Fasting For the Forever: Mindset During the Final Year of My 20's

Written in July 2011, Nakatsu, Japan


Have you ever felt the need to just clear out all areas of your life? Not necessarily, clean out all that's old, just simply do a bit of renovation to create more space for the new. 

I am undergoing that process at the present, on several levels. Yes, those who know me understand by now that this feeling isn't a new one, per se, yet it is certainly acted upon in different ways each time it hits. We all remember the last, leap off to West Africa for the year to "clear out emotional clutter." Or before that, diving into a new life in South Korea to "clear myself out" of ....my disappointment, feelings of needing to act. 

 

The feeling has hit me (yet again) and I have decided that the best way for me to really remove all the built-up scum, grim and muck in my mind, body and soul will be to fast- it out. For those who are not sure how one "fasts out" anything... let me explain. Confession: I am not a skilled faster, nor can I claim to be some spiritually heightened Chakra Chakakan of a Diva. Im just a lady who wants to work at being her best- forever. So, I have been reading tons of info on fasting. There are several types and though I am no Guru, I am going to create my own routine that will touch on several of these known types in a 6-month time period. Yes, I am seeking a long-term regimen. 

 

Your eyes may bulge at the thought of fasting for such a long period, especially considering my confessed level of inexperience. So, let me provide a bit more background and personal philosophy insight. Briefly, I am fasting as the catalyst to entire lifestyle shift. I seek to fast as a means of doing what I mentioned, cleaning out the old, unused, unnecessary, excess, harmful and unwanted mental and physical baggage that I carry around on a daily basis. Though I have been a predominately devout Vegetarian/pescatarian for the past 10 years, and chose this huge life style change while in Uni as a means of controlling my weight and bettering my food choices, it is no longer satisfying enough. I have come to replace animal meat and the quantity that I used to eat of it with fish and seafood. As the safety of our global food system continues to decline in quantity and especially quality, I cant deny the fact that fish is contaminated and mass-produced just as most locally accessible meat is- the primary reason I discontinued eating it. 

 

Long story short, I want to clean out all the toxins that have accumulated in my system. I want to overcome a habit of caffeine and alcohol intake to provide a feeling of alertness and fuzzy/light/gitty-ness. I want to not be tired when I wake after 7 to 8 hours of sleep. I want to feel lighter. I want to look lighter. I want to go through the middle and feel the challenge of earning spiritual development and personal expansion. I really want to rid my body of as much excess body fat as possible. I want to undergo a rebirth, now- In This Space, and at This Time. 

I turned 29 this June. I'm newly single after years of being the total opposite. I am living in a Super Chill, nature filled, clean and organized environment (Oita, Japan). I am away from the normal stresses of the American system and lifestyle. I worked hard to get to this place and sacrificed a great deal in order to own this Peace of Mind. This is the perfect time... 

 

I am capturing this transformation in a series of blog posts as a method of holding myself accountable, encouraging others, recording my struggle and to simply provide myself with a social outlet. For those who desire to read these entries, lets make our connection an active one. I would fair even better hearing you comments, words of support, personal stories of fasting or general development, and suggested reads, health tips, etc. 

This fast is a lifelong objective. However, just like anything new and difficult that requires a personal battle against laziness and change, its all about taking that first leap. The countdown has started... On July 1st, I will start teaching my mind & body (same thing? Not all the time) to appreciate consuming less calories and in liquid form. 

 

For the month of July my fasting schedule looks like this: 

The first step of the fast will be a 28 day cycle of purified Water and Smoothies: 

Week 1: 7-days of raw smoothies- fruits and vegetables. 

Week 2: 3 days of smoothies, 1 day of water, 3 days of smoothies. 

Week 3: 2 days smoothies, 1 day H20, 2 days smoothie, 2 days h20 

Week 4: alternating days between smoothies and water Until this full 28day Goal is Reached 

I will not stop trying. 

 

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