My Lenten fast period

These things I ask of myself...

My upcoming fast I am professing to last for 40-50 days. This will be a challenge for me like no other I have undertaken (insert an overly-dramatic drum roll please). I originally figured I would fast for the 40 days of Lent, then upon studying the calendar I quickly realized that from Ash Wednesday until Easter is 46 days.
The Lenten season count of forty days doesn't include Sundays (Roman Catholic) as they commemorate the resurrection. This was enough to bring a little bit of wonder if I can actually run the full length. In my initial thoughts I had decided upon one of 2 different plans:

1. Is to fast from February 17th (3-day weekend "President's day") until the 29th of March, which would be 40 calendar days. This would give me adequate time to come off of the fast prior to the Easter celebration. Juicing and raw vegetables until April 6th (Lent ends April 5th, at sundown "Holy Thursday"). The juicing and eventual raw vegetables and fruits I figure are more of a fast than most people do anyway, allowing me to feel as if I fasted the entire Lenten season.
2. Is to fast from February 21st (Ash Wednesday) until April 1st (40 calendar days) and break the fast with juice and raw foods until the end of Lent (April 5th, at sundown) Easter Sunday is on April 8th.

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Now I actually have a third plan. It is to fast from Ash Wednesday (February 21st) through the last day of the Lenten season April 5th (at sundown) (this is a total of 44 days of fast), and start breaking the fast on April 6th. This means I will not partake in the Easter feasting other than for the cursory orange juice. Can I handle the extra pressure of the proverbial family feast? I also have to assume that if I do make it 44 days on the fast that the distinct possibility to achieve 50 days will be a powerful force.

My plans with this fast are to achieve a renewed spirit over mind and body, no need for a "practicing physician" and their medications, clear thoughts on what I require for nourishing my body, and a weight loss goal of somewhere between 40 to 50 pounds...

I am praying on this, that I may have the mettle and the focus that I need to persevere. I really want this for the health aspects, the spiritual cleansing and the weight loss. This I would like to work out well enough that I could plan yearly my Fall (September) and my spring fast (Lenten) yearly and perhaps a 10 day fast in the summer and over the course of winter.
I am still praying on this, and for now it seems like the 3rd option (the longest) is what my mind is desiring. I have yet to ask my 12 year old "inner child" what his opinion is!
Spring is in the air and it is prime time for cleaning.

Enter with a positive faith that God will reward those who fast with the right motives. - Jesus gave this promise: "When you fast, your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:18).


Give me strength.

Mental Preparedness

The key to strength and success in your fast is through preparation. I Begin by cutting out caffeine and alcohol. Caffeine takes between 3 - 6 days to get out of your system.

Most sources seem to suggest 2-3 days of discomfort, but I know that is not the case for me. I have experienced up to a solid week of anything from mild to extreme headaches, clear up to full-blown flu-like symtoms. Some people can't go cold turkey at least the first time that they break the caffeine addiction. I don't assist with any drugs or vitamin supplements aside from a "last ditch effort" ibuprofen, I would rather during the first 2-3 days, when the ache is bad, have a 1/4 cup of coffee or tea diluted with some hot water, and sipped slowly (only 1 or 2 times over the course of a day).
I do not want to experience ever again that "Jonesing" feeling when I am detoxing on the fast, it is just too much to handle and can make the fasting process seem like an impossible or crazy idea. I think that is where a lot of the sick feelings and dizzyness comes from.

If you are not excersizing or walking on a regular basis, start it now.

The next to be eliminated is refined sugar (withdrawals may be experiecnced) and the other refined products like flour, white rice, pastas; mind you that I try to avoid them on a normal basis, but I find that through normal socialization I consume a moderate amount in dinners out with friends and family. Meat and fats go off the list about 1 week before I start. Eating primarily raw is the goal before the cleanse. This will make the detox symptoms much milder. Try to boost your fiber intake, as these little scrubbers are great at cleaning the digestive tract. Remember to increase your fiber intake gradually to avoid discomfort. Above all make sure you are drinking plenty of a good quality water, and also that you are eliminating at least once a day(2 to 3 times daily is my goal; meal in meal out), this is where the fiber helps.

The last meal. This could be a subject on its own. My beliefs are that you can pretty much eat what you want or what you think you will miss the most. However, as that last day approaches I find myself deep in thought of what to have that will be really tasty yet even more concern is for the meal to be really wholesome. I think that this is the result of my mental preparation and having basically cleaned my system of "slow moving" foods.

