Thursday, July 14, 2011

24 hour fast

We did it!

Hanna and I successfully went 24 hours without anything but water. And we were surprisingly energetic and in high spirits.

We decided it would be best not to sit around the house and dwell in hunger, so what can a couple of girls do to pass the time and keep their minds off their growling tummies? Shopping, of course! We hit the mall. And we hit it hard.

I was totally stoked because I got a pair of $70 pants at Express for $12. I've never gotten anything there for $12...for reals.

Anyway, after we got back, I went to the grocery store to pick up ingredients for my super yummy chicken enchiladas with green sauce. I used a rotisserie chicken and smelling that heavenly chicken for the next two hours after having no food for 22 hours was torture! The last hour was definitely the hardest! We had a FullBar at 5:00 so that by 5:30 we wouldn't be so ravenous and eat ourselves sick. So I guess technically, we only fasted 23 and 1/2 hours but I'm still counting that last half hour! Cuz we rocked it! Not one crumb. Not even gum. Hanna had a sore throat and she couldn't even have a cough drop.

I'm actually surprised how well we held up because usually I'm ready to pass out if 3-4 hours go by and I haven't eaten. Maybe it's because we were mentally prepared for what we had to do. Maybe it's because we kept full on water. Either way, it was an experience. We are scheduled for 2 more 24 hour fasts plus a couple 18 hour fasts, but we'll see how it goes.

I know there are probably some people that would want to know why the heck anyone want to fast for 24 hours? What's the point? Fasting gives the digestive tract time to completely rest. During the absence of food, the body will cleanse cells of accumulated toxins and waste products. It's a good way to detoxify yourself if you've been eating unclean and it allows for a nice dip in overall calorie intake, which is nice if you are trying to lose fat.

For us, we pretty much just did it because we were told! It's part of the plan we follow. Of course, the Shapeshifter diet isn't the first place I've heard of intermittent fasting. Have you ever heard of "The IF Life"? How about a website called "LeanGains"? It makes for some interesting reading. It might make you change the way you think about eating; what you are eating and when.

I seem to be up for anything these days and I have yet to find something solid that truly works for me. Then again, being 36 and a mom of 3 kids, at a fit 110 lbs and 13% body fat, maybe I do know a little something ;)

1 comment:

Amanda said...

wow you did it - congrats! i would have passed out or had my family walk out on me if i tried that!!! how do you measure your body fat? what are you doing diet-wise now?