You won’t believe this but I’ve been fasting for the past call it 2-1/2 days now? Christmas Holidays and I thought why not do a three-day fast during Christmas, that seems like a noble sacrifice to make right? My Son and his girlfriend were here for a couple days last week and did the gift exchange early, plus we got in a little golf, and enjoyed each other’s company for a couple days before they were off on a vacation with her parents. The next morning I woke up alone, it was Christmas Eve and I thought, I haven’t done a fast for at least 2 months, I’m behind. Why not start a three-day fast after breakfast in the morning? So I did. I haven’t had anything to eat 2-1/2 days now – nothing but water but I did add some fruit juices starting today. However, tomorrow morning I can eat anything I want as long as the clock says it’s 8:15 a.m. or later, which will complete my 72-hour fasting goal.

I’ve been doing these really all year, usually one a month but during the month of November I had too much going on to set aside three days which put me behind. What’s interesting is, when you do one of these three-day fasts, is how your body reacts to them. Each time I fast I find the experience is a little different. Like I was expecting my Day 1 (first 24 hours) to be very tough not being able to have anything to eat. All I consumed on Day 1 was water, and I can’t say I was ever really hungry during that time. Usually my Day 1 is the toughest day to get through and my Day 2 and 3 is much easier. I summed that up to my body finally adjusting to the fact that nothing’s going to come down the pike. However, this fast has been different. Now deep into my Day 3 and I almost subconsciously cheated twice today! In one incident I opened the pantry for something, I think to grab a box of tea and my eyes got fixed on some fresh almonds in one of those see-through plastic containers? They looked so inviting, I just grabbed them and began to open the package when sudden;y I caught myself, realizing what I was about to do. I wrote the domestic incident off to a case of “delirium, due to forced malnutrition”. I closed the pantry door, and reluctantly said goodbye until morning to all the goodies contained therein, and there are so many… so my Day 3 has turned out to be my most challenging day this time around. (Plus, all your fantastic Christmas desserts you guys posting on FB didn’t help matters, my mouth was watering just looking at some of those.) 🙂

When you suddenly stop doing what your body is expecting you to do, that is to eat at regular intervals, things can get real strange – real quick. The change kind of creeps up on you though, it’s not like you’ll be crawling on the kitchen floor crying “feed me!” just “feed me!” It’s not like that at all, for me anyway. I think you’ll find your brain will cooperate [mostly], but I have to qualify that statement as it will also try to fool you hoping you don’t notice that you’re actually eating something before it’s time to do so? Best to have a book to read or a blog to post in, just like I’m preparing this topic here to post now. Or a football game to watch – just some distraction that has zero to do with sitting down for a meal. I keep my mind occupied, I hold off on any strenuous exercise that might require me to not be successful, to eat something before it’s time to do so. Plus, I usually hit the sack way earlier than usual when I fast. All these things really help when you’re not consuming anything but water. But I would have to say that I’m way better off doing these than not. First of all, I don’t have to watch my weight. I can pretty much eat anything I want because these fasts act like body “resets” for me, I’ll lose around 5-6 lbs. each time just in the three days these go on… now I’ll gain some of that back over time sure. However, I’m still way ahead of when I began this program. I’m easily hanging around 12-15 lbs. below what I normally weighed just two years ago. 😉

Addendum, please read:
If you’ve never fasted, do not try to go three days without food. This is something for beginners to take 1 day at a time. First, see if you can go 24 hours without any food, just water. Do that successfully a few times before you attempt to go 48 hours without food, etc. I have built up to 72 hours and have done this successfully several times now. I want to eventually build up to a 5-day fast. One of the problems with getting there is, my personal will to do it, plus scheduling five days in a row when I don’t have to be somewhere and can do without any exercise at all.

I read where there is a 3-3-3 rule in general, that us humans need to adhere to when we’re considering depriving our bodies of things otherwise necessary to sustain life.
Humans can go 3 minutes without oxygen before causing some permanent damage.
Humans can go 3 days without water after which it gets dangerous.
Humans can go 3 weeks without food before damage to the body can result.
So research on your own and be careful.