Last post we discussed whether fasting is healthy. While the debate still rages, for those who are convinced and curious to try it, here’s my method for a safe, 3 day fast.
Based on my Natural Healing Bible (The Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition), two Naturopathic Doc’s have seen my method and agreed it was safe for most relatively healthy people. Of course, before starting any new health program, please consult your MD and/or your ND.
The Prescription for Nutritional Healing recommends we fast at least 3 days a month and follow a 10 day fast twice a year. There are different types of fasts and depending on the length of fast, it accomplishes different things:
3 days helps the body rid itself of toxins and cleanses the blood.
5 days begins the process of healing and rebuilding the immune system.
10 days will help prevent illness and disease by giving the body time to reverse the damage caused by long-term exposure to dangerous chemicals and toxins.
Precautions to take:
- Fasting on water alone isn’t recommended. This releases the toxins too quickly and will cause hard-to-manage, highly unpleasant detox symptoms.
- Fasting for more than 3 days should only be done “under the supervision of a qualified health professional. If you have diabetes, hypoglycemia, or another chronic health problem, even short fasts should be supervised by a doctor. Pregnant and lactating women should never fast.
- Chewing signals to the stomach to digest and so doing so during a fast may lead to additional discomfort, such as heartburn. Chewing (gum or food) is not recommended.
- A final word of advice: It took years to wear your body down, and it will take time to build it back up to its peak condition. But believe it can be done. Then, whenever you feel unwell, fast and feel better.
Following a live-juice diet (see below) will tamper the side-effects of detoxing as it removes toxins more slowly than an all-water fast and promotes healing by supplying the body with vitamins, minerals and enzymes. This type of fast is also useful as it is more likely you will become accustomed to the taste of raw vegetables and continue a healthy diet high in vegetables once the fast ends.
The 3 Day Fast
The following Fasting Procedure was designed for those of us with diets laden with stimulants and food addictions. It will prepare your body for the fast so it is less of a shock to your system. For those with fairly clean diets, skip to step #2.
PROCEDURE:
Step #1: Preparing to fast (Week 1 & 2)
Slowly wean yourself off sugar, other stimulants (coffee, cigarettes and alcohol), meats, fish and dairy. I took a calendar and marked every second day or so the food/substance I was cutting out of my diet. By the end of the second week, your diet should be down to simply fruits, veggies, seeds and nuts. If you’re craving some real meals, look online for vegan recipes or here for Live Lighter’s elimination diet recipes. (Update: If you’re craving some sweets, check this list for raw food desserts!)
Step #2: Blended raw food (3 days)
Three days before the fast, blend all your food in a processor. This is vacation preparation for your digestive system as blended food is partially digested already. It eases the digestive workload, slowing it down and prepping it for a lack of food. Try Live Lighter’s recipes for smoothies, blended detox green drinks, delish detox blender recipes, cleansing drink recipes and more detox blender recipes.
Step #3: The fast (3 days)
Drink your meals. “Consume at least ten 8-oz glasses of distilled water each day, plus pure juices and up to 2 cups of herbal teas. Dilute all juices with the water, adding about 1part water to 3 parts juice. Do not drink orange or tomato juice (too acidic), and avoid all juices made with sweeteners or other additives.”
Here are 17 of the most detoxifying drinks to help you with variety but the following are the best juices to have during your fast:
- Fresh lemon juice : add juice of 1 whole lemon to a cup of warm water.
- Master Cleanse recipe: in 1 pint of distilled water, mix 2 tbsp. natural maple syrup, juice from 1/4 lemon slice and cayenne pepper (to taste).
- Pure juices like fresh apple, beet, cabbage, carrot, celery and grape juice (use your juicer if you have one and the time).
- Green drinks are good, made with leafy green vegetables (like spinach, kale, collards and swiss chard).
- As a general rule (as per Prescription for Natural Healing ), do not combine fruit and vegetable juices. Apples are the only fruit that should be added to vegetable juices. I have yet to find out why this is important…does anyone know? (Update: Molly answers this in her comment.)
- Healing Juice: 3 carrots, 3 kale leaves, 2 stalks celery, 2 beets, 1 turnip, ¼ pound spinach, ½ head of cabbage, ¼ bunch of parsley, ¼ of an onion and ½ clove of garlic. If you don’t have a juicer, place vegetables in pure water and boil them, adding no seasonings. Save the vegetables from the broth to eat after the fast.
The Prescription for Natural Healing says to, “ Continue your normal daily routine, including moderate and mild exercise. Avoid strenuous activity.”
FASTING TIP : Plan your fast days on the weekend to allow for relative inactivity and low to no stress. Your body needs rest to divert all its energy into healing, plus, it isn’t getting any food energy. This is where fasting becomes dangerous as simply breathing requires a certain amount of calories. To live, the body draws from its storage: fat. If you lack a lot of fat, it’s especially important for you to be aware of your available energy.
Step #4: Blended Raw Food (3 days)
Return to blending raw fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts for 3 days after your fast. The Prescription for Natural Healing says,
“The desired effects of the fast can be ruined by eating cooked foods immediately afterward. Because both the size of the stomach and the amount of secreted digestive juices may decrease during fasting, the first meals after a fast should be frequent and small.”
