Disclaimer: if you desire to carry out an experiment such as water fasting, you should consult your doctor first. This blog post only reflects my opinions and thoughts on the subject of water fasting and my experience of it but shouldn’t be used as medical guidance.
Last year I did a detox for 5 days on a mixture of water, lemon juice and cayenne pepper. I did it mostly for health reasons after Christmas to detox my body of all the junk food that I had been eating for a year up to that point. I wanted to do it for a longer period of time but then after reading a lot of articles on the internet from people saying that fasting was not a safe thing to do (because according to them you are missing all the nutrients your body needs to maintain optimum health), I decided to terminate the experiment.
I decided to stop purely because of what I read, I became scared of jeopardizing my health.
It is important to note that what was fascinating for me was that I actually felt great; I experienced a great sense of awareness and felt great within my own body. Then I started asking myself: “How come I felt so great despite their warning? What if they were wrong?"
I decided to do some research on the subject and I discovered a wealth of information on water fasting. Water fasting is, as its name implies, to eat nothing but water for a certain length of time. From what I found, it can go from 1 day, or even a few hours to 30 days.
Some people claim that fasting offers many benefits such as:
- Detoxifying the body from chemicals found on food and medicine.
- Promoting clearer skin,
- Improving mood,
- Decreasing cravings for processed foods
- Helping repair torn or damaged tissue
- Promoting the cleaning of the colon
- Fasting can be used for nearly every chronic condition, including allergies, anxiety, arthritis, asthma, depression, diabetes, headaches, heart disease, high cholesterol, low blood sugar, digestive disorders, mental illness, and obesity
- Strengthening the immune system
- Bringing spiritual awareness
- And more...just Google 'benefit of water fasting"
Whereas some people say that fasting is very dangerous, should not be done and could result in:
- Weakening of the immune system
- Danger of death
- Muscle Wasting
- Long Term Increases in body fat
- Energy Depletion
- Hormonal Upset
- Disrupted Detoxification
- Blood sugar problem
- Vitamin deficiency
- …and more, just Google ‘dangers of water fasting’
I thought that it was weird to see such contradicting opinions.
I realized that they are really 2 types of people giving advice on fasting: those who tried it and those who never tried it.
Those who never tried it based their opinion on what they 'know' or rather what they have conditioned themselves to believe. They mainly find arguments based on western medicine and western common sense.
Whereas those who usually promote the benefit of fasting are mainly those who have had first hand experience of not eating food for a certain length of time.
From a westernized point of view, I must admit that it doesn't make sense to fast because based on western medicine the body uses food as a car uses petrol, in other words it needs food to keep going. The thought of not eating for more than a day can actually be a scary thought. Whereas in eastern cultures or in many religions like Christianity or Islam they all speak about fasting.
I have read a lot on water fasting and I wondered for a long time who I should believe. However, since there is so much junk on the web, I think that the only way to truly found out about how effective fasting is is to try it.
I think that in order to make a great article on fasting you have to try it first. I noticed that most people writing articles on this subject and saying negative stuff about fasting have never done it themselves, whilst most of those being positive about it have tried it. Apparently, some people recovered from serious illness and others have had other benefits. Now, I am not concluding that those disputing it are wrong, but in my mind, if they have never tried it and base their opinion on western medical knowledge then it is not knowledge but assumptions. They assume that doing the opposite of what they have been taught so far will lead to bad health or even death. However, the truth is that most, if not all of them, have never carried out any true experiments on themselves or on others to be able to make an objective observation.
I have come across some pretty interesting blog posts from people explaining the great experience they had through fasting. Whether they speak about their spiritual growth or healing benefits they have noticed, I must say it kind of triggered my curiosity. Many people claim that the body can heal itself through fasting, hence the reason that we are not hungry when we are sick. Many more people claim about the enhanced spiritual connection.
I am not the kind of person to believe anything I read, therefore I have decided to try it for myself (although I must say that I am more prone to believe that fasting has some benefits to offer based on my previous attempt.).
Below you will find a daily report of my fasting experience. As I am writing this, I am already on my 3rd day of my fast (16.09.2011). (I will be updating this page everyday or so until the completion of this experiment, so come back for more updates if at the time you are reading this I am still doing it!) I am not too sure of how long I am going to do it for; my target is 7-10 days. But this goal is based on what I read on the internet of what seems the 'easiest', most 'beneficial' and 'safest' option. Since I do not know how much I should rely on this information, I cannot say how long I will do it for and will try to listen to my body as to when I truly need to stop. From the way I feel as I am writing this, a minimum of 7 days sounds reasonable (well, feels reasonable! lol).
