Final word.

When I set about doing this fast forty seven days ago I wasn't sure how far I would get and I didn't have any idea that I would be doing a forty day fast. I thought I would be doing the big four O next year to be honest.
Having achieved my ultimate fasting goal I can't pretend that this fast hasn't changed me. It is difficult to put into words but I'll try. I certainly have nice feelings in my body which started around the 30 day mark and carried on until now. I have a feeling of calmness and peace. I am happier with my own company. I don't crave bread. I don't feel the need to drink or smoke. I feel quite content doing simple tasks, enjoying simple things. Things I normally do feel more pleasurable than usual. At the beginning I felt satiated with food and life but now I am much happier and enjoying walks, talks, listening, watching, playing, exercising and resting more than  I was before, probably more than ever. I look healthier and lighter too plus I saved a lot of money that would normally have gone to grocers and shop keepers. I've lost count of the amount of times people have commented on how much healthier I appear.
I think that whoever wrote the story of the forty day fast of Jesus was onto something. It's not even that I can put it into words, which is usually an indicator that something deeply spiritual has taken place. I certainly can recommend fasting, especially if one wants to gain a renewed vigour for life and it's pleasures, if one is bored or listless, suffering from any kind of addiction or habitual behaviour, or just plain depressed. Fasting repairs the body in many ways by allowing it to fix itself.
I can say without hesitation that I will fast again. I am quite keen, so much so that I am looking forward to my summer fast. I cannot sing the praises of fasting high enough. It really does make one feel greatly refreshed, like a clean sheet of paper.

Footnote added 15 June;
Another added benefit of fasting is the strengthening of the immune system. My daughter caught a stinker of a snotty cold, which I thought I had also caught but after a couple of days of the feeling just a little bit swirly my body has fought off the virus.

Thanks again to all who donated to Warchild on my behalf. Any more donations are very welcome at Just Giving

Typical foods for the continued fast breaking next week.

Breakfast, Muesli with milk
Lunch, Salad with coleslaw and hummus.
Dinner, Rice and fish.
Fruit smoothie

Breakfast, Eggs and beans
Lunch, Asparagus, Watercress, Kale and Potato soup.
Ryvita.
Evening, Leafy salad  with walnuts and sultanas, Ryvita and cottage cheese.
Fruit juice

Breakfast, Porridge
Lunch, Sandwich with wholemeal bread salad and Quorn slices.
Evening, Vegetarian sausages and steamed vegetables.
Barleycup drink.

More breakfast again

Breakfast eggs and beans
Lunch  salad with sweetcorn, peppers, olives, cucumber, tomatoes. Carrots and hummus
A small piece of flapjack. Popcorn.
Evening meal, bowl of homemade tomato soup and a bit of last nights left over brown rice and fish.
A couple of dark Ryvitas.
I'm  pretty much onto normal eating now. Tomorrow I'm going to have porridge in the morning. I am going to be continuing a healthy diet including lots of raw veg, brown rice, and fish. Nuts, beans and pulses. Yoghurt and cottage cheese.  I'm sticking to that for at least the next week or two.

A special thanks goes to everyone who donated to Warchild on my behalf.

More breakfast

I've managed to get back onto normal foods quite safely, with no indigestion or any other digestive problems which is good. However after being away from home with only wholemeal bread available at times, attending a birthday party with cake, snacking on nuts whilst at work, eating a few too many dates and grabbing whatever was available at the time I have put on a few pounds in as many days. Because of this it's now time to reign myself in again and get back to the plan. For the next few weeks I will be sticking closely to fruit, veg, brown rice and fish. No more dates, wheat, or birthday cake, I don't care whose birthday it is. Even though I was limited to the one and only vegetarian dish in the place in three different restaurants, there is really no way to know how much salt, fat or sugars there are in foods you didn't make yourself. Luckily I am at home for the next couple of weeks and will be able to totally control my diet again. Slipping up a couple of times during a post fast period out of necessity is fine but to carry on with bad habits is not. This is why fast breaking is such a tricky thing. It's about getting your system working again safely and retaining your health. Although I could have skipped food at times instead of going for expensive restaurant foods with question marks over it, I had kind of agreed to give myself a little leeway because of being in slightly unpredictable circumstances away from home. I have also been weighing myself more regularly so I have been able to keep an eye on my weight every couple of days, this is advisable because adjustments can be made quickly before getting carried away post fast by resting on ones laurels. Even though it is normal to gain weight after a fast no matter what one eats, it is important to stick to the right kind of healthy foods, regular exercise and careful monitoring.

For dinner I made a Madras with brown rice, white fish, curly kale and chick peas,

Fourth and Fifth day breaking the fast

I had to travel this weekend. I packed a salad, with cherry tomatoes, hummus, crispbread, cashews, black olives, and crunchy peanut butter. In London at times in has been difficult to find suitable foods and has required a bit of searching and crossing things off the menu. In the late afternoon I was in Chinatown and ended up spending a lot of money on a very small bowl of beancurd and sweetcorn soup and miniscule plate of crispy seaweed. "You don't want a main course!" said the surprised waitress. I didn't attempt to explain myself. It hit the spot though. In the evening I went to a social club. On the way there I grabbed two apples from a shop. At the club I only drank water. Later on, after a long walk to find a night bus I was ravenously hungry and stopped in a 24 hour Italian cafe at about 2:30 am and had a salad and some penne pasta with plain tomato sauce. I had to stop the restauratuer from piling on too much of the pasta onto the plate. It tasted so good I would go back there again for sure.
For breakfast this morning I had some crunchy cereal with milk which was the only thing readily available at the time. At lunch I ate a peeled carrot that I had in my pocket for a snack. At about 2:30pm I was hungry and found myself in a hotel which only had rich meaty food, but luckily the soup of the day was creamed asparagus and watercress with a wholemeal bread roll. Perfect. In the evening I had wholmeal bread and Marmite because that was all there was at the time, no problem, I really enjoyed it. I ate the last few dates I had left over. I also had a couple of cups of ordinary tea for the first time in at least six weeks. Toast and marmite and tea I love you and I am glad to have you in my life again.
My digestion is good but I am still sticking to small amounts and no full fat cheese or meat, no white bread, no alcohol. So far so good. Even though I've always known about eating small amounts post fast, I still learned the hard way. After one fast a couple of years ago, when I was having an orgasmic food moment I over did it eating seconds and thirds and I ended up with chronic indigestion. Never again.

Third day of breaking the fast

I feel very positive about this whole experience. I have visited the health food shop more in the last two days than I have in the last year. I am interested in healthy food now. The fast has changed me. I want to be healthy and fit. I don't want to fall back into old bad eating habits. I want to keep this good feeling going. The detoxified body has become taut and the feeling of health is palpable. My whole mood is better than before and I am getting stronger and my stamina is increasing. I am enjoying being busy doing chores, learning more guitar and reading. I have had very positive responses from people about this whole thing. We have raised a lot of money for Warchild.

8:00 exercise

8:30 porridge with yoghurt linseed and honey

10.30 glass of tropical fruit juice

11:30 green salad balsamic vinegar dressing.  Cottage cheese. dates. rye crispbread

12:30pm country soup (last bit left over from yesterday see yesterdays blog for ingedients)

2pm Cycling

3:45pm miso soup drink

5:30pm kale, carrots, onions and gravy with garlic and yeast extract and hemp flour.

6pm dates strawberries

7pm Glass of fruit juice.