Step #5: Reintroduce Food (Week 4 and for as long as you want)
Slowly reintroduce solid foods back into your diet. Start with raw fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts. Then add easy-to-digest and hypoallergenic foods like those allowed on the elimination diet. Get tasty elimination diet-friendly recipes here on Live Lighter.
If you think you might have food sensitivities or allergies, this is an ideal time to test these foods out. One at a time, slowly reintroduce wheat, dairy, eggs, soy, sugar and nightshade to your body. Choose one for one day, and during that day consume 2 to 3 servings. Note any reactions. Wait for a day and then on the third day, try another food. Repeat until you’ve tried all the possibly offending foods.
Detox Symptoms
These 5 steps to a safe and enlightening 3 day fast will help you get through your natural down cycles and help heal your body. Expect some discomfort as your body releases toxins. You may experience: fatigue; body odor; dry, scaly skin; skin eruptions; headaches; dizziness; irritability; anxiety; confusion; nausea; coughing; diarrhea; dark urine; dark, foul-smelling stools; body aches; insomnia; sinus and bronchial mucus discharge; and/or visual or hearing problems.
These side effects will pass fairly quickly. Once they do, be prepared to feel GREAT!
Good luck and happy fasting. Come back and let us know your fasting experience.
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Hi Miranda,
Thanks for reading Live Lighter and your question. It’s a good one.
Fasting can be dangerous for many people, including those without much fat. I would recommend going to your doctor first for their advice.
However, if you want to cleanse, fasting isn’t the only way to go! Try this super easy and gentle cleanse for a first-timer: http://livelighter.org/an-easy-gentle-cleanse-for-a-first-timer/
Please come back and let us know what you end up doing and how you did.
Steph Miller
i love to hear the right way to fast! i usually do a week long, or 3 day fast, and i always end up feeling awesome afterwords~! if anyone thinks its not healthy dont worry, i only got a a little sleepy and occasionally dizzy, not bad at all! everyone should try this, but then again, dont use it for the wrong reasons people!
Hey Ellie, thanks for your comment; it’s great to hear that fasting works for you!
Steph @ Live Lighter.org
Hi, I have been on a 21 day fruits and vegetables and water fast and I see and feel a difference in my body. I want to end my fast with a three day fast of water only. Would this be okay for me? And thanks for all the great information.
Hi Sharlene, Great to hear that you’re feeling a difference since fasting for the month! Whoo Hoo!
Thanks for your question. This is, of course, your fast and you’re the only one that really knows what’s good for you. Your doctor also, since they will have your medical history.
Since you asked, though, I personally think water fasting is more dangerous and a bigger risk than one needs to take to get the benefits of fasting.
Nutrition is absolutely necessary for proper physical and mental functioning. I always suggest a juice fast since you get nutrients while still giving your digestive system a rest. Plus, you need nutrients to carry the chemicals that you’re detoxing out of your system.
Let us know what you decide and please come back to let us know how you feel!
Oh, and have you read up on the follow up steps to fasting and detoxing? We end up losing a lot of beneficial gut bacteria (for instance) and need to replenish after our fasts/detoxes.
Steph @ Live Lighter.org
Hello. I am 17 years old and I’m starting my three day fast this upcoming Friday. I have never fasted before, I have decided to do this for self discipline, and to purify my body. I was wondering if there were more light drinks that are also nutrient filled,(not heavy ones like smoothies)..the warm lemon drink in the morning was a perfect example..are there any more?
Hey Raffi,
Thanks for popping by Live Lighter. I’m glad to see that you’re reading up on juice fasting before attempting it for the first time.
Here are some light but nutrient-dense detoxifying juice recipes to help you out:
1) http://livelighter.org/pom-aloe-cleansing-drink-recipe/
2) http://livelighter.org/the-17-most-detoxifying-drinks/
3) http://livelighter.org/a-thanksgiving-day-tonic/
Please come back and let us know how you did!
Steph @ Live Lighter.org
Hi, I have a question – it says not to drink orange or tomato juice because it’s too acidic, and yet the Master Cleanse uses lemon juice, isn’t that acidic?
Also, would it be ok to do a 3 day fast drinking just water and apple juice? Thanks in advance!
@Liquido: Although lemons are acidic, they have an alkalizing effect on the body. For an explanation: http://phbalance.wikispaces.com/Lemons+Alkaline%3F
As for your 2nd question: it’s always your fast and you decide on how you want to do it (everyone is different).
However, I highly suggest to continue supplementing your body with as many and as much nutrient variety as possible while fasting. I prepare by having an assortment of juices ready to go.
Good luck and let us know how it goes!
Steph @ Live Lighter.org
Hi im 20 and am going to start the three day fast tomorrow. I think this will not only be great self discipline for my body, but allow time to cleanse itself as well.I was just wondering if fasting for three days had any weight loss benefits? I’m comfortable with how I look, but i’ve heard people turn to fasting for quick weight loss. Can anything really be lost in three days?
Hi Autumn, thanks for your question. I don’t think you have to worry about losing weight on a 3 day fast – if any weight is lost, it’s probably water and perhaps built up waste in the colon.
Good luck and enjoy your fast!
