My 21+??? Water Fast

Have started this to keep track of my water fast. It seems this is a more appropriate thread.

I am currently on day 5.

I will post regular updates as I feel the need.

OK woke up and it is now day 6. Felt really good when I woke up. Really bad taste in my mouth but otherwise a fair bit of energy. As I am walking around though I feel a little weak. I suspect it is going to be a day in bed. Luckily I have cleared my life schedule for at least two months so anything goes.

Went for a short walk yesterday evening to get the blood moving. I felt a little tired after but generally fine.

Last night was funny. Could not stop thinking about all the delicious foods I am going to eat when I am done. I hope these will go away.

More updates to come

Day 6 9pm

Today has been a little tough. I am getting a lot of dizziness when I walk around and the thoughts of food has been driving me nuts.

Had a walk today in the afternoon sun, which was great. The only problem is that my mouth is so dry it became uncomfortable. It was only about 20 mins.

Had a soak in the bath for about 20 min but had to get out because I was a bit dizzy. I feel tired now but I cannot sleep - really annoying. Hoping to feel a little better tomorrow. I can see why people break fasts around this time. The boredom of nothing but water really takes its toll. Still, I am committed to the fast for a minimum of three weeks (unless I get that true hunger that Shelton speaks of) so on we go.

Faster n Faster,

Nice going thus far. I don't think you'll get that 'true hunger' that you mention above during a short (twenty-one day) fast. I have never had it occur, but I must say I almost want to experience it. I say 'almost' because although it's a bit intriguing to me from an empirical standpoint, it's also the beginning stage of entering into a true starvation mode, which I don't have any desire to experience.

Whenever I get dizzy while fasting, I just get up slowly (sometimes holding on to something when I do) or I sit down until it passes. I haven't experienced dizziness for several fasts now, which may be due to my body getting more used to being in the fasting state. At least that's my assumption at this point.

Best wishes on your continued fast.

Thank you for the kind words,

I agree with you wholeheartedly about not getting to true hunger within 21 days. I think it extremely unlikely. Hey you are not alone - I think the satisfaction of fasting to completion would be awesome. I would like to think I am in tune with my body enough that I would know when to stop. My problem is usually the opposite. I get hungry and feel for the comfort of food.

Just on this topic I find it amazing the boredom of a fast. Does eating really take up that much of our lives that it leaves a gaping hole when we stop? How can this be? I guess we plan, shop, prepare, eat and then clean up - but still, it is fascinating to me.

Anyway the end of day six nears. In fact it's now day 7. I still think I will be up for many hours, I seem to get to bed later each night. Its all good though.

Its a kind of boredom - what is it John Lennon said? Life is what happens while we are busy making plans. For me I have to engage in life more when on a fast since up to 1/3 of our energy gets used in processing food. So we have 1/3 more "life" during a fast and if I dont fill it with purposful activity I think of food~!
Joing you today and will go for 3 days minimum.

Yes. We should be engaging life more at this time. However I find it extremely difficult to socialise when fasting. This is due to the fatigue and the foul, dry mouth.

Great to see you back fasting. I could use the company and I look forward to your updates in here.

BTW Lennon also said "I am the Walrus goo goo gjube" So be careful following him blindly

Day 7

Woke up even later today after not getting to sleep until 6.30am. Thinking about food for most of the night.
Went for my usual 20 min slow walk. Tired towards the end of it. Hunger seems to have subsided today which is awesome. Hopefully we won’t see him for a while.
Pain in the legs has started. It is currently in my left calf and hamstring. I have gently stretched and giving it a light massage but I think its one of those things that just has to be toughed out.
A little nausea this evening, hopefully it wont get too bad. Otherwise all good.

Day 8,

Simply the most boring day ever.

One thing interesting, was another disagreement with a family member about fasting. It drives me nuts when you have put the time and effort into studying everything you can about a subject and they want to argue with you. Despite the fact they admit they know nothing about it. So I emailed him one of Sheltons books but I know he won't read it

Hope everyone else is going well

Hi Faster and Faster,

Thanks for your updates and stories Def. encouraging.

