Last week I wrote about benefits of fasting, and why I do it. This post is all about tips for a successful water fast.
ADD SODIUM TO ALL WATER YOU DRINK
Seriously, you need to add salt or electrolytes to your water. It makes so much difference!
The mechanism is quite simple: when your insulin goes down (fasting), your kidneys won’t need that much sodium to deal with insulin, so you will pee it out. And this very process of removing sodium from your body is what makes you feel fatigued, tired, and groggy. Adding sodium (salt) to your water will take care of this. Salted water is also a mild appetite suppressant, so if hunger pangs strike, it is an excellent tool to help you ride them out.
WATER ALONE MAY GEY BORING SO DIVERSIFY IT
Plain water for few days gets boring so I drink my water in different ways.
I usually have a good supply of various flavored sparkling or seltzer water cans. I drink them at home and bring some more to work.
I also drink hot water with some lemon or lime juice first thing in the morning. Be sure though don’t get anything that is sweetened, even if it’s stevia. We are fasting here.
Watch a video version of five tips for successful water fast:
ALTER YOUR ROUTINE AROUND MEALS
By day three your hunger hormone ghrelin is significantly reduced, and you are in deep ketosis. You will notice that your hunger is hardly noticeable, but your mind starts going crazy: how come there isn’t any food coming????!!!
Your hands will get restless, and your mind will come up with thousands of reasons why you should end your fast NOW.
Great way to deal with this is to change your usual routine around mealtimes. If at work, take a walk in the streets or a park, run some errands, or schedule a call with your employee, boss, or clients.
If you are home and you need to make a dinner, maybe your partner can take over and feed your kids? You in the meantime take a longer shower, put a beauty mask on, or take a walk.
If I must feed my son, I drink something while I feed him.
WHEN YOU CAN’T FALL ASLEEP DRINK BONE BROTH
Warm bone broth is great to help you fall asleep. Bone broth has calories, about 40-60 calories per cup. This, however, isn’t enough to kick you out of the fasted state. If fasting is a spiritual or religious practice for you, then bone broth will not be an option.
COFFEE CAN IS USEFUL DURING WATER FASTS
I no longer drink coffee on regular basis so when I fast and drink some decaf, I get a boost in energy.
If you have hard time coping with hunger pangs, coffee either regular or decaf will suppress them.
And while we are talking about coffee, black tea and other herbal teas are also a good idea. Peppermint tea is known to be a mild hunger suppressant.
CONCLUSION
Fasting seems hard at first. But once you do it, you will fall in love with the many health and beauty benefits.