Steph @ Live Lighter.org
So why exactly are acidic juices frowned upon during a fast? Is it dangerous in any way?
That’s a great question, LiquidO, and will make a great future blog post!
For now, if I had to guess, I’d say it may have something to do with the smaller amount of our secreted digestive juices when fasting. (It may affect our digestion)
The acidic juices would also interfere with re-balancing our pH levels (alkaline foods help the detoxing process).
Steph @ LiveLighter.org
I love your website and I’m learning a lot from it. I’m wondering if purchasing one of the pre-planned detox systems (in a store like Whole Foods) is a good idea, or if I should stick to the homemade version. Any ideas?
Hi Lea, thanks for stopping by Live Lighter and I’m happy you’re finding some value here.
Your question is a good one. Personally, I’ve only tried one commercial detox system (a Renew Life Product) and I used it with The Hormone Diet’s anti-inflammatory detox plan because it had all the herbal detox ingredients that Dr. Natasha Turner suggested to take during that cleanse.
It worked like a charm, by the way!
So based on my personal experience (so far) I would suggest purchasing a pre-planned detox system which has the herbal supplement support that you need while detoxing with foods.
Hope this helps! And to help you choose a product, stay tuned for next week’s post (inspired by your question!), “Herbal Supplements that Help Support Cleansing.”
Steph @ Live Lighter.org
Hi I’ve just started a ten day detox. I’ve been drinking herbal tea. Your site says to only have two cups per day. Why is this? Is having more than two cups ok?
Hey Natasha, thanks for popping on by Live Lighter and I hope you’re detox is going well so far.
You can have as many herbal teas as you want on your detox, depending on the teas. Generally, they are harmless but there are a few you should limit. I’ve listed a few (and why) in, “Supplements & Herbs to Support Cleansing” http://livelighter.org/supplements-herbs-to-support-cleansing/
Good luck and please let us know how your detox goes!
Your site has alot of much needed information that I was looking for. I am on day 2 of a 3 day water and fruit juice fast. I wanted to know how many days should it take to come off the fast and start back eating solid foods? I have apples, fresh veggies and soup that I plan on eating one day one and two. Also is it true that an enema at the end of the fast helps your body to remove toxins built up as well?
Hey Angela, great to hear you’re on a 3 day juice fast – how are you feeling?
What I do is use 3 days before the fast and eat blended veggies, fruits, nuts and seeds (green detox meals: http://livelighter.org/category/cleansing-detoxing/green-detox/) to prepare my digestive system for the food restriction.
Then for 3 days after, I eat the same blended foods to prepare my system for solids. (I outlined my steps in this post: http://livelighter.org/how-i-lost-25-lbs-in-3-months/)
Based on my sources, yes, an enema does help remove toxic build up, though I haven’t personally tried it yet. I did, however, go to a health retreat for a juice fast and tried a hydrotherapy colonic which had incredible physical, mental and spiritual effects on me (I mention the colonic in my review post: http://livelighter.org/grail-springs-holistic-health-resort-%E2%80%93-part-ii/).
Good luck with the fast and if you try any of my green blended meals, please let me know what you think!
Hi…. thank you for your site
I’ve done a few 3 day juice fasts after a bad cold to promote healing quicker…. and occasionally just when I felt I needed a fine tune up. unfortunately I have always had a low immune system and get sick quite a bit. This past “sick”…. still not sure exactly what it was (virus or not) has been the longest to heal from….. I am very weak, and have had blood taken that has showed extremely low white blood cell count. I’ve had an appetite like never before (probably because my blood wants to strengthen). But Im not getting better fast enough. I desperately want to juice fast, but am worried about weakness (form detox) since I am already weak. I know the fast will help….. but I’m just not sure how to know when the times right….. do u have any suggestions? thnx so much….
Gloria
Hi Gloria, thanks for reading Live Lighter and sharing your story. I’m sorry to hear about your health – being sick is no fun and would be especially irritating if it’s a constant occurrence!
Have you consulted your medical and/or Naturopathic doctor? I ask because from what I understand, fasting is great for those who are generally healthy but carries greater risks for those who have health conditions (I wrote a post about it: http://livelighter.org/when-is-fasting-not-a-good-idea/).
What I do suggest, however, is doing a mini-cleanse where you focus on eating only healthy, fresh, whole foods, especially those known to boost your immune system. Focus on nutrition and I’m certain you’ll start feeling better.
Good luck, Gloria, and please come back to let us know how you’re doing or what your doc(s) said!
thank you for your reply….
)
))
yes… Ive been consulting… seeking…. test after test…. a friend who deals with chinese medicine treated me saying it was clearly an extreme case of deficiency….
I decided not to solely juice…. what I did was go on a mild raw live superfood detox….. very nourishing…. meals but liquified…. this was a good in between and helped a great deal with inflammation, and cleansing. ( i did incorporate one juice with dandelion root, beets, celery, bok choy, cuc and ginger a day)
Its been a long process, and I’m slowly getting better
my blood is normalizing, and as soon as I am in the clear Im going to juice fast to finalize it all…
thank you again….
Ooo… a mild raw live superfood detox sounds great! I’m happy you chose to forgo the juice fast (for now) and even happier to hear you’re getting better – keep going with it!
