Lessons Learned: 4th Day of Fasting Continued

[Guest guest]

Whew! I had a lot of messages to catch up on. I don't

know if I should say I've saved the best for last or

the worst for last. lol Anyway, here it goes.....

 

Technically I've only fasted 3 1/2 days successfully!

 

Have I got an update for all of you. I've been

to hell and back in less than 24 hours. As all of you

know I started my 4th day of fasting yesterday. I felt

relaxed, energetic, and content...three things I had

not felt in a very long time. Maybe it's all in my

head but my skin even felt more alive and sensitive to

touch. Anyway, Around 3p.m. in the afternoon I had this

uncontrollable craving for a KFC piece of chicken but

I eventually fought off the craving and everything was

cool. Before starting my fast I prepared a stew and

large pot of chili to hold my son for a few days so I

wouldn't have to cook during my 3 day fast or even

enter the kitchen. I had no idea what a good idea that

was. Since he finished all of the stew and chili, he

asked if I would make him cheese potatos and chicken

with green beans. Oh my God...that is when the battle

began! I was doing fine while preparing the food but

when the aroma hit my nose and things quickly started to

change. It was ugly. I prayed that my son would eat

all of the food I prepared, but oh no, he left half a

piece of chicken breast and a cup of four-cheese

mashed potatos stating he wanted to watch his portions

as I was doing. Ha...how bout that! After a few hours

of fighting the urge to eat his left overs I decided

to go off my fast but promised myself I would only do

so with fruit. I just had to sink my teeth into

something. So I ate one cute tiny red apple, that was

quickly followed by a large luscious orange, and

eventually I did it. I ate my son's leftovers and

washed it all down with 1/2 a cup of sprite. To make

matters worse I ate a McDonald's Sandwhich with cheese

and fries which I had craved the day before soon

after. Not sure if the sweet fruit sent me on a binge or

if I just became weak after preparing my son's meal. Of

course I was very disappointed in myself and

began to feel as if my prior success was all in vain.

I felt I had ruined everything in less than 5 hours. I

also worried that I might get sick and need to vomit

from eating such heavy food after fasting.

Fortunately, none of those physical problems occurred.

However, what did occur was a moment of enlightenment

and a series of emotional changes. I have always been

prone to mood swings out of the blue, and didn't have

a clue where they came from. Either I would suddenly

feel like weeping, get very edgy and anxious, and just

wouldn't feel like myself. Well, an hour or so after

eating the foods that were loaded with carbs I felt

the exact same way. I had always suspected my moods

were related to my diet but didn't think food could

have such a dramatic effect on my mental and emotional

state. Boy was I wrong. Long story short, although I

fell off the wagon while fasting I eventually

concluded it was not in vain. This experience has only

confirmed that changing my nutrition and diet is the

key to feeling like the real me...which is an

energetic, mentally calm, and positive woman. At least

now I know where the mood swings came from. I still

can't understand how sugar could make one feel weepy

and depressed. That's very strange. Another thing I

noticed is that immediately I began to sneeze and blow

my nose like crazy and my throat felt very dry. During

my fast my nose blowing had began to decrease the 2nd

day. Is it possible that processed carbs and sugar can

cause these types of physical reactions and emotional

changes so quickly, almost like an allergic reaction?

At any rate, I need to know from all of you if I have

lost the cleansing benefits from the 4 day fast? Also, I

have started a new fast and would like to know if that

will cause any problems and if I should consider this

the first day of my fast since I fell off the wagon

yesterday? Moral of the story, my son will be

preparing his own meals at least until I complete my

fast. He is teenager so of course he is old enough to

prepare his own meals, but as a mom I had no problem

cooking them for him. My son has expressed an

interest in switching to a raw food diet as well, so

after my fast if I have enough tasty meals to prepare

I may never have to be tempted by cooked food in my

own home again. He seems to be very inspired and also

commented on how different and energetic I seemed

while fasting. Thank God for that. Lili