For six days, gradually increase the amount of raw fruits and vegetables in your diet. To break a fast and gorge on meat, bread or junk food will be a disaster. Jarring the system this intensely, when the digestive system is re-awakening, can cause stomach cramps, nausea and weakness, negating some of the benefits of a fast.
Hope this helps you, any other probs, leave me a message, also line your gut with natural youghurt when breaking the fast, small amounts should surfice for the first 3 days, you should be fine
Blessings Keith.

Yes, this is also a first for me too, which is why I was a bit puzzled. I think that I got into the cooked foods too fast after breaking my fast at that time. The cooked foods were beans rather than cooked veggies, so that may attest for the salty intake which my body was probably not prepared for. However, making the beans myself, I make sure that the salt is decreased by rinsing before cooking, so I can only assume that even the low amount of salt, it was still too much for me, and then not drinking as much water, contributed to the retention. I don’t normally get right into the beans stuff too soon afterward, so it was a misjudgment on my part. It may also have been an allergic reaction, like you suggested. I’ve read that sometimes, people can develop an allergy later on with foods they have eaten before. This may be one of those cases. I hope it’s not the beans that I am allergic too, because that would be a good part of my staple. I can handle staying away from wheat, but beans…ouch! However, I will do what it takes to make the necessary changes that is best for my metabolism.

I agree about staying with raw foods for a while longer after a fast, whether it be a water fast or a juice fast. I am going to try a juice fast starting this weekend. I plan on going for at least 2 weeks. If all goes well with my energy level, I will continue for a bit longer, like a month. I am looking forward to this juice fast! I really want to flush my system out of any excess toxins, but keep my energy at a level where I can work, also. We’ll see how it goes. I bought a journal to log my days on the fast, as well as after I break it, so that I can chart my progress and/or any modifications I may need to apply.

Thanks Tom, for your concern and suggestions! Btw, you are lucky to be living in beautiful tropical surroundings, where juicing with fruits are probably second nature to everyone and fruit abundant as well. I live in a snowbelt area, and in the winter months ‘insulation’ seems to be the instinct for survival around my neck of the woods. Meaning, warming foods are the usual staple during the cold months. Luckily, I love fruit and veggies more than I do foods such as bread and grains, but managing a good balance can be a challenge in the winter. OR, maybe that’s just my excuse, LOL!!!

I’m glad you finished the post! I thought it kind of funny but cute that when I first read it, it just said “Hi Jamie95er”, lol!

Thank you for this very sound advice on the water retention!! I am definitely going to pick up the fruits and herbal teas. You are very right as far as the retention goes and I should know better about keeping myself hydrated, especially after a fast!

I also think you are very correct, at least in my case, regarding the ‘wheat’. I thought perhaps I might be allergic, but I think it’s like you said, I may find that couscous ( love it! ) and potatoes are more to my body’s preference. I will be trying that route instead and see what happens.

I don’t eat dairy or fish being a vegan, but yes, the calcium intake is very important. I love bok choy and it is very high in calcium:-D. Thanks for the reminder and the great advice!!

Jamie95er