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If you would like to monitor my progress. I will be updating this page multiple times throughout the upcoming week.
It has been over two years since I last water fasted as long as this. Two years ago I underwent an 8 day water fast for the same reasons I am choosing to fast again. Let us see what I have really learned in the last 2 years.
6/19/13
9:29 am 157.7 lb
It is 9:29 am, my last meal was between 11:00 pm to 11:30 pm the previous night 6/18/13. I intend to undergo a water fast for the next 7 days. Since it takes approximately 12 hours for the human body to start truly fasting after the last bite. I will consider my fast to officially begin at 11:30 am this morning. Which would mean that my water fast would officially conclude at 6/26/13 11:30 am. The only thing that I will be consuming for the next 7 days is nothing but water (As in no other liquids of any kind. Including but not limited to: flavored water, juice, soda, etc). The objectives are four things:
1) By consuming nothing but water for the next 7 days, I intend to enhance my discipline over my body and mind. If one can control something as instinctive as the desire to eat. One will have an increased ability to use ones body and mind for the Service and Leadership of others.
2) By consuming nothing but water for the next 7 days, I intend to lead by example. To teach others that both joy and despair should be consumed in moderation. Lest you find yourself lost amidst polar extremes. What does that have to do with water fasting? People often over indulge in everything both positive and negative. This is anything but balanced. If a string is too tight, it will snap. If a string is too loose, it will not play. To find harmony between too tight and too loose can be considered balance, and/or being in the zone.
3) By consuming nothing but water for the next 7 days, I intend to remind others of those who are in far greater need than themselves. People often take their lives for granted, cursing their circumstances. Yet they forget that they have unspoiled food to eat, clean water to drink, and adequate health care. As I write this, numerous people are starving to death, and dying of diseases that most 1st world country civilians will almost never have to worry about.
I'm not asking people to suddenly become diplomats and the like. I just want people to at least be aware and mindful that we are all in fact human. Though the ones suffering and starving the world over are not our nuclear family, or our really close friends for that matter. They are still a part of our human family. By keeping them in mind, we keep the desire for the well being of humanity as a whole alive in us. With that, we stand to live better lives with/for ourselves and with/for each other.
4) By consuming nothing but water for the next 7 days, I intent to remind people to stop taking things for granted. But instead be grateful.
As things stand right now, out of a scale of 0-100. 0 being not hungry at all, and 100 being quite hungry indeed (at least relative to me). I would say that I am currently at a solid 25-30%.
Once a day I will keep a log of my weight in pounds to help triangulate the effects that this water fast will have on my body. I will see you on the other side of this.
10:14 am
As a quick elaboration. It takes the body approximately 12 hours before it consumes the glycogen reserves in the liver. From that point on the body begins to fast. Which means that although my last meal was 11:30 pm last night, I consider myself officially fasting 12 hours after which will be 11:30 am.
11:39 am
It is now 11:39 am. Which means that my fast officially began 9 minutes ago. As of right now I am at a solid 35%. I do not fear what will happen. For I know that 7 days without eating is not a big deal. There are those who go for a month plus without eating a single molecule of food and who have very little water to drink, filthy water at that. Who am I to complain of a little hunger and discomfort? When there are those who are starving and are experiencing extreme agony.
4:10 pm
So far so good. Interestingly enough, I took a nap and had a dream that I was experiencing painful hunger. So it appears that even my subconscious is investing its efforts in my cause.
6/20/13
12:45 am
So far it has been 13 hours and 15 minutes since I officially declared the beginning of my fast at 11:30 am 6/19/13. Although it has only been a short time into the fast. I am considerably more hungry than about 12 hours ago. I would say that I am at a solid 60% hungry. So much beautiful food is around me, not to mention I am quite the culinary wiz. But I know for a fact that this fast is so much bigger than me. It is for the benefit of all. With that being said, I stay strong and push through. Besides, if I cannot do something as simple as a 7 day water fast. What kind of associate would I be?
