More Fasting Lessons

I haven’t blogged about fasting for a few weeks, but I have learned a couple of more things. If you want to see how it all began, you can start reading here and work your way back with the links in that post: No Fast Week 4.

I can easily forget I am fasting, and fasting on farmers market day is a BAD IDEA for me. Three weeks ago it was a no-spray peach that messed me up, and today it was half of a fig. Oh my gosh...I have never had figs. YUM! Today I ignored that indiscretion and kept right on fasting.

Two weeks ago I learned to not fast when my sone has a birthday party that I also attended. If it was just any old mainstream birthday party, the fast would have been cake, but this was an organic birthday party, complete with sauerkraut at lunch. Still, I held strong and didn’t break it until 3:00 that day. It was tough.

I shouldn’t fast if I haven’t slept well. Sleep deprivation combined with food deprivation is tough, and that day took real willpower to complete the fast. I hit 18 hours and broke it.

Following the GAPS Diet makes fasting easier. GAPS is a super low carbohydrate eating approach, which we have started again and about which I will blog later.

I find that I crave fat as my fast window comes to a close, and a raw chunk of cheese is what I eat first.

Most importantly, fasting really makes me appreciate having food. By that I mean that I am surprised at how little fills me up after 20 or so hours of fasting. It really signals how I eat too much the rest of the week, how horrifically gluttonous Americans are, and how a little bit of food can make a difference someone who is starving.

Earlier this year my family donated to Heifer International, and it seems like it is time to donate again. If Ryan and I eat a little less each week, we will easily cover the cost of a donation.

Comments

[Maria Droujkova]

Thanks for sharing the lessons. Here are a few of my lessons, then!

It's easier to fast completely (just water) than to have even a bite of anything, or a spoonful of juice, etc. It looks like food "wakes up" the stomach and then I feel hungrier.

Hunger comes in waves, like sleepiness. My waves are about 20 minutes long, with about 1 hour break between them. Drinking more water during the wave helps.

Reading, light computer work (sorting email) or meditation seem to be the easiest pastimes while fasting. Some jobs are easier and some are harder, overall - I have a list of things to do and a list of things not to do, in my mind. I can't do math or anything that requires similar concentration and thus similar levels of sugar consumption while fasting.

I stay away from all food-related activities while fasting. I also stay away from shopping of any sort, even not for food. In general, I try to avoid shopping while even slightly hungry, or I tend to buy too much.

[Laura Combs]

Thanks, Maria!