Fasting

I was doing some “better eating” research the other day and I stumbled upon a bunch of info about fasting.  I started reading and became interested.  The Bible talks about fasting quite a bit but I have never felt the inclination to fast for religious reasons.  The information that I was reading was specifically in regards to fasting for health reasons.

The logic was very compelling. The idea that we are taught to over-eat at a very young age and the affect that this has on our body is scary.  There have been many studies that validate the concept that eating too much (which nearly every average American does) causes serious health issues.

Many generations ago, we did not sit down at the table and eat three square meals a day with plenty of snacks in between.  Rather, we ate one meal a day with a few snacks when we happened to find some food.  Most all of this food was raw (meaning fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc…).

Fasting is a good way to kind of flush out all the junk that has accumulated. So, I fasted for three days.  No, not exactly a long period of time but it was a good start.  From this little experience, I discovered that I do not really know what it feels like to be hungry.  I’m not saying that I felt hunger during this period – in fact, I didn’t feel different in any way.  It was very strange.  My stomach grumbled a bit but I had no “hunger pains” or sensation that if I didn’t eat I would soon faint/die. After this, I’ve mostly cut down to two meals per day – breakfast and a late lunch. What I learned is that I mostly eat out of habit or boredom – I like to be tossing something in my mouth while watching a movie, for example.

I have not turned into a vegetarian nor someone that is super picky about my diet.  However; I have switched to mostly raw foods.  Fruit for breakfast (oranges, melon, grapefruit, strawberries, etc…) and a big salad for a late lunch. This salad normally includes lettuce, of course, but also some nuts, boiled egg, vegetables, and VERY little dressing (just a hint of a taste). I have also completely eliminated soda, bread, and have not made a pot of coffee in weeks. I drink 3 quarts of water each day. When I go out to eat, I eat what is available.  I’ll have a coffee or tea (but never soda). If processed foods is included (i.e. bread), I may eat a bit of it but tend to avoid it.  The thing that is really interesting is that I have noticed how bad I feel after eating some “not-so-great-for-you” food.

I know some folks that simply cannot make changes like this. I admit that breaking habits is hard – maybe harder for some. For me, it was pretty simple. I just decided that I had to get healthier and so I started. In about three weeks, I’ve lost 13 pounds and am feeling much better.  The habit that has been difficult is eating out of boredom/habit.