The juice recipe you mention sounds delish, and if you’re looking for a variety in blended raw foods, try these: http://livelighter.org/category/cleansing-detoxing/green-detox/)
Sending you tons of healthy vibes! Steph
The water you drink is very important. Please check out Kangen Water with all it’s health benefits and uses. I wish I could afford a machine.
http://aboutkangenwater.com/
Hey Butterfly!
Yes, water is super important… Kangen Water sounds like the structured water our guest bloggers determined to be the healthiest: http://livelighter.org/the-best-h20/ and http://livelighter.org/what-is-structured-water/.
Thanks for this info – it looks fascinating and I’m excited to do more research on it!
I posted this under Molly’s post regarding Apples and greens…
I thought I would post it again here….
The reason why the apples don’t bother the green juice is because the apples are slightly alkaline.
Most of the greens are alkaline so it is like + like.
Oddly enough the Lemons, however acidic, leave an alkaline trace (ash) when digested.
This is why lemon water is suggested. To begin the day with an alkaline beverage is good for the system. It gets people to drink water and alkalizes the body.
Thanks for all the good info and the encouragement.
Cheers,
Geneva in Los Angeles
Hey Geneva, thanks for helping clarify why apples work with the green drinks, as well as why acidic lemons have an alkalizing effect on the body. And you’re most welcome for the post – it’s comments like yours that really add value!
Hello!
I am attempting my first 3 day fast for Lent. While I am doing it for spiritual reasons I am delighted to hear about the health benefits. I haven’t done any preparatory work and facing a heavy work week however, and wonder if I’m in over my head. Anyone do the same thing before?
Thanks!
Fr A
Hi Anthony, thanks for visiting Live Lighter, sharing your reasons for fasting and your question.
From my experience, it’s easier on both your body and mind if you properly prepare for a fast. Many people don’t, however, so if you’re generally healthy and up to the challenge, I say try it. Only you know if and when you’re in over your head. Good luck!
Thanks for your easy to read post. I have been searching all morning for an easy three day juice diet and yours was the easiest to read. I wasn’t sure if I could mix apples with other stuff … and now I know.. so now, off to the store to buy some ‘juicy fruits and veggies’. =)
hi im 35 years old i start fasting on th and fr i only got water and tee and today i just got fresh appol e so thes good or not and what i have to do know do i have drink more water , i did fating i need los w im 145 lb so .thank u
im sorry i got anther eqution know im fasting for 3 days so do i have stop fasting and stare to eat or stay fasting if i stay fasting what should to do know i only got 1 apple and water and greentea for these day and the lat 2 days i only got water and tea so should i keep fasting or i have to stop pleas let me know thank u .
Hey Maya, hope your fast is treating you well. As I mentioned in the post, I do not recommend water fasting because it’s generally too much of a shock to the system. Many people find it beneficial, though, under the supervision of an experienced health professional, like at a health center devoted to natural healing.
Before I answer your question, I’d like to remind you that I am not a health professional. Based on what I know from my personal research, I’d start blending my meals for the next day or so to prep the digestive system for solid food again. Try smoothies without the dairy products or the green blended meals here on Live Lighter (http://livelighter.org/119-cleansing-rescipes/).
Hope this helps and Happy Easter! Steph
One thing to remember is that when you fast, sometimes your body actually goes into starvation mode and hordes the fat so it isn’t the best way to lose weight. I am doing the 3 day juice fast to clean out my system but if I want to lose weight I like to do the HCG diet.
Thanks for the great answer, HomeRemediesMom!
I completely agree – juice fasting can be incredibly beneficial to health but it also has it’s drawbacks that are not conducive to healthy weight loss. I believe healthy eating, physical activity and stress management is the only sustainable way to lose weight.
im doing the 3 day fast for spiritual growth only on water, however i do have alot of acne that i assume will be affected? how? and how long?
Hi nessa, thanks for your question. Really, I have no idea – this is a good question for a Natural Health practitioner. Let us know how the fast goes and what you discovered regarding the acne!
hi im 17 and im trying ur 3 day fast as a way to quickly loose a few pounds. and i decided not to do the whole program just do the fasting. i dont think my body will reject the sudden change in diet, but will the side effects just be more amplified? thanks:)e
Hi Tash, thanks for your question. Yes, you will feel the side effects more greatly. Good luck!
Head Health Nutter
Hi Im a 45 year old female and i am over weight. I was looking for a safe way to fast and ran into your site, I’m wonderning if this will work for me. I do have a lot of stress in my life but I think i handle it well. I need a way to feel better and have more engery and well lose weight. Do you think this 3 day fast will work for me?
Hi Tammy, thanks for popping on by Live Lighter and for your question. The tricky thing about health advice is that it works for some people and not others. There are a whole whack of factors that make a difference: individual biochemistry, current health status, mental state and life circumstances at the time you try anything.
All I can say is that it worked for me at that time. You won’t know it’ll work for you until you try! But I’d highly recommend checking with your doc or naturopath first.
