of you do regular fasts? Do you follow any rituals or have a special meal before or after? I read somewhere that you are supposed to eat very plainly and lightly just before and after a fast -- is that true? I fast from evening of the day before until morning the following day, so it is really about a 36 hr fast. It is also hard because my gf and her daughter are eating normally and I get so so hungry just smelling their food (they were both vegetarian and decided to go vegan with me recently). Oh! I'm going to try to add a poll -- hope it works!

[Erin Pavlina]

I used to do a personal ritual fast the night before my birthday. I would eat dinner the day before, then not eat again until dinner on my birthday. I felt like I was cleansing myself from the past year and I wanted to do it to honor a friend who took her own life on my birthday.

But I don't fast anymore. I probably should, occasionally, though. I remember reading that you should go from dinner to dinner, otherwise you're getting that 36 hour fast.

Try that and see if it works better for you.

[sophie]

I've never done a fast myself, for the last 7 years or so I've either been pregnant, breastfeeding or running around after little kids:p But I've always been fascinated with the idea. I remember my parner doing a raw food fast, where all he ate was raw fruit and vegies, sparingly, and fresh juices. His body went crazy! But after a point he felt amazing, physically and spiritually. One day I want to do something like that (but at the moment I'm pregnant ).

[Sylver]

Hi! I remember fasting once while at school, when I was really young. It was for the purpose of understanding how people who live in poverty feel, if they don't have anything to eat. It didn't turn out too well. I don't remember how long I lasted though. I just know I didn't complete the time for it. After then, I never really gave fasting much thought. I don't think I would ever do it. I think I could if I tried though, especially if I prepared myself well for it. Interesting poll!! Take care.

[Will]

I think you really have to prepare yourself for a fast. I kind of started last week impetuously but I'm hoping to do better this monday. Last week was successful (I had only water for 36 hrs) but it was miserable! I've been reading up on fasting and meditation, so we'll see how it goes.

[Emily]

What are the benefits of fasting? I'm considering it. Do you usually start for a short period of time and get longer or how does it work? How often should I do it?

Emily

[VeganMonster]

I have fasted a lot. For cleansing purposes. Whether it be mentally or physically. The first few days are the hardest. Longest I've gone is 7 days. Though it's hard, if you go longer than 3 days it gets easier. At least for me it did. It's a great feeling too.

[Will]

Wow Camille -- 7 days!!!! And I thought going 36 hrs. was hard! Today is actually my fast day, and I have done a lot better this time. I was a lot more centered during my prayers and I feel pretty good.

Emily -- There are lots of benefits to fasting, but it can be dangerous too I guess. If you are young, or have body-image issues it might not be a good idea. For me, I am working on physical/mental cleansing and atonement for eating meat for 6 yrs. I've read that fasting is good for your body as it gives it a rest from digesting and allows for deeper detoxification. It can also help you achieve greater stillness/focus in prayers or meditation.

[Will]

Emily -- forgive me! I just re-read my reply and I want to apologize if it seems like I'm implying that you are 'too young' to fast or that you have body-image issues. I meant that just as a general caution about fasting, not as a direct warning to anybody. Also, I didn't mean to sound so pedantic. Sorry!

[5xblessed]

I have and do fast for religious reasons. These usually do not last longer than 24 hours though. The thought of seven days makes my head swim. I do a semi-fast when pregnant or nursing heavily. I allow myself some fruit and vegetable juices since I don't think any higher being wants the baby to "starve" too. Cool thread. I had no idea so many other people fasted.
Lisa

[Blinky]

I'm wondering if fasting is not good for the body since it puts the body into "starvation" mode and slows down the metabolism in order to conserve resources. I'd like to keep my metabolism as high as I can :)

[Will]

yk, I've read that fasting can alter your metabolic set point, but I don't know if there is anything conclusive. Since I've returned to veganism, I've actually lost about 10 lbs, so I'm trying to figure out how to gain weight.

[Erin Pavlina]

Trying to gain weight? :)

I have just three words for you: vegan junk food.

Cookies, candies, pies, donuts, cakes, brownies.

When I first went vegan I lost 21 pounds in 3 months. I was elated.

Then I discovered the vegan donut, then vegan chocolate. I haven't been the same since.

[Will]

vegan chocolate? is it fair trade? if i could have chocolate again --- it is the ONLY food I truly miss from the past 6 yrs!!

