First let me say, I am by no means an expert in anything. I have no official, documented on paper education in anything on my blog. So if you find fault with any information here please say so and share how you see it, but also understand that I do not put forth these tidbits as absolute fact in your life. I share here - my truth - what I have found to be real and fact for me. This does not mean it must be fact for everyone.
There are many different kinds of fasting. You can fast from activties, foods, liquids, interactions, for various time periods from a few hours to days, months, even years. For example: sisters and brothers who devote themselves wholey to God, through whatever religion they are party to, they often seclude themselves off from the world, sometimes even family, past identity, old friends, locations, etc. Some do this for their lifetimes, some for only a little while, some for years. I feel that everyone is moved to do different things in their lifetimes based on what the Divine (whatever greater power you believe in, truly I believe thay are all have the same origin - the Divine) have to offer them and they acknowledge and accept. I believe that we are all set here upon this place and time and domension for a purpose. Some fulfill that purpose, some do not. Those that do, do so because they give it their wholehearted effort. Those that do no, either do not believe they have a purpose , or choose not to fulfill it. Fasting is one method of helping oneself to realize, accept, fulfill one's purpose here. Fasting allows us to set aside things of the flesh for a time, and focus on the more eternal perspective. Fasting helps us gain focus, vision, hope, and love. Fasting is, im my humble opinion, a glorious gift.
Many different religions have set times in their calendar to fast. However, I feel that oftentimes this becomes habit and therefore less fulfilling for the majority. We do it because it is expected, or we want to set a good example for our family/friends, to maintain a certain opinion from others, etc. I think it is more rare for members of these religions to spiritually gain through these set fasts, but I see the purpose in having the calendar. We all need a place to start.
There are loads of books on fasting. Juice fasting. Water fasting. Many go into the benefits, side effects, and so on. One that I highly reccommend is more on taking care of your body than specifically on fasting is: Own your Own Body by Dr. Malstrom. Another I suggest is The Cure by Brantley. That said I will break down a little of what I have found.
You can look up fasting on the internet and youtube, you'll find lots of info. Go with the info that resonates with you - things that "feel" right to you if you're deciding that this is right for you. There is a lot of bad info out there. But since, like I said, I am no expert I hesitate to just blab about how to fast, what it does etc. I will share about what it has done for me.
Toxins: in a nutshell these are anything in your body that your body cannot use, nor rid itself of without aid from you. Toxins are brought into the body through eating, drinking, breathing, vaccines/any shots/injections, manmade medicine, and through your skin. The skin is the largest organ of the body - everything that goes on it goes INTO it. Never underestimate your hand lotion. Muah ha ha haaa. No seriously - It's true, as much as it sounds outlandish, it's still true.
Toxins can cause just about everything from fatigue to cancer. I also feel that toxins almost always have an emotional link - a stored up emtion that holds it in your body. When one releases the emotion and then does what is necessary for releasing the toxin, both dissipate and disappear. Often times we try to release just the toxins, which inevitably return or simply refuse to leave the body. They are often stored in fat cells, and then are called cellulite. Cellulite is nothing more than toxins wrapped in water stored in your fat cells. When you release the toxins, the fat cells shrink. Makes sense, doesn't it? As we hold onto emotions, and continue to feed our bodies what does not nourish we store more and more and more toxins in our bodies. These create cellulite, as mentioned, or ailments, or both. Fatigue, skin issues, stomache problems, lung issues, heart trouble, etc etc etc. Am I saying that all physical ailments originate in emotions... no. But I'm not saying it because it is untrue. I am saying "No" because I don't know... yet. One day I hope to find that answer.
Fasting is a great way to rid the body of toxins... and old negetive emotions that no longer serve you, if indeed they ever did. Think about it. If you never flushed your toilet... ewww, right? Well, it's the same thing. If you're constantly putting in and never cleaning out you develope a cesspool - no matter how clean it started. If you NEVER wipe off the sink, even the cleanest person's sink will accumulate dust and debri.
