Fast #4 - Juice & Water Fasting for Weight Loss, Health & Breakthrough

by Kara Childress
(North Carolina)

Hi. Back in September 2009 I did my first water fast. My first water fast lasted 7 days and I benefited greatly not only physically, but mentally and spiritually as well.

I was relieved of a skin condition that had plagued me for over a year; I reached a clarity and calm I only dreamed of and wished for but had never quite been able to attain; I was ridiculously productive; I shed the last few stubborn pounds that no matter how hard I pushed myself, refused to budge.

In early October, I did another 1 day water fast followed by another 3 day water fast in the first week of November. Now, it is nearing mid December and I am about to embark on my 4th water fast.

Sadly, I have lost a lot of the mental and emotional euphoria and clarity that I gained back in September. Life has gotten in the way.

Since I was 14, (I am now 30) I have suffered from food addiction. I am a vegan (I have been for the last 3 1/2 months---prior to that I was a vegetarian, but consumed fish and seafood as well as dairy and eggs and outside that, normally ate a pretty clean diet) and eat all organic, whole, clean foods 98% of the time.

I do however, sometimes even in this restrictive diet, find ways to overindulge. My main 2 culprits are caffeine and alcohol (which ultimately equal.....SUGAR!!!!!!).

I was abstinent from alcohol for nearly 6 months and only recently, in Mid September, started enjoying libations yet again. At first, I allowed myself only 1. I would force myself to drink it slowly and enjoy its taste, letting it swirl in my mouth before swallowing it down.

Then it moved to 2; just 2. Then, I lifted the number restriction and for the past month and a half, I have had one, two, seven.....

I crave Chai lattes, with soy milk of course, but I am still ingesting the sugar from both alcohol and caffeinated tea concoctions. Sugar sends me into a tailspin. I know this. Yet, I continue to indulge. I should slap my own hand! But no, instead, I reach it out to take that hot frothy latte or that oh-so-delicious-poison-in-a-glass (or bottle).

Since my first fast, I have been able to maintain my weight with little fluctuation. On my first fast, I dropped about 10 pounds and have since hovered right around 130, give or take. I went from 155 in April to 130 in September.

Let me make a point, the holidays are always a tough time for me. I tend to pack on the pounds around this time and it is mostly from taking in too much of the bubbly, (or red, or brown....) suffering the backlash of cravings for carbs and sugar the following days and thus, sending me into a vicious cycle of binge and over eating--even on healthy foods! Damn, fresh organic nut butters!

This year, I am trying very hard to not fall into my own trap of self sabotage.

Lately, I have been at home taking some time off work. I have been drinking more than I had been, feeling ravished afterward...you get the picture. I feel so.....bloated and hard and fluffy and heavy and...yuck. If I continue like this, I am bound to pack on all I have worked hard for most of 2009 to lose. In order to stop this nonsense, get back my clarity and calm I achieved previously, I have decided to fast.

I am hoping that at the end of this fast, I will regain some of the lost insight into myself, have a better idea of what is right for me, and apply it (ferociously) to my daily life.

I am starting on Tuesday, December 8, 2009. I have the rest of this week off, then 1 week back at work where I will be outside for the majority of the day in the cold, and then off again from the following weekend thru the New Year. Some obstacles I will face (besides the week at work outside in the cold):

-The Holidays and its parties and temptation to indulge in alcohol
-A trip to FL for my Father's wedding the day after Christmas

So, that being said, this will be a little tricky. But I think that I am going to shoot for a 7 day water fast, with 4 days of juice to follow. If I can extend out the water fast (I will obviously extend the juice fast as well) I would like to go for a solid 10 days. My goal for 2010 is to do a 21 day fast....one thing at a time. I will be sure to report back on what happens and what for how long this fast lasts.

Tentative end date: (water) December 15, 2009
Tentative end date: (juice) December 19, 2009



Until then, peace and God bless.