STAGES OF WATER FASTING

Here are the stages of water only fasting:

STAGE 1: DAY 1-2
Stage one lasts for the first couple of days of the fast or about 12-48 hours from your last meal. Usually, it is a good idea to put some planning and preparation into how and when you will start a fast. Try selecting a start day and time and then make preparations in your schedule for the duration of your fast.

HOW YOU FEEL: Hungry
This stage is when your body transitions into fasting mode and, for many people, it’s the most challenging part of their fast. This stage is where you start to feel the hunger pangs as you skip your regular mealtime routine. Most first-time fasters start to feel a reduction in their energy levels. These effects can induce a negative mood or irritability for most fasters. It’s wise to prepare
yourself for the possibility of being short on patience during this stage.

WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH YOUR BODY: Battery Save Mode
Several things happen at the cellular level that cause hunger and fatigue during this first stage. When you’re eating regularly, your body breaks down glucose to get the energy it needs to function properly. While you’re fasting,
your body needs to produce sugar for energy, so it begins a process called gluconeogenesis. During gluconeogenesis, your liver converts non-
carbohydrate materials like lactate, amino acids, and fats into glucose. As your body goes into “battery save mode,” your basal metabolic rate, or BMR, becomes more efficient and uses less energy. This power saving process
includes lowering your heart rate and blood pressure. At this stage, you may feel drained. However, if you stick it out for a little longer, some of that lost energy will return.

BENEFITS: Mental Strength and Heart Health
Fasting these first few days can be difficult, but there are mental and physical benefits. Mentally, the act of fasting is an excellent way to exercise your willpower. Similar to the strength runners might feel after pushing their body to run that extra mile, people who choose to fast can feel strength as they fight through those natural urges to eat. Physically, there are incredible cleansing and heart health benefits taking place, too. As BMR lowers, fat in the blood starts to disappear as it’s metabolised for energy. This process promotes a
healthy heart, and for some, improves cholesterol levels by boosting HDL levels.

STAGE 2: DAY 3-7
Stage two starts around the end of day two and lasts until day seven. A lot of changes begin to happen at this stage, and you may start to notice changes in your physical appearance, as well as how you feel.

HOW YOU FEEL: Less Hungry and More Energetic
By stage two, ketosis has begun. Ketosis is a critical phase of the fast where your body starts to burn stored fat as its primary power source. As the
processes of ketosis are carried out inside your body, you might stop feeling hungry and tired. The practice of putting your body into ketosis has a growing movement behind it. It is ideal for weight loss, balancing blood sugar, and more. Best of all, you don’t even have to fast to put your body into ketosis. Eating the right foods at the right time can be enough to start this fat burning process.

WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH YOUR BODY: Fat Burning Mode
When you consume a typical diet of carbohydrate rich foods, your body breaks down sugars and starches into glucose. Glucose is the primary source of energy for the body. However, when you fast or go into ketosis glucose becomes limited, and your body must turn to fat stores for the energy it requires. Your body breaks fat down into glycerol and fatty acids. The liver synthesises ketones using glycerol. The glycerol is broken down by the liver for additional glucose, and finally, those ketones are used by your brain as
glucose becomes less available.

BENEFITS: Weight Loss and Cleansing
Burning fat has several benefits for your health — the first being weight loss. Ketosis is a predictable way to target fat stores that otherwise remain
untouched even with a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, getting rid of that extra fat has a detoxifying effect on the body. Your body’s natural defences use fat stores to store toxic metals and other toxins so they can’t wreak havoc on
your system. However, during ketosis, these toxic metals and toxins are safely expelled from your body as fat reserves get used up. This cleansing
effect may temporarily alter some people’s complexion or cause other signs of a HEALING CRISIS.

STAGE 3: DAY 8-15
Stage three typically falls between day eight and 15. This stage includes dramatic improvements in mood and mental clarity and is the stage seasoned fasters look forward to the most. Stem cells are released after day 5.

HOW YOU FEEL: Clear Minded
By the third stage a sort of “fasting high” begins. This boost happens when your body fully adjusts to fasting. While not everyone reaches this stage, those who do report a dramatic improvement in how they feel. These improvements include an elevated mood, increased energy levels, and a type of clear mindedness unique to fasting.

WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH YOUR BODY: Healing Mode
During stage three, your body starts to enter into a “healing mode.” This healing process begins as your digestive system takes a rest from the common stressors and toxins it endures on a daily basis. As a result, your body has fewer free radicals entering the mix, and oxidative stress decreases.
On the flip side, fasting causes a stress that provides an added benefit. This is a kind of mild stress that is comparable to the stress caused by exercise, which ultimately makes you stronger and your immune system more resilient.

BENEFITS: Healthy ageing
When the cumulative effects of this stage add up, they can be the catalyst for significant health improvements. Anytime you limit free radicals and
oxidative stress you are encouraging healthy ageing and positioning yourself for fewer health complications. While less researched, this healing process seems to improve health for some.