I'll have a snack later too but I don't know what yet. I'm going to chill out now and watch The Graduate.

8:35 snack Yoghurt with crushed walnuts, sultanas, honey and cinnamon.

Second day of breaking the fast

7:00am exercise

7:30am small yoghurt linseed and honey

7:45am small bowl of baked beans

Barley cup drink

10:30am green salad with fresh basil and two table spoons of sweetcorn
with french dressing.
Chewing this gave me a jaw ache, from underused muscles.
Just goes to show that if you don't use certain muscles for a month they need building up again.

11am Orange and mango juice 100%
Juice and water helps stop me from wanting to eat and eat.

1pm Lunch country soup mix
containing aduki beans
barley flakes, pearl barley, red split lentils,
green split peas, yellow split peas
marrowfat peas.
to which i added
sweetcorn, garlic, stock, herbs. finely chopped red onion,
half a large red hot chilli pepper and white pepper. fresh basil on top.

 I used to blend the soup but I like and need the chewing.
pudding was a small handful of dates.

3pm Afternoon snack;
hummus with coriander and jalapeno and rye crispbread and white pepper.

barleycup drink

8pm Dinner; bowl of small green salad, country soup
pudding; a few dates.

Midnight snack; 6 strawberries and 2 tablespoons of cottage cheese (gotta use up that tub that I bought)

Hunger is stronger and the days go quicker. I bought a couple of recipe books for vegetarian ideas.
After the soup I feel pretty stuffed. At first I thought I'd eaten too much but after a couple of hours felt better.
Carrying food in my intestines feels a bit odd after so much time on liquids. I don't have as much energy as when I was fasting but at least I'm eating healthy. One thing I forgot to mention when I was fasting was the groaning stomach noises, which was a regular thing, I don't know why I forgot to mention this. Things have quietened down now fortunately.
I don't miss wheat. The green salad with french dressing is amazing to me, a couple of months ago I would never have got a buzz from eating that. This is great, health food is more satisfying than fried chicken wings. Hopefully I can keep on a good diet for as long as possible. I certainly need to keep eating this way for the next two weeks at least. I'm glad I'm not missing bread. I wanted to cut down on wheat. This fast has given me an appreciation of healthy food like I've never had before, even after a twenty one day fast.
Had a late night bowel movement, eureka!

First day of breaking the fast.

"Every fool can fast, but only the wise man knows how to break a fast"

George Bernard  Shaw, writer

A few words on fasting first. Please be aware that I didn't just decide to do a forty day fast over night. This was my thirteenth fast and I have learned about fasting slowly over twenty years. I was originally taught by a yogi and I have read many books on the subject. I started with short fasts of a few days. During the first eight fasts I made mistakes every time. The last few fasts have been fine however and I now consider myself a 'master faster'. I have learned enough on the subject to do it my way now but if you are reading this and you are interested in fasting for goodness sake get some education and experience on the subject before attempting a long fast.

Journal.
I did my exercise at 8 and broke my fast at 9 with yoghurt and linseed. Eating today has been amazing.  I was teaching guitar at lunch time and I felt really hungry afterwards. I was really excited about my tomato soup, which was orgasmic (not organic). I managed to not have a second bowl and I didn't go mad on the dates afterwards. Todays foods which are all good fast breakers are listed below. I'm so into food right now I have my next four meals already planned out, maybe I should calm down a bit. 


How to break a fast properly. Breaking a fast should take a third the amount of time of the fast, so I will be eating carefully and healthily for the next two weeks. The trick is small amounts of easy to digest foods that promote saliva and reactivate the digestive system gently. My fast-breaking foods today are as follows.

Breakfast = yoghurt linseed and honey (small bowl with a table spoon of linseed, teaspoon of honey)

Lunch = tomato soup and a few Finn Crisp rye crispbread pieces* (4 medium tomatoes with stock garlic, herbs and a desert spoon of olive oil added just before eating)
Pudding = 8 dates
Glass of fruit juice
Afternoon snack = Stewed apple puree with cinnamon and honey and a splodge of natural yoghurt(4 small apples, teaspoon of honey)
Dinner = a small salad of green leaves with French dressing then same as lunch with same pudding.
Supper = cottage cheese with cucumber and Finn Crisp rye crispbread (three table spoons of cottage cheese, 4 or 5 crispbreads) with white pepper.
 Yummmmmmmmm
Water should also be taken in between meals.


* I have about  4  Finn Crisp crispbreads (they are small) , but if you have Ryvita two will do.

Recently I had to explain (yet again) the difference between fasting and starving I answered with the following :-

Fasting is a yogic practice done for health. Starving is being deprived of enough nutrients to live. In an overweight person this can take many weeks or months.  People who have less than 5% body fat should not  fast for more than a couple of days as they wouldn't live off their fat but their muscle and eventually thier bone marrow and organs. Fasting causes homeostasis to occur, the body's own self righting healing mechanism, which is good. Starving causes death to occur, which is bad. 

Day 40

I did it! forty days on just liquids. I have mixed feelings today. Firstly I am pleased that I got this far and that I have raised money for Warchild, but I am also slightly apprehensive about breaking the fast. This is for several reasons. The main reason is that the next part is the hardest part. Once one starts eating again the feelings of hunger come flooding back in and it's as if the food will not fully satisfy the feeling. Because food is even more pleasurable than normal it's easy to over indulge. If you have been following this blog or you are interested in fasting then I suggest that you stick with me for the next two weeks because now we come to the important part. I will be sharing with you suitable foods to eat when breaking a fast and I will also mention the ways in which it is so easy to make a mistake. Eating the wrong thing at the wrong time can cause acid stomach, indigestion, constipation, stomach aches and rapid weight gain. None of which I want. I actually could fast for longer because I have enough body fat left to do this, and with the regimen that I wrote down previously it would in fact be safe for me to go another ten days, but I'm not going to. I'm just as happy to start eating tomatoes and apples as I am a vitamin drink. Plus I would really like to go to the toilet properly again, maybe this is too much info bit I really miss a good dump!
The rule of thumb is that it should take a third the amount of time of the fast to break the fast. For me, after a forty day fast, this is two weeks. Two weeks of easy to digest foods that promote saliva and thus activate the now very dormant digestive juices. I will also be sticking to mainly fruit, veg, cottage cheese and yoghurt with some seeds. I will go into more detail about what I'm eating, how often and recipes in the following blogs. I will be avoiding, wheat, meat, hard cheeses, full fat cheese, or any fatty foods as they can cause bad acid. I will also avoid hard to digest pulses like aduki beans or mung beans ( from personal experience) , although regular soup mix with some lentils and split peas is ok. I will not be drinking alcohol or smoking anything. After such a long fasting period spent detoxing it would be a bit silly to throw all the good work away so quickly.
I will miss the extra time that is gained by fasting, no cooking, shopping, or spending money on food. I will also miss the feeling of lightness and clarity that comes from fasting.
I was up early again, did my exercise, had my vitamins. I will add to this blog at the end of the day.

I went shopping for food for tomorrow, just some tomatoes, apples, yoghurt, cottage cheese, rye crispbread, and some herbs and cinnamon to put on the apples, it came to nearly fouteen quid for gods sake! I can see where all my bloody money goes.

