Here are the Top Five Tips to Effective Intermediate Fasting:
1.) Drink Lots of Water - Lots. It will help you feel full and cut out some of the mild hunger pangs in your stomach. Water also rids your body of toxins and does this through filtering these out of your system through your kidneys. Pure H20 cleanses you!!! I prefer distilled water for my 1 day fasts but filtered or clear spring water are also great.
2.) Check with your Doctor - As I briefly mentioned earlier in a former post...it is important for you to check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program or diet. The particular reason is that some people may need to do a "modified fast" because of certain health disorders and/or medications. People with kidney failure, women that are pregnant, people with Type I diabetes and people that have terminal cancer, etc....obviously should not fast. However, it should be noted that people who are taking any kind of medication should always consult with their physician. It's important to see if going without food beyond a typical amount of time would cause adverse issues.
3.) Create a Small Group of Fasting Support - Ask family, friends, or even coworkers if they'd also like to join in your fast. If you belong to a church that observes certain fasting days/times...ask one of these fellow members to partner with you in your fast. My church recently did a 21 day fast. Some people did one day a week...others fasted from specific things. A few people gave their testimonies on fasting from caffeine, chocolate, and so on. There were even a handful of physically and mentally strong people that fasted the modified "Daniel Fast" for a full 21 days with only juices and water. I opted for 1-2 days a week! hahaha In my case, it was better for me to start out slow and allow some time for my body and mind to adjust.
4.) Keep Busy - This is a great way to ensure effective intermediate fasting. There are many practices that keep your mind and spirit focused on important things. You can read your Bible daily. Meditation and prayer are also ways to get in touch with the Holy Spirit. Jesus loves you. He wants you to turn Him always, and this is especially important throughout the duration of your fast. Do not exercise during your fast. This is a time of spiritual fasting and rest. Additionally, you need to conserve your energy and not burn as many calories during this time without food.
5.) Prepare Yourself by Research - Read and look around at different websites or borrow a recent book on fasting from your local library. Also, there are many forums on fasting and dieting, in general. There are people across the world with some great ideas. The best way is to take it slow and do things at the pace that you and your body are ready. I think forums are particularly good for someone who has no support near their home during their fast. Members of the group can be great accountability partners during your intermediate fast.
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