STAGE 4: DAY 16 AND BEYOND
Stage four occurs sometime around day 16 and continues through the duration of your fast. While there may be some changes moving beyond this
juncture, there is a daily balance that starts to set in.

HOW YOU FEEL: Balanced
If you make it to stage four, you are at a place most have never gone. This stage, while doable, should only be attempted under close supervision from a
trusted healthcare professional. For those that do make it this far, there are not any drastic shifts that occur in how you feel. Instead, a steady balance
seems to set in.

WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH YOUR BODY: Healing Mode Extended
Stage four is the extension and completion of the healing and cleansing processes that began during the earlier stages. The longer you fast, the more
time and opportunity your body has to heal and cleanse itself.

BENEFITS: Personal Goals and Growth
If you make it this far, the benefit becomes personal. Fasting, especially
beyond the first seven days, takes steadfast dedication. What you get out of the fast in these later stages can be a culmination of all the earlier stages or an accomplishment of a personal health goal. For some, it is weight loss, for
others, it is a strategy to heal a particular health complication.

STAGE 5: Breaking The Fast
Stage five may come sooner or later, depending on your fasting goal. While we don’t assign a specific target day, you may want to make breaking your fast a planned event you can look forward to and celebrate when it’s all done.
“I suggest water melon or juice no fats not foods other than melon, berries, fruits and juices for 1 day per week you have fasted” – Hannah

HOW YOU FEEL: Accomplished
Whether you fasted for half a day or a full month, you should feel accomplished. Taking deliberate action to improve your health or testing your
limits is something worth celebrating.

WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH YOUR BODY: Easing Out of Fasting Mode
How you choose to end your fast is critical. Depending on how long you fast, you may need to ease your way back into eating solid food. Fruit juices, light salads and lightly steamed vegetables, and salt free broths can help acclimate your body and digestive system to eating as internal mechanisms come back online.

BENEFITS: Start Something New
With careful planning and thought, fasting can be an incredible springboard into a healthier lifestyle. One suggestion is to make plans before you even start your fast. Write down what you’re hoping to get out of it and what you want to accomplish. If done correctly, the end of a fast is the perfect time to begin a dramatically healthier diet and lifestyle
FASTING TIPS:
https://www.dropbox.com/…/75czg…/15-Fasting-Facts.pdf…

MY TOP TIPS FOR WATER FASTING

Water only fasting is when you drink only water for extended periods of time.(Work with a detoxification specialist before you try this for longer than 5 days please)
Cleansing is when you drink only juices or eat only fruits.
Dry fasting is obstaining from all liquids including showers and teeth brushing and foods. (Work with a detoxification specialist before you try this please)

WHY FAST?

Increases insulin sensitivity as there is less fluctuation in blood sugar levels.

Improves body repair, recovery and healing from decreased inflammation.

Lowers stress levels, decreases blood pressure and rejuvenates the body.

Increases immunity due to better cell resistance.

Enables reduction in cancer cell proliferation, and shrinks tumours.

Slows down ageing and cognitive decline.

Lowers the risk of heart disease

Solves digestive problems such as gastritis, irritable bowels, constipation, diarrhoea, gas, dyspepsia, and loss of appetite.

Water fasting is also an opportunity for emotional and spiritual introspection. People find they have better control over their thoughts and diet, after they are done with this fast.

SYMPTOMS OF FASTING INCLUDE:
•Fatigue
•Smelling bad
•Rashes getting worse before they get better
•Headaches
•Blurred eyes
•Dizziness
•Low blood pressure
•Stomach ache
•Bad breath
•Dry skin and lips
•Irregular stools
•Extra discharges
•Aches
•Kidney pain

For this very reason I recommend as much rest as possible with only light stretching, yoga or rebounding. If you’re a busy mum or have a busy life I don’t recommend long water fast but shorter more manageable ones regularly or juice cleanse. Especially if you need to drive.
TOP TIPS WHEN YOU ARE DETOXING:

Have regular baths with magnesium and essential oils

Use castor oil packs with essential oils

Use essential oils to soothe you

Put your legs up the wall

Dry brushing daily

Rest when you can especially if your sleep is broken at night

Switch off from computers and phones

Ground daily

Meditate

Journal when emotions come up

Sunbath mid morning or late afternoon

Get lymphatic drainage massages

Use cold and hot showers

Use the breath of fire when your dizzy

Use the kundalini moves and breathing

Swim in the ocean or rivers

Gentle stretch or do yoga or rebounding

Daily or twice daily enemas

Use essential oils to help with cravings

Prepare your family’s food in the morning so you don’t have to be in the kitchen

Cancel engagements and parties

Don’t set a set amount of days. Listen to your body when it’s ready to stop, then you won’t feel like you’re failed to reach a number.

Make a mind movie or vision board to keep you committed on those days you are tempted.