Fasting has been known for thousands of years as the remedy for anything from anxiety to gastrointestinal problems. It really works and the benefits of fasting can be many. I personally enjoy fasting every few weeks to help maintain a good life and help maintain my good habits. That is not all I enjoy fasting to restore my taste buds to appreciate food again. There is nothing like the first meal after a 72 hour fast; taste buds intensify after fasting.
I call fasting a time period of acceptance of our new state of hunger and the lack of fullness. This acceptance of a new state of being is good for understanding acceptance of things that are bad for us. No one ever teach us how to accept the lack of something that is bad for us due to so much bad being widely acceptable and available or even culturally acceptable. Prior to a fast ensure you plan your next few days. Plan what you will be doing at meal time, what you will be drinking, and the things that you will do. This is the time to being the process of acceptance of your fast and temporary hunger. It is okay to feel hunger and this state is good for us for a short time.
The feeling of our gut in a state of dread is actually something else. It is not a time to react with impulse to the nearest snack but to enjoy the feeling of lack of food. Remember that we eat three times a day, every day. This is alot of food! You will eat again right after your fast and everything will be okay. The first bite is always so much more rewarding and tasty than any other first bite. That is not all. Fasting for me is a journey or a field trip away from your normal routine but can take place alongside your normal routine. It is also a time to regain respect for yourself and treat your self well. This might just be the secret to rapid weight loss. Reflect on the things you place into your body and the consequences experienced; many foods aren't that good for us. Sugars, processed foods, alcohol, and many others. Do you regret eating certain foods as long as you did and will you eat those unhealthy foods again? Restart, start fresh and enjoy your first again bite of the healthy food.
There is more to fasting then weight loss. Do you feel closer to God or more perfect? I usually feel more graceful, calmer, clearer, with a clearer mindset. To help bring awareness to fasting we have a fasting initiative with certificates! Check out the fasting tab for timers for 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hour fasts with certificates of completion and honorary mention on our fasting wall! This initiative is intended to inspire more people fasting and help bring changes in mindset to a more aware and mindful life. Great appreciation should be had for food and mealtime so lets regain our grace and taste bud edge with a certificate!