2:50 pm 154.0 lb
Waking up this morning was not as difficult as I had originally anticipated. Surprisingly, my hunger has decreased considerably. From a 60% I have gone down to about 40%. Time is moving quite slow. I will play a game where I will look at the clock every now and again to see how much time has elapsed. For example, if I look at the clock and it registers "1:30 pm." It feels like 10 minutes has passed, yet when I look at the clock again it says "1:33 pm." Time dilation is a definite variable to consider if one decides to undergo a water fast. At 3:30 pm it will be 40 hours since my last bite, and 28 hours since I officially declared the beginning.
5:16 pm
That last 2 and a 1/2 hours felt more like 4.
6:14 pm
So people have been asking me why I am doing this. As the days continue I will further elaborate on the reasons why. But for now:
1) I am trying to promote the virtue of gratefulness.
and
2) I take what I do and what I say very seriously. So much so that I am willing to literally be hungry for it. Passion is nothing without Conviction, and Conviction cannot exist without Sincere Hunger. In Thoughts, In Words, and in Actions.
http://0heavyfeather0.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-importance-of-hunger-pg14.html
11:53 pm
It's been 48 hours since my last bite, and 36 hours since I officially declared the beginning of my water fast. Before I started fasting I have always been curious about what people eat anyway. Since I started this fact, now I am even more curious. It has been even more interesting to hear people describe what they had for their last meal. I would say that I am at 50% hunger. I noticed that I tend to get hungrier at night. I wonder if there is a pattern here. The upcoming days will determine that. In either case, every single time I think of giving up and getting something to eat. I think of those who suffer the world over, who are starving to death and fatally sick on top of that. I think of all of you, and how I want to help you all live your lives more richly with gratefulness as a catalyst to new beginnings.
6/21/13
1:10 am
Intense.
4:05 pm 150.4lb
I am experiencing considerably less hunger. I would say that I am less hungrier now than the first 24 hours of my water fast. Very interesting, I would say that I am at 20% hunger.
I don't quite know how to describe it. But for all intents and purposes I feel, sharp. I have been playing brain games like "flow" to see what effects this fast has on my mental acuity. Surprisingly enough, I am able to solve the puzzles of flow and other brain games on average 5-10 seconds quicker than normal. I decided to test my verbal and speech acuity as well. Reciting Shakespeare, other MC's lyrics, my lyrics, etc. Has proven to become considerably more smooth. By about 15-20%.
At 4:30 pm it will be 65 hours since my last bite, and 53 hours since I officially declared the beginning of my water fast.
5:35 pm
It has been 66 hours since my last bite. Let me make something very clear right now.
Imagine you were to go a week of not eating, consuming only water. Let alone a month or more like many people the world over have to, who are dying and suffering due to deadly diseases and viruses on top of that.
If I give you the choice of either continuing your grudge with someone and/or some people, and/or your complaint with something(s). Or, the option to eat. What would you choose?
To take it a step further, what if that person and/or those people you had a grudge with was hungry and/or starving to death alongside you. And you had the power to choose whether or not they would eat as well. What would you do?
If you can bring yourself to allow them to eat. Perhaps whatever grudge you have is not as big as you once thought. If you choose food over grudges and complaints. Perhaps they are not as significant as you once believed.
Please stop taking your lives for granted, why waste anymore time in bitterness and negativity? Please stop taking each other for granted. Please stop taking things for granted. Please get over your bitterness and forgive.
Your lack of forgiveness imprisons you.
http://0heavyfeather0.blogspot.com/2013/06/will-you-forgive-that-person-will-you.html
6/22/13
4:37 am
I went to sleep around 9 pm the previous night. Due to hunger I woke up around 2 am. As I write this, I am feeling a little depressed. My positive outlook on things is still very much intact. The only difference is that there is a considerable touch of melancholy and malaise. I am thinking about all kinds of different things. Bitterness I still haven't purified. People I regret doing wrong. People who did me wrong. People I miss being with and around. People I wish were still alive so I could tell them what was really on my mind. Things I wish I could have said and done differently. Things I should, could, and would have done, but for whatever reasons did not.