Footnote.
For anyone that sponsored me per day, thank you thank you thank you.
Please be aware that the money is helping to save abused children in war torn countries. The reason I mention this is that I have already had one person renege on their pledge, saying they didn't think I would go for forty days. That's fine any amount helps and it's really not about money, it's about saving some poor child from getting beat in the head because they didn't want to take up arms for a despotic dictator.



Please make your donation here just follow the simple instructions Justgiving  please leave your name too so I can thank you personally. You can also see the before and after photos there. Because it takes two weeks to break the fast I may add another photo at the very end if there is any more difference.

For more info about Warchild

Day 39

Not long to go now. I am up early and have gotten into an early morning exercise routine. I do a few yoga sun salutations, and some leg lifts, sit ups, pull ups, press ups and side stretches. I always feel better for having done it.
Yesterday, apparently was supposed to be judgement day, well surprise surprise the world didn't end. Yet another end of the world theory bites the dust. Onwards and upwards.
Only two more days of fasting. Somewhere out there there are some tomatoes with my name written on them.

Day 38

Usual intake of fruit juice and water etc. I've slimmed right down. I like being lighter. I felt a bit hungry in the evening. I also felt quite relaxed all day. I spent the afternoon soldering guitar electrics and fixing an old valve amp.

Day 37

Slept well. I thought I would make a bit more effort today so I did some exercise when I got up. This should increase my energy. It's better than sitting around on a computer or watching old Hammer horror films all day like I was yesterday. Here follows my fasting regimen.

Daily intake:- 1 Vitamin drink (vitamin powder mixed  in fruit juice) , 4 large  glasses of 100% fruit juice, 4-5 large glasses of water, 2 small cups of fermented yeast drink, 1 Cod liver oil capsule, 2 caps of Floradix calcium supplement. 1-3 cups of Nettle tea or Barley cup (no milk allowed)

You can live on this but you are going to lose weight every day, basically because there is a very tiny  amount or no carbs, fats and proteins in there, although there are lots of nutrients it is not enough to sustain somebody who has less than 5% body fat. There is also a very low amount of calories.



This is a sponsored fast for Warchild   please sponsor me here http://www.justgiving.com/james-pinchbeck

Day 36

I feel quite tired today. Only four more days. Like a marathon runner who is nearing the finish line, It's the sight of the tape that is keeping me going now. I really really want those four tomatoes that I am going to make into a soup.
 So many things in life are misunderstood as important, and so many seemingly unimportant things are overlooked that are monumental.

Day 35

Getting used to this. Only five more days. I'm going to miss not spending money on food for myself. I can't even think of what I would like to eat again. This is the first time that has happened during a fast, probably because I've nearly doubled my old record of twenty one days. I'm in new territory now.

Day 34

Had a busy day teaching a couple of students. Then later was busy again being a dad, also working on the computer. I get loads done. Cooking for my daughter wasn't too bad. I also did some proper exercise tonight, with push ups and sit ups. Played lots of guitar too. Steady energy burn all day. Six days to go.

Day 33

Had a busy day. I felt rough in the early afternoon though. I did the D.E* which has helped a lot. I don't think I've lost much weight lately, that has slowed right down. I went for a power march up a high hill and did a few press ups. I felt ecstatic about 20 minutes after. I think I might start to like this exercise thing.
I had a lot of going backwards and forwards with my internet business, probably because I'm not quite as sharp as normal, I'm not sure.
Daily intake so far is . Vitamin drink, Floradix (changed from vitamin to calcium/magnesium formula), water, 100% fruit juice (always) and a cod liver oil capsule. One more week of this. I'm not missing food that much any more although when I went past the chippy I was thinking about enjoying some fish and chips some day down the line. I'm very happy with my own company lately, glad I've had no visitors today. Tomorrow is a busy teaching day. Tonight I'm going to chill and watch Beverly Hills Cop.

Day 32

Up early as usual. I'm getting used to cooking for Ruby and not eating. I had the usual vitamin drink, water and fruit juice today. I did some exercise, yoga and climbing around the adventure playground with Ruby. I'm glad I kept going and didn't stop at 30 days. I can feel myself becoming more empowered by this. I am physically fine and I feel good.
If you are doing a fast and you have learned how to do it properly, understand the process, have read good books on fasting and have become in tune with your own body, there is one piece of advice you must adhere to and that is 'don't listen to laymen's advice'. I have heard all sorts of rubbish about fasting, had negative comments, bad advice and encountered plain ignorance of the subject. Some of the uninformed comments I have had have included, 'You look bad', 'It's unsafe', 'You shouldn't go for that long', and  'I couldn't fast because I love food too much'. These are all very unhelpful comments and serve no useful purpose at all. I can't blame people for not knowing about the subject though.
It is perfectly safe to drink fruit juice, vitamins and water for  the amount of time it takes to lose excess body fat. You will not have any negative effects. People sometimes get fasting confused with starving. But starving is when one doesn't eat anything and has less than five percent body fat, this would be bad and all sorts of negative effects would start to be experienced.
Fasting is the best way to get in tune with the body, and I definitely feel that happening. I feel good, and I am looking healthy.

Day 31

I am so curious about this forty day fasting period. Obviously this is the number that is encoded into the bible in the story of Jesus in the wilderness, but the other times that forty has cropped up was in some literature I read about overcoming addictions. I do believe I am addicted to certain foods and I want to fix it. I don't want to list those foods right now, forgive me, I'll get into that later. Physically I feel good, my body looks almost there but not quite, and today I look much better than yesterday. I'm not talking about a subjective view of personal appearance, but of the amount of excess fat.
Forty days is my new goal. I want to fix myself. I also will, on breaking the fast, stick to things like tomato soup, or veg soup for the first week. There are other foods for breaking a fast, I'll go through those later too. During a fast one builds up a little bit of water weight, and on breaking the fast one loses weight for the first few days, I've taken this into account also.

Once again to anybody who is sponsoring me per day, thankyou, this money will save the lives of children who are currently residing in hell.

This is a sponsored fast for Warchild http://www.warchild.org.uk/

Day 30

I did it! I managed 30 days which was my original goal. I'm going to see tomorrow if I should break my fast or carry on for a bit. I'm tempted to try for forty but I'm also missing food like crazy. Today was ok but I did feel like eating , I guess it's getting near that time, who am I kidding, I always feel like eating. I'll know better tomorrow. If I do break the fast stick with the blog because breaking a fast is the hardest bit and I will be sharing info about the best foods to go for at that time.

Day 29

Blogger seems to have deleted my day 29 post. I don't know why. The site was down for a long time also. I'm trying to remember what happened yesterday. I remember I felt a bit clogged up, I performed the D.E.*, which kept me going back to the loo at various times all day. I also felt tired. I did some exercise, not much. I played my Martin guitar pretty much most of the day. I was up in the field on a hill and got chased by a herd of bulls, that was fun.
I think I may have mentioned sexual negation for men during a fast. I myself, from previous fasting experience, have decided not to engage in any form of sexual release. I did it in a long fast last time, and the very next day was told by two people that I looked ill. I also felt more hungry afterwards and tired. For women the rule is different, they may have sex but during their period they would most likely need a supplement. Floradix iron formula would be good.

