Considering Fasting? Here’s What You Do

You feel ready to make some serious changes to your lifestyle. You want to feel and look even better. The great news is that it is nearly free to achieve better skin, shinier hair, flatter abs, and tons more energy. In fact, we’re going to achieve this by doing virtually nothing at all.

Prep. Fasting doesn’t simply mean not eating - there is more to it than that. Look to last week’s Inspiration http://toolstolife.com/article/Lose-Your-Gut--Fast--112 for the necessary steps before you begin your fast. On the day before your fast, try to make your last meal consist of a generous amount of lightly steamed or raw vegetables, a quarter cup of brown rice topped with flax oil, and handful of raw nuts and seeds with some dried prunes.

Get started. Begin your fast the next morning with a large glass of warm water with fresh squeezed lemon, followed 10 minutes later with a cup of warm fennel seed tea. Sip your tea slowly while sitting quietly and doing some gentle abdominal breathing (see http://toolstolife.com/article/Breathe-Like-a-Baby-25 for coaching on this). Repeat this process twice more during the day and again at bedtime. 

Mindset. I hope that you’ve chosen to fast on your day off. If you are doing a three or more day fast consider doing so over a long weekend. You will not be distracted by your daily to-do’s. To keep your blood sugar stable you will need to drink the following beverage throughout the day:

Fasting drink. In a gallon of distilled water (best during fasts because of its ability to pull toxins out of the body), add one tablespoon of organic maple or agave syrup and two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. 

Fasting juice. Do your best to avoid solid food for the duration of your fast. If you must take in some nutrition, try juicing some organic fresh spinach, celery, parsley, and ¼ of a green apple.

Skin brushing. Start and end each fast day with a marvelous technique called dry skin brushing. Using a loofah sponge (available in most markets), gently brush your skin from head to toe and follow with a warm shower or bath. Remember, your skin is your largest detox organ and we want to keep it clean. Brush lightly and always toward the heart for best results.

Side effects. It is common to experience some uncomfortable side effects that may make you want to quit your fast early. Keep an eye out for lightheadedness, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, rashes, breakouts, and even flu-like symptoms. These are typical detoxification reactions - but they will not last, so hang in there. They just mean it is working. You can increase your water intake to wash toxins out more quickly, as this sometimes helps.

Rejuvenate. A big challenge may be what to do with the extra free time you normally spend preparing, eating, and cleaning up after your meals. Capitalize on this opportunity to catch up on some quiet tasks you’ve put off. Read that book you have wanted to finish, or focus on that hobby you’ve been dying to try. Take this time to focus on your most precious asset – your health - and you will soon learn of the incredible benefits the ancient practice of fasting has to offer. Enjoy your clear skin, shiny hair and eyes, flatter stomach, and increased energy!

Healthiest regards,