Difference between revisions of "Fast to Lose Weight"

Ideally the best weight loss methods include a combination of a healthy diet plus exercise, the proper amount of sleep, and reduced stress and anxiety. One way to kick start your weight loss program is to perform a fast. Fasts are believed by some to cleanse your body of toxins and mucus before the longer term diet is started, which may help make you more successful over the long-term.<ref name="rf1">Terry Willard, <i>Encyclopedia of Herbs</i>, (Toronto: Key Porter Books, 2002), 152.</ref> Speak with your physician before attempting a fast and do not fast if you are under 18.  

#Determine how long the fast should take. This weight loss fast needs to be performed for at least five days to be effective in the long-term.  But it should not be performed for longer than 20 days. You can repeat this fast more than once, but you should have 10 day breaks (at least) in between.<ref name="rf2">Willard, <i>Encyclopedia</i>, 182.</ref>

#*Speak with your doctor before attempting a fast, especially if you are on medication or have a health condition, such as kidney or liver disease.<ref name="rf3">http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/is_fasting_healthy#1</ref>  

#Obtain or make a psyllium mixture. The following psyllium mixture is designed to help your body through the fast.  It is a liquid mixture that contains psyllium husks, comfrey, whey powder, marshmallow root, slippery elm bark, echinacea, powdered bentonite, Shepherd’s purse, wild yam, kelp, and bayberry bark.<ref name="rf4">Willard, <i>Encyclopedia</i>, 213.</ref>

#Start your day with the psyllium mixture and a protein powder mix. For breakfast every day of this fast, consume 2 tablespoons of the psyllium mixture and 2 tablespoons of protein powder.<ref name="rf2" />

#Include vegetable broth with lunch. For lunch every day of this fast, consume 1 tablespoon of psyllium mixture and 2 tablespoons of protein powder. You can also add a bowl of clear vegetable broth with lunch, as long as it’s made from non-starchy vegetables.<ref name="rf2" />

#Add a salad to your dinner. For dinner every day, consume 2 tablespoons of psyllium mixture and 2 tablespoons of protein powder. You can add a salad of non-starchy vegetables to your dinner as well.<ref name="rf2" />

#Drink at least 12 cups of fluid every day. For every day of your fast you need to drink at least 12 cups (2.8 liters) of fluid.  What fluid you drink doesn’t matter. These 12 cups are in addition to the fluid you mix the psyllium mixture and protein powder into.<ref name="rf2" />

#Make sure to include 20 minutes of exercise every day. In order to ensure your diet is effective and well-rounded, make sure you include 20 minutes of aerobic exercise every day. This 20 minutes should be all at once and not broken up throughout the day.<ref name="rf2" />

#Drink 8 ounces (237 ml) of prune juice. When you get up on the first day of your juice fast, drink 8 ounces (237 ml) of prune juice.  Wait 30 minutes and drink another 8 ounces (237 ml) of prune juice.<ref name="rf5">Willard, <i>Encyclopedia</i>, 168.</ref>

#Have as much apple juice as possible. Until 6pm on day one of your fast, drink as much diluted apple juice as you can.  Diluted apple juice is a 50-50 mixture of juice and distilled water. From 6 to 9pm do not consume anything.<ref name="rf5" />

#Make a special mixture for 9pm.  At 9pm on the first day of the fast, make and drink the following mixture.  Once you’ve had this mixture, don’t consume anything until 8 the next morning.<ref name="rf5" />

#Start day two with a warm water enema. When you get up on day two of your fast, perform a warm water enema on yourself. Once completed, drink 8 ounces (237 ml) of prune juice.<ref name="rf5" />  A warm water enema can be performed using the following instructions:<ref name="rf6">http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/MPU/TapWaterEnemaAnoscopy.pdf</ref>

#Repeat day one instructions on day two.  After your morning prune juice, start drinking diluted apple juice until 6pm — the same as day 1.  Then fast between 6 and 9pm.  Then drink the special mixture at 9pm again.<ref name="rf5" />

#Continue the same process on day 3.  The third day of your fast should be exactly the same as your second day. Start with the warm water enema. Drink 8 ounces (237 ml) of prune juice. Drink as much diluted apple juice as you can until 6pm. Fast between 6 and 9pm.  Consume the special mixture at 9pm.<ref name="rf5" />

#Take two lower bowel capsules three times a day. On each of the three days of your juice fast, take two lower bowel capsules three times a day (morning, afternoon, evening).  Don't take any other vitamins or mineral supplements during these three days.<ref name="rf5" />

#*A lower bowel capsule contains cascara sagrada extract, buckthorn, ginger root, goldenseal root, raspberry leaves, fennel seeds, turkey rhubarb, lobelia, and cayenne pepper.<ref name="rf7">Willard, <i>Encyclopedia</i>, 207.</ref>

