Introduction to fasting

[LinguistixDE]

Hey all :up:

I have been reading up on fasting and have gotten quite interested in it. I was wondering if anyone has some tips for beginning fasting: such as, a good beginner fast that I can start with? Thank you very much for reading this and your replies.

Ciao! :sunny:

[Kataka]

Hi! I've done a few fasts! I would suggest doing a short juice fast. Maybe a weekend-three day fast. I jumped into doing the Master Cleanse and food cravings ate me alive and I ended up binging on donuts and who knows what else the third day. A fast that was very successful for me was an orange juice fast! It's very satisfying :) I did it for about 10 days, I think. I love fasting, it makes you feel so light and air-y! It's amazing how much food weighs you down!

[Lothar M Kirsch]

What is your idea behind fasting? Is there a goal you wish to achieve?
:)

[janie]

Linguistix, I hope you don't mind me jumping on your thread to ask some questions about fasting, too. :)

To those who know about fasting: What can you achieve by fasting? Is it dangerous? When is it recommended? I don't know much about fasts, but I'm interested in learning more about juice fasting, in particular. Kataka, maybe you could help me? :)

[sarahjayn1980]

I fast occassionally for religious reasons or to "clear" myself. I usually build down to it (I eat light in the days before, slowing decreasing) and I build myself back up when I'm done fasting. I don't know if it's "good" for you, but I always feel better.

[aotto08]

Sorry to jump on the question bandwagon but, I was wondering if I could fast, because I have juvenile diabetes? I actually have a problem with my blood sugar going too low, so that's why I eat 6 small meals a day instead of 3 bigs ones. Would it be possible to keep my blood sugar up while fasting? Any help will be apriciated.

[Lothar M Kirsch]

I think you have to decide between body and mind. Some spiritual pursuit might be worth the risk of doing something which might harm your body. Fasting means going into catabolism, which means the body switches to emergency mode.
Some people use fasting to loose weight, but that's a fallacy. You end up in something called the jojo-effect and therefore fasting wouldn't be worth the risk. Former German chancellor Helmut Kohl is a good example, he went to a fasting clinic every year only to gain more weight each year.
Therefore my question: what are your motives?

[Lothar M Kirsch]

Sorry to jump on the question bandwagon but, I was wondering if I could fast, because I have juvenile diabetes? I actually have a problem with my blood sugar going too low, so that's why I eat 6 small meals a day instead of 3 bigs ones. Would it be possible to keep my blood sugar up while fasting? Any help will be apriciated.
:hi:!!!
You just posted, when I've been writing tie other post!
You shouldn't fast! :no:
Please talk it over with your diabetes specialist!!!!

:) !!!!

[aotto08]

:hi:!!!
You just posted, when I've been writing tie other post!
You shouldn't fast! :no:
Please talk it over with your diabetes specialist!!!!

:) !!!!

That's what I figured. I just figured it was worth a shot to ask about it here.

[chocolatelover]

yes i am also wondering if Linguistix is doing this for religious reasons?

[LinguistixDE]

Hey all,
Sorry for the absence after the posting of this thread, my internet has been down for the past week or so and just recently got fixed. Nope, I am not doing this for just religious purposes. I would like to fast for both religion and health reasons. Thanks a bunch for all of your replies and thanks in advance for others :p

[jetekiff]

I have fasted before, and it is very important to drink water during them, even if yoou aren't thirsty. You can get dehydrated very easiy. I really wouldn't do one now because off the heat wave and also make sure that you do it when you're going to be free ike during a 3 day weekend so that you won't get tired.

[RawVeganMom]

I just recently did 8 days water only fasting & LOVED it! My advice is read up on different types of fasts online and/or books on fasting (and also while you are fasting because it is so inspiring!).

