Just wanted to take a minute to mention a few basic tips on preparing for a fast/cleanse.   For an extended fast, it is good to reduce your food intake for a few days before you begin.  Also I like taking an herbal colon cleanser, like Fiber Cleanse for a week or so prior to getting started.  For juice fasting, you will want to get a juicer so that you can prepare your juices fresh each day.  Fresh juices will provide the nutrients that will help the body in the cleansing/healing/rebuilding process.   If you don't own a juicer, you might try to borrow one from someone, especially if you don't plan to continue to make fresh juices after the cleanse.  I HIGHLY recommend "JUICING" as a consistent part of any health building program, but I don't like to think of people buying something that they won't use regularly.  If you want to incorporate juicing as a regular lifestyle habit, please research juicers before making a purchase.  The type of juicer makes a big difference in the nutrient levels that make it into your body.   If you have questions, feel free to email me on the subject.  We currently have Green Star and Champion juicers in stock at Abundant Living. 

Of course if you ARE planning to drink fresh juices during the cleanse, you will need to obtain some good, fresh produce (organically grown if possible).  There are a number of places around our area where you can get good organic produce, but my favorite is a little place in Calera called Abundant Living.  :o) It is also good to have a few different naturally, non-caffeinated herbal teas available.  I like steeping my herbal teas with whole-leaf, green stevia instead of other sweetener choices.  I will be taking Barley Max & Spiralina during my fast, so I will make sure to have those on hand as well.  

If you are planning a "modified fast" (a cleansing diet), you will want to start gathering some recipes and ideas for what you will be eating during the cleanse so that you keep your focus where you want it to be.    In the next day or so, I plan to provide a list of the different methods of cleansing that will be discussed in the 30 Days of Cleansing - Fasting, Cleansing & Detox Email List . . . so keep an eye out  for that. 

If you are interested in receiving the informational emails, send your request to questionforginny@aol.com.  I will be sending out our first email in the next couple of days with even more details about preparing for a fast/cleanse . . . so, if you are interested . . . sign up soon, so you won't miss a single email!

Early on along this “health journey”, I listened to a tape series by a speaker named Ted Broer.   He shared a lot of good health information, but included something that sounded a bit bazaar.  He said  . . . “I don’t eat two months out of the year”.    That statement caused me to listen a little more intently to the next few minutes of his presentation, that is for sure!   “Wow, how could that be?”  I remember thinking.   Thankfully he didn’t leave me hanging too long for his explanation.   He went on to say that it was his routine to fast one day a week (52 days) and one week a year (7 days).  Fifty-two days + seven days = fifty-nine days = two months!   While that certainly sounded more “do-able”, and just a tiny bit intriguing, at the time I had no interest in fasting for one day much less two months a year!  Several years later however, after making some major changes in my diet & lifestyle and learning a bit more about fasting,  I decided to undertake my first 7 day juice fast.  After that seven day period, I just “naturally” flowed into juice fasting one day a week.  In addition to my weekly juice fast day, I now routinely do a juice fast every January that lasts at least one week (although I often extend it for a bit longer).  I count my fasting routine as one of the many aspects of this health journey that has provided amazing benefits and blessings in my life.  As I mentioned earlier in this blog, this January I am planning to do a 30 day juice fast. 

30 DAYS OF CLEANSING - FASTING, CLEANSING & DETOX EMAIL LIST

If you would like to know more about cleansing the body through fasting, consider signing up for my Fasting, Cleansing & Detox email list that I will be offering again this year.   You can sign up to get the regular educational emails simply to learn more about the subject, or you can participate by joining in on any part of the cleanse/fast, at any level desired.  In the emails, I will provide information on different types of cleansing routines. Juice fasting is not right for everyone, and there are other cleansing approaches that can be very beneficial that you may prefer.  You will be free to implement what is comfortable for you.  And you certainly don’t have to follow your cleansing routine for the full 30 days, unless you feel led to do so.  If you sign up for the list, the emails you will receive will provide some basic information on:

• The cleansing and healing process
• Methods that can be used for cleansing
• How to support the body during a cleanse
• How to get the most out of your cleansing experience

I’d love to share with you some of the things I have learned about the cleansing, healing benefits of fasting.  Signing up is easy . . . just send an email request to questionforginny@aol.com and ask to be placed on the 30-Days of Cleansing -  Fasting, Cleansing, & Detox email list.  In the next couple of days I will be providing some information on preparing for the process . . . so keep an eye on this blog for more information!