#Determine how long to perform the fast. This fast can be performed for as long as 10 days; however, in addition to the fasting days you also need to schedule days to break your fast. If you decide to do this fast for 10 days, you’ll need five days to break the fast; therefore, you’ll have to plan for 15 days of structured eating and drinking.<ref name="rf8">Willard, <i>Encyclopedia</i>, 168-169.</ref>

#Make the "lemonade" mixture. The main part of this fast is the lemonade mixture consumed everyday. To make things easier, make up enough mixture to last for one day at a time.<ref name="rf9">Willard, <i>Encyclopedia</i>, 169.</ref>

#Drink between six and 12 glasses of lemonade mixture every day. Three tablespoons of the lemonade mixture should be combined with 8 – 10 ounces (237 – 300 ml) of purified water for drinking. The 8 – 10-ounce glass of water mixed with the lemonade is considered one glass of the mixture. You should drink at least six glasses of this mixture, but you can drink as much as you want.<ref name="rf9" />

#Perform a warm water enema for the first three mornings. On the mornings of the first three days of your fast, perform a warm water enema on yourself.<ref name="rf9" /> A warm water enema can be performed using the following instructions:<ref name="rf6" />

#Take two lower bowel capsules three times a day. On each of the three days of your juice fast, take two lower bowel capsules three times a day (morning, afternoon, evening).  Don't take any other vitamins or mineral supplements during these three days.<ref name="rf5" />

#*A lower bowel capsule contains cascara sagrada extract, buckthorn, ginger root, goldenseal root, raspberry leaves, fennel seeds, turkey rhubarb, lobelia, and cayenne pepper.<ref name="rf7" />

#Know how long you need to spend breaking a fast. All fasts need to be broken carefully and slowly. Breaking a fast, in general, should take half as long as the fast itself. So if you fasted for 10 days, you need to spend five days breaking the fast.<ref name="rf9" />

#Start breaking your fast in the evening. The key to breaking a fast slowly is to make sure you don’t suddenly consume a large amount of food too early. In order to help yourself break a fast slowly, start in the evening so your sleep interrupts you and prevents you from eating more than you should.<ref name="rf9" />

#Break your fast with melon. On the first day of breaking your fast eat a small amount of melon (or another really juicy fruit) for breakfast. Drink diluted apple, grape, or orange juice throughout the day. Have another small amount of melon for dinner.<ref name="rf10">Willard, <i>Encyclopedia</i>, 170.</ref>

#Eat three small meals. On day two of breaking your fast, eat three small meals of fruit for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Drink fruit juice throughout the day.<ref name="rf10" />

#Add vegetables to your meals.  On the third day of breaking your fast, eat fruit for breakfast.  Then have a raw vegetable salad for lunch and dinner.  Drink fruit juice in the morning and vegetable juice in the afternoon and evening.<ref name="rf10" />

#Perform the inner cleanse diet for the remaining days.  Starting on the fourth day of breaking your fast, plan your meals based on the ‘inner cleanse’ diet.<ref name="rf10" />

#Avoid eating certain foods for the duration of the diet.  For the length of this diet you cannot eat the following (unless specifically mentioned): dairy products, potatoes, avocados, dried fruits, grains, beans, tomatoes, baked goods, eggplant, sugar, honey, maple syrup, bananas, pasta, preserved food, meat, coffee, black tea, or alcohol.<ref name="rf11">Willard, <i>Encyclopedia</i>, 172-173.</ref>

#Start your day with yogurt and fruit.  Before breakfast every day, drink a glass of hot water with the juice of one lemon in it.  For breakfast, drink at least 8 ounces (237 ml) of apple or grapefruit juice.  Eat up to 5 tablespoons of plain yogurt and at least half a pound of fresh fruit.<ref name="rf11" />

#Have vegetable mineral broth with lunch.  For lunch drink 2 cups (500 ml) of vegetable mineral broth with a salad of at least 8 tablespoons of raw vegetables.  You can put olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, ginger or kelp on your salad if you want.<ref name="rf11" />

#Cook vegetables for dinner. For dinner drink another 2 cups (500 ml) of vegetable mineral broth. Also, eat at least three different types of cooked vegetables (either steamed or stir-fried). You can have another salad with dinner if you want, or you can have one medium slice of wholegrain bread with butter.<ref name="rf11" />

#Drink as much juice as you want throughout the day. This diet allows you to drink as much fruit juice as you want throughout the day. It also allows you to eat as many raw vegetables or fruit as you want in between meals.<ref name="rf11" />

#Make your own vegetable mineral broth. The vegetable mineral broth is easy to make and includes the following items: 2 cups of carrot tops, 2 cups of ¼ inch thick potato peels, 2 cups of beet tops, 3 cups of celery (including leaves), and 2 cups of fresh parsley.<ref name="rf11" />