The sceptics say that they would not recommend fasting at all. I have found a few people saying that a fast lasting longer than 3 days should be done under medical supervision (but again most say that just to cover their back to detach themselves from the responsibility in case someone tried to sue them)
I have also read about many people saying that you reap the true benefit of fasting between day 3 and day 11. Whilst others say that 21 days are necessary.
I don’t know…we shall see!
Day#1 (14/07/2011)
The very first day of my fast was really easy, mainly due to the fact that I was quite excited by the very idea of trying something new. My commitment level was very high.
It felt even easier because I woke up feeling like I needed to detox as I had a rather heavy day the day before with fried food, process food and not enough water.
Note: from what many people are saying, it is recommended to eat lots of fruits and vegetables a couple of days before your fast, so please do not follow my example. But because I couldn't help it, my body was asking me to detox, I did it anyway. I am all about listening to my body.
My weight on that morning was 93kg (14.7 stone)
As expected, my first day was pretty easy, I felt a bit hungry around midday but nothing intense, just minor hunger pangs. The only challenge that I had was when I went on the high street and could smell fried chicken and I saw chocolate bars lurking at me in shops.
If anything, I knew then that this experience, if I completed it, would give me a sense of achievement and would strengthen my will power.
Late in the afternoon, I started feeling lighter and a bit more alert (it could be down to being excited to undertake the fast, so I am not jumping to conclusions yet!)
Day#2 (15/09/2011)
The second day was definitely challenging. Compared to day#1, I had more frequent hunger pangs throughout the day and had a mild headache later in the evening. I read in different articles and testimonies that it has to be expected on the first few days but those feelings should stop on the 3rd day.
What was interesting is that when I went to the shop to buy water I was craving for junk food. I couldn't help but salivate for the crisps and cakes. It is quite weird since I am not usually so fond of them.
However, what I missed the most is the habit of eating, I realize how much time we spend eating and how much we do it not because we need to eat but because we are used to eating. Also, although I was not bored, I could tell of how easy it could be to substitute boredom for food. When you stop eating (and all that comes with it, like cooking, washing up etc), it frees us of so much time that once you stop eating you need to replace it by something else.
I also felt that my energy level was not great and that my attention span was a bit low. My breath stank like crazy lool and my pee had a funny smell, I guess it was due to the toxins starting to be released. My poo was also very weird, it looked like plastic!!! Sorry, is this too much information?!
Clearly, day#2 was challenging and I wondered whether I could reach my 7-10 days target if everyday was that intense.
As a matter of fact, the only reason I started my blog on day 3 is because on day #2 I couldn't focus on writing and access my creative side.
Day#3 (16/09/2011)
The third day is so far the easiest, yes, even easier than day#1. No hunger pangs, a great energy level and so far, I have been feeling very alert. Compared to yesterday, it is weird to notice such difference. My mind is very clear and it feels like a great day to be creative, brainstorm and reflect on deep stuff. Don't be surprised if you read many unusual questions. I am on a reflection mode today!
I am trying to figure out whether on day #2 my body was truly hungry or whether my mind was trying to force me back into eating just like a food addiction. Or maybe I was just uncomfortable because my belly was empty and because I am not used to that feeling of emptiness I should simply go pass it?
I realize that usually my belly is always full and never gets time to rest. Is it a good thing?
I cannot help but thinking about food differently.
I wonder...How can I survive 3 days with just water, feel great and then have people tell me that I need to eat 3 times a day?
I know that fasting cannot be done everyday of the year but still I wonder whether we truly need to eat that much.
Does our body need to eat 3 times a day as the food industry claims so loudly or is it just an habit that we have that we should simply break?
What if we've been wrong all along?
What if the whole society is fooled in thinking that they need something they don't need (so much food!)?
The only reason I eat 3 times a day is because I was told that it is a normal thing to do.
I wonder:" Is it a wise thing to simply believe what we are taught?"
When you think about it, we know that the food industry and the medical industry are moneymaking businesses that make millions of dollars.
How much do you think that those businesses care about your health?
We cannot deny that there is a conflict of interest because in order to remain rich or become richer then the food industry needs us to eat more and the health industry needs us to be sick more often.
If we suddenly started eating half as much and only ate what is needed for our growth then that would place most of the food chain bankrupt.
If we suddenly found a cure for most of our diseases, then most pharmaceutical companies would become bankrupt and doctors would need to find other jobs...
So, do you think that if they already know or if they found out that the body doesn't need to eat that much or that in order to heal all you need to do is to stop food or medicine intake, do you think that they would tell you? I think not.
Merely we have been conditioned to think that we should eat 3 times a day but now that I am undertaking this fast I wonder how much of this is true.
