I do the same thing; for the most part, my fast would go well, and something happens that unexpectedly terminates it.
Then, I revert back to overindulging on sweets and chocolate. I am definitely not loving this, but what I am doing is looking for a way out!
The appetite gets voracious after fasting and, even if my stomach hurts, I still want to eat!
Anyway, I'm trying to fast regularly, like every week, for a day/two, and get myself used to fasting as a lifestyle.
And I think having support network to chat with is very good. The messages get soaked in the brain and counteract eating thoughts. : )
Another thing is that if I know I have a social engagement coming up (like a family outing/etc), then that thought often undermines my fasting effort.
What happens? I wind up losing interest in fasting and start to eat.
I used to get upset, but now i just try to schedule the fasting to happen AFTER any major social events.
I give myself a 10-to-14-day clearance where I know there is no imminent engagement where I am expected to eat.
Take Care and Hope to Read More!
K
May 11, 2008 Rating
Emotional Cravings by: Vic (Riverside, Cal.)
Your quite welcome Anonymous. "Good Health to you!"
I wish to thank the editor for his words of wisdom and for this forum.
May 10, 2008 Rating
Emotional Cravings by: Anonymous
Wow. Thank you both of you for your comments!!! Very inspiring and helpful!!
I have just completed a 2-day water fast and now on my second day of lemonade. I am feeling wonderful and funnily enough without cravings *at all*.
I think I've grown a lot emotionally since my previous water fasting efforts (they were always 2 - 3 days as I'm a bit scared to go further.
Plus, lemonade/juice provides enough energy to keep working) which has led to this 'quiet place' inside where I just don't get thrown off-center.
I had noticed it in daily life before fasting, but I always thought the extreme hunger after fasting was purely physical - for me it apparently wasn't.
So for all you "fasters" out there with the 'need to feed experience' maybe working on love, compassion, acceptance and most especially a feeling of control in your life and future will help to prevent the simple episodes of binging.
May 09, 2008 Rating
The Biggest Obstacle by: Rob J - FTF Editor
Hello All!
This is an excellent post. It also represents the number ONE reason why most persons who sacrifice and do a long-term fast soon gain the weight back.
What I have discovered in my case is that the mind, after fasting, seems to unleash an unconscious thought pattern that tells me I better eat all that I can before the "starvation" torture is again inflicted upon the body.
So, every time I have completed the fast, the hunger pains seem to return with a vengeance when I start eating solid food again.
My biggest weapon for this has been to eat and chew slowly and not succumb to the voracity that wants me to devour my plate. This is done one bite at a time, one meal at a time.
After a few days, or sometimes weeks, the voracity dies down and the body accepts the new diet regimen. When I say diet in this case, I am referring to the new eating habits that MUST be part of your post-fasting lifestyle.
So, in short, what happens when you overeat after fasting is that you are succumbing to the body's unconscious signal that, in order to avoid future "starvation," you must eat, eat and eat.
Once you are done fasting, your body is clean. The hunger pains at this point also often are the symptom of the same emotional issues that caused me to overeat in the first place.
I may finish a fast and feel insecure, thus food can be my buddy to cover that up. Or I may feel lost and sad because suddenly I am no longer in the "safe zone" or binging and overeating.
When one has been overweight for a long time, this "fat" image can become a person's identity. Any change to that image brings up fear, a feeling of being lost and intense insecurity.
These feelings very often result in increased hunger and, unfortunately in some cases, a relapse into overeating.
It also happens that being slimmer and healthier is "uncharted territory." For me, it was always easier to remain fat, shy and withdrawn, than to change.
I knew that just losing the weight was the tip of the iceberg, but that the weight loss had to be accompanied by changes in my thoughts, behaviors and approach to life.
I knew I had to come out of the shadows and join humanity in a more dynamic fashion. This was terrifying to me, so I gorged again and gained all the weight back - leading me to the cave that was so painful yet so familiar.
The Bottom line is that the first three to six months after fasting are crucial because you are actually forging a brand new image of yourself.
And the hunger pains will increase as a defense mechanism against future "starvation."
But if you keep yourself vigilant, continue to practice self discipline and learn to eat slowly and deliberately, the "voracity" will go away and you will find yourself establishing positive and constructive life-long eating habits...
Best Regards and God Bless
Robert D Johnston Fitness Through Fasting Editor
May 08, 2008 Rating
Overeating after fasting by: Vic (Riverside, Cal.)
That is a real problem to handle after fasting! It's happened to me. You're not alone.
It's amazing how our thoughts have such control over our bodies. The problem is that we return to old eating habits.
Possibly it may be your way of rewarding yourself after putting so much effort into meeting your goal. Something to think about.
It certainly is not a healthy way to reward ourselves, you would agree.
If you break it down in simple terms it's just one of the ways we sabotage ourselves.
The "Real" goal is mental health and then what follows is physical well being.
Try supporting your fast with meditation (quiet contemplation) and spiritual activity (of your own liking of course.)
As mentioned, our thoughts are very powerful indeed. It would be of benefit to you if you incorporated healthful reading material and focused on being helpful to those in need of assistance.
Give of yourself. It's good to get out of ourselves for a change of pace.
Fasting isn't just for losing weight. Fasting heals the mind..........and the soul (our body).
Remember, our minds lead our body and a healthy body soothes our minds. I wish you success!
