Post: #1

Hello! It's nice to meet you all.

I've recently discovered personalexcellence.co and fell in love with its purpose and messages.

Over the past few years I've sunk into a huge rut of stagnation and gradual decline (in academics, health, mood, motivation, etc.) and it's time for a serious reboot. What better way than to start with a cleansing of my diet and physical being?

After reading through Celes' fasting series, I felt inspired and empowered. Beginning Sept. 1, I plan to water fast for 30 days. Right now I do not have school or work. Hopefully, minimal distractions will result in major success.

I need to have resolve. I fearfully anticipate the upcoming nausea, headaches, and mental haze, as my willpower tends to weaken in the face of discomfort. I will remind myself to look to the invaluable end goals.

I want a cleansed digestive tract and a body free from the toxins I've built up over the years, gorging on junk food and being inactive. I want mental clarity. I want more energy. I want to be able to sleep more efficiently. I want my organs to be naturally cleansed, most observably, my skin. I want to kick-start my journey towards higher fitness with healthy weight loss. I want to shed these excess, cumbersome pockets of fat that I've carelessly cursed my body with. I want to prove I have still have drive, commitment, and motivation to achieve something great. I want to establish a healthy relationship with food.

This thread is for documentation and accountability.

Thanks for providing me this journal space, and thanks for reading. Next update on Sept. 1.

Post: #2

DAY 0 (AUGUST 28, 2012); WEIGHT: 129.9lb (58.9kg); BMI: 25.4

I decided to begin early for many reasons, mostly because I just can't wait and I wanted to start cleansing as soon as possible.

I ate a lot of indulgent goodies on Day 0, including xiao long bao zi (dumplings) and warm cookies with ice cream. In addition to "binge" eating I also "binge" exercised a bit by running 2 miles (3.2 km), doing 40 min of cardio, then walking for another 4.5 miles (7.2 km).

My attitude towards progressing in things has always been all or nothing. Either procrastinating for long periods and not making any progress, or becoming incredibly one-track-minded and vigorously giving something my all. This applies to the cleanliness of my house (it alternates two weeks being incredibly organized and another two being messy), as well as studying for classes (not attending class for weeks vs. having back-to-back 48-hr study marathons). It's not something that ever bothered me until now. I realize this is not healthy or efficient, and I need to develop moderation and consistency. I suppose it's just the way my brain organizes "tasks to be done", but I need to get into the habit of taking small steps every day instead of taking enormous steps every other week to pick up the slack.


DAY 1 (AUGUST 29, 2012); WEIGHT: 127.2lb (57.9kg); BMI: 24.8

Strangely, I'm not as thirsty as I am on normal days. I thought I'd be trying to fill myself with water to dispel the empty feeling, but I just don't feel compelled to drink. I've gotten cravings on and off during the day but it's not difficult to just think about something else. There's a constant "hunger" feeling in my stomach (like my stomach desires to be filled) but after reading fasting literature I know it's not "true hunger".

Interacting with my SO has proved to be the most difficult challenge so far. When we were watching TV on the couch he ate a large bowl of ice cream with whipped cream and hot fudge (he weighs about the same as I do and stands a whole foot taller so he routinely gets away with such antics). Later, as I was packing him a sandwich (I'd already abstained from food for ~20 hours) my mind was going crazy at the sight, feel, and smell of bread and mayo. But I just focused on the goal at hand and mentally repeated to myself the importance of WHY I was doing this.

I had a bowel movement in the morning and it might be the last one for the next 30 days. I took a nap in the middle of the day because I felt incredibly lethargic, possibly due to low blood sugar. In terms of locomotion and mental clarity, nothing has changed yet.

Also note that the 2.7lb drop isn't necessarily from fasting; my normal weight fluctuates wildly between 125lb and 130lb so this shouldn't be considered weight loss progress.

Post: #3

Hi Threelittlebirds,

congratulations on starting a water fast. How are things going? How are you feeling. I have started a water fast few days after you. I am on day 7 at the moment. It would be wonderful to exchange experience

Best Regards,

Eiram