Progress Report ID-14655 by aussiedavid
David 18 years old male, weighing 80 kg / 176 lbs, 68 in /172.72 cm tall, Orthodox Quaker. From Ballarat/Melbourne, Australia AU
Doing 10 days of Juice Fasting. Starting February 4, 2012
Reasons for Fasting:
Spirituality and Health improvement.Past Fasting Experience:
* One x 7 day juice fast last year. * One x 10 day juice fast last week. Just finished a 10 day juice fast last Monday.Present Diet:
Vegan - Have been eating salads/fruits and beans mostly. Snack foods and some wine are my downfall!Supplements:
None.Relevant Medical History:
N/aPresent Medication or Drug Usage:
None.State of Mind:
Bit foggy. Not overly optimistic but not depressed either.Limitations:
None at present.Questions:
1) Is it really necessary to do a full 30 day juice fast to get the benefits of fasting? or Is it possible to get the benefits of say 10 days/month until symptoms clear? On my 7 and 10 day fasts I noticed significant changes in my body shape, the pain in my liver and bladder almost completely disappeared and my skin improved (even a mole i've had on my arm decreased to half the size!!). 2) Is there any evidence that the onset of dementia or other brain-related problems can be helped by fasting? Regarding the change in the quality of my memory - I saw these kinds of things working in aged care and am concerned there might be a problem here. I do feel clearer after a few days of fasting. Loss of memory or mental decline is not considered part of natural aging.
Day 2 – Both days I have taken a 1 hour brisk walk and feel great. Although I got to bed after midnight last night, I woke feeling quite well. 8 days to go! Woohoo!
Day 4 – All going well. I have developed red blotches on my tongue which in Traditional Chinese Medicine means stomach and spleen fire. This isn’t unexpected due to the empty stomach.
May have to stop the fast on day 6 or 7 due to other commitments but I am very pleased with my progress.
My body shape has changed significantly (even more than last fast) and I am feeling very pleasant and light.
Hi David, During a fast you will experience all sorts of strange goings on! Just try to relax in the knowing that you are doing your body good! The pain and side effects pass.
Short 6-10 day juice/waterfasts are fine for cleaning out the body, and some healing. Keep to a raw diet in-between fastings. If you can do a series of these, say maybe 6 in a row, with a week of raw foods during your break, you will get much benefit. A 30-40 day juice fast will cure many ailments quicker if needed. But it is not vital to go that long. It’s basically about keeping the “wrong” things out of your body for the time needed to cleanse it. It will take a little longer with short fasts…but you are young and have plenty of time!
Snacks and wine are fine in moderation. It’s when we go overboard on the amounts, and how often that hurts us! A bite of something, or a sip can be thought of as a reward for being good! It also proves we can be disciplined too. So don’t necessalrily deny yourself of something that you like…jut approach it with a different attitude. Of course if you feel you have an addiction to something, that’s different. Cut whatever that is out completely, and substitue something “good”. There is no way to moderate an addiction!
Day 7 and feel great! I will stop my fast today and begin again after 10 days when comittments are over.
Thanks for the response Ron. The rotation you suggest would be a great way to do it for me.
My strategy will be: 7 days of vegan raw foods, then 7 days juice fasting and do this 6 times. (I calculate that this is a total of 84 days or just under 3 months)
After that, I will stay on a 75% raw vegan diet with 3 days fasting every month and one 7 to 10 day fast whenever I feel the need. Cooked foods will be very simple – lentils, beans, sweet potato, pumpkin and some brown rice.
I heartily encourage anyone contemplating a fast to try it out, you will be simply amazed. I remarked to a friend the other day “who needs doctors?” after seeing the striking changes in my wellbeing after fasting. Good luck everyone!
David in Oz