Here is one link to get you started!
http://www.falconblanco.com/health/fasting.htm#What%20is


Why Fast?
Probably the most important reason is that the body uses quite a bit of energy to digest food, and when fasting this energy becomes available for other uses. In the fasting state, the body will scour for dead cells, damaged tissues, fatty deposits, tumors, abscesses, all of which are burned for fuel or expelled as waste. The elimination of these obstructions restores the immune system functionality and metabolic process to an optimum state. Fasting restores good digestion and elimination, and peristaltic action is quickened. Fasting allows a deep, physiological rest of the digestive organs, and the energy saved goes into self-healing and self-repairing. By eliminating obstructions, by cleansing, detoxification, and purifying the intestines, the blood, and the cells, we can overcome many of our physical ills or handicaps as well as getting a boost in energy. Fasting not only removes obstructions and helps the body to heal itself, it is also rejuvenating and life-extending. These resulting benefits can have lasting affects in your mental and emotional health.

The other very important aspect is that your self-awareness will be elevated. If you are sick and depressed, then this might be the most important thing you can try in your healing program, because it gives you immediately an energy boost and increased awareness which might allow that you see things more clearly, allowing you the first step out of your sickness and onto the path of recovery. While fasting you become more aware of your body process, your life and with everything you are doing. It becomes a period where you can evaluate all that you're doing more objectively, and you naturally have more time for contemplation because you aren't using time amassing, preparing, eating, eliminating and cleaning up all which is used to prepare food. You become more aware of what your body likes and doesn't like when you start to eat again. You gain self-confidence in your ability to control your life process, to set a goal and carry out an intention.

[Lothar M Kirsch]

RawVeganMom: I agree with you in your second half of your post. But fasting isn't physiological, it's forcing the body to turn on catabolism.
And it makes you smell like a canivor as you burn proteins (muscles).
If you do it to "gain self-confidence in your ability to control your life process" it's fine, because it merits the risk. But in my eyes fasting isn't a way to enhance somatic wellbeing.

[janie]

After doing research, I decided this isn't something I want to do afterall.

[RawVeganMom]

Your body does not start consuming itself unless you are starving. There is a HUGE difference between starving & fasting! Every great spiritual leader fasted & there is a reason it was 40 days & 40 nights. Anything much over that & you start actually starving. You may find it interesting to read up on the process sometime.

[Lothar M Kirsch]

Of course there is a spiritual difference between fasting and starving. And you will notice it, but how will your body know? The body only understands enough or not enough food and reacts. Catabolism doesn't wait 40 days, it starts when your glycogen is used up. The body does wonderful things in order to not starve to death. It uses protein to form glucose (called gluconeogenesis) and in that way the brain gets glucose until it's ready to burn keton-bodies and moreover the greatest energy drain (msucle) is reduced. With this catabolism the body gets lots of keton-bodies (the mechanism is like with Atkins dieters).
Let me stress it again: I don't say anything against fasting for spiritual pursuits.

[CoolPercussion]

...it's forcing the body to turn on catabolism.
And it makes you smell like a canivor as you burn proteins (muscles).
If you do it to "gain self-confidence in your ability to control your life process" it's fine, because it merits the risk. But in my eyes fasting isn't a way to enhance somatic wellbeing.

I think catabolism is not to be viewed as problematic in fasting, but rather the key to the physiological objective of cleansing by first using "dead cells, damaged tissues, fatty deposits, tumors, abscesses," etc. In addition, the energy saved by fasting can go toward the cleansing of the body instead.

[Diana]

RawVeganMom: I take it you're a mum from your name.

How old are your kid/s and how do you manage to rest during your fast if he/she/they are young? Fasting I think requires complete rest to be efficient.

[gaya]

I just recently did 8 days water only fasting & LOVED it! My advice is read up on different types of fasts online and/or books on fasting (and also while you are fasting because it is so inspiring!).

Here is one link to get you started!
http://www.falconblanco.com/health/fasting.htm#What%20is


this disclaimer is from the link you provided
"FalconBlanco does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information on this web site. The information and/or features of our web site may include technical errors, typographical errors, delays, omissions or inaccuracies"

Probably not the best source for information.

[CoolPercussion]

Fasting I think requires complete rest to be efficient.
I think so too.