When I Faced My Fear of Fasting

Herbal teas are excellent consume during a fast…

Today, after a very large breakfast, I decided to do a fast.

I’ve been pondering it for a couple of days, and the breakfast only sealed the deal. I have felt overly full lately. I’ve been noticing how often I mindlessly eat, and how filling my meals tend to be. And how, at times I eat just because I think I “should” - but am I really hungry? I feel like I should preface this by saying the desire to fast has nothing to do with my appearance. I eat healthy foods and workout.

I wonder why I felt the need to make that clear. Culture I guess.

Something has brought the notion of fasting into my awareness recently, so I found myself looking into it. I have had a couple of friends, one who is a gastroenterologist, that fasted regularly and often spoke about the benefits. Cleansing the body, mental clarity, and reduced inflammation are among the many.

Yet, there was always something in my mind that dismissed the notion of it, whenever they brought it up. Maybe I felt this to be an impossible task for me or something I just didn’t need, so I never entertained it. I think on some level, something seemed “wrong” about it. I had a sister with a serious eating disorder her entire life. And, with two teenage daughters, I haven’t wanted to display anything that seemed “diet like” in any way. Now they are almost adults and certainly way less influenced by me, so I guess it’s okay.

I have been taking full advantage of the indulgences of good food, since I have been with my soulmate this past couple of years. He is a genius in the kitchen and passionate about cooking for me. I am so grateful for this gift.

Still, my body could use a reset. And I am getting the notion that a cleanse may help my ability to channel more clearly, as I do my energy healing work.

I’ve also been experiencing more pain lately. Perhaps allowing my body to stop having to digest constantly, will offer it time to clear out inflammation.

Additionally, when something like this that I formerly feared, is brought into my awareness multiple times within a short amount of time, I listen. Timing is everything I suppose.

One of the spiritual teachers (Kyle Cease), that I follow has been doing a fast again, and speaking about how much it helps him, again. Yet this time, something about it resonated with me. I was intrigued. Then this morning, I happened upon a psychic’s youtube short who said, “Whatever you are thinking about doing, it is time. Whatever you’ve been thinking about doing over the last couple of days, now is the time.” And though often I scroll past these things, this time it felt like she was talking to me. Yes, clearly I believe in signs. So I thought what the hell, I would face my fear and do a 24 hour fast.

Plus, I was so freaking full and uncomfortable from breakfast, that I just couldn’t imagine ever being hungry again. Seemed like as good a time as any.

I’d been drinking water and tea fairly continuously, and after about 7 hours I realize that this is the first time my stomach has reached a state of actual hunger in a long time. What a luxury. I started thinking about all the people in this world who are hungry, which is yet another reason why this feels like a necessary thing for me to experience.

The ability to eat food when we are hungry is truly a gift that we should never take for granted.

For now, my goal is simply to get to tomorrow morning and see how I feel. I am just testing the waters right now. I think about how evolutionarily, humans did not eat on the regular schedule we do, but fasted often out of feast or famine.

I realize that I can do this. And it is probably good for me. I truly deeply love food. Have I mentioned that?

Boredom has really been at play this evening. Hunger is slight, but thoughts about food seem to be related to boredom. And it makes me wonder, how often am I eating because I am bored?

What a privilege to have that luxury. Some people cannot eat when they are hungry, and I often eat when I am bored.

Fasting is a very reflective thing to do indeed.

Well, I made it through the night. I am about 22 hours in on this fast, and it isn’t a big deal at all! I feel like I could go another day, but I just got my period so I won’t. However, I may visit this once a week. I may do a weekly 24 hour fast for a while, just to see what happens.

I feel like my body actually liked this. I feel like I have cleaned my bowels out, which didn’t seem like it was happening as efficiently lately. Also, for the very first time in well over a month, I woke up with no pain in my foot. I feel like the inflammation is gone.

I decided not to eat this morning until after I taught Pilates. They say that during a fast, you can do the same exercises you normally do, just nothing new and more strenuous. So I figured it was fine. And it was a great class! I felt like I had more energy, greater clarity, and my muscles felt more capable.

At about the 25-hour mark of no food, I made myself some roasted potatoes and a couple of fried eggs in Ghee. I could have definitely held out longer.

Eating after the fast felt more mindful.

I ate my breakfast slowly, chewing my food completely. Tasting every bite. Feeling so grateful that I can wake up in the morning and eat breakfast.

I really surprised myself in being able to do this so effortlessly. I’m sure shit gets crazy by day 3 of no eating like my friends have done, but I am curious. For now, I’m just dipping my toes in, and that may be enough for me.

If you are curious about intermittent fasting, ask your doctor. To explore some of the benefits and some precautions that should be taken when fasting, check out this informative article by Ancient Nutrition.