I am on day 4 (i think?). I started the 22nd of abril (3pm) but had a bowl of cereal Tuesday night and haven´t eaten since then. TBH, I´m not really sure what day I´m on hehe Just trying to get through the week!

I have to say, I am not really hungry today and wasn´t so much yesterday. I must say that I am terrified of breaking my fast again. Simply because I do not want to start from day 1 again. I think the journey has been easier on Day 3 and 4. Day 1 and 2 were incredibly difficult. I don´t ever want to go back to that.

My goal is 30 days but honestly I´d be happy with 14 days.

What about you? What has motivated you to fast, for how long and how are you doing?

Hey Chavez,

Glad you enjoy the updates. Its great for me to keep some sort of diary on this.

In terms of breaking the fast I honestly have started and broken at least 5 times this year. The longest I got to was six days. I am in the early hours of day 9 currently.

The reason for my fast is basically that I have lived to excess over my adult years and I believe that I could be feeling a lot better. There seems to be a lack of energy and motivation about me and I have come to thinking that this all may be related to body toxicity. I have a flabby lower abdomen and little love handles despite working out at the gym 4 times a week like a madman. Some minor skin problems - mostly on my scalp. None of these issues are currently life threatening but its best to be preventative rather that relying on last minute hail marys when you have a serious disease.

I am going for 21 days at least - unless I get the unlikely return of true hunger before then. I have not stopped thinking about food - I really hope this goes toward the end of the fast. I am not hungry as such but I would love to eat. I also have not seen any evidence of this "mental clarity" that some people speak of during fasting - again I hope this comes later during the fast.

Anyway keep us all posted

Faster n Faster,

I've found that the deeper I get into a fast, the more I think about food. However, the urge to eat lessens each day (for me at least), until I find myself thinking about it, but honestly not wanting it very much.

faster n faster...

Day 9... amazing..! well I am behind you starting tomorrow, you lead the way...! (lol)

I guess for some people it takes more time to feel the clarity... once I did a 75 juice fast and it took me a month to feel that clarity. Yet after the month I jump into water fast and it was amazing, you will feel so good. I love the focus you have in your words...

UNLESS I GET THE RETURNED of the true hunger...! I LOVE THAT..!

because that's so true, unless it's a true hunger, the rest are thoughts/emotions/pattrons to learn to dance with them...

I haven't been able to keep focus for longer than few days either, but reading you, and jumping into this site, feels like a fresh air, people from all over doing and pushing themselves, at home, in their own places, trying to get all the benefits... wow..!

Keep posting, specially share how are those hungers/thoughts still alive and what do you say to yourself when they appear?.... maybe I get more ideas...
thanks

Hey Rosa,

I guess its time for true confessions. As I have mentioned elsewhere I have started many fasts and have only ever got to day 6. I took a more drastic action this time. I got rid of all of my food and gave my bankcard to a friend with the instruction not to give it back to me for 21 days. Thus there is no food and no means by which to get it. I'm not sure if other people can or have done something like this but for me I kept snacking when there was food in the house and it was too tempting. So just an idea...

I think ideally you would want to go to a fasting retreat but there is a cost and practicality issue with just leaving town for a month and paying for the privilege to do it. My fast is at home and it doesn't cost me a cent.

The food thoughts are really quite intense. I keep thinking about all of the things I would love to be eating right now. This especially happens when lying down in bed at night. I think about the ingredients I would need, the preparation and of course the eating. To the point when I am actually chewing sometimes. Its really quite insane. But as I said, there is really no option for me so I realize its just fantasy and move on.

I hope it goes well for you, it is really difficult to get started. Tomorrow I am in double digits and that for me will be a major milestone mentally. If you can tough out the first week it will get better.

On the clarity issue, I'm glad that it eventually hit you. I was starting to think it was one of those pesky urban myths. I cant wait for that.

Anyway keep us all posted

Its 3am on day 10. Im well on my way to going fully nocturnal.