It really makes one think of the power food has over a person. If people on some conscious and/or subconscious level are eating their sadness, problems, and depression away. To whatever little or big extent. It really makes one think how much people are not aware of, and how far people try to run away from how things really are. I am willing to bet that for most people, food is one of the most effective quickest short cut temporary fixes for their problems. It is undeniable how food, especially delicious food, makes one feel good.
The hunger combined with the depression was almost too much for me to bare. I almost gave up around 3:30 am. I went upstairs to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. I stood there for a full 5 minutes just looking at everything. I then closed the door and went back downstairs.
Many people will read this page and /or hear about my cause, and will more than likely not care about what I am fighting for. Many people will more than likely say "What matters is myself and my family. Why should I care about other people in the world who I do not even know about? How will his fasting improve their conditions anyways?"
The thing to keep in focus is mindfulness. Simply being aware and keeping in mind the struggles of other people the world over will help us all lead better lives. For our sake and for the sake of others.
7:51 pm
Just came back from Canada. So many fantastic restaurants and culinary delights. Twas quite tortuous.
6/23/13
11:10 am 148.0lb
I am so happy that I did not break the other day. There was so many opportunities for me to eat something. However, keeping other people aside from myself in mind. I persevered and refused to eat.
All of that mental and verbal acuity stuff? Forget about it. In an odd way through desperation, my mental and verbal acuity has enhanced. But if you were to ask if I was able to pop it off from the normally relaxed stance I carry? Not really. At least not as easily. I would say that my mental acuity has decreased by about 10-15% overall and my verbal acuity has decreased by about 5-10% overall. Feeling dumb on top of hungry is not fun.
At 11:30 am it will mark 108 hours since I have had anything to eat. And 96 hours since I officially declared the beginning of my fast. 72 more hours left.
6/24/13
7:15 pm 147.0 lb
There is something interesting that occurs when one is made desperate. No. I am not saying that I am starving to death and that my life is in danger or anything like that. I am saying that relative to having eaten basically everyday of my life since I was born. To a point where I am going a week without eating. Has a tendency to make a person a little desperate.
Desperation is an interesting thing indeed. Have you ever heard of the saying that people tend to learn the hard way? That is basically another form of desperation. You put yourself in a difficult circumstance, and you do what you can to get yourself out of it. You become more aware. Naturally so. Due to an increase in awareness, you are in an enhanced condition to solve your problems. To see things more clearly.
This helps to further elaborate on what I was saying about feeling depressed. It is easy to not see how things really are when you are full and comfortable. But take that away? It becomes difficult to not see how things really are indeed. As a further clarification. Think about food as a form of drugs.
Oh indeed, I am quite hungry and quite tired, that is very real. But there is something to be found in desperation. It is called focus and perspective. If I already know that I am hungry and tired. Why does it still need to be a problem? Why not just accept that perspective, and focus? People will more than likely say "but when someone is hungry and tired, how can they focus?" That is just it though, I understand there are definitely certain situations where someone is truly exhausted and/or racked with pain or something of the like to the point where they really can't focus. But in most circumstances. People just have a wrong and unstable perspective. Without a correct and stable perspective. It is easy to lose focus. When one loses focus. Any number of things start to deteriorate. My ability to think better and speak better has a lot to do with my mind actively and consciously seeking a way to improve, everything.
As a quick elaboration. As far as the whole mental and verbal acuity thing is concerned. I noticed that my sharpness of thought and performance is actually enhanced. I know that I stated that due to the fast they have decreased. What I researched in regards to what is occurring is that as my body adjusts to not eating. The dullness comes in phases. But by and large I have enhanced my abilities considerably. I have proven it without a doubt the previous night as I was reciting poetry and flows in a manner that I have never accomplished before. I am reading more quickly and precisely than I ever have. I have been speaking more accurately than I ever have. I have been thinking more clearly than I ever have. What does reading and poetry have to do with mental and verbal acuity? Simple. Speed and precision is a very good gauge of skill in regards to anything mental or physical.
Despite changes that my body is undergoing. Perspective and focus proves to be exceedingly powerful in overcoming and overriding discomfort and/or perceived lacking.
