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Fasting

  
  

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Scrambled Password Bogus Email
18:13 / 01.11.05
So, I am going the entire month of November on a strict vegan diet (no honey, no yeast, that strict) and at the end of it, on December 2nd, I shall be fasting for no less than 7 (count 'em, seven) days, nothing but water passing these lips, and most likely 3 8-litre colonics per day, and yoga 3 times a day, for a real proper cleanse and clearout before Chrimbolina.

I found a thread about sacrifice, chastity and fasting, from some time ago, but thought a new one devoted specifically to fasting was warranted and would be useful.

At the trabalhos at the weekend, I was speaking to a very good friend of mine, who has previously done a 30 day fast (that's no food whatsoever), and plans to do the full 40 day jobby prior to being initiated in an ibogaine ceremony at the ned of the month...40 days is the technical limit for fasting, beyond that you are officially medically starving (which basically means that your body, on the 41st day of no food, will begin to consume itself for nourishment...prior to this, it will use up every scrap of shit and rusbbish it has stored up over the years inside your body, which is the health and vitality benefit of doing the fast in the first place....it literally leads your body to eat every possible field of nourishment for thinbgs like tumours, cancers, necrotic and malignant growths, ulcers, that kind of thing...Jesus supposedly received the Lord's Prayer after his 40 day fast in the Wilderness...)

Has anybody experience of fasting who'd like to share their experience? Any Muslims on the board, seeing as it's Ramadan? Any really strict ones? Have you ever fasted, if so for how long, and how did it impact your life, spiritually and physically?

I'm really, excuse the pun, juiced about it. I'll keep a blog/diary in this thread of how its all going, but in the meantime, over to you guys and gals and in betweens.
 
 
Sekhmet
18:47 / 01.11.05
Have you ever fasted before?

Seven days is longer than you might think... especially if you're not an experienced faster.


(And for fuck's sake, 30 days isn't a fast, it's a hunger strike. That's mad, that is.)
 
 
Sekhmet
18:49 / 01.11.05
Oh, and there was a recent thread about fasting here.
 
 
Isadore
19:43 / 01.11.05
I find water fasting very useful as a system cleanser, but I only use it for a day or two at a time. For longer periods I tend towards one meal a day (lentils and brown rice are a favorite).

If you're used to eating three solid meals a day, fasting may be quite a shock. The first time my mother and I tried it, ten years or so ago, we did a full liquid fast (various juices and miso allowed every few hours) and by the end of the day we were utterly ravenous. Of course, if your past month of strict vegan diet was low in calories and bulk, it should be pretty easy to adjust.
 
 
grant
19:48 / 01.11.05
I fast for one day (sundown to the second morning following) every year, when I can. This year, I think I stretched it a little and had smoothies because I had a cold.

It's certainly clarifying, in that priorities/time/spiritual reality way, I can see that. I suppose I can go longer physically, but it's hard to explain to people what's going on, and I have a feeling I'd get too wiggy to do *any* kind of work after three days.

My main piece of fasting advice is to keep plenty of water around. Fills the stomach, yes, but also -- you get a lot of water from foods. Vegetables. Pasta. All that stuff is loaded with H2O. Dehydration is no fun at all, after you get past the initial nausea and confusion.
 
 
skolld
20:36 / 01.11.05
yes, you should really try smaller fasts before moving onto a seven day one.
A few corrections though, 40 days is usually the longest a person should go but for some people the time is shorter.
Essentially the first three days of a fast you will feel hunger pains, after this they will subside and you will probably feel very alert and on top of your game the next few days, physically this is the best part of a fast. As you progress if you begin to feel hunger pains again this is when you should break your fast because this is the onset of starvation. This could occur at 30 days for some people and if you are underweight from the start it can happen sooner.
Also remember to not eat heavily before you fast, and when you end your fast it's best to eat fruits and light meals.
 
 
Unconditional Love
21:26 / 01.11.05
A way to work into a fast is to change your diet to soft fruits some days before hand, water based fruits if possible, or red grapes seeded worth consuming the pips as well.

