It was about a year ago, my friend shared with me the benefits of fasting. She was particularly excited about the benefits of a multi-day fast. Was she nuts? I replied I could never do that. It’s funny how a year and learning more from various sources can have you realizing we should never say never.

My blog has been dedicated to the art of cardmaking. What I’ve learned and experienced in this journey has been eye-opening and exciting. So much I am going to share it with you. My hope in doing so is that perhaps it may help someone. It’s important to note that I am not qualified to give medical advice. I’m simply sharing my story.

About four years ago, I was fasting anywhere from 10-14 hours a day in a quest to lose weight. It was a helpful tool, along with other measures. I don’t recall when I abandoned it, but it was with my husband’s increasingly poor health.

For the last six weeks or so, I’ve been doing an 18/6 intermittent fast six days a week and a 24-hour fast once a week. The goal of this venture changed from losing weight to optimal health. Although, I don’t know any woman who doesn’t feel like she could lose a few pounds. 🙂

If any of that sounds horrific, keep reading. The 18/6 intermittent fasting only means that I stopped the late-night snacking and skipping breakfast. I was indulging in late-night snacking quite regularly. It wasn’t because I was hungry; it’s just that I like flavor. Another argument I had against missing breakfast was I had convinced myself that I had to eat to take some of my supplements. That was lame. All I had to do was switch to supplements with lunch and dinner.

The 24-hour fast was a lot easier than I expected. It sounds like a bunch of hogwash, but the hunger went away.

So, if my goal isn’t to lose weight, why in the world would I do this? The reported benefits include reduced glucose, inflammation, cell regeneration, better mental clarity, reduced insulin resistance, cancer prevention, lower blood pressure, increased longevity, and reduced risk of Parkinson’s Disease, to name just a few. My goal? Autophagy.

From the Cleveland Clinic:

Autophagy

Autophagy allows your body to break down and reuse old cell parts so your cells can operate more efficiently. It’s a natural cleaning out process that begins when your cells are stressed or deprived of nutrients. Researchers are studying autophagy’s role in potentially preventing and fighting disease. Read the full article here.

My energy is even more than my usual high-energy self, my mind feels sharper, my sleep has immensely improved, and I’ve even lost a couple of pounds. 🙂 I’m excited to see my blood test results later this month. The extended goal is to minimize cancer risk. Watching your husband die from colon cancer despite years of chemo and radiation is quite the motivation.

My family doctor was pleased with my 18/6 eating schedule for six days a week and a 24-hour fast one day. Now, I’m getting ready to plunge into my first three-day fast. I’d also like to share this with you too. Will I be able to go that long? Check back to see how each day goes. I’m told I’ll need electrolytes for a multi-day fast. I’m waiting for that to be delivered. I’ve also been given the green light by my physician.

Credit goes to my friend for introducing the benefits to me, despite my resistance. I’ve learned much more by watching Dr. Berg’s videos on YouTube. You can watch him provide understandable explanations on several topics HERE.

Please consult a physician before attempting an extended fast.

Please get in touch with me if you have any questions or if I can be of assistance to you.

Stamping Smiles,