Day 19 of the Paleolithic Diet -- Or Is It?

Last night I decided that I am going to fast for a few days. I explain why in my post, "Reasons For Fasting" And today was the first day. Let me tell, you, it was educational in a lot of ways. It wasn't as hard as I thought, but it also wasn't easy.

Today was a bit of a combination of a water fast and a juice fast. I ended up going out for some apple juice in the afternoon from a health food store. I made sure I got some real juice made only from fresh organic fruit. And I drank just enough to stabilize my blood sugar and assure myself that I wasn't going to black out and keel over at work. I know this dilutes the effects of the fast, but I didn't want to pass out in the middle of the office. Which is likely the reason why most fasting experts suggest that you do this at home, while resting.

At 6PM I was on the train and getting a bit motion sick, and panicky. I came up out of the subway and was really really hungry. The train or on the street would be another two places that I would prefer not to pass out. I ended up standing in pizza shop windows considering grabbing a slice. I'm glad I didn't. Then I went to went to a health food store and bought some high quality fresh bread and cheese. I was planning on eating it outside.

But I couldn't do it. As bad as I wanted to, I couldn't eat it. So then I was carrying around food, and not eating....starving! It was pretty maniacle thinking back on the situation. All I did was hold on to it.......all the way home.

As I was walking through the tunnels from the green line to the orange line it occurred to me that there were people who felt like I was feeling every day. They might be getting just enough food to stay hungry all the time. I learned from this experience that the physiology of our bodies actually creates that effect. With the realization that I could end how I was feeling just by eating the food that I was carrying with me, it occurred to me that to be hungry, and have the psychological pressure of not being able to fulfill that need must compound the feeling 100 fold. I also realized that in 30 years, I have NEVER been in a position where I was totally unable to fulfill my desire to eat. And this would be the first time in those 30 years that I was going to go at least a whole day without food. I was over come with gratitude at that point, which made getting through that first day much easier.

Now I'm home, I'm exhausted, and I'm glad I didn't blow it. I put the stuff in the fridge.....and I'm going to bed.

And that ended Day 1 of my first fast.