Can we trust nutritionists? After all, who funds their research?
Most nutritionists simply repeat what they are taught in school. They tell us that we need 2000 calories per day, but they have never done the true research themselves. They are just conditioned to believe it because their teacher told them. And because we live in a society where we need approval, just because they are 'qualified' then we believe them blindly too. So since the nutritionists use second hand knowledge, I am more interested in the true researchers...I wonder, who funds their research? If it is the government or another lucrative business, indeed I question whether I can trust them. Aren’t they the same people who claim that cigarettes are bad yet leave them on the market? Why is that? They need the money...
Anyway, let’s not go off the topic.
When I think about it, many times I eat out of habit, simply because I am aware that I have not eaten one of my 3 meals a day. But truly, I do not always feel hungry, in fact I very often only eat twice a day and I feel perfectly fine.
If you are not hungry, why should you eat?
Now I think about this, for all these years I have been hearing people saying that you should eat when you're sick...but why aren’t we hungry? Doesn't it make sense to listen to our body?
In the animal kingdom, when animals are injured they fast. Why is that?
I don't know but I intend to find out.
So yeah, day 3# was great. Let's see what tomorrow brings!
Day #4 (17/09/2011)
Last night (night#3), my body wanted to rest so I went to sleep very early, at 9pm. This is very unusual for me, as I never go to bed before 1am at the very earliest. I woke up at 3.30am very alert and with great energy. However, I allowed fears to enter my mind and started thinking: what am I doing to myself? It is my 4th day without food, this is insane. Shouldn't I stop this nonsense?
I realized that I was going through the same process as when I did my lemon diet last year. This time though I was very aware that I had to overcome the conditioning in my mind in order to truly feel whether it was time to end it or not. After reconnecting with my body, I knew that my body was definitely fine and could go for another day.
I realized that we are so used to being given second hand knowledge by the educational system that we have lost our natural intelligence. We base most of our choices on intellectual ground, in the end it makes us like robots and can creates fear inside of us. School does not teach us to be independent, to be intelligent, to observe, to connect with nature, others and ourselves. Everything is given to us, we store it in our mind and classify it as true; we learn about the theories of life but are not encouraged to experience life. We do not learn to eat when we are hungry but to eat at set times. We are not taught to listen to our body to go to sleep; we are told that we should sleep for 8 hours…etc
This is what I have done this morning; I was trying to make the difference between the intellectual conditionings of my mind and the natural intelligence of my body. The first was saying 'stop it is not safe' out of fear created on erroneous and rigid knowledge while the other was saying, "you are totally fine" based on the assessment of the present moment.
One of the benefits that I can add to the list is that water fasting definitely helps reconnect with my body and listen to its natural wisdom.
At 9am, I felt a little tired and took a nap until 11am.
Today I felt great and had no obvious signs of anything unusual except the fact that I felt the urge to rest at 9am.
According to the various articles I have been reading, from the 4th day the body is supposed to start the real detoxification so I am assuming that maybe my body needed to use its energy to concentrate on repairing damaged cells and so on. I don't know...I am just assuming!
I have posted a link on Facebook to let my friends know about my water fast. I have had very encouraging words from a few people, which I must say does help a lot. A few friends told me that I was mad but overall most people were very supportive. If there was one tip I would give to anyone wishing to carry out a water fast, it would be to do it whilst surrounded by supportive people. I can imagine how much more challenging it would be to be around people feeding me with negative thoughts and unconsciously trying to transfer their fears onto me.
Fortunately, I haven't had this problem so far, as I have been spending most of my time indoors on my own or with a few people very much like-minded.
That said, this afternoon I was asked a couple of questions that I am going to answer to ease some of you of your concerns.
How much activity do I have during the day?
Not much, I mostly stay indoors, I have been doing some writing and been resting a lot. Everyday I go out for about half an hour to an hour for a meditative walk. I try to save my energy so that it can be used for what it is needed the most: repairing and detoxifying.
What do I eat?
Well, actually I am not sure you will feel relieved to read this lol!
I don't eat anything. I just drink about 3 liters of water per day.
Do I have blackouts?
To tell you the truth, it is weird because I feel as if I was eating normally. Except the fact that I am obviously losing weight, I do not feel weak and haven't had any blackouts.
Have I noticed any health benefit yet?
The one thing that I have noticed is that for almost a year now I had been experiencing back pain, yesterday I noticed the pain diminishing and today I am virtually pain free. Is it because of the fast? I don't know…all I can say is that it is a strange coincidence. Will the pain come back after the fast? I do not know but it is possible, we shall see!
