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.