I'm in the midst of a 10-day liquid fast in honor of the Lenten season. Actually, my church is involved in a PUSH initiative, which stands for Pray Until Something Happens. The initiative is built around revolving fasts: For the first 10 days, everyone consumes liquids only and prays five full minutes a day; the next 10 days are a media fast, during which time, everyone abstains from TV, newspapers, movies, video games, texting, e-mail, Internet usage, etc., unless it glorifies God or is required for work; the following 10 days are devoted to random acts of kindness; and the final 10 days require everyone to devote 1 hour each day to prayer.
The fast excites me greatly, particularly this first set. I have needed to do a liquid-protein fast for quite some time. My digestive system has been wonky ever since my bowel obstruction last year, and it seems that I just can't get my body into any kind of symbiosis. There's a question of whether I've developed food allergies or sensitivities, or if something more acute is amiss. Though there is a laundry list of tests that can be run, one efficient way to figure out a problem is to go on an elimination diet.
This church-wide fast has given me the motivation I need to limit my diet to liquid protein supplements, and I have to be honest...I have felt better in the last week than I have in the last year. I'm not terribly hungry, I have oodles of energy, and my intestines seem to be a lot happier. I may extend the fast to four weeks before slowly reintroducing foods into my diet under doctor supervision to see if we can pinpoint exactly which foods my body can't/won't process.
Micellar Milk lattes are still among my favorite protein treats, but I have to say that Met-Rx's 51-gram RTD in cookies and cream makes a very yummy mocha-like drink. That kept me quite happy all day yesterday. Lean Body's RTDs in ice cream flavors are also tasty, but I don't think they taste anything like ice cream. Then again, it's been a long time since I've had ice cream. Maybe I've forgotten what it tastes like.
9 comments:
I don't do lent, but... a fast could do me good. :)
The first day is tough, but it gets easier after that. I haven't had a single hypoglycemic episode since doing it. That's gotta be proof it's a good thing, right?
Tonya, have you heard that Micellar Milk has been discontinued by the manufacturer?
No, I hadn't heard that. I just bought some chocolate Mice Milk from the Vitamin Shoppe and ordered vanilla. Wonder why it was discontinued.
It was discontinued because the manufacturer could no longer afford to make it. SM was very upset.
Bummer!
Hi... I am wondering about your faith tradition and/or your faith community. Would you mind sharing some of that? The Lenten practices you lay out sound wonderful to me... very sound.
Peace...
Wendy
Sure thing, Wendy...just e-mail me. You can do that through my profile page on here.
You are a brave, brave woman to do a 10 day liquid fast when you don't have to. Even braver if you make it a 4 week deal! But, it may just help with your allergy/not allergy situation. Who knows!
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