For most of my life my image of fasting revolved around religious traditions, all of which I held little to no stock in. Whether it was just removing one type of food from one's diet or ceasing consumption altogether, I could not wrap my mind around the idea of depriving oneself of basic nourishment (especially one that is often so enjoyable).
It wasn't until about a year ago that the concept of fasting as a cleansing experience was brought to my attention. And the more I thought about, the more I began to see it as a challenge or an experiment. As someone who structures her life around food, could I go a day without eating anything? And, if so, what would it be like?
Several months ago, I gave it a shot. I got hangry (That's right, hungry and anger. One word. It's a very real state of being). My blood sugar was low and I was unfocused and irritable. I ate lunch at 1pm. Game over. Experiment failed.
I now have a friend who fasts (just about) once a week. Like most of the people in my life right now, this is someone who has a contagious excitement towards food. That being said, it was very interesting to see him fast as often as he does. So with the idea back on my radar, I decided that I would try a 24 hour fast. You know, eventually. When I had a day to commit to it. A day when I wasn't cooking much or when I wasn't very active. But who I am trying to kid? I don't have many inactive days.
Over the past 2 weeks, I have witness 2 friends commit it multi-day fasts. One just completed 10 days (she was even going on runs!) The other (who I mentioned above) is on the 5th day of 7.
In addition to this conversation about fasting I have been having with myself (and with others), I have also been trying to take closer looks at my eating habits. What do I eat? How do I feel when I eat those things? How much sugar am I consuming? How much bread? Am I eating enough vegetables? What about protein? How do I start working meat back into my diet? Should I really keep eating this late at night? And why, why do I keep passing such rancid gas?
Yesterday I ate a large, fulling breakfast and a lunch of a similar fashion while continuously snacking and whatever was out of the table. When it came to be dinner time (6-7pm), I wasn't hungry. Maybe this is the time. My Saturdays are as low key or intense as I want them to be.
So I didn't eat dinner. I didn't mention that I was fasting. I even woke up hungry this morning and made plans with myself to eat breakfast and drink coffee at the market. But when the place I decided on for breakfast had a line out the door, I reassessed my hunger. Hungry? Not really. Okay, let's do this.
Worked the market stand for a while, surrounded by wonderful food. No big deal. It wasn't until about 10:30am when I wanted to start hurting consumers. I needed something. Apple cider. I drank a quart.
I did not hydrate as well as I should have today either.
Moods and level of hunger came and went in waves.
A very strange observation : I had not pooped all day (until, literally, just now). But at the market, I got the sensation that I needed to shit. Not that usual, expect for the fact that it was very overwhelming. Like I got lightheaded and even a little dizzy. Then it passed, like nothing. Strange.
After an active morning at the market, I had some very physically inactive time. Reading about food.
I had told myself that I would hold out and eat dinner between 6 and 7pm. I bought salmon at the market. Covered it with onion, olive oil, almond butter, and seasoning and let it sit in the fridge while I waited for my friend/roommate to return to eat dinner with him.
It wasn't until I tried to work on some projects did I realize just how badly my body and mind were ready for food. Maybe part of it was knowing food was in the very near future, but I knew my blood sugar was low.
Okay, just the heel of this bread and some butter. And a bit of chocolate. Hmm, these leftover pumpkin bars look awesome. Devoured quickly, not very mindfully. Step back, consider.
Dinner : the salmon and some bok choy, mushroom, onion sauteed. Ate with a friend and conversation. Mindfully. In my last few bites, I started to feel heavier already and hoped I wasn't overeating. Considering I am eating chocolate now, 45 minutes later, I don't think I did.
All in all, I don't really know how much I gained from the experience. It wasn't as profound as I had originally imaged it. Would I do it again? I think so. For longer, quite possibly.
