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!
Saturday, 30 April 2011
Friday, 29 April 2011
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".
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.
That's it for now, I'm going to tuck the little girl into bed and strum a guitar for a while.
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
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
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
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
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
This is a sponsored fast for Warchild please sponsor me at http://www.justgiving.com/james-pinchbeck
Monday, 25 April 2011
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
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
Sunday, 24 April 2011
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
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
Saturday, 23 April 2011
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
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
Friday, 22 April 2011
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
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
Thursday, 21 April 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
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.
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.
Monday, 18 April 2011
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.
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.
Sunday, 17 April 2011
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.
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.
Saturday, 16 April 2011
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.
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 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."
"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."
"Fasting is like being a gifted sculptor who knows how to take areas of fatness and thinness and give them proper form."
"Fasting is a natural method of healing. When animals or savages are sick, they fast."
"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."
Fasting Quotes
"Fasting is the greatest remedy-- the physician within."
Philippus Paracelsus, one of the three fathers of Western medicine
"Instead of using medicine, better fast today."
Plutarch, a Greek biographer and moralist
"The best of all medicines is resting and fasting."
Benjamin Franklin
"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
"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
"Every fool can fast, but only the wise man knows how to break a fast""
G.B. Shaw, writer
"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
"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
"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."
"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
"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."
"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
"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.
"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)
"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."
"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
"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.
"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
"I assert that fasting is the most efficient means for correcting any disease."
Adolph Mayer, M.D., from his book Fast Cures - Wondercures
"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
director of a fasting clinic
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
Christian Century magazine
"Prayer brings us halfway to God, fasting takes us to the gateway of heaven."
Muhammad
"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
"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
"When you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrits." "Be honest, be sincere. Fast for honest and truthful purposes."
Book of Matthew
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