Hi, Just want to share I’m in my mid 30′s and today I’m in my 3rd day fast. I have been only in-taking water and a bottle of 210ml green barley juice. It has been an interesting experience since I never had a terrible dizzy spells compared to when I skip a meal on days that I’m not fasting. I think green barley juice is also great in days of fasting. Since this is my last day and i will start eating again tomorrow what food would you suggest to break my fast that will not be harsh for my starved stomach?
Hey John, thanks for dropping by Live Lighter and sharing your fasting experience with us. Hmm… green barley juice… haven’t tried that yet!
I hope I’m not too late in responding (got some pretty heavy life issues going on at the moment http://livelighter.org/a-spiritual-kick-in-the-ass-painful-yet-positive/). As I mentioned in this post under Step #5, I’d suggest blended raw, whole foods for the first few days. I also link to a whole bunch of recipes for you to try.
Hope this helps and good luck coming off your fast!
Hi HHN,
Thank you very much for your reply. If you search in the internet Green Barley has several studies that can give very good health benefits.
I broke my fast already this morning and since I don’t have a quick access to fresh fruits I ended up with crab and corn soup which tasted heavenly after a three day fast.c”,)
Sorry to hear about your heavy time. God bless you in your time of trial/s. May God give you strength to overcome it.
Thanks again for your site and for replying.
Till next time.
Hmmm… crab and corn soup – sounds delicious! Hope your body responded well to it and you’re flyin’ high from your fast.
Thank you for letting me know about green barley and for your condolences as well as your positive wishes for strength. They worked! There’s always a bright side to every dark experience.
Hope you come back to Live Lighter sometime and tell us about your fast. I’m sure others and myself will benefit from your story. All the best, Steph
Hi Steph,
I did a 3 day fast and now I’m drinking me veggie juices 4 or 5 times a day along with regular meals.
I also run average 5 miles per day.
Question, with all the carbs in juice will I ever lose weight?
I recently saw a dvd where it said to have no more than 100 carbs per day.
I think I et at least that many from just 3 or 4 ….8oz glasses of juice.
I combine lots of spinach, celery, cucumber, parsley, green beans, lettuce, kale, broccoli.
Also do strawberries, oranges, bananas, lemons, ginger, wheatgrass, (all juiced)
I’m only about 15 pounds more than I like but I don’t seem to be losing anything.
Are all the carbs the problem and qwhere can I find a good source for how many carbs are in raw juice>
Thanks!
Hi Buddy, thanks for your excellent question. Based on my experience in losing weight, carbs and cardio are only part of the equation.
The other half, and from what I’ve found through research and in practice, is that protein and lean muscle mass are essential to becoming more fit and healthy. Building muscle through weights, resistance training, etc. increases your metabolism (so you’re burning more calories at rest and losing fat) and protein promotes muscle growth.
Since muscle weighs more than fat, the numbers on the scale are a poor indicator of fitness. Cardio is great for heart health, which is necessary, but it’s the lean muscle mass that really builds the body you’re after.
Hope this helps! Wishing you great success in your health journey, Buddy. Steph
Great answer Steph and I thank you.
I guess, according to Atkins, there aren’t as many carbs in juicing as I thought so I’ll heed your good advice, do more weight training, more proteins and keep you updated.
Cheers and thanks again:-)
Buddy
I have been fasting for three days and I feel weak, have headaches, but still feel somewhat fine. I am afraid I may not be hydrating correctly. I am very busy and forget to drink anything during the day. I have not fainted so I assume I’m fine. Is it safe for me to fast for a few more days without fainting? I want to get the maximum detox as possible.
Hi Olivia, thanks for your question. Actually, I really don’t recommend fasting without supervision (it IS hard on your body), especially when you’re continuing your daily routine, plus not hydrating properly – my fast is a juice fast so that you’re still getting nutrients during the day, along with water.
The BEST and safest way to fast is to go to a retreat/getaway where they have health professionals there to monitor your health and so that you can relax, which facilitates the detox process.
Honestly, I’d suggest that you begin step #4 in the post above and start eating raw, blended veggies immediately.
Good luck and be good to your body!
Thanks for your advice on fasting, i am a christian… but the fear on fasting was dwelt in me but as i visited your site i now know how i will fast in a healthy way…
You’re most welcome, Lil-”Gabriel”.
Hello I’m on day two of a smoothie fast, this is my first time doing something like this and I feel I’ve done it completely wrong. First off I jumped right into it, I ate one slice of domino’s pizza and two hot wingetts for lunch then later on that night had a ceaser salad for dinner. The next day started the smoothie fast had water, chai & mint tea, & a green smoothie (which included Orange juice which I just read I should stay away from on another site.) Throughout the day. Second day which is today I had water, chai & mint tea, aloe vera juice, chicken broth and my green smoothie. Tomorrow I kinda want to wean myself off the fast by eating fruits and salads, is that safe? Then the day after that I Want to have the same stuff but possibley add grilled chicken in my salad for dinner? Please give me your opions on how I should start back to eating cooked foods? Also please tell me if I did an ok job for my first smoothie fast? Thank you…..
Hey Bobbi, my apologies I couldn’t respond sooner, your smoothie fast is long over. However, you really didn’t need my input. Can you imagine not doing anything wrong? We always do the best we can at every given moment. That’s a spiritual perspective that I love to chew on ’cause it makes me feel good about myself and confident in all my decisions.