What has fasting done for me? Over the years it has brought me closer to ... myself. I have released old baggage that weighed me down. I got tired of carrying it around and the side effects of it... fasting helped me kick it away. I didn't need it. So now it's gone. No therapy, just prayer and fasting and a touch of faith. Faith is the Divine, in myself. When ones dumps the emotional toxins one usually also dumps a bunch of physical toxins as well and this sometimes becomes what is known as a healing crisis in the fasting world. A Healing crisis is when your body gets rid of some many toxins at once into the bloodstream (1st step is ridding the body of it as one fasts), that it makes the faster ill. Hee hee, I like that term "Faster". Anyway, you can get ill while fasting, but it usually something you've already suffered from as you detox. The healing crisis usually lasts about 12-48 hours. Shortly thereafter followed by a tremendous feeling of energy and relief! - AMAZING feeling by the way. If you're juice fasting long term the faster will usually experience the first healing crisi around day 7, then again around day 14, and so on. The body decides how and what to detox of as you fast - the body is remarkable.
Did I get sick? Yupper. Several times. But like I said it resulted in almost a completely new me. A new me I LOVE LOVE LOVE!! Free of so much garbage!
Did I lose weight? Sure but ayone will when you empty your bowels. A lot of people lose up to a pound a day once they get started. But once you start eating again you gain about 5 lbs back as your system turns back on. It's understood that I began detoxing 6 months postpartum. I do not have the body type that automaticaly slims down once the baby is delivered. It used to take me 2 yrs to get back to prepreg weight. I was 155lbs give or take when I began the detoxing this time. I am now 125lbs, one major cleanse, and a few fasts later. I do want to make clear that while fasting I did lose a pound or two the most weight was dropped, for me, in between fasting. The first fast resulted in the loss of more lbs than the second. I was 125 before I got preg with the last baby, and usually am in between babies. I need to also point out that while yes, I am currently at prepreg weight I would have achieved this without fasting. I would also like to point out that I am actually SMALLER than I was before this baby. Lastly I would like to make clear that I am STRONGER as well. Fasting did not decrease my muscle, or strength. But it did decrease the cellulite. I am firmer have more endurance and stamina. And after each fast as I began to eat solids again I did regain 5 lbs, as is typical. But I have not and will not regain the rest of the weight because I have changed my eating habits. Before our 3rd child I weighed 135lbs. I was very physically active, and not what I would have considered unfit. I was happy with that weight (size 8), as I was able to carry to fullterm, having lost a baby when I weighed less. My theory is that I had too many toxins to safely carry to term. However, as I continued to have babies, I put on the odd 4-5 lbs each time that didn't want to leave without a LOT of effort on my part. The point is, the weight has been more easily lost since I started fasting occassionally a few years ago. I have also been healthier and given birth to healthier babies along with recooperating from birthing each time.
I also got rid of some old negative emotions that were hindering my developement. My relationships with my parents and siblings suffered a great deal because of the baggage I carried around. And now I have a great relationship with my folks and sibs. YAY! My relationships with my own family have improved as well due to my personal improvements and garbage dumps. Again- YAY me! No expensive therapist - if anything I saved money from going without solid food and enjoy benefits similar to seeing a therapist. I'm NOT saying that if you see a shrink you should stop and fast instead!!! NO NO NO!! I am only saying that this worked for ME!!
Anyway the point is I continue to enoy lots of physical manifestations of the emotional and spiritual beneifts of these last few fasts. Will I fast again? You betcha!! I feel I have a 10 day water fast coming in the near future. Not too near - I'm recooping from the last one first. Let's not get carried away, friends!
Well, that's pretty much all I planned on sharing on this... I'm done now. Thanks if you actually made it to the end of this post it IS LONG!!!! So congrats if you made it to the end. I only hoped you gleaned some important to YOU information is the reading.
Cheers!!