Other than that, it is hard to notice any other health benefits yet since I was healthy when I started it. I think I will be able to answer that question a few months after the fast. I always considered myself to have a weak immune system as I get too many colds in a year in my opinion (around 3). I will let you know in the future if there is any improvement on that matter. Right now, I feel in good health, but I could not say that I feel better than usual (except for my back). I certainly do not feel worse though.
That’s it for today
Day #5 (18/09/2011)
Sorry for being late for my update, I didn't have internet access!
Not much to say about day #5 really! It was pretty much like day#4, if not easier. I did not feel any signs of tiredness or hunger pangs.
In the afternoon, I met a friend in London. I was a little concerned to use public transportation and move around as it was the first time since I started the fast that I came out of the house for more than a simple walk.
It turned out to be just like any other day. I felt like I had just as much energy as when I eat. I think meeting up with friends made the day even easier.
In the evening, I went to visit my friend in Brighton (uk), I am going to stay there a couple of days. She is from Gambia, she is a great cook and eating is really a big part of socializing with her. So it was a bit weird not to eat. I kept thinking of how good it is going to be to have my first meal. But I didn't feel tempted since I know that it is now very unsafe to go back on solid food straight away as my stomach has shut down completely.
One bit of advice for those who intend to undertake water fasting: don’t stay around food the first couple of days if you know that temptation can easily make you break your fast. However passed day 2 you must know that before eating anything solid you MUST break your fast with juices for a couple of days, then with raw vegetables for another couple of days. So no matter what if you feel like eating what your friends are eating it will not be possible to break the fast here and then; you'll have to wait.
So really, that's it for day#5. One thing that both of my friends told me is that I lost a lot of weight. I didn't think it was that obvious!
DAY #6 (19/09/2011)
Today I was out all day helping my friend in Brighton to move out. I was a bit self-conscious at first to drive the van, even though I felt good, I thought that maybe there was a risk that I'd pass out. Thankfully, the day went perfectly fine.
I am starting to miss food, I see food like a blessing that we should learn to enjoy and be grateful for instead of taking it for granted.
I have seen many people eat and I could not help myself to think of how lucky they are. Food is great, fasting definitely is a great reminder of how much of a blessing food is.
I am looking forward to my first real meal next week.
I can tell that I have lost a lot of weight, I can't remember when was the last time I was that slim.
Despite the weight, my skin has a nice glow, I look and feel healthy.
Day #6 was just like day #5 in terms of energy, hunger pangs and so on, I didn't feel any difference.
If the following days happen to be the same, don't be surprised if my updates get shorter and shorter.
Day #7 and #8
Next time I decide to embark on such a controversial journey, I don't know whether I will be posting updates on Facebook or talk about it to people around me. I probably keep it to myself or talk about it to people I know will understand.
As much as I got support from open-minded friends, I found it a bit jarring to answer phone calls and messages from people telling me that what I am doing is unhealthy. Unhealthy? How do you know? I had to ask.
"Well, common sense!" they would answer.
While I understand that from a western point of view it does sound unhealthy, I think it is important to know that what we call 'common sense' is only common where we live. Often, common sense in western countries is uncommon sense in eastern countries.
Even common sense should be questioned.
What I also found interesting is having those kinds of worries coming from a few Christians. I don't get it, didn't Jesus fast for 40 days in the desert? If Jesus did it for 40 days, what is 10 days?
Faith is the key guys!
Anyway…! lol
Day #7 and #8 I experienced a psychological switch, my mind no longer craves junk food, it feels like my 'food addiction' is finally under control. I was a bit concern that once I break the fast I will jump at junk food and ruin all the health benefits acquired through fasting (yes, now I am definitely convinced of the positive effect that fasting has on the body!). Now, I am looking forward to some nice raw vegetables and can go to the shop without being attracted to chocolate bars, fried chicken or chips.
I don't know if anyone fasting goes through the same process, but if you do decide to carry out a water fast, I suggest that you wait until your craving for junk food totally stops. I feel that now is a good time for me to stop the fast as I feel empowered to break it properly. Therefore tomorrow I am breaking it!
Other than that, nothing else to say for now...I'll keep you updated in a few days!
12th of October 2011
Hey guys,
I know that I told you that I would be posting updates after my fast. However, I have been through some interesting shift that I didn't expect. It's been 3 weeks since I broke my fast and I am still experiencing it in some ways. I know I sound vague but what I am going through at the moment is so overwhelming that I cannot yet put words into it. All I can tell you is that although I was not doing it for spiritual reasons, it has definitely triggered something within me. I feel that my mind is getting rid off another layer of limited beliefs that I previously had and that the fast has strenghten my connection with my higher self! I also feel that I have learnt to listen to my body to another level!
