When it comes to your health, your body is actually very good at sending signals to alert you of the problems. Most times we allow these symptoms to go unnoticed, ignoring them or mistaking them for other things. This is something I've spent a long time trying to understand, so naturally, when I noticed something seemed 'off' for a week straight, I knew it was time to take action.
My solution was to attempt a 24 hour fast in order to almost "reset" my body. Not only was I in search of a way to alleviate the uncomfortableness I was experiencing, but also test my willpower and the strength of my mind. I knew it would be difficult but I knew the health benefits I could reap from it would be worth the struggle. These benefits are, but not limited to, improvement of gut health by killing off bad bacteria in small intestines, control of blood sugar levels by reducing insulin resistance, fighting of inflammation, and even promotion of fat loss. All of which are far more beneficial to me than the few meals I'd be missing.
I spent a few days educating myself then took on the challenge. After my Thanksgiving feast, I started the 24 hours off at 6 pm. Fortunately, I was so stuffed from all the holiday foods that I didn't catch my first hunger pang until around 11 pm. Normally I would have just slept it off, but given the day, I was on my way out the door to catch those annual Black Friday deals. Throughout the night I kept records of when I was feeling hungry. The feelings hit me during the night around 3 am, then again at 8 am. Thankfully, each wave of hunger only lasted about 10-20 minutes at a time.
At this point I had been awake for 26 hours, with only ten hours left to go, I was finally getting to sleep and this would kill some time. I woke up around 2 pm feeling hungry again, and then again I felt hunger around 4 pm. At this point, I was only 2 hours away from the finish line and knew I had to persevere. So I took a shot of apple cider vinegar and chugged a glass of water to get me through to the end.
Finally, 6 p.m. came around and I immediately found myself in the Dunkin' drive-thru treating myself to a latte. After the fast it is recommended to eat a nutrient dense meal, but nothing crazy as there is no need to try and catch up on the calories. Knowing this, when I returned home, of course, my first meal were those delicious Thanksgiving leftovers I had been thinking about all day.
So what happened after the fast? Physically, I felt lighter and almost refreshed. The bloating I was experiencing was reduced and I didn't feel as sluggish as I had the days prior to the fast. In conclusion, it was very beneficial and surprisingly doable, my will to push through and not cave proved strong enough, and even though it is not something I plan to do routinely, I know that it will not be my last attempt.
Listening to my body has helped me eliminate or attend to many issues I had unknowingly been struggled with for years. Without being in tune with your body, you may be putting yourself through times of discomfort that are completely avoidable. So next time you are feeling something physically, try to uncover the deeper meaning behind it. You may be surprised the amount of information you can learn about yourself just by taking that extra second to listen.
Disclaimer: I would suggest this to anybody struggling with bloating or experiencing overwhelming feelings of discomfort within your bodies systems. I would not recommend this to anybody with diabetes or other possible life-threatening diseases. Always make sure to do your research beforehand and make sure it is safe for you before engaging in the challenge.