6 Ways to Survive Fasting

6 Ways to Survive a Fast

survive a fast, fasting, ramadan, fast sunday, religion, faith, spiritual Whether you recognize Fast Sunday and plan to participate next month or have completed your first week of Ramadan, the act of fasting is a both a religious and spiritual undertaking.

With your commitment to fast comes tiredness and a struggle to keep going. You may want to give in and quit. These following six tips can help you survive the fast and come out of the experience as a person of both stronger faith and discipline.

Remember Your Chosen Purpose

survive a fast, surviving without food, religious, spiritual,food, drink, eating, family, purpose When you choose a specific person or purpose to dedicate your fast to, the moments of discomfort can be lessened by bringing your mind back to your goal.

The purpose of your fast must be chosen by you because only you can determine your passions. Whether you choose to fast for a higher power, family or health, when you are in the throngs of hunger gently bring your mind back to your purpose.

Visualize the health of a family member or the touch of the higher power.

Eat Protein and Not Sugar Before Fasting

survive a fast, eat protein, religious, spiritual, discipline, eating, drinking, not sugar Don't eat a lot of sugar before you begin your fast because your blood sugar will spike and you will quickly crash. During this low, your body will crave more energy from food or drink and make it harder for you to stick to your commitment.

Alternatively, the day before your fast eat a balanced meal full of protein. Protein meals will help you feel stronger and normalize your blood sugar levels. You can find protein in beans, lentils, chicken, fish, and eggs.

Keep Up Your Mental Activity

survive a fast, hunger, acute focus, mental activity, hobbies, religious, spiritual, writing, drawing Keep your mind busy. Take on a challenging project at work or engage in a leisure activity that stimulates your brain and requires focus. Give yourself activities to pursue so you don't find yourself dwelling on your hunger.

If you find yourself stuck at home, undertake a project that you have been avoiding or a hobby that you have not done in a while.

Ideas include: Sudoku, crossword puzzles, knitting, cleaning, writing, drawing, and talking to old friends.

Activities that require acute mental focus will demand your attention and pull your mind away from the feelings of hunger.

Embrace the Hunger

survive a fast, embrace the hunger, mindfulness, awareness, feelings, religious, spiritual, health When a fit of hunger strikes, don't push away the feeling. Embrace it. Although this might sound counter intuitive, by actually feeling how your hunger feels in your body, you can alleviate some of the discomfort. This type of body awareness practice is known as mindfulness.

Acknowledge the feeling of hunger, don't fight it. Although this is easier said than done, eventually it will pass.

Avoid Strenuous Physical Activity

survive a fast, fasting, physical activity, food energy, appreciation, religious, spiritual While you are fasting, your body is not receiving as much energy from food and drink as it is accompanied to, so don't try to force your body to function at its optimal level.

Allow yourself to take it easy on your workouts and outdoor outings.

Fasting can be an opportunity for you to appreciate the power and energy food provides for your body. Go a little slower and recognize how your body is functioning.

Breaking Your Fast

survive a fast, fasting, religious, spiritual, breaking the fast, healthy meal, soup, crock pot, home-prepared, avoid fast food After you have successfully completed your entire fast, the time will come when you must finally break it.

As the end approaches, prepare a healthy crock pot meal so the food will be ready when you are done fasting. You don't want to wait an additional hour for food to cook after you have officially broken your fast.

A healthy home-prepared meal will also be a better way for your body to adjust to eating again. Don't overeat or drink when you do break your fast. Your body will struggle to adjust and throw itself out of balance.

A healthy soup or crock pot meal with beans and vegetables will ease your body back into its normal habits. Settling for fast food or another quick fix, can sabotage all the dedication and discipline you have undergone while fasting.