Stay tuned!
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Last year I did a detox for 5 days on a mixture of water, lemon juice and cayenne pepper. I did it mostly for health reasons after Christmas to detox my body of all the junk food that I had been eating for a year up to that point. I wanted to do it for a longer period of time but then after reading a lot of articles on the internet from people saying that fasting was not a safe thing to do (because according to them you are missing all the nutrients your body needs to maintain optimum health), I decided to terminate the experiment.
I decided to stop purely because of what I read, I became scared of jeopardizing my health.
It is important to note that what was fascinating for me was that I actually felt great; I experienced a great sense of awareness and felt great within my own body. Then I started asking myself: “How come I felt so great despite their warning? What if they were wrong?"
I decided to do some research on the subject and I discovered a wealth of information on water fasting. Water fasting is, as its name implies, to eat nothing but water for a certain length of time. From what I found, it can go from 1 day, or even a few hours to 30 days.
Some people claim that fasting offers many benefits such as:
- Detoxifying the body from chemicals found on food and medicine.
- Promoting clearer skin,
- Improving mood,
- Decreasing cravings for processed foods
- Helping repair torn or damaged tissue
- Promoting the cleaning of the colon
- Fasting can be used for nearly every chronic condition, including allergies, anxiety, arthritis, asthma, depression, diabetes, headaches, heart disease, high cholesterol, low blood sugar, digestive disorders, mental illness, and obesity
- Strengthening the immune system
- Bringing spiritual awareness
- And more...just Google 'benefit of water fasting"
Whereas some people say that fasting is very dangerous, should not be done and could result in:
- Weakening of the immune system
- Danger of death
- Muscle Wasting
- Long Term Increases in body fat
- Energy Depletion
- Hormonal Upset
- Disrupted Detoxification
- Blood sugar problem
- Vitamin deficiency
- …and more, just Google ‘dangers of water fasting’
I thought that it was weird to see such contradicting opinions.
I realized that they are really 2 types of people giving advice on fasting: those who tried it and those who never tried it.
Those who never tried it based their opinion on what they 'know' or rather what they have conditioned themselves to believe. They mainly find arguments based on western medicine and western common sense.
Whereas those who usually promote the benefit of fasting are mainly those who have had first hand experience of not eating food for a certain length of time.
From a westernized point of view, I must admit that it doesn't make sense to fast because based on western medicine the body uses food as a car uses petrol, in other words it needs food to keep going. The thought of not eating for more than a day can actually be a scary thought. Whereas in eastern cultures or in many religions like Christianity or Islam they all speak about fasting.
I have read a lot on water fasting and I wondered for a long time who I should believe. However, since there is so much junk on the web, I think that the only way to truly found out about how effective fasting is is to try it.
I think that in order to make a great article on fasting you have to try it first. I noticed that most people writing articles on this subject and saying negative stuff about fasting have never done it themselves, whilst most of those being positive about it have tried it. Apparently, some people recovered from serious illness and others have had other benefits. Now, I am not concluding that those disputing it are wrong, but in my mind, if they have never tried it and base their opinion on western medical knowledge then it is not knowledge but assumptions. They assume that doing the opposite of what they have been taught so far will lead to bad health or even death. However, the truth is that most, if not all of them, have never carried out any true experiments on themselves or on others to be able to make an objective observation.
I have come across some pretty interesting blog posts from people explaining the great experience they had through fasting. Whether they speak about their spiritual growth or healing benefits they have noticed, I must say it kind of triggered my curiosity. Many people claim that the body can heal itself through fasting, hence the reason that we are not hungry when we are sick. Many more people claim about the enhanced spiritual connection.
I am not the kind of person to believe anything I read, therefore I have decided to try it for myself (although I must say that I am more prone to believe that fasting has some benefits to offer based on my previous attempt.).
Below you will find a daily report of my fasting experience. As I am writing this, I am already on my 3rd day of my fast (16.09.2011). (I will be updating this page everyday or so until the completion of this experiment, so come back for more updates if at the time you are reading this I am still doing it!) I am not too sure of how long I am going to do it for; my target is 7-10 days. But this goal is based on what I read on the internet of what seems the 'easiest', most 'beneficial' and 'safest' option. Since I do not know how much I should rely on this information, I cannot say how long I will do it for and will try to listen to my body as to when I truly need to stop. From the way I feel as I am writing this, a minimum of 7 days sounds reasonable (well, feels reasonable! lol).
The sceptics say that they would not recommend fasting at all. I have found a few people saying that a fast lasting longer than 3 days should be done under medical supervision (but again most say that just to cover their back to detach themselves from the responsibility in case someone tried to sue them)
I have also read about many people saying that you reap the true benefit of fasting between day 3 and day 11. Whilst others say that 21 days are necessary.
