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The things you knew and didn't know about fasting.

I always get asked about fasting, the best way to do it, how much weight will I lose? So here is a comprehensive list on all the different aspects of fasting. Enjoy xD

Fasting Facts:

-Water fasting cleanses the body, as the stored food (fat) is used rapidly and the body simultaneously expels built up toxins.
-If you are fasting for weight loss (um, yeah!!) and are following a juice or tea fast, a few days on just water will intensify the fast.
-Fasting can clear the skin and whiten the eyes and initiates rapid weight loss (yay!).
-Water fasting is not recommend for a first fast as toxins are released into the blood very quickly.
-Fasting makes it easy to overcome bad habits and addictions.
-Fasting allows you to have taste appreciation for clean, natural foods.
-Going on a fast can give you the motivation and the enthusiasm you need to make a fresh start! (And we all need a fresh start from time to time.)


Fasting Info:


-Distilled water is best for water fasting.
-Juice made w/fresh, organic fruits is best for juice fasting.
-Do not drink orange or tomato juice on a fast.
-You can dilute your pure juices w/water.
-Green juices made from leafy green veggies in a juicer are great for detoxifying.
-Pure veggie broths are good (with no seasons added).
-Herbal teas and honey can aid in fasting.
-Typical fasts (going totally w/out any solid foods) usually are performed as 3 day, 7 day, 10 day, 14 day or 21 day increments. 28+ days should be supervised. (Or at least the person fasting should let someone know they are doing it.)
-Break a fast by eating raw fruits and veggies the first five-seven days after your fast. Go back to solids slowly.
-Do not binge or overeat after the fast (or during!). Try to discover the amount of food your body really needs.
-Meditate, go for a walk, take lots of naps, journal, listen to music, take long, warm bathes and relax. This is your time for healing, losing weight and gaining self-control!


More fasting tips:


-Many people experience nausea and headaches during fasting and this is often caused by caffeine withdrawal (and we all love our caffeine here) so I recommend, if possible, if you are a heavy soda or coffee drinker start tapering off about a week before the start of your fast. This should do the trick and make it a little easier and your headaches won't be so painful.
-After your fast, when you start to eat normally try very hard not to gorge. The calories you take in directly after your fast will stay with you a lot longer than those acquired when your metabolism is up. Also, you could experience pain and become very ill.
-Don't eat a big meal the night before your fast and never end your fast with heavy foods. Keep it light w/raw or lightly steamed veggies and fruits.
-Dry skin brushing helps your skin to breathe easier and can help eliminate uric acid and other poisons from your system, taking the strain off your kidneys and liver. Start at the feet and stroke your skin towards the heart. Do these before you shower.
-Epson Salt baths are soothing to sore-achy, weak muscles and also help eliminate toxins through the skin. Warm Epson Salt baths are great during fasts.
-There are many types of fasts, here is another: The milk and fruit fast: 3x a day, a glass of milk, raw fruit and water in between.


Some more tips during your fast:


-Try to get plenty of sleep. And if you can't stand your stomach growling the first few days, and are tired of downing the H20, take a nap... listen to some soothing music and drift off.
-Get a massage. If you can afford it, or have your partner or a close friend give you a good rub down or deep tissue massage. This really soothes muscles and makes you calm and sleepy. It helps when you're having trouble sleeping due to hunger during your fast. Plus, it awakens your body, pushes the blood around, etc.
-You may feel weak during your fast so if this is the case, be careful of black outs and don't exercise until you've finished the fast... Stick to stretching, light walking and deep breathing.
-If you suffer from diabetes, hypoglycemia or other similar conditions, please be very, very careful fasting. I'd say don't fast at all but if you feel you can do it safely, you may need a slice of avocado or a banana... You could also add protein powder to your juices.
-Sometimes during a fast, the person will experience back pain. If so, a cold pack will help.
-Canker sores can be healed quicker by dabbing tea tree oil or vitamin E on it.

-If you are just too tired on your water fast, go to a juice fast and if you are already juicing, drink more carrot and melon juices for energy.

Water fasts are always the hardest but fastest for weight loss and detox.

Juice fast is next best and somewhat easier, especially for first time fasters.

You'll lose pounds faster if you have a fast metabolism and slower if you have a slower metabolism. On average, fasts allow you to lose 1-2 lbs per day. Some experience more around 3-5 lbs per day. You'll lose the most and the quickest during the beginning of your fast.


You must remember that even though you are trying to lose as much weight as possible you must always strive to stay healthy. Most importantly I beg you all to keep healthy. My wish is not to DIE. I want to live and be envied. I want to be happy and well but also thin and beautiful. A happy medium, right. If you look sick, it encourages people to worry unnecessarily and tempt you to eat then you put on weight and become unhappy. When fasting you have to be careful. You have the power for RAPID weight loss that can be safe if you do it sensibly. Please also remember that breaking the fast is just as important to be done properly.

Humans adapt amazingly well to lack of food. Studies show that people can live 50 ? 75 days without out food. I wouldn't recommend fasting this long as you may lose too much weight although it would depend on your starting weight.

Our bodies carry around a huge supply of nutrients which is stored in the blood, bone marrow and other tissues. During the absence of food your body will systematically cleanse itself of everything except vital tissue. Starvation will only occur when the body is forced to use vital tissues to survive.

An example of how the body begins the detoxification process is the morning when you wake up. Coated tongue, bad breath, puffy skin and foggy mind are all early symptoms of the body in a state of detoxification. While we sleep the body starts cleansing and when we eat breakfast (appropriately named) we halt the fast.

