If you follow me on the gram then you know I am always switching up my diet. I am big on finding new ways to manage my weight and overall health. There are many great benefits to fasting, but there is also a lot to consider mentally. I have gotten some very valuable clarity and peace from it. I truly believe the discipline and sacrifice of not consuming certain food or food at all allows for more download and understanding on how to navigate life. It’s important to remember that you need to do what’s best for you. Fasting is a commitment, so think of what you can commit to according to your lifestyle. I don't think it has to be a “one size fits all” kind of thing. There are many different types of fasts and ways to achieve your goals.
Disclaimer: Please be sure to consult a medical professional before beginning an extreme fast! Your health is important to me.
Here are a few of the different fasts that I have done.
Intermittent fasting is restricted eating during specified time periods by following a meal timing schedule that cycles between eating and fasting. Many choose an 8 hour window in which they eat, drink or snack and after that, no consumption of anything with calories.I recommend it! During my intermittent fast, I would eat between 5-9PM each day. I didn’t eat food before then, just water. This helped me get mental clarity and manage my weight too.
The Daniel fastlimits eating to natural foods that can be grown like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds. The Daniel Fast is similar to a vegan diet - which does not include eating animals or animal products, but is often modified by each individual. The official diet also discourages consuming processed foods and absolutely no alcohol. Let me keep it real, I appreciate a nice cocktail or glass of wine. This can be challenging from a social perspective. Honestly, that is where some of the power comes from, denying our flesh from what we want.The Daniel fast emphasizes the importance of prayer when fasting and when it gets tough, it is encouraged to look to the Bible for strength to avoid the temptation of the things that you let go of. This fast had clear instructions on what not to eat, so it helped me to stay focused and I could eat at any time of the day. It felt limited, but that’s the point of fasting anyway. Decreasing intake and replacing the hunger for food with a hunger for God and God’s word! I love this diet, it really leaves me feeling clean, my skin glows, and I experience a new level of faithfulness in what God is doing in my life.
The Lemonade master cleanse fast saysno solid food is eaten for at least 10 days, and the only source of calories and nutrients is a homemade sweetened lemon drink made of lemons, maple syrup, cayenne pepper and water. This one is very challenging and a lot on the body. I recently did it for 18 days. I lost 20 lbs, but my biggest thing is maintaining weight loss and it did not last long term. I do not recommend it as a means for weight loss purposes. It honestly made me feel really bad about myself once I started gaining the weight back.
Thankfully, there are more ways to fast than with your diet that are healthy for your mind and spiritual growth. Social media fasting is a great way to get in tune with yourself and connect authentically. I have done this and it has been good for me. Comparison is so real and can result in negative self talk at times. Social media fasting is a great way to get back in touch with who you are, without consuming so much of other people’s lives and opinions. The main challenge I faced with long term social media fasting, is missed opportunities. Since social media is a large component of my business, it is harder for me to do lengthy fasts; however, I do slow down my time spent on social media when I need that mental break.
I want to encourage you to follow a journey that works for you because I have done them all and some have been more beneficial for me than others. I encourage some sort of fast because it helps you get closer to God and it really is a reminder of your strength and self discipline. Even if you decide to eliminate one thing from your life -for a short or long period of time- it can be very helpful.
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