On a practical level, what you described in your comment was just perfect, especially if it’s your first fast. There are so many ways you can fast that all you have to know are the basics of why you’re fasting, how it works in the body, what foods are most cleansing and then make a plan that works for you for where you’re at now. And you did that so congrats!!!
The next fast you can try something different, going longer and eating/drinking even more cleanly, and progressing in such a manner each time you cleanse. But it’s totally up to you.
By the way, how do you feel after the cleanse?
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Hi!
I’m on day 4 of a mostly green veggie juice fast and I feel pretty normal. I’m thinking of stopping the fast early, I had planned on 7 days. I don’t think I want to blend foods. I have added veggie juices to my diet for the past few months. In you opinion, what types of things should I eat and for how long?
Hi Sam, I’m replying late (it couldn’t be helped) so I’m sure you’re off your fast already. How are you feeling?
As for your question, I’d suggest eating clean, that is, whole foods concentrating on fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, and lean protein sources. The longer you do this, the cleaner your system will be. I went for 3 months on a diet like this and slowly reintroduced the “bad” stuff back into my diet. Unfortunately, when you do this without doing a cleansing every now and again, toxins do build up again…
But really, it’s all up to you! Find what works for you and go for it.
Thanks for the answer.
I am off my fast and feeling fine. I ate right away, very small portions. We have a mostly healthy diet based on Dr. Furhman’s pyramid. I do eat smaller portions now, but aside from that there are no lingering effects.
That’s very good to hear, Sam. You’ve inspired me to do another fast, lol!
Hello there,
I am going to try and do a 20 day- 30 day fast, mainly to lose weight and for a detox. I was wondering what kind of powders or formulas I should put in my juice to help stay fuller? Or if you recommend this?
Thanks
Hi Dani,
Thanks for your question. Personally, I believe a 20-30 day fast (especially unsupervised by a health professional – the best place is at a respected health center where you can get away from your everyday life) is dangerous and usually unnecessary.
As you read in my post above, the entire process I underwent was a total of a month, but I weaned myself off of congesting foods and ended up blending my diet of fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds. If you really want to go hardcore for your detox with out shocking your body or mind, I’d really suggest the above process but increase the time with the blended foods.
This way you’ll still be getting a ton of nutrients (and it’s the antioxidants and phytochemicals that bind to the toxins to help them exit the body) which is much safer and less shocking to the body, and you’ll still be eating/drinking enough to give you the necessary energy to function in your everyday life.
I hope this helps. All the best with however you decide to detox!
Hello there.
I am currently on Day 4 of a 10-Day Water Fast. I have been feeling weak and out of energy, although I have been experiencing the occasional energy burst and my mind thinks about food now and again, but I know I shouldn’t give in and quit when I am almost half-way.
My Stomach doesn’t crave food so much any more, it is more the mind that craves the food I guess. Everything feels distant at the moment, although not like I am living in a different dimension (haha), but everything seems relaxed and it is like I respect life (and food) more. You seem to have a better understanding about things, in a fastened state.
A little about me, so you can grasp a better idea. I have just turned 20 years old, I am a male, I am 6’1, and I weigh 80 kilograms (176 pounds). I also have a fast metabolism. I am doing this strictly as an experiment, not for weight loss but for detoxification purposes, although I will lose some weight and that is to be expected. I currently study Fitness, so I understand a good amount of information on the Human Body and I have read good amounts of information, including this website, about Water fasting.
Enough about me
What I should I be expecting from now until the end (Days 4- 10)? I plan to break my Water Fast with fruits and vegetables for 5 days, slowly eating more and more as each post-Water Fast day progresses, finally being able to eat normal again after the 5 days of Fruits and Vegetables eating has finished (This will also keep the detoxification process continuing, but not in a Water Fasting way, if you get me).
Anyway, what are some of your thoughts on this? If you could answer my questions and give me an overall answer to my paragraphs, that would be great. Thank you
Hey, I broke it Today. I nearly went 5 days
. I couldn’t keep going though, I had more important things to worry about. Thanks anyway 
It definitely is interesting 
.
Hey Harley, so sorry for the late response… blogging is a hobby of mine and work’s been too hectic to keep up with everything here on Live Lighter.
I’m really happy to hear of your fasting experience. Trippy, eh? I couldn’t actually comment on your first comment in any case because first, I’ve only done juice fasting and second, the longest i’ve gone is 3 days. If I do any more than this, I’d do it in a supervised environment, like in a wellness center.
You seem to know enough, though, that you’ll be coming off your fast in a safe, intelligent way. The only thing I’d suggest, because veggies can be hard to digest, is to blend your fruits and veggies for the first day to three to make it a bit easier on your system until it gets adjusted to food again.
Did you gain any clarity through your experience?
Hi I’m 18 years old and I just started birth control. I was wondering if fasting would be dangerous or interfere with the cleanse while taking it since sometimes it does make me feel sick. Should I stop for a month while fasting? Also, I workout regularly with weight training and heavy cardio, should I take it easy while fasting ?