Day 28

Four weeks into this fast. I'm only two days away from my original goal of thirty days.  Today I feel a bit tired. I have also noticed a change. I feel very relaxed, and I also feel very light. I'm still slightly over weight though, and have enough fat reserves to keep going. I have been shipping Ebay sales today, and I also did some guitar repair. I had to reassure a friend earlier but according to my doctors book. I am not harming myself at all, quite the opposite. There seems to be a slightly irrational fear of starvation in some people. Fasting is not starving, especially with the fruit juice, herb drinks and excess body fat. I would not carry on fasting if I had 5% body fat, that would be very ill advised. I'm still in two minds about ending at thirty days or carrying on for forty. Forty is the magic number. It takes 40 days to absolutely purge any unwanted substances from the body, forty days to be over any addiction. I believe the story of the forty day fast comes from this. I am also very curious to see the full effect of a forty day fast but on the other hand I miss food real bad and would be happy to have achieved my goal of thirty. Anyhow I don't want to jump the gun when I'm still only twenty eight days in.

Day 27

I slept heavy last night, for seven hours, it took me a while to properly wake up at 7am to get ruby off to school with an egg muffin (gulp!). I think I was too arrogant yesterday with my "I figured out how to do it" comment. Treating myself to a Supermalt "health drink" and lime and soda drinks at work were probably a slightly sugary mistake. My thinking was that they would give me a boost for working but straight water would have done just as well. So that's the end of those drinks for me, I'll stick to the juice, miso, and lots of water for the last part of the fast, and the cap full of Floradix, keep it very simple. I am also leaving out the vitamin drink that I got from the health food shop because  it appears to have some suspicious ingredients and with the Floradix vitamins, and also because I don't have to travel or do any heavy work for a while, I don't think I need it.
I have acquired a new guitar, a beautiful  Martin D35 so I have been having a good time strumming it and sticking my nose in the sound hole and taking lungfuls of the smell of ceder from the internal edge bracing, my favourite smell and it is another smell that feels like sustenance, along with pinches of rosemary or lavender grabbed from bushes at the side of the pathways and gardens around the town. I think I like ceder so much because it is at once attractive a slightly repellent, as road tar is.
 I have to teach guitar today so hopefully my brain will work ok, it seems to be doing ok.
I'm only three days away from my original thirty day goal so I must keep going even though making roast potato, veg sausage, and baked beans for Ruby last night was making me want to end it all right now (I mean the fast!). It ain't easy.

Day 26

I slept for 7 hours, my usual amount, at last. Had my vitamin drink and caught a train back to Devon. I missed my usual rituals of, bagel at Waterloo, and tea and shortbread on the train. I also absent mindedly started thinking about Sunday roasts, bad idea.
I had spent quite a lot of time explaining about fasting to people during my time in London, which is good and everybody is positive about it and interested. Although one lady was insistent on battling and arguing that it was wrong to fast. I tried to explain a little but I couldn't actually get a word in so I gave up. Our culture is so based around food, as are many others, and fasting, to some, is little known about or even unheard of. Yet for many others fasting is a long known about form of preventative medicine, if done correctly. However I do think that after 14 fasts I have pretty much figured out the best way for me to do it, which is varying days on water and juice for the first couple of weeks, then adding a vitamin drink after three weeks, and the occasional miso (the one without any added ingredients).
 Today I have to cook again for my daughter. I am nearing my original goal of 30 days so I must stand firm. Even though I was intending to do a 40 day fast next spring I am tempted to go for it this week. I'm still in two minds, I certainly could afford to lose another stone easy. I'll just have to see how I feel in 4 days.
Just a note for anybody who sponsored me per day and was expecting me to do only 10 days or so, please remember that the money you pledge goes to stop innocent young children from being seriously abused in war torn countries where there is lawlessness and despair, your money WILL help.

This is a sponsored fast for Warchild. http://www.warchild.org.uk/
please donate per day at the end or make a one off payment to Warchild via my Just Giving page http://www.justgiving.com/james-pinchbeck

Day 25

Even though I flopped into bed at one o'clock pretty tired out from the long trek back to Kennington I was still up at 6 as right as rain. Did some yoga stretches, and made a vitamin drink and had some miso in hot water. I have so much more steady energy  reserves than when I am eating. I'm almost tempted to stay this way.
The weight doesn't drop off as quick as you would think by this time although my legs are noticebly skinnier, when I cross them it feels different, they kind of fit together better, more snug and compact. I still have fat round the middle though, I guess I was very over weight to start with. I want to slim right down and then go onto fruit veg, brown rice and lean meat, eat little and often to trick my body out of storing fat, which it will do once I get back onto proper food again. It's amazing how quick I dehydrate and rehydrate.
I have to work today, lugging equipment, doing sound engineering and maybe have a jam, but I feel really confident that I can handle it with ease. It's so nice to be able to chat to people for ages and keep up a good mood and energy. You know how it is when you are talking or someone is talking to you and you just start to feel tired, maybe you don't, this doesn't happen as much to me at the moment.
I was thinking earlier in the fast that even though I couldn't eat I needed to find something other than juice and tea for sustinance, I just sat with that idea and waited to see if something came up other than food. I felt that kissing a girl on the lips would be sustinance. Just the thought of it seemed to give me a little bit of a boost and I was hoping, in the spirit of science, that I could test my theory to see if a snog is indeed as fulfilling as food. Luckily I had the opportunity to find that out last night, and I must say that it is.

Day 24

Up early. Had a vitamin drink. Last night I was cycling up and down the Thames on one of those Barlcays bikes. I watched the sunset over the houses of parliament. I had a good day, met up with a friend and watched my old buddy Joe Wright's new film Hanna, which was violent and sick but very entertaining.
Then I took a long tube ride up to Harrow to meet Malcolm Bruce and watch Kofi Baker play a drum solo which reminded me of the fireworks at Ally Pally*. It was a long day with lots of walking and talking, but what I noticed is that I just don't get tired.  Today I treated my self to a couple of Supermalts, which although claims to be a health drink is actually very sugary, what the hey, I deserve it.



*Alexandra Palace.

Day 23

I've got a few minutes before I have to catch the train. Good news today (warning if you are squeamish skip the next paragraph).
My body has shown me the sign that I am pretty much completely detoxed. I performed the D.E* clear water went in and then clear water came out, this indicates a highly detoxed state.
I'm carrying on with water, fruit juice (100%), herb tea and my vitamins. See here for good vitamins http://www.naturesplus.com/default_flash.asp
I am going to make sure I take my vitamins and juice before I work. I don't feel weak though, I feel strong.

Onwards and upwards.

* dreaded enema

Day 22

I beat my old record of 21 days. 22 days of water fruit juice and herb tea. I'm getting used to it now. I might as well stick with it until I am the right body weight to size/height ratio or B.M.I. (check yours here http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/ )
 . There are times when I have felt quite low, but this is because of food addiction. I believe I have nearly overcome food addiction and I am moving into a normal state. I think that when I start eating I won't be so greedy as before when i have broken a fast. Gobbling down carbs for the high. I am less craving bad food. I am looking forward to vegetables, and nuts.
Today I was fairly active, cycling and walking. I also did some work on the computer and did some of those little jobs that normally get put off. I have had a slight headache at times, but this is because of dehydration, which happens really quick in a fast such as this. Drinking a pint of water fixes it quick too. Tomorrow I travel to London to play music and do some sound engineering. I'll miss my ritual of tea and shortcake on the train though I also will not be drinking alcohol :-(
 I'll be taking some fruit juice and vitamins with me. I think there is one of those giant scales at Exeter I'll get weighed there, I was over 16.5 stone at the start of this (borderline obese according to th B.M.I rankings) , it will be interesting to see what I am now, although I can tell I'm still over the recommended B.M.I.
That's it for now. I'll post again on Monday when I'll be back in Devon to teach guitar and be a dad again.

