Friday, February 22, 2019

My Failed Attempt at Fasting & How It Introduced Me to Goddess Like Powers




"Within each of us lies the power of our consent to health and sickness, to riches and poverty, to freedom and slavery. It is WE who control these, and not another." ---Richard Bach

While the rest of the world was partaking in debauchery this New Year's, I was discovering the life changing benefits of mono meals. I know, I know--of all days, New Year's. Just know I've had my share of debaucherous New Year's (generally pouring the bevies, whilst imbibing from behind the bar--always a great time), so "Don't cry for me Argentina...the truth is [my liver needed a break]."

Influenced by a book I read at age 17, Back to Eden by Jethro Kloss (the premise being disease cannot exist in a pure bloodstream), I've always been health conscious: working out regularly, limiting sugar and  flour...  However, for the last few years, a sluggish thyroid (likely due to the overuse of antibiotics during childhood, and 10 years on the pill which compromised my gut microbiome) left me with debilitating fatigue, brain fog, and a myriad of other unpleasant symptoms. I gave up gluten, soy and dairy (triggers for those with auto-immune disorders), ate healthfully 90% of the time, and successfully (without medication), suppressed weight gain, hair loss, psoriasis, but continued to feel like death inside. I was dragging myself through life, and when too tired to drag, sleeping through it. Simple things I loved doing became difficult, if not impossible (like writing) hence, my 4 year lapse in posts. 

So after reading about the profound effects of fasting (for completely regenerating the immune system, enhancing energy and bringing clarity of mind), I decided to give it a go. 

My gluten/soy/dairy free life (and minimal sugar) was a good segue into the fast, though for Christmas, I indulged a bit. My real struggle would be coffee.

The goal was a 3 day fast. Herbal teas, coconut water and warm, coconut "golden milk"--all allowed for their healing properties.

*While I don't mention it below, I drank tea, water and coconut water/milk copiously throughout the fast.

Day 1


My daily ritual (coffee, citrus, smoothie, GF waffle or pancakes) was missed. I thought about coffee the most (I knew I would). With each passing hour, I felt triumphant. I was conquering an addiction.


I decided not to workout, as I didn't want to work up an appetite. By 4-5 p.m., I caved--not to coffee, but a granny smith apple. My hanging fruit basket was full--it was like they were calling me. It was organic, and healthy. I failed at fasting, but I wasn't overwrought by guilt. I abstained from coffee and had not a single piece of chocolate from the bag of Dove silk dark chocolates with almonds (my favorite). 2 hours later, I surrendered to a clementine, meant to be eaten precisely when it was, and 'round 9ish, I had a pomegranate.

To my surprise, whenever hunger struck,  fruit quelled my cravings.

Note: When attempting a strict fast, do not keep any food within view--especially during the first (most difficult) day. 




Day 2  

On day 2, after posting about my failed attempt at fasting (on FB), I perused the pages of my  The Complete Idiot's Guide to Detoxing, and came across the term mono-food fast: eating either one food per fasting day: fruit, vegetable, or whole grain, OR eating one food per meal.  I realized that while day 1 did not go according to plan, I was still giving my digestive system a needed break, and decided to continue.

Again, I ate an apple, clementine, and pomegranate (for breakfast, lunch and dinner). Before bed, I had a cup of warm golden milk (coconut milk, tumeric, grated ginger, raw, organic, grade A honey, cinnamon, and vanilla). The healthy fat from the coconut milk is filling, and the benefits are plentiful https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/golden-milk-turmeric#section5



Pleasant surprise: I was not ravenous. For years, I was as consistent with my breakfast rituals as brushing my teeth, so the relative ease with forgoing them, made me conscious of how fiercely I hold onto habits and rituals.  The anticipation of relinquishing certain comforts fills me with more angst than the actual act of doing so.  


