Fasting - Update (and conclusion)

I was able to use the "Master Cleanser" fast for a total of seven days, from the time I woke up on Monday, June 15, until I went to bed Sunday night, June 21. During that time I consumed only the lemon juice, agave, cayenne mixture (stuff) and/or water. On days 1, 2, and 6 I also used the salt water cleanse which thoroughly cleans out the colon in short order! The last time that I did the salt water there was only one trip to the commode. By the end of the seventh day, I felt that my mind/body/spirit had been sufficiently purified, and I made plans to stock up on fruit juices to transition back to eating again the next morning, Monday, June 22.

While fasting I was able to do my housework, hang out with friends, attend my classes at the School of Metaphysics, do yoga, meditate, and go to work in the emergency room for two shifts. Several times I attended meals with friends and watched them eat while I sipped at my stuff, or a glass of water. That was DAMN tough! A couple times, I wanted to dive across the table and land face first in my friends' plates... but i didn't. Some people asked, "So, you can't eat ANYTHING?!?!?", to which I replied, "I can, but I choose not to." I don't really have the words in any language to describe the looks on their faces when they heard that, but suffice it to say, it was priceless : ) Early on it was more difficult, as my stomach churned almost constantly, wanting SOMETHING, ANYTHING to digest, but that didn't last long. I had guidance from Wendy and Jack, who suggested that I just drink more of the stuff to avoid hunger. That worked like a charm. Most of the time I was not hungry at all. I did have to pee a lot more frequently, but not as often on the "number 2" without any solid food.

I'm happy to report that my fast was a success in several respects. First, I felt very in tune with my body. I was much more consciously aware of all sensations. Smells were much more fragrant, colors more vibrant, sounds more resonant -- or sometimes dissonant! Second, I felt much more calm in general. Equanimity was the buzzword for me during the fast. My meditations immediately became much more placid, with fewer random thoughts intruding or interrupting the peace. An example of this was actually quantifiable numerically by the candle meditation exercise that I do daily. While staring at a candle flame for ten minutes each day, sitting upright, feet flat on the floor, pencil in hand, I make a mark each time my attention wanders away from the candle flame, or rather, just as I direct my attention back TO the flame. Before starting the fast, I was recording marks in the mid thirties. On Tuesday morning after beginning the fast Monday, my attention only wandered fifteen times from the flame -- only HALF of the number of distracting thoughts. This trend continued throughout the week. Third, I simply felt healthier. I realized that everything that I put in my body has a direct effect on how I feel and how my body functions. As my body released waste, junk, toxins, etc, I began to realize that it's very important to choose carefully what I consume from now on. Last, but not least, I lost a few pounds, and in the process, my stomach shrunk. This will be beneficial in helping to save money and continue to lose weight as my overall health improves.

Monday morning I began easing out of the fasting state with some pure fruit juices. Holy cow... talk about sweet! I felt like I was drinking pancake syrup, after having consumed only the stuff for a week. I bought an orange mango mixture and already had a natural organic apple cider in the fridge. Both were quite yummy, but I could only take small amounts at a time. The first food that I tried out that morning was the "Tribe" brand hummus from Reasor's Grocery. I read the label actually looking for something in particular... and there it was, big as Dallas. ***SUGAR*** With a heightened sense of taste, for the first time ever, I actually noted it in the hummus. Seems it's put into most processed foods nowadays to get us to eat more of them. Well, fool me once, shame on you.... fool me twice, shame on me! I'll be making my own hummus from now on, thank you very much ; )

At lunch time that day, I gingerly experimented with solid food. I had four chilled shrimp with cocktail sauce, two small spears of asparagus, and a bite of sweet potato. The shrimp tasted OK, but I didn't really enjoy them at all. The asparagus was tasty, but overly salty. For those of you that know me, you'll realize how significant it is for ME to say something is too salty ; ) The sweet potatoes tasted like butter and sugar swirled together with orange color and a little cinnamon. By the end of the meal, I felt a little bit let down, thinking, "So, THIS is what I've been missing? Should have stayed on the fast...." It's not that the food that they serve in the doctors' lounge isn't good. It's just that after clearing out my system so well, my tongue is much more discerning! I also ate three plums, perfectly ripened, and a banana, which was a little bit on the green side. Later that evening, I had some of the left over home made lasagna that my friend Jaemie made and left for me. Now THAT tasted great! I relished every flavor in it, from the different kinds of cheese, to the texture of the pasta, to the amazing sauce and spices : )) Strong work, Jaemie!!!

I didn't exactly follow the instructions of the "Master Cleanser" book in reintegrating foods, as it recommends having only fruit juices for a whole day, then adding a few bites of fruit the next day, then salads the day after, and never EVER returning to eating toxic, dead animals EVER EVER EVER again! Well, I was ready for some food, and I ate. Furthermore, I'm not quite prepared to become a raw-foodist, vegan just yet! I also didn't use the recommended maple syrup in the mixture, instead substituting agave syrup for most of the fast. I did have enough maple on hand to make one batch of stuff, and it was tasty, but a little too sweet for me personally. The agave worked better for me. Seven days felt like enough, rather than the recommended ten in the book. As I had already been eating very healthily since late December, I felt well cleansed after that time period rather than the entire ten days that were recommended.

In conclusion, I fasted for seven days. My body felt somehow lighter, as did my mind and my spirit. My preparation for dietary intake for each two day period took only about an hour, which drastically simplified life. I lost a bit of weight. I got into closer conscious contact with myself, Source, and my everyday reality. I'm glad I did it, and I'll do it again someday when I feel the need for a physical and spiritual boost : )