Day 21

Hurray for me I've equalled my own previous fasting record of 21 days. I'm up at 4:30 in the morning typing this, listening to blues. I've got enough body fat for another couple of weeks though I reckon, sorry to anyone who sponsored me a pound a day and expected they would be giving me a tenner, your loss is Warchild's gain.
Thanks to Warchild people are becoming more aware of the abuse of children in war torn countries. This kind of crap has to be stopped so thanks to all my sponsors, you rock.
Three weeks fasting is officially therapeutic fasting and according to my doctor's book I need a good vitamin supplement. I went to the health shop and tried to fathom the rows and rows of bottles and packets and ended up with a natural vitamin powder that dissolves in water.It seems to contain a lot of essential vitamins and minerals. This is designed to keep the body working properly as the stored nutrients in the body get used up. Fruit juice and b vit drinks are good but they do not give you things like calcium magnesium and loads of other nutrients that stop you getting health problems. I can burn my own body fat for energy but with these health supplements as well I'm probably healthier than I've been since the last 21 day fast a year ago. The vitamin drink doesn't taste that great though, it looks weird too, kind of dirty green but it will give me the boost I need as I have to work this week, doing physical things and dealing with people. When you get depleted of nutrients it can be easy to feel moody and impatient so any help I can get is good. That aside, I'd rather be eating a salmon and cream cheese bagel!

Sponsor me here http://www.justgiving.com/james-pinchbeck

Warchild official http://www.warchild.org.uk/

Day 20

I had a day of just water today, almost like a fast within a fast. My energy wasn't high as a result but I had woken up in the night with acid in my throat so I thought better cut the fruit juice a bit. I can see weight loss is going well, normally it is best to have scales to keep tabs on your weight whilst fasting. Felt snoozy during the day but I managed to keep awake all day and work on the computer. Fasting is a good thing for people who work sat down a lot I think.

Day 19

It's a bit chilly today. Did the yoga sun salutation this morning. I am trying to do this every morning.  I had a cycle about. I'll have to go and collect wood for the burner soon. I've upped my water intake a bit. I've got an internal conversation going on about ending the fast. One side of me wants to move right into therapeutic fasting so that I totally clean my body and kill any disease that may be hidden in me and the other side of me that just wants to eat. I still have more than enough body fat and I want to lose any excess baggage. Toxins are stored in fat so having an extra layer of fat that you don't need means that the body is holding onto possible years of dodgy chemicals and harmful free radicals. It's taking a good amount of willpower to keep going though. I am sleeping heavier and snoozing in the afternoon, or trying not to. I'm taking it fairly easy by spending time working on the computer.

Day 18

I feel like it's getting harder to keep going. Maybe because I've had to cook a lot for others the last few days. One drag was that I dreamed I started eating a digestive biscuit but then I remembered I was fasting and spat it out, damn I could have had that!.
My weight loss has slowed right down, another reason to break the fast really carefully. It is easy to put on a ton of weight after a fast as the body thinks it should store fat. The body understands frequency more than amount of food. After a fast it's best to eat small amounts quite often and stick to non fattening foods. I'll go through some good foods to go for at the end.
I've been sticking to fruit juice, miso and just water. Mainly fruit juice and water.  Trips to the loo are fairly frequent with so much liquids.
One good thing, only 3 more days to equal my old record of 21 days. I really want to beat it. See you tomorrow.

Day 17

Slept well. Up early. Did some yoga stretching. Me and the Ru are doing  a garage sale today. Good fun. It's a bit wet out so we are taking it easy sitting in the garage sale. I am really looking forward to eating again. I keep thinking of things I am going to eat later on, although this is not advisable, it's best to keep ones mind free of food altogether . The hardest thing is breaking the fast because as soon as you start eating the temptation is to eat and eat. It's best to eat small meals and quite frequently. This will trick the body into not storing fat. it's also best to avoid fatty foods for at least as long as the whole fast took. It takes a third the amount of time of the fast to break the fast. ie. If you fast for 3 weeks then you should take a week. This means only eating small amounts of easy to digest foods. Foods that make one salivate are the best as this activates the stomach juices better. Anyway enough talk of breaking the fast because I need to keep going with it. It's not that bad, the fruit juice and teas are keeping me going. I may do a couple of straight water days though just to give my stomach a rest. Because I've been having fruit juice breaking the fast will be safer and easier because my digestive juices have been kept in an operative state. I'm not looking forward to cooking tonight particularly. Although I do like to cook. I almost caved last night and started nibbling but then I thought no, just keep going push harder keep going.
She's torturing me with Maltesers now!

Day 16

Today I was craving food a bit especially having made a steamy fish and rice dish for my daughter. I had to content myself with a cup of yeast extract tea while she tucked into her rice, bean and fish tortillas followed by cheesecake. Aarrghh!!

I don't feel particularly energetic today. I feel like I need the carbs, but I'm going to persevere. When one's body is demanding carbs it means that you are probably more likely to lose more excess fat as your body turns to it's reserves. I'm still on the fruit juice and water and a cap of Floradix so I won't suffer any malnutrition.
 I often refer to a very good book called Successful Fasting by a German Doctor called Helmut Lutzner which gives a lot of good information on fasting. One thing that is important to stress is the difference between fasting and starving. Fasting is when you live off the body's fat reserves and starving is when there is less than 5% body fat so you start to live off things you need like your vital organs or bone marrow. If you have plenty of fat you simply will not starve and your body has enough stored nutrients for 2 - 3 weeks, so you could just live on water for that time although you may feel listless at times and your circulation needs a little help by having a rub down. However, as Dr Lutzner states " If you fast more than  3 weeks, which is known as a therapeutic fast, you need to take some kind of vitamin supplements". 

The skin may dry out a little, there are products for this by Weleda. Any other creams are just not worth a look as they would clog your pores and may contain toxins and unhelpful chemicals. Weleda products are completely natural and are very beneficial. I use Weleda Skin Food which puts the right nutrients into the skin and stops it drying out. You rub it into any dry areas of skin.
 That's it for now, I'm going to tuck the little girl into bed and strum a guitar for a while.

Day 15

Had a good day. I feel great. I still have plenty of body fat to carry on fasting.

Day 14

2 weeks! I was up early to get Ruby to school. I had a lot of energy this morning.. When I got back home later in the morning my energy dropped again. I flaked out and stayed in a kind of half sleep state for a few hours. I went down to the supermarket for more fruit juice. Today I cycled up to the manor. Now that I am two weeks in  I need to make sure I am getting some nutrients. Fruit juice is good for C vitamins but for B you need something else. I had a herb tea with half a teaspoon of Marmite melted in. Other sources of these B vitamins are Bovril (only in an emergency) and also Miso Soup, which is technically  not a soup but a fermented drink. Any of these drinks are good for getting those all important B vitamins. I am going to keep these drinks to a minimum however and I also will go back to having just water for a few days at a time.

Later in the afternoon I felt a bit tired again. Performed the D.E. My weight seems to have stabilized a bit, this is normal. The body being deprived of food will retain fat so the weight loss slows down the further one gets into a fast. Exercise is important to keep the muscles in shape and the circulation going, which can slow down during a fast. I have often had cold hands and feet during this fast.
I'm glad to be two weeks in. I miss food badly though. After a while fruit juice just can't cut the mustard, oops there I go again thinking about food. I am soooooo looking forward to breaking my fast and getting back onto food. I keep thinking about what I will eat, although I try not to dwell on it. I feel good generally and I hope I can keep going for longer.

