Once upon a time I fasted one day a week, once upon a time I was a vegetarian. Recently I've over-indulged on one of the most generous perks at work, catered breakfast (lunch has more healthy options.) and resulted in what I call my "sugar funk." I can't handle as much sugar as I could years ago... its not hard to land in this state now. Work is not un-stressful either which fuels the need to grab a sweet and also produces its own level of funk. What's my point? Just that in this modern age there are no shortages of ways to fill your body with crap and then suffer for it. I'm returning to that old habit today, a simple fast.
Fasting has a number of pluses and minus which I am here to elaborate on. Aside from the metaphysical or spiritual which had their part in my younger motivations, there are physical and mental perks. I'm not looking for an alter state of consciousness... well I am but only in as much as removal of the aforementioned funk. If you've never fasted, this all might be news to you.Fasting, the good:
- You slow down - Your perspective shifts without realizing it
- Focus on food changes - You don't have to think about where to eat, what to make
- It's empowering - You reaffirm who's in charge
- Less stress on your digestive system - Everybody likes some time off right?
- Cleansing - no Garbage In, no Garbage Out
- Heightened senses - This goes with the perspective shift, it can be distracting but also enlightening
- You slow down - The longer the fast, the slower you go
- Distraction - You notice the hunger and have to remind yourself not to feed it
- Heightened Senses - I swear I can smell bacon 3 miles away
- Less energy - I remember a day spent laying on the kitchen floor after 3 days of fasting, quite content to just lay there
I'll re-emphasize that distraction can really get in the way. If you're going more than a day I recommend that you have less required of you the further you go. I'll elaborate on the merits with citation later, I'm sitting on a bus with no internet connection. I spent a lot of thought on this subject in the olden days but just fell out of the habit and never picked it up again. I'll admit I've never made it past 3 days (did you see what I was doing at 3 days with no food?) but it always felt rewarding to have done it. I might have some interesting things to say by tonight, I'll try to censor myself.