I ve done seven days, it brings back the energy of a child to the mind and body.

I have no idea how 30 days will effect you, id be intrested to see the mental effects and how you respond to the broadening of your consciousness, and also as in my own experience your mind cleans out as your body does.

Think about the kinds of water your going to consume, i have no real idea but certain mineral waters may well have the wrong mix of minerals, worth investigating, filtered water may well be a better option.

Id use a week before hand to work into it slowly breaking down the food in take to soft fruits.

May also be worth starting a fermented cabbage juice diet the week before, the taste is foul but the smell is worse, air tight bottle is needed. I am finding at the mo green tea lemon and honey is also helping to clean my system through, although its leaving the stool a little dry.

Worth doing the yoga or chi gung to help the body sweat out the impurities, do you know 8 pieces of brocade?

I found it worth going on a mental fast as well, cutting down on media consumption, especially media aimed at fear inducement, when the hunt instinct emerges it aint what ya need, well from my own experiences.
 
 
Logos
02:23 / 02.11.05
Yeah, pure water fasts for that long are not always the best idea. You may want to add other liquids, with electrolites and/or a daily multivitamin.
 
 
Scrambled Password Bogus Email
07:31 / 02.11.05
Thanks for all the response here fellows...I have fasted up to three days previously, I thought I'd really push the boat out this time, though, to investigate the mental effects...Should be very interesting.

Aye, the point of the vegan diet is to cushion and prepare the system, I'll probably mainly be eating raw foods as well, certainly in the week leading up to the fast, just fruits and soft vegetables, that kind of thing...

I may go with fruit / vegetable juices during the fast, we'll see how it goes leading up to it...

My friend who did the 30 days said it was the most radical and spiritually beneficial thing he has ever done in his life...(he is rather thin though!)...he has a paralyzed arm from a motorcycle accident many years ago, and was on handfuls (18 per day) of painkillers for 13 and a half years...came off them after that fast, didn't need them anymore, and now has a really strict diet, which helps him no end with the constant pain...Lovely chap, to boot...

btw, I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to know a bit more about the whys and wheretofores, though most of you seem to be pretty knowledgeable already...

December 2nd is the start date, I'll keep a diary in here of what's occurring.
 
 
Scrambled Password Bogus Email
07:39 / 02.11.05
Worth doing the yoga or chi gung to help the body sweat out the impurities, do you know 8 pieces of brocade?

No, what is it / are they?

I found it worth going on a mental fast as well, cutting down on media consumption, especially media aimed at fear inducement, when the hunt instinct emerges it aint what ya need, well from my own experiences.

Already do that, dude...Stopped watching the news and reading newspapers a while ago now...realised it doesn't actually benefit me at all...and couldn't escape the really insidious feeling of being sold something, and not being too sure what it was or whether I really wanted it.

I think another thread is called for...
 
 
Unconditional Love
10:35 / 02.11.05
eight brocades resources

A few at hand resources, cant find any video online at present, some may turn up thou.
 
 
Scrambled Password Bogus Email
11:03 / 02.11.05
Excellent, thanks.
 
 
Scrambled Password Bogus Email
08:31 / 07.11.05
Quick update:

I'm 7 days into my vegan and wheat free diet and I have to just say :

ENERGY!!

I have absolutely loads of the stuff, its crazy! I eat pretty much all day, fruits and dried fruits, celery, carrots etc., but the enrgetic payoff is absolutely stunning me.

I'm up at 5.45 every morning to greet the sunrise and practice yoga with little boy, then I go mental all day, and its just great. Never had so many resources with which to work, such deep reserves...it's amazing, really. I suspect it's the absence of wheat and dairy, which are really long and difficult digestion processes. With them out of the way, the body's efficiency in tapping the energy from wholesome foods is phenomenal.

Anyway, will keep checking in right through the diet and fast.

TTFN.
 
 
illmatic
08:57 / 07.11.05
This is the detoxing thread I started last year. My only attempt so far. Failed misearbly on not drinking this last week. I'd really like that energetic pay off - or rather just to see if it happens for me - but cutting out wheat and dairy - blimey, major bloody preparation.
 