6/26/13 145.6 lb
7:17 am
One of the primary reasons why I started this fast. Was so that I could remind myself and others about gratitude. I had some epiphanies during this fast. One of them is that Gratitude cannot even begin to exist without sensitivity and humility existing as one. In the absence of sensitivity and humility. The likelihood of focusing on the wrong things and having an incorrect and illogical perspective. Become considerably much higher. Likewise, without gratitude change is not possible.
Without sensitivity. There would be no true communication and true interaction. Beyond strategies, beyond plans, and beyond goals. Whatever objective achieved would fall on the deafest of ears, if sensitivity were not to be present.
Sensitivity can only go so far without humility. If sensitivity is required to communicate and interact as truly as possible. Humility is an essential element to ensure that one can receive feedback in as true a manner as possible.
How can one even begin to consider the infinite blessings that are currently in one's internal and external universe. If one cannot even be sensitive enough to favorable and unfavorable thoughts and experiences alike? Sensitivity allows a person to explore the vast world in and around them with the most gentle of touches. Making sensitive listening possible. For sensitivity to be as effective as possible, it must go both ways. It is not enough to only be sensitive to positive and favorable situations. But to be sensitive in regards to negative and unfavorable situations as well. The capacity for joy is not possible without an equal capacity for sorrow.
How can one even begin to understand the vastness of their internal and external universe. If one were not humble enough to be open to themselves and the world around them? In the absence of humility. One will not be able to be as open as possible. Which would mean that a lack of humility would cause one to be closed off. To be humble will allow a person to accept the openness to be correct. The openness to be wrong. The openness to positivity. The openness to negativity. The openness to success. The openness to failure. The openness to strength. The openness to weakness. The openness to security. and The openness to vulnerability.
Anger, Greed, and Ignorance are the elements that contribute to a lack of sensitivity and humility. With a lack of sensitivity and humility, gratitude cannot exist. When one is not grateful. One fails to see the breathtakingly beautiful inspirations in and around us. From that logical perspective it becomes much easier to focus on the correct plans and paths of action.
It is easy to curse negative circumstances as if they were blockades and limitations. But what if they were to become channels instead? Channels that provide energy to move through obstacles and not around them, or worse yet avoiding them all together. Which is often the case for most people.
Gratitude is such a powerful condition. Because without gratitude, change is not possible. How can one move on and improve in truly meaningful ways. If one cannot first show gratitude and sincere appreciation for the good and positive things in themselves and in life. Which would not even be possible to begin with if we cannot first accept and understand the bad and negative things in ourselves and in life as well. Only by accepting and understanding the bad and negative aspects of things, can we see the true essence of good and positive elements. From this condition change is possible, for there is now incentive to change. The desire for a higher quality of life.
Remember that just because you experience something. Does not mean that you understand and learned something meaningful. Experiencing something and knowing about it. Is not the same thing as understanding and learning from it. Even if it is something that you experience frequently and/or a long time. Whether these experiences are caused by you and/or others is not as relevant as deriving an understanding(s) and a lesson(s) from it. The unfortunate occurrences that happen to you and/or other people are not nearly as important and significant as turning the page and moving on, changing.
Without sensitivity and humility, gratitude cannot exist. Without gratitude, change in truly meaningful ways could not be achieved for the benefit of oneself nor for the benefit of others.
It is now 7:17 am. Which means that in 4 hours and 10 minutes. I would have completed my 7 day and 12 hours water fast. The anticipation of a bite of food is tantalizingly exciting.
12:00pm
What can I say?
My first bite of food was absolutely phenomenal. As one would expect, my appetite was not at all the same as it was before I started the fast. So I only finished a third of my meal. My senses have increased considerably since my last bite. The fragrance, the taste, the texture, the color, and yes, even the sound of each bite and each chew. Is that much more enjoyable, that much more pleasurable.
What an interesting experience this all was. Not eating was not difficult. Confronting myself deprived of the familiar comfort of food was the truly difficult part. And yet, all in all, it really was not that bad.
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