This is a sponsored fast for Warchild please sponsor me here http://www.justgiving.com/james-pinchbeck

Day 13

Had a good day. Busy today. I was very active. Lots of energy. Had to make food for Ruby, which is still a bit of a tease. Have you ever tried not eating for 13 days and then making a dinner for somebody which you can't eat?. Not everyone could do this I don't think but if  I really have made up my mind about something then I just go ahead and do it and nothing can stop me. Drank lots of water and orange juice. Chopped wood for the fire. Did my online work and spoke to a few friends on the phone. Most people don't realise how food is really an addiction and an over indulgence. Food is a way of relieving boredom, creating a ritual and having a plan to do something. Food has become so over emphasised in peoples lives that they live in fear of going without food even for 1 day. Well let me tell you, you don't need that much food. Give your body a rest. I bet lots of illnesses are caused by overworking the body's systems. Had a full day, and got a lot done. No cramp, no rush of blood from the head. I feel fitter, look healthier and haven't needed to spend any money on food and I haven't eaten for 13 days. Tomorrow will be two weeks. I've still got lots of body fat to live off and apart from the odd yearning I feel great.

This is a sponsored fast for Warchild please sponsor me at http://www.justgiving.com/james-pinchbeck

Day 12

Had a proper nights sleep at last. I Feel good, the feeling of pressure on my nose and forehead has stopped. I get a slight skin problem in that area sometimes (probably due to too much wheat and sugar) and that skin is looking good now. It's as if a magic genie goes around your body fixing one area at a time. Wherever the pains are is where the work is being done.
Ruby came to stay again, eating easter eggs and beans on toast. Just the words beans on toast make me want to cry. It's not time to stop fasting yet though, I still have a good supply of body fat and my body hasn't said the magic words yet. When it's time to break the fast one's body will say, but anything it says while it is still quite fatty is to be taken with a pinch of salt. Which reminds me I need to take a few salt grains to stop muscle cramp ( I felt queasy after the salt). Comparing the amount of body fat I still have to food money I still reckon I'm carrying a couple of hundred quids worth on me at least.

Still drinking lots of water, and glasses of fruit juice and had a cap of Floradix. Didn't do the dreaded enema yet, I'm saving that little treat for later. To those who are wondering, the best enema kit is the one that looks like a snake that swallowed a mouse, it's a rubber tube with a bubble in the middle and a valve in the end and a nozzle. You put one end in the pan of water and pump it. I took the plastic nozzle of the business end because it can get lost up the a'hem. I also took a pair of scissors and angled the end of the tube a bit. Push the valve that is inside it down into the tube a bit more a bit more just in case that shoots out too. Then you get down on all fours and put the pan on a stool or some thing. It's better to stick your tush in the air and keep your chest low to the ground so that gravity aids you.

Slept in the afternoon, I dreamed I was watching Jimi Hendrix this time, singing a new song called Venom Man. I thought hey this is a dream I should write down the song and use it. So I scribbled the lyrics into a pad, which I accidentally left in my dream.haha. I also dreamed about sweetcorn, fish, chicken, chips and coleslaw.

A big thanks to all my sponsors, so far we've raised £255 plus the gift aid makes it more like £300. You all rock!

This is a sponsored fast for Warchild Please donate here. http://www.justgiving.com/james-pinchbeck

Day 11

Up at 4:30am again. I've been having more lucid dreams, cool, I love lucid dreams. I feel pretty good today. I'm ok with not eating now. I think I will be on this fast for at least another week. One thing that I keep noticing is a feeling of pressure and movement in my nose and centre of my forehead, this has been going on for a few days now, but I didn't mention it because it seemed insignificant. Someone was saying to me about the third eye becoming more open during fasting. I guess that explains the lucid dreams.
Because I couldn't sleep I did some internet research and listened to my you tube channel
( youtube.com/jimmypinch if you're interested )
I finally went back to sleep at 7am
I should do another dreaded enema today. My eyes are clear and my breath smells good. My body smells good too, not like last week, pooh!. My teeth are looking whiter. My stomach is going flatter.
I feel a little sad to be alone at Easter but I will see my girl tomorrow and she will precede to tease me with her Easter egg. I look forward to that.

If you are reading these posts I sometimes add things as they come up during the day so this may get added to.

This is a sponsored fast for Warchild  http://www.justgiving.com/james-pinchbeck

Day 10

Up at 3am. I feel a lot better than yesterday afternoon. My mind is doing the usual thing of craving certain foods for this stage of the fast. Early in a fast the craving is for fatty starchy stuff and protein but later on in the fast it's as if the body then says "Ok if you aren't going to let me have a fried chicken burger then please can I just have a tin of peas". I feel creative, had a good time jamming along to records. Last night my teeth were chattering a bit even though I didn't feel cold.
At around 4:30 I started to pace so I went for  long walk up yonder eastern hill.
The country lanes were lit by the moon. I saw the sun rise from the top of the highest hill. Mist hanging in the valleys, hills appeared to float on the mists.  While I was walking I felt really good. I walked quite a few hilly miles no problem, which is good because yesterday afternoon I could barely make it around the market square. It's important to try and get over each hurdle.  You get these hurdles when fasting where you feel rough, but it's only your body fixing things about itself. I got back at 7am and slept again for a couple of hours. I noticed also that I have started to slim down quite a lot. I've probably lost about 10 lbs by now. Although I could easily afford to lose another ten.
I'm feeling so much better, I'm just about over food addiction, which is a good job because Ruby is going to come round and eat easter eggs in front of me, I won't be able to resist a smell of Lindt, although I don't like to think of myself as a masochist, I'm more of a sadist but to myself. 

This is a sponsored fast for Warchild please donate here http://www.justgiving.com/james-pinchbeck

Day 9

I'm up at 2am so I decided to edit my blog for typos. I crashed out at about 9pm so I'm up stupidly early. I am going to meditate for a few of hours and just rest. Last night I made sausage, beans and mash for Ruby. It looked bloody amazing, a work of art. It was hard to let go of the plate when I handed it to her. I couldn't even lick my finger when some butter got on my hand. AARRGGH!!! lol.
I'm on a complete water fast now. No more fruit juice for me until my energy is too depleted. Once I start back on that fruit juice that will be a sign that I am nearing the home stretch.

Midday. After a couple of days on only water and no juice my body has gone into deep clean mode. I feel tired and heavy and I have bags under my eyes again. I had a walk round the market but my heart wasn't in it. Going to do a coffee enema to speed things up. Java Larva should do the trick. That's black coffee and no biscuit.

By late afternoon I started feeling very depleted so got some Floradix multi vitamin formula and a carton of organic juice. Performed the dreaded enema. I am currently lying down resting listening to Hound Dog Taylor very loud.

