I want to fast, but I have to work, take care of my family, pay the bills, etc… what can I do?
This is a question that I get often. More and more people are feeling called to fast, but most of us are unable (or unwilling) to check out of life and go into the wilderness for an extended period of time. So what do you do?
Certainly with a water fast, maintaining your daily routine is not entirely possible. But with a juice fast (cleanse), one can retain and in many cases, enhance their everyday life. You will not want to pump iron at the gym, but working, taking care of the children and paying the bills will not be a problem. Also, mild to moderate exercise (yoga, walking, swimming, etc.) is doable and even recommended while juicing.
During a juice fast, one’s energy will skyrocket and mentally clarity will improve. You will find that you are able to concentrate better, sleep more sound and will have more free time than you know what to do with yourself. It’s fascinating when you remove food from your life, you really notice how much time we dedicate to eating. Many find this is the clearing that creates the space for healing to occur. You may want to use this found time to connect deeply with loved ones, be in nature, meditate, read books that nourish your soul or even journal. You might even find yourself adopting a new hobby.
I have to go to work during the day and I do not have access to a juicer… what can I do? I typically encourage my clients to buy a juicer and make fresh juices first thing in the morning and once in the evening when they return home from work. During the day, they drink the “Master Cleanse” (organic lemons, maple syrup or agave and cayenne pepper) which you can make up in the morning and bring with you all day long. This will provide you with everything you need to function while continuing the cleansing process.
How do I deal with the social events that arise during this time? You may want to plan it during a time where you know you will not be going to many events that involve social eating. But if you’re anything like me, that may not be easy. I find that when those situations do arise, I either chose not to attend or if I do attend, I will simply drink water or my lemonade. This will surely entice questions from those around you and your response is entirely up to you. I know in some situations it is best not to say anything and in other cases, I will share my experience. It usually depends on the company and whether I feel they will be supportive or not. One thing to remember is that many people fear fasting because of a lack of knowledge or experience. For me, fasting is a deeply spiritual and personal journey and I chose to only share it with those closest to me. For everyone else, I wait for them to see the changes in my energy before I open up. Believe me, people will notice and to me, that is the best time to be a source of inspiration.
Hope this helps!
Namaste.
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