Days 3 and 4

I had 2 clementines for breakfast, and introduced oatmeal (with coconut milk and water, a smidgen of organic maple syrup, cinnamon and vanilla) for lunch. I realized I get super bloated from oatmeal. I love oatmeal, and have no intentions on giving it up, but now I know I won't have it when I'm about to rock a bikini. Dinner was a granny smith apple. Apparently, granny smiths have the most beneficial effect on healthy gut bacteria, and are more filling than other apples. Who knew?

My initial goal was a 3 day fast, but since I shifted to a mono fast, and was (believe it or not) not starving or even struggling, I decided to continue on for a fourth day. 

Meals were the same as Day 3. 

Results

At the end of day 3, my energy soared in a way I haven't experienced in, perhaps, ever. My thinking was sharp, clear (the brain fog was lifted). I was eager to write again. I did a meticulous cleaning of my apartment, which I've read is very common after one fasts. Internal cleansing spills over to the external. Various religions practice fasting, and by day 3, I understood why. I was filled with Goddess like confidence, optimism--an awareness of supreme power within, a sense of invincibility. Goals I'd set for myself (deferred because of illness) were now before me, within reach. A sense of gratitude and clarity of purpose overcame me, and I saw clearly in my mind's eye, my future self: Spring 2020, fit, healthy, sharing, and healing others with my food truck(s)--a goal, enhanced by my own recent struggles (struggles I was convinced would elude me, because of my healthy lifestyle). And odd as it may sound, I was grateful for the sickness that taught me so much: patience with myself, and others; greater empathy;  balance; holistic healing.  

Eating Again, Day 5

While I wasn't particularly hungry, I was ready to ease back to regular meals. I'd abstained from working out while on the mono fast, and was eager to return to my workout regimen. I had an apple for breakfast, clementine for lunch, and a simple cod fish, cooked in garlic and olive oil with lemon, and roasted brussel sprouts for early dinner. My stomach shrunk: I was full with half the amount I normally consume. 

Day 6

Fearful of having missed out on essential nutrients, I returned to my smoothie ritual (kale, ginger, raspberries, beets, carrots, pineapple juice). Lunch was Spanish style,  gluten-free spaghetti with organic chicken. Dinner--a giant pomegranate, and my late snack was organic popcorn, with truffle oil, and Himalayan sea salt. My favorite Dove, dark silk chocolates with almonds remained untouched. Never had I resisted for so long. Silly to be so proud of myself for something so trite, but I was. It seemed a shift from habit and addiction (sugar), to awareness and intention.  


Day 7: Café

I returned to coffee. I'm a writer--a Puerto Rican writer. It's part of my culture. But with coffee comes sugar, and with this reintroduction returned my cravings for more sugar. The coffee was accompanied by gluten free raisin bread (sugar in that too). Lunch was leftover, Spanish style (gluten free) spaghetti with organic chicken, and dinner was an apple and (dairy free, coconut based) blueberry yogurt. 

I'm currently experimenting with coffee alternatives (i.e. herbal coffee drinks like roasted dandelion and chicory root). Thus far, there's nothing like the real thing. 

I vacillate between embracing the low level vice, and being Spartan like in my journey towards optimal health. This week, I'm embracing it.

Weight

I know this is perhaps why many of you are reading, so don't hate me  for not having weighed myself. My goal was not weight loss, but optimal health. And while pure curiosity may have prompted me to check a scale, I don't own one (the mirror's my guide). I know I lost over an inch from waist, which was of course, a sweet perk. 


Next

Since the fast, I've adhered (for the most part) to certain food combining rules, and experienced a drastic increase in energy. Our body uses different enzymes to break down different foods--it's why we shouldn't combine fruits and vegetables, and why proteins should not be eaten with carbs or large amounts of fat. 

I've also overcome my intimidation of more stringent fasts, like the master cleanse--next on my list. Not long ago, I thought fasting was not only unnecessary, but insane. But that Goddess like feeling is indescribable, and I now understand how spiritual they are.