This is a sponsored fast for Warchild please donate here http://www.justgiving.com/james-pinchbeck

Day 8

Up at 5:30. That's ok I went to bed at 10:30 so I got my usual 7 hours. I was woken by the fact that I had dreamed I was making a Sunday roast dinner for my brother and I had dished it up. I was about to tuck in and I woke up. After not eating for a week and the fact that they actually can't eat anything I can imagine some people being brought to tears by that. Even if I did cave in I still couldn't eat that roast, that's the trickiest thing about fasting. Once ones digestive juices have stopped you can't just eat anything. One has to slowly tease the digestive juices into flowing again by a careful regimen of ingesting things that slowly bring those juices back.
Making food today was tough. It all looks ten times more tasty.  It's almost come to the point of food worship. I made a bagel for Ruby and it took on an almost religious iconic significance, like a halo.
When we got back from today's adventure assault course  I flaked out and slept for an hour. I keep getting cold extremities even in this sunny weather, all normal fasting side effects. I feel soooo hungry today.
I stopped having fruit juice today as it is just keeping my digestive juices going. After a few days on just water my hunger usually will die down. I pray.

One thing that happened in the night that is worth mentioning is that I dreamed I was watching Robert Johnson the blues singer. There are no films of RJ and, like many blues based musicians I have a deep reverence for this man's work. It was kind of like watching a You Tube film but in 3D and just like real life. He was stood in front of a desert backdrop. It was an amazing performance of about 25 minutes. He has a shaved head and he was wearing sunglasses. He was putting his whole soul into it, but effortlessly. He was sweating and moaning and hollering. I was thinking this is so real, more than real, it must be from the akashic records or something. Then I thought I bet Billy Gibbons would love this. I feel very lucky. I actually saw my ultimate guitar hero last night. Helping Warchild and getting my body in shape is payment enough for the fast for me, but being able to see Robert Johnson play is a big bonus.

Day 7

On the seventh day he rested..not. Happy that my daughter Ruby has come to stay, making her food is not too bad even though I'm making the food I kind of disassociate from it. This afternoon Ru had me doing a kids adventure  assault course. I fell off a log right onto my back, a few scratches and a bit sore but no harm done I don't think. It was good exercise we had a good time stop-watching each other. I feel good that I am getting out in the sun.
The 'Just Giving' charity website is a great thing. I really get a buzz out of seeing the money-o-meter slowly going up. I really hope I meet the target at least.
Physically I feel good, although this morning I had one of those rush of blood from the head moments when I jumped up out of bed quick in the morning. This is something that one is warned about in fasting literature. I need to get some essential oils or a bunch of lavender or something to sniff, another thing that feels like sustenance is pleasant smells that aren't food..
Frying onions and garlic for a stir fry in the evening was tough, very tough. Not being able to taste the cooking to see if the flavour is right was odd but having a good cause for the fast this time actually makes it a bit easier.
 I;ve got to get back to being a dad now see you tomorrow.

Day 6

Here's the link for donations. This site is great. They give the money straight to Warchild.
http://www.justgiving.com/james-pinchbeck/

Slept well. Up early. Had a shower. I dehydrated a bit in the night which I can tell by the shade of urine being a bit darker and a slight head ache. A glass of water and a lie down fixed that. Urination seems more frequent. Had very active dreams. It's funny how the usual foods that one has consumed long before the fast seem to create a smell in the mouth. This morning I detect a slight egg and beans (My usual breakfast). Deeper into a fast other food smells are detected in the nose that are being purged, sometimes things you may not have eaten for months. Eventually though when the body becomes completely detoxified one's breath smells sweet as does ones body.

Fasting is a very good way of strengthening the mind as one tries to keep it on other things (or nothing). One of the main things to go for is keeping fairly busy or having company. A lot of extra time is gained by not eating, cooking or shopping, often hours. A couple of people said I looked better yesterday. My skin is looking good, and my eyes are a bit brighter and I've lost about 5lbs. Tomorrow my daughter comes to stay so I will have to cook, yikes!
Performed the dreaded water enema. A good tip for very toxic fasters is to use black coffee in the enema as it speeds up the detoxification process. I haven't been drinking any herb tea either, I'm not a big herb tea drinker normally. I remember once on a fast I decided to have an ordinary cup of PG with milk in it, BIG mistake. Because my digestive juices had stopped the milk felt like it turned to cottage cheese in my stomach and I went around town burping cheese smells into people faces :-/. For the first 8 or 9 fasts I made every mistake in the book, so I feel very confident about fasting now. Onwards and upwards.

Day 5

Feel good today. Lot's of energy. No aches or pains. I have been drinking lots of water. Time is still slow. I don't particularly like being near food smells at the moment but I can remember, from previous fasts, that after a week I can sit at a table while people eat and be unaffected, hopefully that will be the case soon. My daughter is coming to stay in a couple of days so I will have to cook for her, which is tough because the smell and sight of food stimulates ones digestive juices which in turn makes you feel hungry. Jesus had the good sense to go into the wilderness while he was fasting. Not that I'm trying to top Jesus. Hey I should try for 41 days! ha.

I've been putting it off but I guess it has become time for the dreaded enema. Normally whilst fasting this is advisable to do this every two days.

Day 4

Feel ok today, a few little joint aches. This is always a good sign, it means your body is cleaning all the toxins from those normally hard to clear places. Life is pretty boring without food. Even on an eventless day you can make a plan for food, and it becomes this ritual. I went for a walk up a hill and sat in a field with some horses. The sun felt like sustenance.
Later in the Afternoon.
It's really strange but always during a fast the days seem to last much longer, like time is more stretched out, and it's not because I feel hungry or I'm suffering, time really does seem to be affected. I've noticed this on my other fasts.
If you are a writer fasting is a great way to speed up the brain and slow down time and get loads of writing done. When I was in town chatting to people I have better repartee. Spending time with people definitely helps. This first four days is the easiest four days I've ever had of a fast. Maybe it's because I'm just used to it, maybe it's because it is benevolent. I really hope I can put in a good showing. One thing I've learned about fasting though is that you have to listen to your body. If your body  decides it's time to break the fast then you should do it.
I'm surprised that people are being so supportive. I was expecting a more negative reaction, and even though a couple of friends have expressed concern, a brief c.v. of my fasting history has put them at ease.

Day 3

Head ache has turned to back ache in the night, spinal detox. Slept ok. Slightly dehydrated, so I'm drinking more water. Sleep was still very dreamy, but in a good way. Back ache left after a bit of a stretch. I am going out to look around and walk, get some fresh air.

I'm getting a great response from people and have gained more sponsorship.
Gory detail = Fruit juice sometimes does the same job as an enema. That's good, it stops me having to mess around.
I took a picture of myself bare chested to be able to show the difference in my body before and after the fast.
Sometimes people try to wind you up by mentioning food. I find it's always best to avoid these sadists like the plague.

Day 1 & 2

Fasting is a yogic exercise that is done for health. When the body is deprived of food homeostasis (the body's self righting mechanism) kicks in. Various effects of fasting inlcude. Detox, clear skin, loss of weight, improved cardiovascular function, improved energy, cleans the blood, fixes various common ailments, and gives a better appreciation and respect of food.


Here follows my fasting journal for this particular fast. I have fasted many times but never for charity (Warchild). I have had good support and I feel ready to embark on a long one. I did the first two days before asking for sponsorship just to see how I went.


14 April 2011
day 1
I have a bad headache as usual at this stage so I rested a lot. Clearing and purging dreams. Drinking water, nettle tea and fruit juice. Avoiding town because of food smells. Had to change pages online because of food advertising. Generally though I can keep my mind pretty focused.

15 Apr

day2

Feel ok my head is a little achey as is my body but it is very mild now. I must not be as toxic as i thought. I did prepare more for this one though by not drinking alcohol for over a month and having regular olive oil (deep into a fast one can get very dry skin if the body doesn't have a good store of oils).
 I should take a picture of my fat gut at the beginning to see the difference at the end, although I don't think anyone would want to see my fat gut really. 