I don’t know…we shall see!
Day#1 (14/07/2011)
The very first day of my fast was really easy, mainly due to the fact that I was quite excited by the very idea of trying something new. My commitment level was very high.
It felt even easier because I woke up feeling like I needed to detox as I had a rather heavy day the day before with fried food, process food and not enough water.
Note: from what many people are saying, it is recommended to eat lots of fruits and vegetables a couple of days before your fast, so please do not follow my example. But because I couldn't help it, my body was asking me to detox, I did it anyway. I am all about listening to my body.
My weight on that morning was 93kg (14.7 stone)
As expected, my first day was pretty easy, I felt a bit hungry around midday but nothing intense, just minor hunger pangs. The only challenge that I had was when I went on the high street and could smell fried chicken and I saw chocolate bars lurking at me in shops.
If anything, I knew then that this experience, if I completed it, would give me a sense of achievement and would strengthen my will power.
Late in the afternoon, I started feeling lighter and a bit more alert (it could be down to being excited to undertake the fast, so I am not jumping to conclusions yet!)
Day#2 (15/09/2011)
The second day was definitely challenging. Compared to day#1, I had more frequent hunger pangs throughout the day and had a mild headache later in the evening. I read in different articles and testimonies that it has to be expected on the first few days but those feelings should stop on the 3rd day.
What was interesting is that when I went to the shop to buy water I was craving for junk food. I couldn't help but salivate for the crisps and cakes. It is quite weird since I am not usually so fond of them.
However, what I missed the most is the habit of eating, I realize how much time we spend eating and how much we do it not because we need to eat but because we are used to eating. Also, although I was not bored, I could tell of how easy it could be to substitute boredom for food. When you stop eating (and all that comes with it, like cooking, washing up etc), it frees us of so much time that once you stop eating you need to replace it by something else.
I also felt that my energy level was not great and that my attention span was a bit low. My breath stank like crazy lool and my pee had a funny smell, I guess it was due to the toxins starting to be released. My poo was also very weird, it looked like plastic!!! Sorry, is this too much information?!
Clearly, day#2 was challenging and I wondered whether I could reach my 7-10 days target if everyday was that intense.
As a matter of fact, the only reason I started my blog on day 3 is because on day #2 I couldn't focus on writing and access my creative side.
Day#3 (16/09/2011)
The third day is so far the easiest, yes, even easier than day#1. No hunger pangs, a great energy level and so far, I have been feeling very alert. Compared to yesterday, it is weird to notice such difference. My mind is very clear and it feels like a great day to be creative, brainstorm and reflect on deep stuff. Don't be surprised if you read many unusual questions. I am on a reflection mode today!
I am trying to figure out whether on day #2 my body was truly hungry or whether my mind was trying to force me back into eating just like a food addiction. Or maybe I was just uncomfortable because my belly was empty and because I am not used to that feeling of emptiness I should simply go pass it?
I realize that usually my belly is always full and never gets time to rest. Is it a good thing?
I cannot help but thinking about food differently.
I wonder...How can I survive 3 days with just water, feel great and then have people tell me that I need to eat 3 times a day?
I know that fasting cannot be done everyday of the year but still I wonder whether we truly need to eat that much.
Does our body need to eat 3 times a day as the food industry claims so loudly or is it just an habit that we have that we should simply break?
What if we've been wrong all along?
What if the whole society is fooled in thinking that they need something they don't need (so much food!)?
The only reason I eat 3 times a day is because I was told that it is a normal thing to do.
I wonder:" Is it a wise thing to simply believe what we are taught?"
When you think about it, we know that the food industry and the medical industry are moneymaking businesses that make millions of dollars.
How much do you think that those businesses care about your health?
We cannot deny that there is a conflict of interest because in order to remain rich or become richer then the food industry needs us to eat more and the health industry needs us to be sick more often.
If we suddenly started eating half as much and only ate what is needed for our growth then that would place most of the food chain bankrupt.
If we suddenly found a cure for most of our diseases, then most pharmaceutical companies would become bankrupt and doctors would need to find other jobs...
So, do you think that if they already know or if they found out that the body doesn't need to eat that much or that in order to heal all you need to do is to stop food or medicine intake, do you think that they would tell you? I think not.
Merely we have been conditioned to think that we should eat 3 times a day but now that I am undertaking this fast I wonder how much of this is true.
Can we trust nutritionists? After all, who funds their research?
