The Fasting Blogs are a look into Simon’s recent 40 day fast. It’s not a ‘how to’ guide. Just a look into what happens to the body during a fast and the emotions that accompany what can be a very grueling process. Simon began each week with a 24 hour fast and then starting eliminating items from his diet. The first week he gave up alcohol. During week two, he added dairy products to his ‘elimination list.’ Then he also gave up meat, white sugar, coffee, wheat and finally solid food. During the last week he juiced for three days followed by a full 36 hour fast.
Sleeping has been wonderful. Elsie has been getting up only once and after two days of real sleep I feel quite alive. Amazing. So waking around 7 am was easy and I just stayed in bed to enjoy the warmth. Not because I was completely baked. Starting Sat I wake a 7 am consistently. I need to establish my pattern and reasons for waking early to keep me motivated.
I am feeling achy in the mornings—my adjustment is out and my muscles are weak. Need to visit the chiro.
After eating my morning oatmeal I did feel a fog pulling over my consciousness. Not too thick but noticeable.
I wonder if all food/digestion will cloud my mind? Fortunately I am fasting 7 more times so I’ll have plenty of time to be aware of how I feel when I break a fast.
I should do some research or as Tim Ferris suggests contact an expert because it is far more effective.
My fog now after a Starbucks coffee is strong. I’d like to laze around. I am also getting very warm, flushed face, minor sweating, chapped lips, dry mouth…
Now to push through this self-inflicted mental barrier and get stuff done.
Basically this fast is so far very easy…I may have started too slowly. It will get intense soon enough. So enjoy!
I was just about to go work and stood up. I feel like crap! I am warm and dry and tired and in slow motion. Coffee and a cookie really kills my mind. I need to imbed this feeling into my mind…to remember this yucky feeling. Ah, and not to mention my gut is churning a bit and I’ve got nasty gas. Why have I gotten addicted to coffee and cookies when this is the result? It must be (1) the instant gratification that comes with the food – buzz, high…(2) the pleasant ritual associated with the food—sitting down, reading, being alone, relaxing, and (3) the feeding of an addiction—those pleasant buzz chemicals. Wow! Go stomach, gurgle—bloating.
How does one re-invent a ritual that has been so strongly established? Gotta remind myself of what I am giving up—mental function, energy, discipline, drive, focus, (probably restful sleep), health, time.
I’d say that I will initially exchange coffee for tea and other things, but I am seriously considering dropping coffee permanently. Wild.
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What I ate today:
oatmeal with raisins flax agave banana granola almond milk.
dark rye with almond butter and margarine.
espresso
choco cookie and tall bold
rice dish with spinach sprouts and lemon juice