There are lots of good reasons to consider doing a fast. It is a great way to cleanse from overeating holiday foods or break food addictions. It is a good jump-start for getting on or returning to a healthy diet and lifestyle program. If you would like to rejuvenate your health, fasting can move you closer to your goals. It is also a tool that can help refocus priorities in life.  While juice fasting has many benefits, there are other types of cleansing diets that can also be very beneficial.  I will be discussing these different options in the informational emails that I will be sending out from January 3 through February 1, 2011. 

• If you would be interested in joining me on any part of the 30 day cleanse [or just want to glean information on the subject], sign up for the Fasting, Cleansing and Detox email list by sending your request to questionforginny@aol.com. 

• For more information about the Fasting, Cleansing & Detox email list, see my previous post on the subject!

• 30 DAY JUICE FAST
  

For more than 10 years, it has been somewhat of a tradition for me to engage in a week-long juice fast during the month of January.  A few years back, I began extending the fast to 10 days or more.  The Church we are attending sets aside 21 days in January for prayer and fasting, so two years ago I decided to extend my yearly fasting time to a full 21 days.  I followed a “modified” or partial fast for a portion of the 21 days and a juice fast (drinking only water, freshly extracted juices and non-caffeinated herbal teas) for part of the time. 

I have wanted to do a 30 day juice fast for many years, but up to now the timing has not seemed right for doing one for that long.  A few months ago, I felt impressed that January 2011 would be the year to undertake a 30 day juice fast.  A month or so later, I mentioned it to Jim to see his response and he was fine with it.  Jim is not into fasting himself, but I always like to check with him before I start a fast because it does change the dynamics of our lives a little.  So for the last couple of months, I have been planning to set aside 30 days in January for fasting.  At this point I plan to start my fast on January 3rd and end it on February 1st. 

For me, times of fasting have a multifaceted focus: spiritual; emotional; and physical.  I truly find that these aspects of our overall being are fully connected and are woven together in such a way that they cannot be separated.  It is impossible to influence one area without impacting them all.  I find that fasting provides benefits to virtually every area of my life, sometimes in some pretty dramatic ways.

For the thirty days I plan to not eat any solid food.  I will drink freshly extracted juices, lemon water, and non-caffeinated herbal teas, sweetened with whole-leaf, green stevia.  I plan to take Barley Max and Spiralina during the cleanse.  For the first few days and the last few days, I will likely do some colon cleansing by taking some herbal Fiber Cleanse.  I may add some capsicum (cayenne pepper), fresh garlic, and ginger to my water/juices and drink my herb teas and lemon water hot, to help “warm” my system, since I am choosing to fast during one of the coldest months of the year.   I will also want to engage in regular physical activity to help keep my metabolism/energy flowing to minimize the cold weather impact on my system during this time. 

I have begun praying about the overall focus of the fast and feel that the Lord has already shown me some personal areas for me to concentrate on.  I will set aside extra time for prayer, bible reading and spending personal time with God as well as added time for resting, relaxation and renewal.  I am beginning to feel excitement and anticipation about what I will learn and what will be accomplished in my life during this time.

•       FASTING, CLEANSING & DETOX EMAIL LIST

The last couple of years I have offered a unique email list during the month of January.  This year I will again be hosting a special email list on the subject of Fasting, Cleansing & Detox.  Participants are invited to join in on any part of the cleanse/fast, at any level desired.  In the emails, I will highlight different types of cleansing routines. Juice fasting is not right for everyone, and there are different approaches that can be very beneficial that are worth considering.  You will be free to implement what is comfortable for you.  And you certainly don’t have to follow your cleansing routine for the full 30 days, unless you feel led to do so.  If you sign up for the list, the emails you will receive will provide some basic information on:

• The cleansing and healing process
• Methods that can be used for cleansing
• How to support the body during a cleanse
• How to get the most out of your cleansing experience

While fasting benefits our whole being, the main focus of the information provided in the emails will be on the physical aspects of cleansing and detoxifying the body.  I’ll be posting more about the Fasting, Cleansing & Detox Email List and the reasons you might want to consider participating soon, so keep an eye on this blog for more information!