Alritey then here we go...
I have been doing detoxifying fasts off and on for a few years now. I can't remember exactly when, but it began with a 3 days fast. Why? In a nutshell, without getting into too many spiritual things, let's just say I was "moved" to it. It was wonderful, that I remember. It was my first juice fast. I had just stopped nursing one of the babies. After a few weeks, or a month, I'm not sure which...
I did a 7 day fast. It was even better. took a break, as I felt "moved" to. Then I did a fourteen day fast. Then... I had another or two (I honestly can't remember how far back I started)after the typical nine month gestation period, which is actually ten if you want to get technical about it... but I digress.
During this time period my diet also changed, it was, I think, over the course of 3-4 years. We purchased less, if any, meat from the market. I ate less or no meats in the warm months. Though during pregnancy I did eat red meats sparadically. Lots of eggs, from our own or friends' free range chickens. Homemade breads only, though I ate less and less of this. I'll admit during the pregnancy I had less control over what I put into my mouth. Lack of willpower, to be honest.
After I stopped nursing this latest baby,(anywhere from 6-8 months give or take) I was running regularly and did a cleanse - with the herbal pills/supplements/ the whole nine yards. Why? Felt "pushed" to. WOW!! Was it intense. The sandy gritty stuff I drank wasn't too difficult to get accustomed to, nor was the "clean" diet. During the 10 day cleanse and the week that followed it was the emotional roller coaster that was the challenge to deal with. I unloaded so much negativity it was scarey. I also ran my 1/2 marathon. I do not suggest following a cleanse so closely with a race.
A few months after the race, I did my first BIG fast. Let me say that I KNEW that this would revolutionize my eating habits, my ideas of food, my thoughts of healthy eating, my emotional ties to food would end, as would any and all addictions I might have with food. I knew I HAD to do this. For my own sanity, for my health, and many many many other reasons I won't mention here. I also knew it would not be the only big fast, I knew I would need to have a few goes before I learned how to eat properly.
I fasted for 32 days. I started beforehand with a week of fruits and veggies only. Then I did a few days of juice, then a few days of just water, and continued to alternate that for the rest of the fast. When I ended the fast, I tried eating similarly to the way I had before the fast... a little if the grains/breads/etc plus a little meats/fish/etc. I got sick! I don't think I came off the fast too quickly, I did the juice for a while before solid fruit, then solid veggies, and so on. I believe I was learning that meat (I had fish ONE TIME and it made me ill), for me, was a bad thing. I was eating for a few weeks (say 3), when I felt I should fast again because obviously I hadn't learned how to eat yet. I began thinking that I just needed to cut out meats and become a veggies eater.
I did the slow start again - veggies and fruits beforehand, then juice for a few days. Then I did 2 days water, one day juice, 3 days water, 2 days juice, and alternating a bit like this - I never follow a set pattern unless it comes in written form. I got as far as to do 4 days water. I made it to 17 days, then felt I should end it. It was a difficult fast for me. Some have been lovely, some more challenging - I'll go into that more later in another post - but that has to do with the nature of fasting.
I shed many many many negative emotions that had been stored up from various periods in my life over these fasts. I made dozens of personal discoveries and experienced (it felt like) epiphany after epiphany as I fasted and even during the nonfasting periods in between. I came out the end of this almost a completely new person. I have found my own sense of inner peace. I reconciled myself to so much, and have enjoyed immence joy afterwards and continue to enjoy this joy! - pardon the pun.
I am now a vegan, obviously my initial thoughts of just needing to forgo meats was incorrect. I need to skip on all animal products - though to be completely honest honey continues to linger in my diet. I am unsure as to how long this will last... but I am using more and more agave and other alternatives. Back to the point - I consume no (not counting the honey) animal products. As a side note: I am gluten intolerant - so eating wheat was not an issue to cut out of the diet. I also do not consume beans, soybeans included, or any grains. I had a tiny bit of quinoa the other day, experienced no negetive side effects, but I feel this is to be very occassional and not to be overdone. I did parttake of some popcorn Saturday night, but I stay away from popcorn usually as well, as it being another item I should not overdue. And to be truthful I think I overdid it Saturday night with the 2 cups I had. Obviously this is still a learning experience, but I feel less lost now and I am no longer making myself ill - YAY!
I would like to share a bit about the side effects of shedding so much emotional baggage through these fasting experiences, but not here. THis post is getting too long as it is. I'll go itto that later in a seperate post.
However, 3 months (all together) of fasting is a bit much for the body to handle. They say when you end a fast you should do liquids for one day for every week you fasted. Just juices though- no milks of anykind etc. So I did that. Then I had a piece of fruit one day, then a whole fruit the next and so on till I was eating more than I was drinking my nutrition. Let me also state here that I NEVER skimped on the purified water intake. I drank a gallon or more a day as well as herbal teas etc throughout the fasts. I am now two weeks since ending my fast, and my body is still adjusting. When you fast that long (off and on) your body goes into use it or lose it mode. You use what you got, or your body decided - Hey I can't use THAT! and it Dumps it- usually through your bowels. Yeah, I know - fun huh? And when it does this you have less energy to burn, no extras. Bare minimum only.
Side note: I'll go into exercising during fasts in another post with the how to fast and side effects thereof.
And now my body is still recovering. I can run - but not as far as I had been. I gotta build up again. I also have to listen to my body much more and honor it's needs. But I eat VERY VERY carefully now. And while some may think it's not worth the effort - I feel GRRRREAT!- physiaclly, emotionally, spiritually... And that, for me, makes it worth it.
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