International Meditation Society Sivananda Ashram, Victoria, BC INTENSIVE FASTING OVER LONG PERIODS (Part Three) by Swami NadaBramananda

Update.

Fasting on water alone for long periods: Part three:

What not to do, why and how you'll pay for it!

This report is the third part of a three part series on long fasts. Here you will read the unmodified brutal truth of not thinking things through enough and letting the ego rule the mind! So it's kinda confession time (:-) Several months ago I agreed to give a talk on the benefits, medical and otherwise, of doing a strict water fast for an extended period of time. I had previously completed five water fasts of more than 40 days and decided to do another one of at least 46 days, calculating that the 46th day would be the day of the conference, so people could test me etc., if so desired. Then I decided to make the fast 50 days, purely to set a new personal record. I have been telling people for 20 years or so that more than 60 days is considered by the medical profession too dangerous, since the body will start breaking down vital organs for protein and so death becomes a very real possiblility. I have always believed that 50 days was a sensible maximum. At first, all went very well, but about one month into the fast, I noticed there was pain in my feet, like I had pulled a little tendon, here and there. This had happened once before in the late 1980's. At that time, I broke the fast, concluding correctly that I was short of protein. This time, I decided to ignore the problem, since, if I waddled a little, I could walk around and get by! Several friends of Steve, apparently began to worry about me (they had no knowledge of my feet problem). However, I just felt they hadn't enough direct knowledge of fasting, which I still think is true. As always is the case, as time went by, I noticed that I was losing about one pound of weight a day. This has always been historically the case anyway. By the time the 46th day came around, I felt that I could go the extra 4 days, at least once in my life. The conference went well. However, the next 4 days turned out to be extremely uncomfortable and I began to feel really queasy and threw up even water on the last two days. I had a thought which said, "Purification and cleansing, stage two". However, it was enough for me and I broke my fast at 50 days, almost to the minute. The first drink of orange wouldn't even stay down! Subsequent drinks of orange and then a whole orange and so on stayed down and by two days later I was feeling much better. Now this was several weeks ago and I have only just had my first piece of fried food, a veggie burgher. Just no desire, but a good idea anyway! On the third day after breaking the fast, I somehow tore a tendon near my left knee and within a few hours I was headed for bed. This was followed by days and nights of sharp stabbing pains around both knees and feet and ankles. I realised that I had not eaten any protein and so began to eat a lot of protein, about half a pound a day, raw. Now happened something really interesting. I was completely at the tender mercy of my host Steve for food, help, everything. He bought only 1 packet of tofu at first. Immediately I had eaten the tofu (which contains one of the best proteins in the world), my pain levels tripled and I wouldn't wish that suffering on my worst enemy. However, I learned a lot. The next day, because there was no tofu available, the pain seemed to have subsided. Eatng tofu again the day after brought all the pain back and teh some. this pattern continued in a very predictable way. The body was desperate for protein and did its repair work immediately there was any available, i.e. eaten. It was amazing to watch! After several days, the left knee felt much better and the right leg felt fine. So I then decided, whilst lying on my right side in bed, to exercise it by raising the right leg up and down a few times!!! I never realised how stupid I could be, because the next morning, the pain around my right knee was ten times worse than anything else and even 2 weeks later is still repairing itself. I can get around a little on crutches, but jeez! So here's the lesson. even though one may be really overweight (and I had plenty of fat to lose), the body eats some muscles for protein and that seems to include tendons in the legs and feet. So if you do a long fast and yopu get some pain in the feet, consider breaking it and building up your muscles before starting another. Secondly, even if there seems to be no problems at the end of the fast, immediately begin to eat plenty of protein and wait a week before subjecting your feet or ankles or knees to a lot of strain. I have benefitted greatly in terms of my general health, once again, from doing a long fast. I am also convinced from certain scientific research done recently, that my life span has been extended noticeably by the fast. So don't be put off by what I just said above. Just remember please to watch your muscle mass and tendons. Also I assume that my queasy feelngs and throwing up of simple water, was a warning from my body to not go any further. Point taken! Enjoy your fasts and I wish you great health and a long happy life; Swami Nadabrahmananda, at master's lotus feet. Your friend.

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Swami NadaBrahmananda, Sivananda Ashram, International Meditation Society,
Victoria, BC

[This article is part of a book in preparation and is protected by copyright]

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