Fat... or Phat?

You know, when I was a kid I was fat…

Obese no; fat yes (personal opinion), however it seems like few people were overweight then.

Back in the day we called it "Husky"

This made me different… and now that I look back on it, I liked that.
"I was fat before fat was cool."
Who would have ever thought that I was such a trend setter? So what is going on today? Here I spend my whole life working on my uniqueness, listening to all them fat jokes and sneers, and along comes every Joe and Jane saying, “Dude, that guy is PHAT I want to be like that!” And wouldn’t you know it, now everybody is getting fat and Damn it, I am losing my individuality due to the hoidy -toidy sheep following the masses and trying to blend in.
I mean it used to be you would have trouble finding clothes that fit because the stores did not purchase the larger sizes and/or the manufacturer did not make them in our size. Now, I can’t find my size because they sell out first. If I were to go out and get me a 32” waist I would be in hog heaven. The racks are just busting with this stuff, “cause nobody can get they asses into them anymore”. This politically correct society is bust. Ladies, what the hell is a size 18 “petite” anyway…. And I ain’t picking on you, half the men’s pants look like they would fit on “Sponge Bob square pants” with a waist size of 48’ and an inseam of 30”. What have we done to ourselves?

Hell, the next thing you know, we will all be dealing with the pressure of modeling careers.

And to hear the manufacturers bitching about trans-fat banning, WAH, I can’t make food with an 18 million year shelf life without this stuff. WAH, our profit margins. WAH, my recipe doesn’t taste as good now! WAH, you’re interfering with my right to make millions on the back of these sick overworked un-informed people. Once again the rights of the business owners to sell anything they want to get rich, has greatly exceeded the rights of the people to the pursuit of health.

Well that’s it… Now just to be different I am going to have to get skinny(er) than the majority just to thwart off an identity crisis coming my way…

Kinisonisms

Folks, I've been straight for seventeen days... Not all in a row...-Sam Kinison

People are going: 'Man, aren't you afraid to tell jokes like that? Don't you get just a small chill that runs through your blood when you tell a joke like that? Aren't you afraid of going to hell?' No, I'm not worried about hell. Because I WAS MARRIED FOR TWO F---ING YEARS! HELL WOULD BE LIKE CLUB MED!-Sam Kinison

Cat in a paper bag...

Have you ever had a cat and watched it crawl into something like a paper bag?
The animal is curious enough to casually slip into the bag, sniff around and kick back and enjoy what it has discovered. Total comfort; not intimidated, no sign of fear, just a new place to rule.

We can compare this scenario to me (the animal) and the fasting process (the paper bag). I am anxious to start, at home with the whole plan, and I have ditched my vices as of this morning until what will be May of this year at the earliest.

Now take that same cat/animal (ME) in the "bag" (aka... self imposed limitations of fasting), and ever so quietly sneak up to that bag and grab the opening and close it up...

BAM "FISH ON"!...you got yourself a fight for life and limb, nothing but claws and claustrophobia. The "Reptilian brain'' is awakened and survival is at hand.

Arrrgh, I am going to die! (screamed in the voice of Sam Kinison )
Get me outta here!
Help! Somebody is trying to kill me!

Oh... that's right... I just voluntarily gave up coffee, beer and whatever (freedom) for the next 3 months so that I can feel whole again.

Heh Heh, I uh, like... just scared myself. I think I am a prisoner in my own mind.

Decaf anyone?

SuperBowl Sunday

Party On... seventeen days until the fast begins.
Today, in preparation for my fast is my last day of vices. Coffee is to be eliminated, alcohol, and my seldom cigar as well. I had better enjoy the day. I am going to enjoy the game and have a few "Pacifico" beers, eat pork carnitas, pinto beans, fresh guacamole, and homemade corn tortillas. I will enjoy one of the CAO cigars that my brother sent me for my birthday last month, and I am planning on some serious play time with my grandson (10 months old), we are watching him for awhile today. This is going to be good.

Oh, by the way... I don't really care who wins the game.

There is the distinct possibility that I may have to drink a diluted coffee or two over the next week to ward off some miserable headache, but I won't be too hard on myself over that. Espresso is my second love... Give me a quad-shot Americano, about 2 Tablespoons of half-N-half and I am in heaven. Hmmm, I better go get one now before the day ends.

I have been doing considerable research on the fasting subject, re-reading my journal and communicating on the master cleanse forums; I am anxious for the fast to begin.