 
Scrambled Password Bogus Email
12:22 / 07.11.05
Yeah, the not drinking booze is really important as well, and not smoking. I was an amazing party at my mate's warehouse on Saturday, and it was very (very) naughty...lots of naughtiness going on the whole narcosis kind of way...and, I'm dead proud of myself, I stuck to water and herbal tea all night! Was boogie-ing until 5 am on a raw natural high...makes a bit of a difference for me, I assure you.

I only had 4 hours kip, then got up and went to a Daime trabalho...haha! I've got so much energy I don't know what to do with it all.
 
 
Scrambled Password Bogus Email
10:15 / 09.11.05
Highly recommend this book for anyone interested in this...

It's extremely sales-y as far as Bragg endorsed products go, but hey, that's no biggie. The factual information and background is tip-top. I'm personally starting this Friday with a 36 hour fast, which is henceforth going to be my weekly Way...last food Thursday night, then sleep, nothing all day Friday, next food Saturday breakfast (break-fast...do you see?).

I've started on the psyllium husks, colofibre and Bentonite Clay solution as of last night...a pint in the morning, a pint in the evening, and away we go.

Perhaps I won't post pictures of what comes out...Nah.

;-)
 
 
Royal McBee
01:09 / 11.11.05
Well, I've experimented fasting a few times during my hindu spiritual life. We use to fast for one day (no water, no food, nothing) four or five days of the year. Besides that, once I did it myself, for five days. No food, only water.

First of all, it's quite interesting, and helps a lot to get more... transcendent. You feel different with less food inyour stomach. The first day is easy - you almost do not feel hungry until the night. Then go to sleep.

The second day s a little tougher. But when we come to the third it gets easier. It's ike your body adapts to our lack of food and starts to use all those reserves we all have.

Giving some tips: you could take water with little bit of salt. It will help to retain for longer the water in your body. Ad avoid fast movements, specially after the third day
If you anytime get weak or see black dots in front of your eyes, do not worry, they are consequence of you low-sugar situation. Just sit and relax. If you think you're going to fade, take some sugar. Or give up this idea.
 
 
Scrambled Password Bogus Email
08:08 / 11.11.05
Hehe...

Today I am fasting for 36 hours...well, as of 10.30 pm last night, actually. Nothing but water until 10.30 am Saturday morning.

I'm doing this every week from now until whenever. It's also a good buildup to the 7 day beauty that awaits me in December.

Incidentally, if you try fasting and find that your piss runs very dark for more than 24 hours, you should stop. Your body is eliminating waste at such a high rate that it may actually damage your system. Do shorter fasts more regularly until your body is used to it and has stabilised the toxin elmination process a little.

Anyhoo, so far so good. Drinking lots of water, though I need to get hold of distilled water...Holland & Barrett don't have it, any ideas anyone??
 
 
Scrambled Password Bogus Email
08:19 / 14.11.05
Fast was a breeze, today marks beginning of week 3 on vegan diet, no wheat, no booze, fags, coffee, toxins, nish.

All good, but toxin elimination means I have a sniffle, feels like an allergy, body getting rid of mucus from digestive tract...

Otherwise, so far so good. Another 36 hour fast this week, from Thursday night till Saturday morning, then one more week of diet, then the biggie.
 
 
astrojax69
01:31 / 15.11.05
i did a detox with no food, but a foul liquid made with volcanic ash, bolstered by small sips of fruit juices and kelp pills - a strict timing thing went on, too, i recall... had to alternate volcanic ash or juice and spirulina every two hours - or was it three? anyway, the bowel kept emitting stuff days after i'd last eaten and i did feel a renewed energy.

this thread has me contemplating a refresher at this, getting cleaned up (although i did go 15wks a while ago with no drugs - alcohol, weed, caffeine, nada. good)

anyone shed some light on the volcanic ash stuff for me? my ex-partner got onto it through someone at work...
 
