Starting another 24 hour fast

I've decided to do it again.  Getting back to work brought back to my old eating habits.  Cereal for breakfast, banana, peanut butter toast, carrots with peanut butter.  After eating Chinese lunch (salt and pepper shrimp) and downing two large diet Pepsi's I felt this would be another good occasion to fast.  I'll do periodic updates throughout the next two days.

24 hour fast - hour 24

I finished the fast over an hour ago!  I felt weak as the last two hours dragged on but knew the end was near.

I'd like to say that it was a positive experience overall and I recommend it to anyone without any kind of medical condition that prohibits fasting.  I believe 24 hours is a reasonable amount of time for a beginner.  I also strongly believe (but almost never practice) that humans eat much more than is necessary.  In the USA we are bombarded with advertising of food, and also eat three meals a day and snack too.  Fasting may be a way to fight back against this culture of eating and the habits we've developed for years.  I plan to do another fast soon.

24 hour fast - hour 21

At about 6pm I'll be eating some delicious shrimp poblano tacos with beans.  That's about the only solace I have for my growing hunger.  I have no reported physical benefits of fasting at this time but a small measure of satisfaction for not giving up.  It would be easy to quit now and say 21 hours is enough.  By the way, who decided the 24 hours was the magic number?!  My stomach is growling.  Shortly we'll be going out to an outdoor yoga fest/concert where a friend is performing.  I hope that will keep my mind off food.

24 hour fast - hour 20

After a slow 15 minute swim I went to the grocery store.  When checking out the cashier asked me how I was doing.  I said it was a tough day because I was fasting.  We got to talking and she has done three day fasts on various occasions.  She said she takes vitamins to help her get the nutrients she needs and is either working or cleaning to keep her busy during the fast.  When I asked how whether she felt better at the end, she said yes because her body needed those nutrients.  Based on how she looked I have a feeling she normally eats a poor diet which leads to dietary deficiencies.  Her fast allows her body to spend less time digesting food and more absorbing nutrients.  Only about 4 hours to go!

24 hour fast - hour 19

My wife made some pancakes for the boys this morning.  There are a few leftover sitting on the kitchen counter.  Oh how I would love to eat them.  Hunger plus sights and smells tasty food creates moments of discomfort.  My new tactic is not to even look at them.  This hour I'm going to take a risk.  I'm going to leave the house and go for a swim of not more than 10 or 15 minutes.  I'll report back in an hour.

24 hour fast - hour 18

I've now reached 75% of my goal, which is coincidentally when I've faltered during past attempts at fasting.  I think those times will help me finish these last six hours.  Perhaps out of foolish pride I'm starting to question whether 24 hours is enough time to get the benefits of fasting that I've read about online.  Maybe next week I'll try doing 36 hours.  If you're reading this and have any experience with this please post a comment.

24 hour fast - hour 17

Sleeping from midnight to 11am did wonders for moving through this fast.  Upon waking I felt some hunger.  At one point this morning I woke up and had some gas from yesterday's food so I know there are still some digestive-type processes going on.  Onward ho!