[Erin Pavlina]

You'd have to check the fair trade issue... but start here:

www.givere.com
www.chocolatedecadence.com
www.tropicalsource.com

High marks from moi.

[yemenmocha]

For those who have fasted for a day or more, how did it affect your flatulence? I'm wondering how far the "cleansing effects" of fasting might extend.

[Emily]

Erin, have you been to tropicalsource.com because I've tried going there numerous times in the past year or so and the website has never worked for me. I love tropical source!!!

Emily

[Erin Pavlina]

Sometimes it works and most times it does not. Their parent company website is probably a better bet. But it's escaping my brain at the moment. Who owns Tropical Source? Anyone?

is it Cloud Nine?

[sballati]

Will,

I did a 9 day fast + 3 day refeeding at the TrueNorth Center in Northern California last December. I have no serious health issues and used the fast as a cleansing and rest period. I felt very weak during the fast, but with my first glass of juice on the first day of a careful refeeding program I perked right up. During the fast, my blood pressure decreased to a very healthy level that I have been able to maintain since. I lost a fair amount of weight, mostly water during the first few days. My weight continues to decline as I stick with the vegan diet they recommend.

One of the best parts of the program was the education on nutrition, psychology (why we crave sugars, etc.) and hygiene. The fast was good for my health at the time, the education will be good for my health forever (or as long as I implement what I learned).

TrueNorth has a number of excellent articles on the effects of fasting at their website http://www.healthpromoting.com/Home/home.htm.

It's important to have trained supervision for long fasts. Once a year or so, I might do a shorter 3-5 day fast at home on my own, however the benefits would not be near as large as for longer fasts.

Overall, the 9-day fast was a turning point in my life healthwise.

[duckie1978]

I have to say that fasting for me was a negative experience. Of course I am not the type of person to fast as I have an eating disorder and some psych problems. I tried a juice fast a few years ago because I felt that I needed to lose some weight quick and by drinking and eating fruit I would still be getting nutrients and fiber while still being restrictive. After two days my now husband threw a fit and finally got me to eat food again. I don't think I will ever try it again, but like I said before, I am not the type of person to try it.

I guess I can see how it can be helpful after eating meat and stuff, to get rid of any impurities that might be lingering in your intestines but I don't think it can be very healthy for your body. When you stop taking in nutrients, your body goes into starvation mode and canabalizes itself. It slows down your metabolism and can cause cellular damage, especially in your major organs. The "high" you feel from fasting is your body's way of reacting to the lack of nutrients. At least this is what I have been told by a doctor and nutriconist (sp?). I figure that it is more important that I put healthy stuff in rather than try to get rid of anything bad that might still be hanging around.

[Jenn_UCSB]

I like to start off with one day of raw foods then switch to a water fast. I do this as long as I feel comfortable in my own skin. When I start to feel sluggish I stop (usually the 3rd or 4th day). At this point, I switch to juices. Carrot is best for me. Its all about listening to your body. During these days, my mind is clearer, I have more energy, less period pain, etc. It really helps and feels very cleansing, but its not for everyone.

[alexis]

i started fasting this year it's part of this 40-day thing called LoveSingapore...every year from 1st of july to 9th of August christians in Singapore fast and pray......i'm doing the 'Daniel Fast'...so for 40 days i eat only small amounts of fruit and vegetables...i'm wondering if i can make it past 40 days...haha... ;)
Juz a thought, i don't think fasting can be THAT bad for your body...my muslims friends fast every year for a months but then they eat during at before and after sunrise...i think it's mainly picking a fast that you're comfortable with...

[Jenica]

Does anybody have more links about fasting? I've had difficulty when I looked in the past finding non-religious (health related) info on the topic.

Also, I tend to get low blood sugar very easily, something I can combat by limiting my sugars and simple carbs, but not eating for long periods of time will usually cause my blood sugar to plummet. Six to eight waking hours of not eating, even after a really healthy meal designed to last me a while, will usually leave me curled up on the floor, unable to even feed myself. Total fasting scares me for this reason and I am wary of juice fasting as well. I'm looking for some good information about different types of fasting and perhaps a how-to FAQ. If anybody has this information, I would be much obliged.