 
Scrambled Password Bogus Email
09:02 / 18.11.05
Hmm, dunno about volcanic ash, but Bentonite Clay (looks very ash-y, grey/white) dissolved in a teacup of (100% pure) juice, with additional 3/4 pint of (preferably distilled) water, leave to dissolve after blending, then add psyllium husks and colofibre just prior to drinking (about 10-15 mins later) is the cleanse I am doing at the moment.

Back on 36 hour fast today.
 
 
Scrambled Password Bogus Email
12:52 / 18.11.05
Yep, Bentonite Clay is volcanic ash residues...

That's the ticket. With psyllium husks and colofibre, you're basically getting the equivalent of two to three daily colonics, but without any water or coffee squirting up your ass. It cleans out toxins, mucus and impacted food from the colon, completely clearing the digestive tract...at least 7 days recommended, 30 days a thorough, complete cleanse.

I'm currently taking the drink first thing in the morning and last thing at night, every day...certainly works!

I'm finding the 36 hour fast really easy, and very beneficial. Only two weeks to go until the big 7 day monster.
 
 
Scrambled Password Bogus Email
15:38 / 19.11.05
Blimey, its all 'me, me, me' in this thread, isn't it?

Have decided today to begin my fast on November 28th at 6pm...this will conincide beaautifully with a double Santo Daime trabalhos I plan to attend on the weekend of December 4th + 5th...So, 6pm evening of the 5th, after a 7 day fast culminating in two days of ayahuasca rituals, I will be able to eat some fruit and slads and vegan goodies (a;ways loads of great gentle food at the works, all organic / bio-dynamic etc..)

Fascinated to see what sort of payoff a whole month off of alcohol, all intoxicants, fish , wheat and dairy, eating mainly raw organic foods, plus a total colon cleanse and 7 day fast will have for the Daime. I'm anticipating something pretty bloody spectacular, to be honest. See you in Dimension X!!

Will keep a daily journal of the fast here anyway.

Peace, love and cake.
 
 
illmatic
09:02 / 21.11.05
Blimey, its all 'me, me, me' in this thread, isn't it?

Yeah, but I'm watching with fascination. I'm going to start carrying a couple of emergency Mars Bars for when I get that desperate PM next week entitled "Help! Trapped in front of PC but now to weak to move" and we have to come to your rescue.
 
 
Less searchable M0rd4nt
09:24 / 21.11.05
I'm rooting for ya, Money $hot. I wanted to do a dawn-to-dusk fast for nine days on the run-up to Yule, but I'll be staying with people who wouldn't really understand and would be hurt if I refused food. Be fascinating to see how you get on, esp. with the Daime.
 
 
Scrambled Password Bogus Email
11:03 / 21.11.05
Hey, thanks Gang!

S'gonna be...interesting...I already see how it moves the auld assembage point around, one's attitude towards food, indulgence generally, diet and so on are pretty heavily affected by simple 36 hour fasts, so the week is going to be pretty radical, I suspect.

I may even resurrect the Daime thread for a post or two if it seems appropos.
 
 
Char Aina
17:05 / 21.11.05
I already see how it moves the auld assembage point around, one's attitude towards food, indulgence generally

would you mind unpacking that a little?
i would find that interesting.
the health aspects are probably what intrigues me the most, but i am curious to hear your observations on how it has shifted your perceptions regarding your fuel source.

i'm guessing that the new light the experence has shone illuminates your other desires and indulgences by analogue, yeah?
or do you mean something else?
 
 
SteppersFan
19:39 / 21.11.05
Keep going, this is really interesting, not "me me me" at all.

The high fibre drinks can be pretty good. I have ones with an orangey taste -- works well. Doing a big clear out can set up your colon for years. I did it back in 98.

How many times a day are you defecating? Up to three?

(Can't believe I'm asking about this!)
 
 
Ganesh
00:54 / 22.11.05
Could you describe your faeces, MS?

(Actually, it is quite compelling, this thread.)
 
 
Scrambled Password Bogus Email
07:25 / 22.11.05
Actually, I could go on about, er, that, if you really want. Motions are levelled out at about 3-4 per day, after an early peak of up 8 (my other half had - count 'em - 12 in one day at the beginning. Lawks.)

