Do protein shakes & juices actally make you more hungry?
Shakes and Juices keep your stomach active and so it keeps telling you that it is hungry. However, hunger pains when fasting are not a sign that you are starving. They are mostly an illusion and a result of the way we have ‘conditioned’ our body to expect 3 big solid meals a day. When you feel the hunger pains, just ignore them and they’ll pass.
Do you do any kind of modification of your diet going into a fast and coming out of it?
When going into an extended fast it’s good to ease off the caffeine and begin to eat fruits and vegetables. This will help you detox a bit before the fast begins - making the fast itself easeir and healthier. During the fast it’s good to stay off the caffeine, and then when coming out ease back into eating. Grapefruit and yogurt are two excellent things to break with because they digest themselves, puting the least amount of strain on your body.
Is there anyway to get rid of the killer headaches that come with fasting?
Those are most likely caffeine headaches. Cut the coffee 3 or 4 days ahead of time and drink plenty of water. Did I mention drink plenty of water?
Robin said:
Thank you. The first answer will help a lot!!
Posted on May 27, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Mom said:
This is a great forum on fasting. I’d like to share a few things I’ve learned in the 35 years I’ve been fasting that I did not see addressed here. First, I’ve done some spectacularly stupid things - like the time before a 7 day juice fast, in anticipation, the night before I began the fast I ate a 1# bag of malted milk balls - yes, the whole bag.
Then there was the two year break from fasting because I had reached the point where all I did was complain to the Lord about fasting, it was never convenient, and I dreaded it. I was very happy when He first released me, but the weeks turned into months turned into two years before He allowed me to resume. I was grateful to start fasting again!
When you fast, your body starts to slough off toxins that have accumulated, this is why your tongue gets coated, you have to brush your teeth more often, and you get the headaches. Just as these physical toxins rise to the surface, so do spiritual issues. Anger, impatience, pride, your personal hot-buttons. These are coming out not in spite of your fast, but because of the fast. Don’t be afraid, this is a good time for you and the Lord to deal with these things.
Also, come out of a fast with humility and accountability, as this is a time when the enemy may come to tempt, as he did to Jesus. We may feel spiritually strong after a fast, but we need to continue to walk in humility and awareness.
Posted on May 28, 2007 at 12:42 am
Abby said:
This was great Shawn! Thanks for the input! I woke up this morning and was starving, how discouraging! Your posts are an encouragement within themselves.
Posted on May 29, 2007 at 1:10 am
Adam Parker said:
Caffeine headaches are no fun. No fun at all.
Posted on May 29, 2007 at 12:57 pm
nathan said:
Should I be concerned with my body not getting protein during this fast? I know that protein shakes are not good as they start up the digestion, but what about clear protein drinks like this: http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2612797&cp=2167077.2501630.2108256&parentPage=family
Thanks!
Posted on June 12, 2007 at 1:20 pm