FAST BLOG

[Jo Harper]

Sarah suggested I write a blog detailing my next fast, how I am feeling/coping each day. I plan to start one this week. Having done an initial, very successful 10 day fast, and less successful 3 day fast (had planned 7 days, but managed 3 due to not feeling well before I started.)

[Anna Carlson]

that's a brilliant idea - I look forward to reading it!

=)

[Jo Harper]

Tuesday - Day One. To get the detox process going, I started the day with a tsp of epsom salts in luke warm water, bleh! Then later had 6 psyllium capsules with water. Drank 2 green juices and three protein shakes throughout the day. I felt fine until early evening when I had a craving for a fluffy jacket potato with crispy skin.

Wednesday - Day Two. Woke up about 5.30am. Felt hungover and dehydrated, with a mild headache. After a couple of large glasses of water went back to sleep. Less energy today, but I coped well at work, only 6 hour shift, so not too bad. Drank two green juices and two protein shakes today, and a lot more water. No real food cravings today.

Thursday - Day Three. Woke at 4.45am, again very thirsty, but no headache and much brighter. Went back to sleep around 6ish. Don't really want green juice today, but maybe later...

[sarah liddiard]

Hey Jo, great to see you've gone for the blog idea. I for one will be keeping abreast with how it's going! I was interested to know whether waking up early is usual for you or is it a symptom of the detox??

Good luck & speak soon

Hope u r enjoying the juicer. I have just treated myself to a Raw Milk maker - £60. I had my first raw hemp milk on my museli and have to say it was smoother and nicer than the one I have made previously in the blender.....xxx

[Jo Harper]

Oo, raw milk maker sounds good. Yes, I'm enjoying the juicer, added watercress and ginger in this morning to keep it energising and uplifting. Bit of a taste bud tingler!

Going to make mango ice-cream when Sam gets home from school. Love new gadets/toys! Will have to wait a few days to sample all the yummy stuff.

The waking in the night or early morning is not unusual for me, but the extreme thirst is. So far I'm feeling well and coping. Not hungry or even desperate for the shakes and juicers at all today.

Catch up soon, Jo X

[Jo Harper]

Friday - Day Four. Slept through the night (hooray!), and woke up thirsty again. Loads of energy this morning. Detoxing has commenced, my hair is greasy today after being washed yesterday. I have spots around my nose and chin. A small patch of eczema has flared up, it is slightly raised and a bit itchy. I won't mention my breath!!! But, I am hungry this evening and wanting carbs again. Oh well, another juice or shake should dull it. I'm pleased I have lasted four days the last fast I gave up by lunchtime on day 4. Having had a stomach bug just prior to starting, it really wasn't the right time to do it. By day 4, I felt awful not energised.

[Jo Harper]

Saturday - Day Five. Had to work all day today, so found it tough! Was falling asleep all evening.

Sunday - Day Six. Had a wonderful sleep last night. Today has been quite a good day, was able to get a lot of Harry Potter read, due to no exams to revise for, and of course when you are fasting you must rest a lot! Not sure if I will continue tomorrow or not, it is supposed to be my last day, but I have a busy day at work, so will see how I feel. May introduce some steamed veggies into plan.

[sarah liddiard]

Pleased it's all going well so far.....re your juicer....you can also use it to make energy balls.....any dried fruit & nuts or seeds put through and rolled into yummy sweets. Loads of other flavours can be added in like chocolate powder or cocoa, superfoods or whatever. My favourite recipe is dates, raisins and tahini. Dried apricots, brazil nutes and dates also work well as do cashews, coconut and dates......................

[Jo Harper]

Mmm, don't mention food, i'm hungry this evening. I am looking forward to playing with it next week and experimenting. Sam has made a second batch of mango ice cream this afternoon. X

[Abby Harman]

Hi Jo... Well done on your fasting, it's great to follow your progress with you! I was hoping to start one tomorrow, but I'll be going to a hen do instead...! Will have to wait a day or two. Can you tell me about the protein shakes? What do you use and where can you get them from? Also, are you working to a particular plan at all?

Thanks
Abby

[Jo Harper]

Hi Abby,

Hope you fun at the hen do!

Ute mentioned using protein shakes to support an underactive thyroid in on of her lectures. I emailed her when I wanted to do mt first fast a few months ago. She suggested a plan, using a shake that I think is probably German. As I was not able to get hold of it quickly enough, I found an alternative from www.nutri.co.uk. (Ultrameal Whey) You can open a practitioner account with nutri. For my first fast I used whey shakes, they were great and I had good results from them. This is my third fast and I ran out recently, so this time I ordered soya protein based shakes. (Ultrameal) They are not quite so nice, a little more powdery, even when mixed in a blender.

The reason I switched is to eliminate dairy from my diet. I am not allergic to dairy, but from research and TCMstudies, dairy causes dampness in the body. Dampness appears in me as cysts on my thyroid. Ute believes good health and immunity comes from the gut, so the purpose of my regular fasting is colon cleansing and tissue renewal.

There are lots of helpful books on our reading list for next year about fasting, colon health and juicing for health.

My basic plan is up to 3 protein shakes per day. Fresh vegetable juices, using green veg. Lots of water and herb teas, nettle is very cleansing.

Good luck with your fast, and if you need any help just ask!

Jo
X

[Abby Harman]

Hi Jo

That's a lot of info there... thank you! I'm coming to the end of the first day now and I'm feeling okay, a bit heady, but looking forward to getting further on down the week! I'm sensitive to soya, so that wouldn't be a good option for me, so I might just see how I get on with just the juices for now. I'm worried how well I'll sleep with the hunger... if my blood sugar levels drop, I find it really hard to sleep. Anyhoo... I'll see how I pan out. I've got a book that was recommended by one of the tutors in London (I met her when Becky and I went up for a clinic one time). It's called Staying Healthy with Nutrition by Haas and Levin... it has a great section on fasting and juice detoxes so I've been delving into that.

Good luck, I hope you're starting to feel the benefits!

Abby x

[Jo Harper]

Abby,

The hunger will ease, I found day two the most difficult each time. With regular shakes and juices you should be able to keep your blood sugar even. That is why I make juices from green veg. Fruit and carrots etc have sugars that are easily abosrbed into the bloodstream, so best to avoid them during a fast. Try adding some ginger to your juices and herb teas, it is uplifting.

Before bed you could have a chamomile tea, or vervain (not so nice tasting). Also if you take psyllium it will add bulk and stop you feeling Sooo empty! It helps with the colon cleansing too.

Some fasts suggest vegetable stock as an option, but when I have tried this I have been really hungry afterwards.

Well done for completing your first day, and good luck with day two!

Jo X