Very happy to have made it into the double digits I really feel lousy though. The urge for food is constant and was a lot worse today. I was feeling like I was hungry today - I know this is not real hunger but still - it was very uncomfortable.

I am hoping to feel better over the weekend.

Great to read everyone else's updates. United we stand and all that

wow..! I am impresses about the mental power you have. When you describe how you spended the night, thinking about food, how to prepare it, chew it... it's amazing. It's so inspiring to listen to someone describe their actual thoughts, how they run, how far they go and then know they didn't go to the kitchen and eat.... amazing.!!!

(well now you don't have food or credit card jajajaja) so there is nothing but to keep going...

When I was reading your update, I said to myself WOW... that's intense.! that's thinking about food "a lot", then I LAUGH about my comment, as what happens to me, is that when I HIT the first thought of food, around desiring the food, of what would be great on my stomach, I JUMP and DO IT..! So, what happens is that I never allow myself "the time" to think about it, because I am eating by that moment.... I have very little discipline and tolerance to allow the thoughts to subside... like the one time you comment you returned from a walk of 20 min with less hunger....

Thank you so much for being so specific, as it inspire me to know, that I can allow my thoughts to be there, playing on my mind, about food choices to the point of chewing them, yet not act on it...

I am ending my day 1, felt hunger (the real one) but I LOVE that hunger, that kind of hunger I can control and enjoy and not act on it... the problem for me is the monster of emotional urge that comes latter.... but I will jump here and read this.

ps. I also have few days at the beginning of the fast where I have NO SLEEP AT ALL, as if all the energy is there, without allowing me to sleep. Yet I guess eventually after few days, the body will need it's rest and we will sleep. (or so I hope)

keep posting, be specific, I LOVE IT... it feels I am not alone...!

Hey Rosa,

Glad to hear you are still going.

It is so easy just to go to the kitchen when you feel the slightest discomfort isn't it. I am the same, I feel myself constantly snacking, hungry or not. I have come to realize that this is an addiction. And I think initially to break a habit requires some sort of drastic action to break the cycle. Hence the action I took to get me through this initial stage. Otherwise where does it end - you keep going around and around.

My goals of this fast are to rid my body of toxicity/fat and to change my attitude towards food. I am hoping also to get this clear mind and spiritual enlightenment but that will probably come later in the fast.

Day 10 7.30pm

My sleep keeps coming later and later. I was up until 730am and then slept until 2pm. I must say though, the sleep I am getting on this fast is absolutely top quality. As soon as I am out, it is uninterrupted and I arise feeling refreshed and not hungry at all.

Last night was the worst night I have had so far for food cravings. I was also extremely gassy for some reason.

Sorry to be graphic y'all but I just had my first proper bowel movement. Nothing really to tell and I forgot to take a photo:) -maybe next time

Hunger is OK so far today, I am finding it usually is worse at the end of my day. Very dry mouth as well.

OK speak to you all soon

Faster n Faster

I guess I will do as you do, I won't worry about the time I go to bed, because like you, when I do go to bed is very deep and steady...

I wonder if the 2 digits, day 10 is triggering the hunger.. (hahaha)...

I also experience the hunger at night, during the day I am well, but I guess the more I read things about fasting, the more motivated I am about other benefits I am having while fasting, other than the once I am doing the fast for.

Well I am 8 days behind you..! (lol)

3am Day 12

There is just nothing to report here. A little dizzy, occasional slight nausea and frequent emptiness and boredom.

I have put many, many toxins in my body over the years and I thought I would be detoxing hard by now but its pretty tame. In fact the whole experience so far has been quite underwhelming. I will jump on the scales today or tomorrow and that will give me a good understanding of how far I have come.

Anyway, hope all of you are doing well. til next time

Faster and faster

Yuju, great 12 days, let us know about the sacle results, I am curious to see if the amount we loose corelates with the accumulation or intensity of symptoms?. or maybe you are an Elegant Faster... you do detoxing "with grace",