[mum2sarah]

I will freely admit I know next to nothing about the possible health benefits to fasting, but I have to say I would neither fast nor reccommend fasting to anyone. That is because my sister is a recovering anorexic, and I think it's playing with fire to deny your body food. She's been struggling with her disorder for many years, and we've done lots of reading about it. We've read in more than one place that sometimes people who are put in a situation of starvation (ie. being lost in a desert) end up displaying anorexic symptoms and sometimes develop an eating disorder, when they were perfectly healthy and had a good image beforehand. Eating disorders are very serious. They endanger your life, health, and happiness, and often never completely go away even after treatment.

To me, it is simply not worth risking the beginnings of an eating disorder just to cleanse the body. People have too many negative body image feelings in today's society, and too many negative examples. It is a slippery slope to becoming obsessive about it.

I also believe strongly in following your body's signals. When I'm tired, I do everything possible to get some rest (not always easy with a toddler running around). If I need to eliminate, I go to the bathroom. If I am hungry I eat. If your body is telling you you are hungry, why deny its signals?

But then again, that's just my opinion. If you feel better after fasting and don't feel you are at risk for an eating disorder, then who am I to judge? I guess it can work for some people, but it's definitely not for me.

[annie7]

The school where I work invites the highschool aged kids to partake in a 30 hour fast and prayer time ending with a lock in at school complete with games, videos, etc. There are several who are not physically able to fast from food, so the options are fasting from something else that you DON'T need, but spend alot of time on. For teenagers it's usually TV, the phone, video games, etc.
Jenica... you could pick something other than food, too couldn't you?

[Jenica]

That's an excellent suggestion, annie7. From a spiritual and psychological standpoint, it would work wonders. However, I'm really interested in doing a thorough physical cleansing and from all I've read, abstaining from food seems to be one of the most efficient ways of doing so.

On the other hand, I just finished a week long "media fast" (no television, no movies, no internet, no reading...yes, you heard me, no reading, no input whatsoever.) It was fabulous. Very intense, very difficult at times, but very highly recommended. It's amazing how much housework you can get done in a day...and how much time there is left to play when you actually DO all of the things you always say you're going to!

[k0s]

I used to fast occasionally, for 2-3 days at a time. Diet consisting of water, sweetener-free cranberry juice, and herbal and green teas. I, however, only did this when I was deep into my eating disorder, so it was not for healthy reasons.

[mum2sarah]

Originally posted by k0s
I used to fast occasionally, for 2-3 days at a time. Diet consisting of water, sweetener-free cranberry juice, and herbal and green teas. I, however, only did this when I was deep into my eating disorder, so it was not for healthy reasons.

Bingo... My point exactly...

[annie7]

That sounds dangerous.

[sarahrose]

I ocasionally fast, but only for a day. Usually if my body is feeling sluggish from too much junk food ( Which I rarely eat, so when I do, my body feels heavy and junked up). I guess I don't 'really' fast though, I drink all day, fruit and vegetable juice, herbal tea, water. I do this because the point for me is for my body to absorb tons of nutrients while flushing out my system, not to starve. It is a great cleanse, and I usually don't feel weak or anything because I am constantly taking in fluids and nutrients. One great one too is to eat a light breakfast and then fast the rest of the day until breakfast the next morning.

[annie7]

If I eat one thing in the morning, I can't quit. Eating first thing seems to make me munch more!

[Leo]

Fasting is suposed to prolong our lifes! It's part of our natural way of living because our ancestors didn't have food to eat every day. But I haven't tried it myself. I'm afraid that I can't sleep with an empty stomach.

[PikkuMyy]

The only times I've fasted have been involuntary ones - no money for food, away in a strange country! (Ah....those teenage years!)

Anyhow, my best friend fasts for a day or two at a time about once a month. Here's how to fast in a healthy way:

First you "wean" yourself off foods for about 3 days before actually fasting. Day 1, drop all unnecessary food, sweets, big carbs, etc. Day 2, only fruits and veggies, or fruit/veggie juice

Fast - DO DRINK lots each day - tea, water, even veggie juice

Don't fast more than 3 days without speaking to a Dr. about it first.

After the fast, work back up to foods, the same way you got off them before the fast.

This way your body isn't suddenly dropped or raised with blood sugar and has time to prepare for functioning without food.

Of course, I haven't done it (hehehe) but this is what I've read from nutritionists and my friend.

Emily