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Cleansing Fast

21:30 / 27.05.05

So I've been feeling kind of physically...blah...lately and I've decided that I need to get back into a more healthy lifestyle. I've got three days in a row off work next week and I thought it might be a good time to do some kind of cleansing fast.

The thing is, I've never done such a thing before and I haven't the slightest notion of how to go about it. Any tips?

Unconditional Love

15:27 / 28.05.05

3 days before your 3 days off go onto a diet of cabbage juice to help your colon remove toxins, blend a cabbage down, if your have more time allow it to ferment alittle.

for the three day fast just drink mineral water and avoid tap waterfermet the cabbage for 3 days if you can before using but youll need 6 days prep for that.

be ready for feeling a little tired after the first day, and for the onset of bad breath and sometimes a few spots as the system begins to detox.

when coming out of the fast eat only light foods, fruit, fruit juice nothing to tough on the digestion like bread.

if you can a seven day water fast is good for a more revitalising effect. if it gets too much on the fast try a fruit juice fast, chose one juice and stick to it, make sure its pure.

18:28 / 28.05.05

have a wash an that i find that rubbing my scabs with a slighty abrasive cat always helps, also drink some brain oil.

19:16 / 28.05.05

*Trying to ignore quimper's asinine post to this good question*

If you are going to fast full out, work up to it gradually. Cut out meat and fish first, then dairy and eggs, complex carbohydrates next. Stay for about a week on whole foods - mostly fruits and veggies. Try to stay away from proteins such as nuts and soy just before the fast, switching to juices and vegatable broth (I would use a bit of marmite and hot water for that.) Fasting shouldn't be a shock to your system. You have to be careful and do NOT do anything too strenuous as you approach your days of complete fasting, the days without protein. Keep yourself well hydrated and try to take those days off work as you may get very dizzy due to the toxins that will surface during the fast.

Wolven Angels gave a good recipe for a detoxing tonic, although I have never tried it. I have another that has been used widely, popularized Stanley Burroughs. It is called The Master Cleanser Fast. The recipe is here. Even though that is a commercial website, it has the information needed. I have used this drink all day long on a fast before, taking it with me in a thermos. It is tasty too!

I can't stress enough, water!, water!, water!

19:28 / 28.05.05

I also highly recommend colonic therapy to eliminate toxins faster, but see your GP and a wholistic practitioner before trying this. It is possible you may have other complication I am unaware of. Just keep in mind that those who practice conventional medicine tend to be skeptical about colonic therapy.

A good book to read about fasting and colonic therapy is "Tissue Cleansing Through Bowel Management" by Dr.Bernard Jensen.

20:44 / 28.05.05

Thanks, guys!

Um, I'll probably have to pass on the colonic therapy, as I'm a bit skeptical on that myself...

21:27 / 28.05.05

Well after reading the tips here and doing a bit of additional research, I've decided that I'm definitely not ready for a straight-up fast. I'm afraid that it would just be too much of a shock to my junk-food laden system. Plus, my will-power being what it is, on the second day I'm liable to flip out and devour the (slightly abrasive) cat.

What I'm going to do instead is just try to eat mostly whole fresh fruits and veggies, whilst drinking nothing but pure juice and water, for three days. It should be easier to do when I'm off, as I work in a supermarket, where the temptations of baked goods and chocolate are ever-present.

I'll save the flat-out high-speed cleansing for my next vacation, when I'll have more time to prepare.

00:35 / 29.05.05

Liger - another alternative would be an all-liquid fast; fruit and vegetable juices, water, and broth, but no solids.

I've done three-day water-only fasts twice. Definitely worthwhile both times, but it went over far better when I was in a vegetarian period anyway and got into it more gradually.

Unconditional Love

11:59 / 29.05.05

something ive been told sekhmet is never to mix alkalines and acids in the stomachs while fasting, veg is generally alkaline and fruits generally acid, from what ive found its best to chose either a fruit or veg based diet if juic fasting depending on your prevailing diet before the fast, try to chose either one to rebalance the bodies chemistry.

i didnt know that for my first few attempts and was farting and belching all over the place.

its also a good idea to exercise first thing when you get up, while fasting or not fasting, because your body wont have food to burn, it will burn fat instead if you want weight loss with your bodily purification.

18:00 / 29.05.05

i didnt know that for my first few attempts and was farting and belching all over the place.

Which isn't a bad thing. Putrefaction is the way the body digests, so releasing gases is a natural part of that process. The more processed or spicy the food, the more uhm...putrid one's flatulence will be. Also, gaseous foods include boccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. It is no wonder that you were farting and belching so much, Wolven Angel, given your first post in this thread. One other thing, and this may be unpleasant, but DO NOT hold in your gas. The gas is toxic and can cause damage to the duodenum and appendix, if I am not mistaken. I am not a doctor, but I have spent a good deal of time researching this for my own understanding.

its also a good idea to exercise first thing when you get up, while fasting or not fasting, because your body wont have food to burn, it will burn fat instead if you want weight loss with your bodily purification.

From my understanding, one has to be careful which exercises one does before breakfast. Light cardio is usually okay, but lifting weights or heavy cardio workouts should be saved for sometime after your breakfast. Ideally, researchers have found the best time for exercise is between 5-6pm. I think that is because endurance is at it's peak, one is more alert and your body-core tempature is at it's highest. However, it is not crucial that one exercise strictly at this time, especially given that people have different scheduales. Just be careful about how hard you work your body out before breakfast, or you might be burning muscle instead of fat.

12:32 / 31.05.05

I had to do a three-day fast recently, in preperation for a colonoscopy. I had only non-carbs for one day, then two and a half days with only clear liquids, accompanied by enemas. Nice. So naturally, I tried to approach it from a shamanic magical cleansing kind of angle, which made it all the more bearable.

The first day of fast I felt really tired and hungry and headachey. The second I felt a little better, though listless. But by the third day I felt fine - really clear mentally and physically and not even really hungry.

So apart from some tiredness, it didn't really impact negatively on my life at all. I was able to go about my business as normal, and go back to work with no problems afterwards.

So just go for it ;¬)

rising and revolving

13:29 / 31.05.05

Every few months I'll fast - my routine is pretty straightforward, and is based on things I've been told. Pretty scientific, eh?

- Fast for 72 - 90 hours. Minimum 72, as this is how long it takes for the toxins to work their way out. Or something.

- Drink lots of fluids - water and pure apple juice for me. Water hydrates, apple cleanses (and provides some sugar) - I tend to alternate water/apple throughout the day.

- Have 1-3 spoons of maple syrup every 24 hours or so to keep your sugar levels up

- Don't do anything too physically intensive - and you should be alright. In the mornings I'll do some Yoga, meditate - in the evenings some ritual and writing / reading.

You can definately keep working while fasting without too many problems if you work a desk-job. In fact, you can do most things you'd do anyways - it shouldn't knock you on your arse.

I personally don't think there's any problems with swinging straight into a fast, regardless of what you've been eating recently - I've gone from fast food to fasting with no vegetable period in between. On the other hand, I always ease back into eating after the fast - lots of veggies and good stuff before hitting the bacon-double-cheeseburger.