Don't forget to learn how to exit your fast safely!
Complete fasting versus the juice fasting offered by the American Fasting Association.
American Fasting Association offers paid advice and complete planning of juice fasts of different duration, up to hundreds days.
During a complete fast you can have only water and nothing to eat. The most dramatic changes in body's metabolism occur only after more than 72 hours of fasting. I wouldn't recommend this length for "do it at home fast!" One may try a several day fast but care must be taken to have medical help available if anything seems to not feel right for you!
At different times in my life, fasting helped my severe back problem, panic attacks, and fibromyalgia. However, it caused my weight problem. Nothing to be surprised about: once the body gets in the starvation mode, ever since it is taking its own measures for future possible starvation and holds on the fat depots. Nevertheless, comparing to the health problems solved by my regular periodic fasts, the weight problem looks rather minor.
One more important note before I tell you how I used to do the fasting. There's so called "controlled fast" when you are supposed to reduce only carbohydrate intake practically to zero. Biochemically speaking, these two are very similar and the range of ailments that can be helped by them are surprisingly similar, too. I am talking about the Ketogenic diet. However, this is a different story.
Now, how to enter the fasting.
The day before, stop eating at 7 PM and start drinking as much water as can endure. Before going to bed, have at least 1 liter enema (for short-term fasts you might want to have sugar-free fiber supplement instead, better pure Phylum husk.)
The next and subsequent mornings start with 15 min. morning exercise to include gentle warm up and good stretching. Have an enema again, followed by a shower or hot bath.
Have a glass of good quality water, e.g., mineral, at least every 2 hours. Usually I have three glasses of rose hips tea a day to alleviate any chance of scurvy.
For nausea, repeat the enema and shower/tub at midday.
Walk and meditate as much as can.
I have found that swimming is the best physical activity possible for a fasting period, but then I am a former competitive swimmer, so this might not be true for everyone. However, even mere soaking in warm water is very good for everyone's muscles and joints.
If You Committed a Longer Fast.
Days 3 and after.
Any medication is prohibited after day 2! For headaches (they often occur at days 2 to 5) I try hot or cold pads, or band my head with an elastic band. You might also want to consider trying the Reflexo-therapy device, which I use for muscle pain and headache.
Usually I expect muscle pain to start around days 3 to 5. All my health problems seem to aggravate by this time, but I know that this is a normal reaction.
Dizziness is "normal" for this time, so I avoid any vigorous physical activities and sometimes refrain from driving at all this time. Usually I have stopped feeling hunger by this point. It can be experienced as a complete lack of interest to any food matters.
The mind eventually becomes very clear and one usually enjoys his or her favorite emotional practices.
The information you receive from Dr. Tanya Zilberter is not a substitute for medical treatment. For any medical problem it is important that you have seen your physician and have had any medical treatment completed or underway. Dr Zilberter shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special or consequential impairments, resulting from the inability to properly use the information or resulting from unauthorized use of the information including but not limited to, substituting the method for professional medical help.
READ MORE:
How to Enter a Complete Fast
How to Exit a Complete Fast
Can Calorie Restriction Prolong Your Life?
Can Adults Benefit from Calorie Restriction?