Preparation and Tips:

Try to begin your fast when you have nothing major planned. The first few days can be very rough and you may have very little energy. Use distilled, spring or filtered water if possible. Drink water cold or ice cold if you can ? it helps your body burn energy to warm back up and cold water tastes sweeter ? you will be drinking lots of it! Get as much rest as possible in the first few days ? energy levels will rise after about day five.

How long should you fast.

Longer fasts are better than shorter ones as once the body enters the fasting state it is a lot easier to stay there then to stop and start. It gives the body uninterrupted time to do its work. A 30 day juice fast is standard in most European Health Facilities but the good news is that 10 days on a Water Fast gives the same benefits and weight loss as a 30 day juice fast! You can alternate between juice an water on a fast if you need to but your body won?t enter ketosis and there will be more urge to eat.

Colon Cleansing

"the average person has between 2-6lb of unwanted matter stuck to the walls of there bowel which sits there putrefying, creating a source of toxicity, a breeding ground for pathogens and a welcome home for parasites?."

On a water fast after about the 5th day you will stop using your bowels or it will be just liquid. This is the best time to use a colon cleanser. You can get them from pharmacies or health food shops. The one I use is a powder form of magnesium oxide. When mixed with water an consumed it makes large amounts of oxygen. It then reacts to with hydrogen to form water inside the intestinal tract to soften and liquefy the hardened crap. It sounds very technical but trust me it works. Basically you feel like your shitting water but you feel so much lighter and healthier. Just make sure your near the loo if your going to try it! It is also a lot gentler then laxatives and works in a different way. It targets the matter that sits in your bowels blocking it. Everyone has this some worse than others. Other options are Colonic irrigation.

How to break a fast.

Breaking a fast can be difficult. You must resist the urge to binge and the types of food you can allow is restricted for the first few days. Eating will be a brand new experience so use this time to establish "safe" eating habits and portions. Your control over them will be so much more disciplined than before your fast. Eat small amounts of raw fruits and veges for the first five or six days as your digestive system wakes up. Gently increase amounts to your satisfaction. Do not gorge on meat, junk food or bread. This can cause stomach cramps, nausea and weakness, not to mention rapid weight GAIN. Eat slowly and chew food well. Make fresh juices and with negative calorie foods (of course!) The break-in period should be one day for every four you fasted.

Fasting Concerns and FAQ

Q.- Will I gain weight back after the fast?

A. - Your fast will instigate a change in diet. Returning to bad eating habits will cause weight to put back on. You can't go back to normal eating habits, if you do, the body will store it all as fat. Start with small meals and eat healthy foods. Stay on low cals and exercise and you will be fine just remember to monitor it well.

Q. - Can I workout while fasting?

A. - You will feel weak while on a Water fast and rest is advised. If you feel up to it sure just don't over do it, you will lose weight even if you sleep all day! Light walking is always great. Get out in the sun and fresh air.

Q. - How much should I drink?

A. - 8 - 10 glasses per day or when thirsty.

Q. - Should I continue with medication?

A. - Fasting on medications is hard. It is a good idea to use juice if you must take them. I usually just have carrot and apple juice in the mornings when I take my tablet and water for the rest of the day.

Q. - How much weight will I lose?

A. - Initially as high as three to four pounds per day, the average loss is one pound per day. If you are juice fasting and not losing weight cut down on the juices and drink more water. The slower your metabolism the slower your weight loss.

Q. - Will fasting effect my metabolism?

A. - Initially calorie reduction will lower BMR (base metabolic rate). Cleansing will bring health that will help you eat less and feel more energetic.

Q. - Will I get to thin?

A. - Never!! Well just be careful like I said earlier. You don't want to waste away. You want people to be jealous of you and how you look cause that is the biggest compliment.

Side Effects

Furry tongue ? this is just a sign the detoxification is working. Cleaning your teeth helps with this.

Spots ? pimples ? Toxins are being eliminated through the skin

Headache ? Try not to take painkillers, drink extra water and rest. It will pass.

Tiredness ? Just rest as much as you can. It is normal and your body will adapt and energy levels will go up and down. Don?t be alarmed.

Flu and Cold ? not a sign that you have an infection merely another sign of detox.

Dizziness ? Be careful. If you feel dizzy it is because the heart is resting as much as possible. Before you move take deep breaths. Sit down if you feel like blacking out, it will pass.

All side effects are normal and will pass as the toxins get eliminated. You may also feel sick especially if you are taking medication on an empty stomach ? even vitamins and minerals will do this.

BREAKING YOUR FAST:

Eating small amounts of raw fruits and vegetables for the first five or six days will allow the body to gently wake up the digestive system. The body will continue to detoxify and cleanse during this period. Any toxins that have accumulated will begin to move due to the sweeping action of the soft fibers of fruits and vegetables.

1. 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 disaster. Jarring the system this intensely when the digestive system is in a sensitive state can cause stomach cramps, nausea and weakness, negating much of the benefits of the fast.

2. Eat slowly and chew your food well. Saliva has enzymes that assist in digestion. Up to 80 percent of the starch, 30 percent of the protein and 10 percent of the fat can be digested by the enzymes in saliva.

3. Do not overeat! Discover the amount of food that your body needs to live a vibrant, healthy life.

4. Make juices during the breaking period. Juices are gentle nourishment to the body. Most continue to include juice in their daily routine, for the rest of their lives.

5. Educate yourself on how to begin a lifestyle of healthy eating. Fasting is a wonderful new beginning, a foundation for a lifelong, healthy diet.

6. Discern the difference between cravings and hunger. Never feed your emotions.

7. When breaking a fast over ten days, the break-in period should be extended one day
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