Most nutritionists simply repeat what they are taught in school. They tell us that we need 2000 calories per day, but they have never done the true research themselves. They are just conditioned to believe it because their teacher told them. And because we live in a society where we need approval, just because they are 'qualified' then we believe them blindly too. So since the nutritionists use second hand knowledge, I am more interested in the true researchers...I wonder, who funds their research? If it is the government or another lucrative business, indeed I question whether I can trust them. Aren’t they the same people who claim that cigarettes are bad yet leave them on the market? Why is that? They need the money...
Anyway, let’s not go off the topic.
When I think about it, many times I eat out of habit, simply because I am aware that I have not eaten one of my 3 meals a day. But truly, I do not always feel hungry, in fact I very often only eat twice a day and I feel perfectly fine.
If you are not hungry, why should you eat?
Now I think about this, for all these years I have been hearing people saying that you should eat when you're sick...but why aren’t we hungry? Doesn't it make sense to listen to our body?
In the animal kingdom, when animals are injured they fast. Why is that?
I don't know but I intend to find out.
So yeah, day 3# was great. Let's see what tomorrow brings!
Day #4 (17/09/2011)
Last night (night#3), my body wanted to rest so I went to sleep very early, at 9pm. This is very unusual for me, as I never go to bed before 1am at the very earliest. I woke up at 3.30am very alert and with great energy. However, I allowed fears to enter my mind and started thinking: what am I doing to myself? It is my 4th day without food, this is insane. Shouldn't I stop this nonsense?
I realized that I was going through the same process as when I did my lemon diet last year. This time though I was very aware that I had to overcome the conditioning in my mind in order to truly feel whether it was time to end it or not. After reconnecting with my body, I knew that my body was definitely fine and could go for another day.
I realized that we are so used to being given second hand knowledge by the educational system that we have lost our natural intelligence. We base most of our choices on intellectual ground, in the end it makes us like robots and can creates fear inside of us. School does not teach us to be independent, to be intelligent, to observe, to connect with nature, others and ourselves. Everything is given to us, we store it in our mind and classify it as true; we learn about the theories of life but are not encouraged to experience life. We do not learn to eat when we are hungry but to eat at set times. We are not taught to listen to our body to go to sleep; we are told that we should sleep for 8 hours…etc
This is what I have done this morning; I was trying to make the difference between the intellectual conditionings of my mind and the natural intelligence of my body. The first was saying 'stop it is not safe' out of fear created on erroneous and rigid knowledge while the other was saying, "you are totally fine" based on the assessment of the present moment.
One of the benefits that I can add to the list is that water fasting definitely helps reconnect with my body and listen to its natural wisdom.
At 9am, I felt a little tired and took a nap until 11am.
Today I felt great and had no obvious signs of anything unusual except the fact that I felt the urge to rest at 9am.
According to the various articles I have been reading, from the 4th day the body is supposed to start the real detoxification so I am assuming that maybe my body needed to use its energy to concentrate on repairing damaged cells and so on. I don't know...I am just assuming!
I have posted a link on Facebook to let my friends know about my water fast. I have had very encouraging words from a few people, which I must say does help a lot. A few friends told me that I was mad but overall most people were very supportive. If there was one tip I would give to anyone wishing to carry out a water fast, it would be to do it whilst surrounded by supportive people. I can imagine how much more challenging it would be to be around people feeding me with negative thoughts and unconsciously trying to transfer their fears onto me.
Fortunately, I haven't had this problem so far, as I have been spending most of my time indoors on my own or with a few people very much like-minded.
That said, this afternoon I was asked a couple of questions that I am going to answer to ease some of you of your concerns.
How much activity do I have during the day?
Not much, I mostly stay indoors, I have been doing some writing and been resting a lot. Everyday I go out for about half an hour to an hour for a meditative walk. I try to save my energy so that it can be used for what it is needed the most: repairing and detoxifying.
What do I eat?
Well, actually I am not sure you will feel relieved to read this lol!
I don't eat anything. I just drink about 3 liters of water per day.
Do I have blackouts?
To tell you the truth, it is weird because I feel as if I was eating normally. Except the fact that I am obviously losing weight, I do not feel weak and haven't had any blackouts.
Have I noticed any health benefit yet?
The one thing that I have noticed is that for almost a year now I had been experiencing back pain, yesterday I noticed the pain diminishing and today I am virtually pain free. Is it because of the fast? I don't know…all I can say is that it is a strange coincidence. Will the pain come back after the fast? I do not know but it is possible, we shall see!
Other than that, it is hard to notice any other health benefits yet since I was healthy when I started it. I think I will be able to answer that question a few months after the fast. I always considered myself to have a weak immune system as I get too many colds in a year in my opinion (around 3). I will let you know in the future if there is any improvement on that matter. Right now, I feel in good health, but I could not say that I feel better than usual (except for my back). I certainly do not feel worse though.