As for descriptions...nah, you don't really want that.

Do you?
 
 
Scrambled Password Bogus Email
07:26 / 22.11.05
toksik - will get back to you in a bit, need to do some work!
 
 
Scrambled Password Bogus Email
15:24 / 22.11.05
i'm guessing that the new light the experence has shone illuminates your other desires and indulgences by analogue, yeah?
or do you mean something else?

That's it, really. Also, the sense of having walked through a door that is now shut...I don't realistically think I can return to my previous ways, there is a definite sense of...I'm not sure how to describe it, really...a passing of one phase and the beginning of something new, and 'I'm' going to miss some things, except that 'I' has gone with them, so the 'I' that remains is not missing anything except a slight ache-y fondness for the old 'I'...Make sense?

Plus, a huge dose of Humble, frankly...going without food, at the risk of sounding pious or something, kind of brings a sharp relief to the privilege we all enjoy here, and makes me feel quite disgusted that whole populations of people are killing themselves through deliberately poor nutrition and overeating. Overfed and undernourished. I don;t buy lack of education at all...we all know what's what.

It's weird, walking down a typical high street with a basic remit that you may only eat fresh, pesticide free, nutritious foods, no wheat, no dairy, and discovering that there is very little food on offer that you are able to consume. Loads of food, just no nutrition, at. all.

That's a bit freaky, no? You have to go to special shops to buy natural food. This is the society we have forged for ourselves. Buying things which grow without toxic poisons and hormones and artificial growth processes is a special concern. Extra.

After a 36 hour fast (which I'm now doing weekly, for, as far as I can plan such things, the rest of my life), the entire eating impulse is slowed to a crawl...the need for food feels much smaller, simpler, less desiring of richness and complexity and volume. S'funny, I've indulged myself twice in the last three weeks for things I've basically been avoiding (some chips from a fish'n'chip shop and a packet of salt'n'vinegar twirly crisps), and both times my digestive system has gone haywire in disgust...it just didn't like that shit in there at all. And I didn't enjoy these little 'treats' even half as much as I thought I would...it's like my memories of what I liked are false, somehow, these things are stored in my memory-mind as 'enjoyable / tasty', but the sensory event in actuality is not all that pleasant at all.

It's quite difficult to put into words, actually. Food has diminished in size inside my Universe, how's that? I love eating, but it's all a lot simpler.
 
 
Sekhmet
16:39 / 22.11.05
I've only ever fasted a few times, and never for more than three days, but yes - food is very different afterwards, and anything greasy or overprocessed comes across as utterly disgusting. Like, that's not food. And it isn't, really. It's ingestible, but it's not what your body wants.

Must find a good time to fast soon. I need to rather badly, I think.
 
 
Scrambled Password Bogus Email
19:55 / 24.11.05
I've decided to skip the regular 36 hour fast tomorrow in lieu of the 7 day jobby starting on Sunday. Light foods only from now until then, Sunday is my sister in law's birthday, there's going to be a huge spread of Caribbean food (not to mention rum) that I won't be able to go near. Bugger.

Looks like I picked a stinking month to give up eating.

A mixture of anticipation and mild trepidation at the moment, but bolstered by some news today...I started writing today (songs) with a beautiful daimista I know, and her husband has been fasting since the last trabalho, drinking only vegetable juice. He's up to 9 days. He's continuing until the very day I stop, next Sunday...woah.

I'm not going with juices, though, just water. Have you seen the price of distilled water? Bloody hell. I don;t have a spare £200 for a distiller at the moment, so it looks like I'll have to go with mineral water.

Anyway. Bon appetit.

Bastards!
 
 
Scrambled Password Bogus Email
08:43 / 27.11.05
Well, well, well. DOesn't time fly when you're eating well?

Today is the day. I begin at 6 pm this evening, and from then on no more food, nor juice, tea, vitamins, supplements, nothing at all but water in this digestive system until 6 pm (possibly later) next Sunday.

Wish me luck!

Daily reports to follow.
 
  

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