How long was your fast?
21 days
When did you fast?
March 17 – April 8
What was your age, gender, height, weight before your fast?
Age: 32, Height: 5’6”, Weight: 111 lbs
What was your weight after completing the fast?
91 lbs
Why did you decide to fast?
For perfect health and to experience the benefits of fasting first hand, rather than just reading about it. I knew my liver needed the opportunity to heal.
What was your biggest apprehension going into the fast?
Resting and not being active was my biggest apprehension. In addition, I was aware of my body’s tendency to bring up bile when I had tried to fast at home. So there was some apprehension around throwing up bile.
Did you ever consider ending the fast during the process? If so, why? Why did you continue/stop?
I may have fantasized about my fast ending, but I knew I would not stop unless there was an emergency.
Did you accomplish what you set out to do with your fast?
Yes, I completed the 21 days. And, I did it resting most of the time. I took the opportunity to observe my thoughts and emotions even when it felt unbearable.
Would you recommend that people have their fasts supervised? Why, or why not?
I’d recommend for people to have supervised fasts for the following: – opportunity for needs to be met easily so one can truly rest. – ideal setting and environment. – motivation to complete the fast. – supervision of someone experienced.
Why did you choose to fast at the Tanglewood Wellness Center?
1 – Loren and vision 2 – internship opportunity 3 – location.
What was your experience like at Tanglewood?
Overall, my experience at Tanglewood was restful and nourishing. I was surprised by how much attention is given to the fasters. I was used to taking care of myself for so long, and really had never experienced this level of care.
What did you experience during the fast?
Lightness, emptiness, clarity, mental anguish, chemical tastes, thick-white coating on tongue, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, weight loss, dizziness, many different skin eruptions, kidney pain, liver tenderness, breast pain, aversion to water, hip pain, sore eyes, long days, long nights, dreams and fantasies of cooked food from earlier in life, busy mind, emotional detoxing, peeling skin, ear pain, sinus pain, burping, body odors.
How did you spend your time?
– First week in silence. – Resting mostly. Some computer, some phone, reading in the third week. (Almost always laying down, especially in the first two weeks.
Were you hungry during your fast?
I felt hungry the last 3 days of the fast. Whether it was psychological or not, I felt a dryness that water did not seem to satisfy.
Did you get weak?
Yes, very weak.
What was the best part of the process for you?
– Resting, not doing “stuff”. At home, I keep very busy with work and volunteering. – Knowing my body was getting a restful opportunity to heal itself.
What was the most difficult part of the process for you?
– Resting felt very foreign to my mind. – Vomiting bile in the first week and nausea throughout my fast was very challenging.
Was it ever painful? Did you experience discomfort?
Yes, painful and uncomfortable many times.
What are you experiencing now after the fast?
(in Week 1 of refeeding) – more energy every day – Some fatigue. My flexibility and muscle strength are low, but gbetting better everday. – Also, I’m experiencing additional detoxing – chemical tastes, reactions to some foods, not tasting sweet flavors very much. – Skin dryness and flakiness and itching. – Blurry eyes, sore sinuses, sore throat – Ongoing process, more to occur, to be continued….
Did you experience any changes due to fasting?
Too soon to tell.
What kind of diet are you following after your fast?
3 months fruitarian, as I will be an intern until July 2006.
Is eating difficult for you now that you’ve complete the fast?
– Eating has been a little challenging as my taste buds are very sensitive in some ways and dulled to sweet tastes. – Also, my body feels drawn more to melon and lettuce but then I feel really hungry on just melon. – My body tends to react to mango, but it is one of those foods that has a strong flavour even if I can’t taste the sweetness. – Papaya is something my taste buds and body definitely does not want even though it is one of my favorite foods.
Would you fast again?
?? Yes.
What advice would you give to other fasters?
Give yourself the gift of a supervised fast for an extended amount of time.
Additional Comments:
Thanks so much to the staff and interns for their love and attention! What a blessing to have fasted at Tanglewood!