That’s it for today
Day #5 (18/09/2011)
Sorry for being late for my update, I didn't have internet access!
Not much to say about day #5 really! It was pretty much like day#4, if not easier. I did not feel any signs of tiredness or hunger pangs.
In the afternoon, I met a friend in London. I was a little concerned to use public transportation and move around as it was the first time since I started the fast that I came out of the house for more than a simple walk.
It turned out to be just like any other day. I felt like I had just as much energy as when I eat. I think meeting up with friends made the day even easier.
In the evening, I went to visit my friend in Brighton (uk), I am going to stay there a couple of days. She is from Gambia, she is a great cook and eating is really a big part of socializing with her. So it was a bit weird not to eat. I kept thinking of how good it is going to be to have my first meal. But I didn't feel tempted since I know that it is now very unsafe to go back on solid food straight away as my stomach has shut down completely.
One bit of advice for those who intend to undertake water fasting: don’t stay around food the first couple of days if you know that temptation can easily make you break your fast. However passed day 2 you must know that before eating anything solid you MUST break your fast with juices for a couple of days, then with raw vegetables for another couple of days. So no matter what if you feel like eating what your friends are eating it will not be possible to break the fast here and then; you'll have to wait.
So really, that's it for day#5. One thing that both of my friends told me is that I lost a lot of weight. I didn't think it was that obvious!
DAY #6 (19/09/2011)
Today I was out all day helping my friend in Brighton to move out. I was a bit self-conscious at first to drive the van, even though I felt good, I thought that maybe there was a risk that I'd pass out. Thankfully, the day went perfectly fine.
I am starting to miss food, I see food like a blessing that we should learn to enjoy and be grateful for instead of taking it for granted.
I have seen many people eat and I could not help myself to think of how lucky they are. Food is great, fasting definitely is a great reminder of how much of a blessing food is.
I am looking forward to my first real meal next week.
I can tell that I have lost a lot of weight, I can't remember when was the last time I was that slim.
Despite the weight, my skin has a nice glow, I look and feel healthy.
Day #6 was just like day #5 in terms of energy, hunger pangs and so on, I didn't feel any difference.
If the following days happen to be the same, don't be surprised if my updates get shorter and shorter.
Day #7 and #8
Next time I decide to embark on such a controversial journey, I don't know whether I will be posting updates on Facebook or talk about it to people around me. I probably keep it to myself or talk about it to people I know will understand.
As much as I got support from open-minded friends, I found it a bit jarring to answer phone calls and messages from people telling me that what I am doing is unhealthy. Unhealthy? How do you know? I had to ask.
"Well, common sense!" they would answer.
While I understand that from a western point of view it does sound unhealthy, I think it is important to know that what we call 'common sense' is only common where we live. Often, common sense in western countries is uncommon sense in eastern countries.
Even common sense should be questioned.
What I also found interesting is having those kinds of worries coming from a few Christians. I don't get it, didn't Jesus fast for 40 days in the desert? If Jesus did it for 40 days, what is 10 days?
Faith is the key guys!
Anyway…! lol
Day #7 and #8 I experienced a psychological switch, my mind no longer craves junk food, it feels like my 'food addiction' is finally under control. I was a bit concern that once I break the fast I will jump at junk food and ruin all the health benefits acquired through fasting (yes, now I am definitely convinced of the positive effect that fasting has on the body!). Now, I am looking forward to some nice raw vegetables and can go to the shop without being attracted to chocolate bars, fried chicken or chips.
I don't know if anyone fasting goes through the same process, but if you do decide to carry out a water fast, I suggest that you wait until your craving for junk food totally stops. I feel that now is a good time for me to stop the fast as I feel empowered to break it properly. Therefore tomorrow I am breaking it!
Other than that, nothing else to say for now...I'll keep you updated in a few days!
12th of October 2011
Hey guys,
I know that I told you that I would be posting updates after my fast. However, I have been through some interesting shift that I didn't expect. It's been 3 weeks since I broke my fast and I am still experiencing it in some ways. I know I sound vague but what I am going through at the moment is so overwhelming that I cannot yet put words into it. All I can tell you is that although I was not doing it for spiritual reasons, it has definitely triggered something within me. I feel that my mind is getting rid off another layer of limited beliefs that I previously had and that the fast has strenghten my connection with my higher self! I also feel that I have learnt to listen to my body to another level!
Stay tuned!
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MY WATER FASTING EXPERIENCE
(8 days on water only)
by Patrice Turlet
(8 days on water only)
by Patrice Turlet
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Registered number: 07561006
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