FASTING - CLEANS EMOTIONS, SPIRIT AND BODY

"Fasting of the body is food for the soul"

I had not fasted for ages, it was something I used to do fairly regularly, but somehow through the last few years lost touch with it. It has been called to my attention to do this for quite some time now and with the new year here and lots of shifts going on inside me the perfect opportunity arrived for me to do a cleanse. So last week I did a three day watermelon juice fast. The rule I follow is: All I drink/eat for three days is watermelon juice. It is a very easy fast to do because watermelon fills you up, so you don't feel deprived or hungry. I also drink water with the fast, because water speeds up any detox reactions in the body to move out. You can check out this link to see some of the health benefits of watermelon juice.  

It is very easy to prepare, so you don't spend ages in the kitchen making sure that you are organised for the next drink.

There are two ways to prepare the juice, depending on the equipment you have:

• Blender: To prepare the juice I cut up watermelon, using only the flesh, and put it in the blender, (seeds and all). If I get bored of the the flavour I add a big knob of ginger or some fresh mint to the mix before I blend. One small watermelon should get you through a day, but it depends on you personally how much you need. Once blended I put the juice into containers into the fridge, and drink when I want to.

• Another way to prepare the juice, if you have a slow maticating juicer and can get organic watermelon, is to wash the melon, cut up into sizes that will fit through the juicer, (you use everything, skin, flesh and seeds). Juice, store in containers in the fridge and drink when you want. Using the entire fruit has added benefits on the health side, so it is the best option if available to you, but the first options does work very well none the less.

The best way to do a fast easily with the least resistance is to prepare yourself before hand mentally and physically. It is best to cut out certain toxic foods which cause a heavy detox reaction to the body if stopped cold turkey. Wheat and caffeine are the two worst for me personally, especially if you have an intolerance to them, the headache can be super nasty!  The list of what you should try and cut out are as follows:

• Wheat
• Caffeine
• Sugar
• Dairy
• Soya
• Transfats
• Artificial preservatives, flavourants and colourants
• Artificial sweetners
• Heavy consumption of red meat.

It is best to wean yourself off the toxic foods at least two weeks before you start your fast. Stopping caffeine cold turkey if you drink it everyday can really cause painful headaches. So I recommend slow weaning. You can even start a month before the fast depending on your coffee, tea and caffeine filled soft drink in take. 

For the mental preparation side, it is really good to understand why you are fasting and what you would like to gain from it. If you are fasting because you have heard it is healthy to fast, what are the health benefits you are wanting to gain from that? If you are fasting because of weight loss, what is your reason for wanting to loose weight? If you are fasting to move old vibrations out of the energetic system of your being, what are you hoping to achieve for yourself emotionally and spiritually by doing this?

By answering those questions and setting a pure intention to the purpose of your fast, it makes the fast so much easier on you. You remind yourself of the purpose and reason why you are doing what you are doing and then you are more mindful on what you are experiencing and learning from this. For me personally it is like a magic pill to push through and not give up. Fasting with intention is not only powerful for personal results, but it makes the process easy and even enjoyable!

It is good to eat light meals for a day or two before you start the fast, so eat fruit, salads, rice and veggies. I try eat fruit from the time I wake up until midday, then salads, rice and veggies for the rest of the day. Then when you break the fast it is best to gently ease your digestive system back into things by eating light meals as recommended before the fast. If you feel that you need protein, especially after the fast, then chicken breast or grilled fish is recommended.

Everybody is different when it comes to fasting, and I don't believe that fasting for three days or longer is for everybody. The best fast for someone to do personally is dependent on your health status, age, personal needs, mental and emotional state and tolerance levels. This is all vital to take into consideration before you embark on a fast. You should always consult your health care practitioner first before fasting and then decide what the best plan forward will be for you. Even a half day fast is beneficial to the body.   

Fasting has been used through the millennia for A) spiritual transformation and B) physical transformation. People have gained enlightenment through fasting as well as healed themselves from terminal diseases. Fasting is a powerful personal transformation tool, even if only using it to gain more clarity and control over your everyday life and deeper awareness into yourself. 

I found that this was without doubt the easiest fast I have ever done. I had been watching what I was eating for a month before I started and had a very clear intention of the purpose and results I wanted. I have decided to try and do a one day fast every month this year, just to keep the healing momentum going and keep the shifts shifting. 

If you have any questions or need advice on a fasting plan, please leave a comment below or email me rosemariemoodley@gmail.com and I will be in touch with you asap.

With so much love

Rosemarie

xxxx