HI Alixa, thanks for popping on by Live Lighter. I’m not a doctor so I cannot answer your question concerning birth control and fasting. As for your other question, yes, I mentioned in the post above that since you won’t be consuming calories to burn, it’s important to take it easy and only do light exercise. Good luck!
Hi, I’m 15 years old and have been water fasting for 3- 3.5 days. I’m a vegetarian already and my body is already used to not eating meat, except for seafood. Is my process of breaking the fast any different? Thanks!
Hi Linda, I hope you’re doing well on your water fast and thank you for your question!
As I mentioned in the post, water fasting isn’t recommend unless it’s supervised by a health professional (however, you might have the advantage of youth – you haven’t had the time to accumulate as many toxins as most people older than you!). Regardless of your typical diet, it’s suggested to take extra care when coming off of fasting so you don’t shock your body.
For you, I’d start with watered-down 100% *real* fruit and veggie juices with one blended meal for the first day or two. Then increase your blended meals to 2 or 3 per day for the next few days. Then try eating unblended fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds throughout the days following that.
If you’ve ever had digestion issues, you can try the reintroduction of other foods (like dairy, corn, wheat, etc.) when coming off your fast to find out if you have any food allergies or sensitivities; it’s explained in this post: http://livelighter.org/elimination-diet-adventures-%E2%80%A6on-pause/.
If you’re wondering more about some of the most allergenic foods, I list them here: http://livelighter.org/an-elimination-diet-adventure/
And if you’re looking for non-allergenic recipes to try, here are 42 of them in this post: http://livelighter.org/elimination-diet-recipes-compilation-post/
Hope this helps!
Hi, I want to do a colon cleanse / fast with psyllium husk and bentonite clay for either 3 or 7 days. However I don’t eat / or like (believe me I’ve tried EFT and a few things to get over this but to no avail!) any fruit or vegetables apart from potatoes or goji berries. So for me the diet would consist of spirulina with pomegranite juice and a jacket potato each day. Would this be ok? Or maybe I should just do it for 3 days? Also I’m not sure i could stomach a vegetable broth (another recommendation) I can have carrots and leeks in chicken broth, would this be ok? Or should I just have carrots and leaks in a broth on their own? Also the day before and days after the fast I could only eat lean chicken and rice, would this be ok to eat just before and after as i dont eat or can stomach any raw food? I want to do the fast to try and become healthier but it’s so hard when my choice of foods are so limited! Also would it be ok to eat breakfast cereals immediately after the diet? (I don’t take milk with them). I have never dieted in my life as to be honest i’ve never been overweight and on the outside I feel really healthy, loads of energy etc, but i would still like to do this fast to try and help get over my food phobias as well as to be more healthy on the inside, look younger, cleanse my colon etc. Any advice would be appreciated, thank you.
Hi Tasha, thanks for popping on by Live Lighter and sharing your story as well as your challenges. What you’re suggesting sounds ok to me (we all do what we can with what we have to work with) but to be honest, your case seems way too complicated for me to confidently answer any of your questions… I really believe a certified health professional would be able to help you more.
Question for you, though… In every case I’ve encountered so far, what’s going on on the outside is indicative of what’s going on on the inside. If you feel healthy and have loads of energy, maybe a fast isn’t for you? It sounds like your food phobias are what’s needing attention. You mentioned trying ETF and other things but maybe there’s something else out there for you to try?
Best of luck on your health journey, sorry I couldn’t be more helpful. I’d be really interested in hearing what you decide to do next!
Thanks for the honest advice. I’ve decided to do 3 days just fasting with spirulina and psyllium husk and bentonite colon cleanse, followed by a further 2 – 4 days (depending how i feel) of carrying on with that but eating goji berries and jacket potato or brown rice. Will let you know how i get on
Hi again
One more thing – does spirulina & wheatgrass have the same health benefits as taking pro-biotics or flora grow /herbs? I’ve just been reading about taking these to aid the cleanse. But the sites that mention this dont mention spirulina, and the ones that mention spirulina don’t overall mention these others? So after some research im wondering do you think taking Spirulina and wheatgrass would make up for the other mentioned products? Thanks
Hi Tasha, good to hear that you have a plan!
As for your questions, all I know at this point without doing extensive research (which I’m sorry, I just don’t have the time to do) is that both wheatgrass and spirulina draw out toxins from our cells by creating a more alkaline environment in our bodies.
My gut (haha) tells me that because they are not cultured bacteria, like pro-biotics are, they will not replenish our gut and intestinal flora. I think the best resource for your questions would be a certified nutritionist. We had a guest blogger here on Live Lighter, Natural Neda, that might be able to help you with your specific questions (http://livelighter.org/the-importance-of-vitamin-d-and-cholesterol/).
Good luck and I would love to hear how your fast goes as well as what Natural Neda has to say!
I lead a hectic life that involves social entertaining 3-4 times a week; twice a year I clear my calender and embark on a 5 day fast, I admit I mostly drink only water during this period with the odd pure fruit juice; after I have done this I feel amazing and for a while will steer clear of fats and butters etc. Fasting does work, the body rejuvenates and all those nagging ailments disappear; my next target is a 10 day fast …..
Hi Mark, thanks so much for sharing with us what you do to keep healthy. Sounds like the regular fasting is working for you!
