Fasting is a powerful therapeutic tool that can help with weight loss and other health-related goals. Because of the strength of the practice I have always felt it should be approached in a thoughtful and gentle way. There are some who find a fasting regimen to be natural and easy to do right away while others find even low-levels of fasting to be quite intense and difficult in the beginning.
No matter where anyone finds themselves on that spectrum it is important to be open and honest with yourself about how you are feeling.
Fasting is a personal path. It’s not about what someone else can do or what anyone else thinks you should do. It is about what you want to do and how you feel about it. That is why I consider someone’s mindset and thought process to be the most important factor in whether they will have success with fasting. I like to illustrate this with a story.
Imagine this
One person is driving out in the country. They get a flat tire. They have no spare. Their phone is dead. They don’t know where they are and they have no food. They end up hiking in to the nearest town to get help. It’s a very bad day.
Another person goes on a spiritual retreat. They hike out by a lake. They fast. They observe nature and contemplate the universe.
Think of these two people. They both hike. They both fast. One person suffers and one feels rejuvenated. The mental framework shapes the reality they experience.
This is why I list a lack of desire as my top contraindication to fasting. Don’t let your emotions take you down that first persons path. If you are not “feeling it” it is better to take a pass.
Now, I am not a big cheerleader either to be honest. Enthusiasm is great if you have it, but neutral is good enough in my book. Just being open to an experience and learning how the body reacts and feels can move one in the right direction. There is no need to force it.
Fasting is about giving the body space to utilize the energy within you. This is a voluntary and positive opportunity that can be ended at any time. Keep the mindset constructive and the body will respond with increased strength over time as you develop your fasting ability.
Want help applying any of the concepts from this article to your specific medical situation? You can book in-person at our Fitchburg, WI clinic or from anywhere in Wisconsin via Telemedicine.
