Another Short Fast

My previous modified fast lasted close to, if not 4 full days. It was slightly uncomfortable. It appears I have stretched my stomach for my cravings to eat troubled me the most. However around the 3 day mark those cravings disappeared and I began to enjoy the fast. I was completely exhausted and mostly rested to the point of light reading and watching movies. I watched the entire season of Out of the Wild: Venezuela. I enjoy group dynamics under extreme situations--for it shows me the truth of human nature. Plus, I had seen the previous season featuring Alaska and I knew the people would be fasting more rigorously than I was. In fact they go hungry for days and exert themselves to the breaking point. I merely laid on my couch and let me body heal itself.

Credit

I am in round two of another modified fast. This one is for 3 days over a long weekend. It's much easier this time. One thing which I have added and will continue to use on my full-fledged Juice Feast is incorporating probiotics.

I am not a follower of the Body Ecology Diet but I have learned a lot from its principles. The main thing I have incorporated is the strategic use of probiotics.  In my juices I am adding a dose of Cocobiotic and in grapefruit juice I am adding a scoop of Vitality SuperGreen. In the last modified fast I regularly took MRM Digest-All digestive enzymes with my juices. I had success with it, but I have to be careful as my constitution can be revved up from a hot coal to a bonfire and into intense healing and a desire to return to solid food right quickly.

The most important thing in this light, modified fasting is allowing my body down time. It truly is with gratitude that I thank my body with its infinite wisdom to heal itself.  I intend to prepare myself for the Juice Feast with as many short fasts as I can. As I mentioned before I want to master the art of breaking the fast. At present all I can say is I have a lot of learning and experimenting to do.

Breaking My Fasting Abstinence

My first Juice Feast was in full swing this time two years ago. I have not fasted since.  Because of my work schedule and lifestyle choices I usually fast to some degree over holidays. Yet with graduate school added into my schedule I have felt too tired and simply unready to fast.  One of the reasons this blog is so important to me pre-Juice Feasting, is because I have needed to stay as close to healthy choices as I can.  So I continue to challenge and prepare myself for a Juice Feast that will likely occur one year from now.  In the meantime I am learning about and making better choices in small increments.

I recently traveled home. This trip transitioned into a soul searching journey. Through healing conversations with family members, beautiful bare foot walks on the lake shore and internal spiritual discoveries I felt several releases of energy. When I came back I had to reconcile these differences. So for the first time in two years, I engaged in a three day modified fast.


For most people water fasts can be a little too severe. As I am easing my way back into fasting I opted for crystal-charged water, Vitamineral green-spiked grapefruit juice, herbal tea (both dried and fresh from the garden) and even a helping of organic miso broth. I have found that long, deep sleeps are required to succeed on this fast. Although the fast has not been troublesome, I have needed to be mindful  and rest regularly.

Fasting again puts me in touch with the areas that I need to work on. I think my greatest challenge is how I can sensibly come off the fast.  Today is my final day and I plan to break it carefully with green smoothies tomorrow.  I am considering several one day fasts in the future to train for breaking fasts.

35 Hours: An Experiment with a Far Infrared Sauna

My first sauna

During my first Juice Feast I discovered the benefits of profuse sweating. More recently I've discovered the benefits of profusely sweating in a healthy, more strategic way. My first portable sauna was an exploration. I was hesitant and skeptical it would provide me any health benefits worth my time and money.

I kept it and used it regularly for 2 years. At that point it smelled terribly of concentrated sweat and I was ready to get rid of it. I went several months without using anything when I began to reconsider a new sauna. I heard about the new low EMF FIR saunas and how other saunas may be doing damage with high EMF output. After a lot of deliberation I decided to buy a Clearlight portable dome sauna.

I have used it for 35 hours and it is an amazing healing tool. I cannot wait to try it when I am fasting. In general it has helped me detox and I have felt great from it, although it's hard to give an overall assessment. For instance on my first use my belly button was red and sore afterwards, just like when I had my amalgam fillings removed. I am not able to articulate why this happened--although I speculate it is a healing reaction to stored toxins in my belly button (I had a ruptured belly button as a child). My skin looks much better, but it is still very dry. I have noticed after a session many dead skin cells scrape off easily. To enhance this process I try to do a dry brushing before the sauna and I use a rough exfoliating cloth in the shower afterwards. I prefer to use a detoxing soap with charcoal in it to absorb any toxins on the surface.

I have had an unusual healing experience with my ear. I pierced my ears several times as a child and I often had infections in them. To date I have had a healing incident in two holes of the left ear. On one a stubborn sore stayed for weeks and after digging it out several times, it finally expelled some old debris and has healed nicely. On a milder note it happened on a second hole, which is still scabbed over.

I lay towels down on the heating mat on the floor and I have adopted the advice I saw on a Daniel Vitalis video to wash the towels in zeolites. I use my usual mild detergent as well. Another best practice I am going to use for the sessions beyond today are a grounding mat. I heard this practice from Len Foley in a Longevity Conference video. A further addition I have used and will continue to use is an ionic air purifier.   I am still learning what works best, but I must say this is one of the best healing tools for me.