I'm thinking of going on a 3 day fast. Does anyone who has experience fasting have any advice for what I should do either to prepare or for the actual fast?
Staying hydrated is the main thing. If you get cramps or something, drink a product like Gatoraide to restore the electrolyte balance. I'd do a 24 hour fast first as a practice run. x
"What type of fast should you use? There are three types of fasts: pure, monofood and the juice fasts. Remember to always continue drinking water, regardless of which type you choose to undertake. The pure fast is the simplest form, where you refraining from eating anything. If you are planning an extended pure fast (more than two days), then drink a fasting mixture instead of plain water. This will give you minimal sustenance to keep your body functioning properly, and is sometimes referred to as a Master Cleanse. Fasting mixture: 8 ounces of pure water a pinch of salt 1 tablespoon of honey or maple syrup 2 tablespoons of lemon or lime juice"
Why are you going on a fast in the first place? What's your intention? What's your body type and metabolism?
I would take it easy the first time. I've undertaken a partial fast before, just not eating between breakfast and teatime, and cutting out all between meal snacking, and I felt the effects. Also, know why it is you're doing it, what do you hope to gain from it?
I was just reading in Massage Magazine about juice fasting...how it is good for your body compared to some other forms of fasting because you still get the nutrients your body needs... Anyway the author recommended easing into the fast for about 2 or 3 weeks...to get your body used to losing out on caffeine, meats, basically leading up to a vegan-style diet. Then, your body is ready and you are mentally prepared for the physical effects your fasting will help you create.
Ayurveda does not recommend fasting. Because it shuts down the digestive function. Agnis. So many people I know do fasts and still smoke cigs, dope, etc, and feel they are accomplishing something. Not so. Best if one fasts to just do one day a week, and maybe preceed that day by eating only rice and dhal and ghee for three meals then next day fast with juices and water, then come back next day with rice and dhal again before starting back on hard diet. Yes, as said, what is purpose of your fast? A weekly one day fast is said to be really good for helping eliminate waste and make digestion more hardy, but more days than that will not necessarily be better. Higher states of awareness need caloric intake for ojas/soma production.
I'll second that. With me, the purpose of cutting out lunchtime meals was simply to increase appreciation for food, and awareness of the role it plays in my life. To really feel in my body that to eat was merit, and I undertook it as part of a period of more intensive meditation than my normal routine. I think sometimes people see fasting as being inherently holy, without really asking themselves what benefits (if any) a fast may yield.
I have fast like 5 days, I think that was the longest... At first days I was all the time hungry, but then it did go away... After 3 days, I started noticing that i can't drink so musc so I was without drinking last 2 days... At 5 day I was really feeling weak, and at six I stardet to eat... Well... I have to say that it was great experiment to get body in to the limit... But I did not have so much spiritual experiment from it...