Ooo… a 10 day fast… will you be clearing your calendar for this fast, too?
Hi
This is just to let you know how i got on with my fast – well it went brilliantly
I managed 5 days of just liquids (and liked and enjoyed the vegetable broth 
)and could easily have done more days as the psyllium husk really filled me up, but work got in the way and it wasn’t possible to clear my diary to have time to prepare the shakes etc. I felt amazing from the first day and even more amazing at the end. The only thing I wasn’t successful with was after the 5 days of just juice keeping to a small amount of food – the day after was ok, but after that I was craving meat again and although I managed to cut out sugars for the next week I quite quickly reverted to meat again. I felt fine though and can still feel the benefits now, even though it didnt get rid of my sugar craving and I’m now back on chocolate too! I have lost 3 – 4 lbs and am going to keep up a 2 day juice fast once a month just with psyllium husk and vege broth.
I did decide to take probiotics and bacteria friendly yogurt after day 5 as well as keeping up the spirulina and wheatgrass and so even on a limited amount of what I could eat after it did still work to some degree.
You mention my reasonings for doing the fast – if I’m honest to have clearer skin and to keep rejuvenated, keep off any further weight gain. I hope my keeping up a 2 day juice fast once a month this will help to achieve this and over time may help my slightly unhealthy eating habits.
As I felt fine reverting back to ‘normal’ food fairly quickly im wondering if you could tell me the reasoning for advising abstaining from anything but raw afterwards? I know everywhere recommends this and I was assuming it was just for the digestive system to get back to ‘normal’ in a more gentle manner, but if there are any other reasons please let me know? Thanks, Tasha
Great job, Tasha! You accomplished a lot here and I hope you’re very proud of yourself!
Yes, a regular 2-day juice fast will help greatly in keeping up with the cleansing you achieved on your 5-day juice fast.
To answer your question, 5 days is superb but to get the results you’re looking for, it takes a bit longer for your body to cleanse itself. Just think of how long you’ve been accumulating toxins and junk food. You experienced food cravings shortly after your fast because the sugar, meat, etc. was still in your system.
This is why I recommend taking a month (see above in post) to slowly wean yourself off stimulants and other acid-forming foods and drinks to prepare for the fast and then a week and a half (or more) continuing with clean eating/drinking before slowly weaning back to the congesting foods again.
My next cleansing/detox excursion after this one I did for 3 months! (it was the elimination diet to discover any food sensitivities: http://livelighter.org/an-elimination-diet-adventure/). But I have to admit this went a little too long as near the end I was a too thin (my ideal weight is 130 lbs and I got down to 125 lbs before I said, hey, no way, my bones are protruding!).
There are many ways you can cleanse/detox that are a little easier than a juice fast (it IS really hard when you’re trying to live your daily life and have to cope with stress – by the way, stress actually impedes the detoxification process and that’s why retreats are so helpful when you want to detox).
One easier way you can continue with your cleansing efforts is to replace one meal a day with a liquid, eat cleanly for the other two meals and do this throughout the week. Save the `normal’ food for one treat day per week (without going too crazy ’cause you’ll feel almost hung over the next day, depending on how clean your body is). This is a much more manageable method and you should be able to sustain this for a longer period of time, cleansing your body more thoroughly. Try it for a month or even two and see how you feel.
Hope this helps and thank you very much for taking the time to come back and share your juice fast experience with us!
I love the information here. My only problem I see (which seems to be the MAIN activity in fasting) is this……….
I cannot STAND or swallow, blended food. It is the texture, not the taste. Even if I did swallow it, it will soon come back out.
I am also not a person with much (ANY) money.
So i am thinking this means I CANNOT fast???? =(
Any ideas?
Hi Jennifer, thanks for your comment – I’m sure many people share your issues! Well, the main reason for blending is to make it easier for your digestive system, but if the food isn’t even getting there, then blending your food isn’t much use to you!
What I recommend is making salads, then. Just chop all the ingredients up as finely as you prefer and make sure that you really chew everything well, taking your time. If you don’t have time to do this, then stick to juices that you can drink.
The trick to fasting, really, is to make sure that you can do it in a relatively stress-free environment. Stress inhibits our ability to process all the junk, so whether you’re juicing, blending or strictly fasting from everything but water, it’s best to do it during a time when we don’t have a lot of obligations or responsibilities to live up to.
If this isn’t possible, then make it so! Take some time off… I highly suggest going to a weekend or week-long retreat where you can fast or juice under the supervision of qualified professionals.
I hope this helps and I’d love to hear about what you end up doing!
You actually make it seem really easy together with your presentation but I to find
this matter to be actually something that I feel I’d never understand. It sort of feels too complicated and very large for me. I am having a look ahead on your next put up, I’ll attempt to get the cling of it!
This needs some updating. Its old. I’m not just saying that just because its old it should be updated but new studies have probably come out since the.making this info somewhat archaic and even dangerous depending on the kind of information from these new studies
This is the right webpage for anybody who wishes to understand this topic.
You know a whole lot its almost hard to argue with
you (not that I actually would want to…HaHa).
You definitely put a fresh spin on a topic
that’s been written about for years. Great stuff, just great!
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