I took a picture anyway. Hopefully there will be be a good difference at the end. Usually I lose about a pound a day. Luckily I am about 35 pounds overweight so I should be fine. The body can produce an average of 3000 calories a day from it's own stored body fat (2000 for women).


Fasting Quotes

"Fasting is the greatest remedy-- the physician within."

Philippus Paracelsus, one of the three fathers of Western medicine

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"Instead of using medicine, better fast today."

Plutarch, a Greek biographer and moralist

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"The best of all medicines is resting and fasting."

Benjamin Franklin

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"Everyone has a doctor in him; we just have to help him in his work. The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well. ...to eat when you are sick, is to feed your sickness."

Hippocrates, one of the three fathers of Western medicine

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"A little starvation can really do more for the average sick man than can the best medicines and the best doctors."

Mark Twain, in My Debut As a Literary Person

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"Every fool can fast, but only the wise man knows how to break a fast""

G.B. Shaw, writer

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"Humans live on one-quarter of what they eat; on the other three-quarters lives their doctor."

Egyptian pyramid inscription, 3800 B.C.

"I believe that fasting is the "missing link" in the Western diet."

"From a medical point of view, I believe that fasing is not utilized often enough."

".... fasting is one of the best overall healing methods because it can be applied to so many conditions and people."

"Fasting is the single greatest natural healing therapy. It is nature's ancient, universal 'remedy' for many problems. Animals instictively fast when ill."

all from Elson Haas, M.D. in Staying Healthy with Nutrition

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"Due to [the] effects of fasting, a fast can help you heal with greater speed; cleanse your liver, kidneys, and colon; purify your blood; help you lose excess weight and water; flush out toxins; clear the eyes and tongue; and cleanse the breath."

James F. Balch, M.D., in Prescription for Nutritional Healing

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"Therapeutic [water] fasting accelerates the healing process and allows the body to recover from serious disease in a dramatically short period of time."

"Fasting, combined with nutritional competence, removes the most significant causes of disease."

"Therapeutic fasting is not a mystical or magical cure. It works because the body has within it the capacity to heal when the obstacles to healing are removed. Health is the normal state. Most chronic disease is the inevitable consequence of living a life-style that places disease-causing stressors on the human organism. Fasting gives the body an interlude without those stressors so that it can speedily repair or accomplish healing that could not otherwise occur in the feeding state."

"The job of fasting is to supply the body with the ideal environment to accomplish its work of healing."

"The body's wondrous ability to autolyze (or self-digest) and destroy needless tissue such as fat, tumors, blood vessel plaque, and other nonessential and diseased tissues, while conserving essential tissues, gives the fast the ability to restore physiologic youth to the system. By removing or lessening the burden of diseased tissue, including the fatty tissue narrowing the blood vessels, fasting increases the blood flow and subsequent oxygenation and nutrient delivery to vital organs throughout the body."

all from Joel Fuhrman, M.D., in Fasting and Eating for Health

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"Man is the only 'animal' who persists in eating when he is sick, even though he may have no appetite and food makes him nauseous."

"Fasting is a calming experience. It is restful. It relieves anxiety and tension. It is rarely depressing and it is often downright exhilarating."

Alan Cott, M.D., from Fasting: The Ultimate Diet

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"Fasting is the strongest appeal to the human being's natural powers of healing and self-rejuvenation, on both a spiritual and corporeal level."

Heinz Fahrner, M.D.

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"I often observe in the fasting participants that by four days of fasting, concentration seems to improve, creative thinking expands, depression lifts, insomnia stops, anxieties fade, the mind becomes more tranquil and a natural joy begins to appear. It is my hypothesis that when the physical toxins are cleared from the brain cells, mind-brain function automatically and significantly improves and spiritual capacities expands."

Gabriel Cousins, M.D. (psychiatry)

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"Although beginning my practice in fog-covered medical superstition, I came to the conclusion that only nature can practice medicine."

"I contend that during illness feeding becomes a burden to the sick. It uses energy that otherwise would be used to fight the illness."

both from Dr. Edward Dewey

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"I must say in all seriousness that fasting when combined with a properly selected diet is the nearest approach to a 'cure-all' that is possible to conceive-- profoundly simple and simply profound!"

John Tilden, M.D.

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"Religious ascetics, who led their lives abstaining from food, came to the conclusion that fasting improved not only their spiritual state, but also their physical condition, and through fasting many diseases could be cured."

Dr. Inamura Motoo

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"I assert that fasting is the most efficient means for correcting any disease."

Adolph Mayer, M.D., from his book Fast Cures - Wondercures

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"Fasting creates a condition of low concentration of toxic wastes in the circulatory system. This is sensed by the plasma membrane of each cell and each cell will then let go of its load of toxic wastes."

Ron Kennedy, M.D.

"Fasting is like being a gifted sculptor who knows how to take areas of fatness and thinness and give them proper form."

Otto Buchinger, Jr.,
director of a fasting clinic

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"The practice of fasting tacitly acknowledges the fact that ours is a self-healing organism. Healing occurs naturally if it is allowed; improper or excessive food simply thwarts the natural ongoing healing processes. Forcing a sick person to eat 'to keep up his strength' overlooks the fact that digestion uses up strength too: more often than not, the available strength is better used for healing the problem at hand than for digestion."

Annemarie Colbin, from Food and Healing

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"I do not think it is possible to over-emphasize the fact that the physical sensations of fasting are, for the most part, far more pleasurable than the real or illusory delights of feasting."

Herbert Shelton, in Fasting Can Save Your Life

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"We must restore fasting to the place it occupied in an ancient hierarchy of values 'above medicine'. We must rediscover it and restore it to honor because it is a necessity."

Buchinger Clinics

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"The skin becomes more youthful [during fasting]. The eyes clear up and become brighter. One looks younger. The visible rejuvenation in the skin is matched by manifest evidences of similar but invisible rejuvenescence throughout the body."

Herbert Shelton, water fasting overseer

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"When we fast, energy is freed for a thorough housecleaning of the system. The body becomes lighter, more flexible; the mind becomes clearer and more creative. Greater intuitive powers may develop and deep spiritual insights may be experienced after a period of time. A feeling of well-being arises when the energy is freed in this way -- problems suddenly become solutions and ideas flow from nowhere."

Kripalu Center for Holistic Health, from their book The Self-Health Guide

"Fasting is a natural method of healing. When animals or savages are sick, they fast."

Paramahansa Yogananda

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"Fast because it is good for you...[it can be an] exercise to get the body in shape to be alive to itself. This process frees the self to be more sensitive to the Creation, to ourselves, and to our histories."

Christian Century magazine

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"Prayer brings us halfway to God, fasting takes us to the gateway of heaven."

Muhammad

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"Fasting is the soul's nourishment, it reins in language and seals one's lips, it tames desire and calms the choleric temperament. It awakens consciousness, renders the body docile, dispels nightly dreams, cures headaches and strengthens the eyes."

John Chrysostom, one of the early founders of the Christian Church

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"Seek the angel of fresh air, the angel of water, the angel of sunlight, and the angel of the earth, and invite them to stay with you throughout the fast!"

from the writings of the Essenes

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"When you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrits." "Be honest, be sincere. Fast for honest and truthful purposes."

Book of Matthew