I concur with Robert. I have tried a few things on my first fasts, until I realize that one of the fast's goals was to control hunger and learn how to live with it, better, turn it at our advantage on a daily basis.
You see, fasting is not only for weight loss, it also increases your inner strength between other things. It puts you back in control.
It's a learning experience, if you just want to lose weight, you don't need to fast, just exercise more for some time or eat a little less.
Fasting brings you back in control, I still do it occasionally but not to lose weight, simply to increase my inner strength when I feel it could be improved; some people do it for religious reasons, others for health.
Regardless for which reason it's done, one thing is certain, it should be a life changing experience, not a one time thing that's gonna make you lose 10, 20, or even 100 pounds.
It changed my life (in good) and now, I'm much more happy than I've ever been in my entire life.
Fasting is wonderful, it's the best medication I've ever "taken", well, since I'm into this, that's also the only one I need.
Jul 06, 2008 Rating
Thank You! by: Anonymous
Thanks for your input on this!
Today is another Day-3 and I woke up feeling nauseated...the thought of food is repelling (I'm sure this wont last all day, unfortunately).
After reading your response, I've decided to face hunger temptation head-on when it strikes. I will by some seltzer water today and some fresh limes and lemons, though.
I'll look for powdered Hoodia and get a stash in case of emergency, but no chemical suppressants for me. My friend is taking an OTC spin-off of Phentermine. I have no idea what all is in there, but I'll pass.
Thank you again for your input and for this awesome site. It's really helped me stay focused!
Jul 05, 2008 Rating
Mastering Hunger Part 1 by: Robert D Johnston - FTF Editor/Webmaster
Hello! Hope you are well and thank you for your question.
Appetite suppressants can be "somewhat" helpful when fasting - but from experience I can tell you that they are NOT a panacea or fix all to the natural hunger pains.
The only one that I would feel comfortable recommending is Hoodia because it is made from a plant. I would suggest that you use Hoodia, but NOT any other product that has chemicals of any kind or even caffeine - or other stimulant.
Powdered Hoodia has been the one that has helped me the most by "calming" the hunger. You can go online and google "powdered Hoodia" and you will find an ample selection to choose from.
What I do is put a tablespoon of the Hoodia in a cup -- usually in the afternoon -- and mix it with some water and a squeeze of lemon.
It tastes quite bad, but this approach is the one that I have found produces the best appetite suppression. I also use decaffeinated green tea and seltzer water with lemon to calm hunger.
This combination has carried me through 7,14,21,30 and even 40 and 60-day water fasts. It works like a charm. Something about the hot liquid hitting my belly, the Hoodia, and then the effervescence of the seltzer.
Do not look at the hunger pains you go through as a punishment, or even as a torture to be endured (even though it certainly can feel that way) : )
Instead, welcome the hunger pains as the clear and indivisible sign that your body is working overtime to overcome the very toxicity that you want to get rid of.
You see, the toxicity - or the worst of it at least - hides in between your fat cells. So the only way for the body to deep clean itself is to dig into these cells.
The process actually releases the toxicity directly into your bloodstream, which in turn can cause pretty violent hunger pains, as well as headache, dizziness, nausea, weakness, diarrhea and fever.
But these symptoms - and the hunger pains - go away completely between the fifth and tenth day. From then on, many persons feel as if they could go on fasting indefinitely.
(continued on Part 2)
Jul 05, 2008 Rating
Mastering Hunger Part 2 by: Robert D Johnston - FTF Editor/Webmaster
Confront your hunger face-to-face and realize that this very hunger is the one that will lead you back to your old ways if you do not learn to master it.
Many persons feel that it is bad to feel hunger and that any sign of it has to be addressed immediately. Learn to ignore it. Learn to live with it. Now please, I am not saying here that you should starve yourself in an anorexic way.
What I am saying is that the belly can be like a demanding child who insists on getting what he wants, when he wants it or else it throws a tantrum.
Discipline it and you find freedom. Try to constantly suppress it and sooner or later it will blindside you and lead you back to where you started.
The fasting process, especially when you are new, is one that can take months and even years. In my case, I fasted on and off for an entire year.
I would fast for 21 days, eat for about two weeks, then fast for another month, eat for 14 days, fast another month etc..
IT is about forming life-long "discipline muscles" that will allow you to assume control of your stomach, instead of the other way around.
Many persons fast once, break the fast, and within a short period gain all the weight back, and then some.
The only way to keep that from happening is by facing the hunger directly and becoming "comfortable" with it, to the point where appetite suppressant, or no appetite suppressant, you have the ability to choose what you are going to put in my body.
The real "breakthrough" is mastering hunger in the long-term and being able to say NO - regardless of how hard and loud my stomach yelled for that particular food that I know harms me.
I hope this helps. Again, thank you for being part of our fasting community and God Bless!
