found it Freelea - thankyou
How did you train to prepare you for your bike ride? etc or is it on your web site?
((())) frangipanni

Hey Frangi, Good to see you are doing well. I am wondering how the chlorine in the pool would effect your skin's condition? Are you finding it changing for better or worse at all after your swim?

xoxoxo

Hey Frangi (Jen just told me what franga ment!doh!) Sorry for calling u that, it was ment to be endearing....

Thankyou for sharing your fasting experience :-)
I checked out your skin shots on page 3&4, the difference after your fast was very significant, have you maintained that?
I can see you (& everyone actually) really benefiting so much from consistently doing the lowfat high fruit raw vegan way of eating. I have seen so many improvements in skin via this way of eating, especially in my own.

What's the next best thing to a fast?? I believe having one type of fruit for a week or more then slowly adding in other whole foods each week -fruits, greens and eventually (when your system is strong enough) some overt fats like avocados. Or even start with one type of fruit a day...I really recommend going off overt fats for as long as it takes to heal.

Digestion is one of the biggest energy consumers (bar sex - I mean apart from sex not barsex ;-).  So wouldn't it make sense (especially when we are in the weakened state of gaining health) to lighten the load on the digestive system with simple foods and combinations?  Once the load is lightened the body sighs a huge sigh of relief because it is finally able to send healing rays of energy to where ever is most needed....organs like your skin or intestines for example.

We need to get out of the bodys way, not that I believe the body/mind is a separate entity but if we were thinking in physiological terms then eating foods that we weren't biologically designed for will result in negative repercussions (<sp?) everytime.Health is a one way track, to achieve optimum energy, health, vibrancy we need to respect & live this.

I have had many fasting experiences where I felt like a million bucks only to fall back into bad eating habits (u can check my journal entries for numerous recounts) only to have all the old symptoms I originally healed through fasting return....so I can talk from experience.

You are doing great, I can see the improvements in your journal but just know that you can do better & take your health and well-being to the next level, whenever you are ready and I will help you as much as you need.

Looking forward to your next installment...
Lovefreexo

My pleasure Frang :-D
Glad to hear you have increased your fruit intake and are starting to reap the benefits, keep it up and learn about food combining (unless you have already). I really gained a lot of inspiration from Arnolds books although i don't recall him recommending much rest.

When you fast you really should rest and definitely not train! Fasting is more than just abstaining from food it should be looked at from a holistic standpoint.  During a fast the body requires a time of nuturing & rest... exercise isn't exactly nurturing, it creates more work for the body as it produces metabolic waste via cell/tissue breakdown.  The last thing the body needs is extra work when it is trying to houseclean.  Avoidance of any type of stress is a must, like exercise (except gentle), irritating people or conversations, too much sensory stress (like tv..esp news etc)... 
I think it is VITAL that we right our eating habits first before we embark on a fast.  I have ignored this guideline many times and (i think i have told you before) my health and wellbeing suffered as a result.

The great thing about fruit only for a week is that fact that you have a steady supply of fruit sugar fuel coming in so you can continue your daily duties/exercise as before and you will most likely want to do more!  If the body has the fuel coming in it will be very effecient at eliminating waste.
Grapes for a week would be challenging, a fruit like banana made into smoothies will probably be easier.

Its great that you are more sensitive and getting the 'non-food' message loud & clear, the more pain you associate to these choices the less likely you will be to go back, it always helped me to write down all the negative feelings i experience after I ate cooked food.

Have a great day!
Lovefreexo

Hi Freelea,
This was my second fast, the first time i fasted i did 3 days juice 3 water and 2 juice, 12 months ago, i was so very tired after this fast, it took me ages to get over it.  This time however i did some activity, i walked a lot, up to 6 km on some days and it was really good.  I felt refreshed, and when the fast ended it was much easier for me to resume my activities.  No tired ness, no nausea, and swam again on the second week after the fast, though only 1000m first, gradually building up.  I believe the walking enabled me to sleep better.  I watched the colour of my pee which never changed from the pale lemon the whole 5 days of the fast.  Had a colon irrigation after the fast and all was very good. 
RGG, I agree that fasting is an experience to rest the body, i didnt really find that the last 2 days were that great, but i will do it again next year.  It was difficult but worth doing.  I also aim to be about 5 kg lighter as well, which should make it easier.

Freelea, When you were talking about the week on fruit, did you mean one type of fruit or only fruits of any type? Did you mean avo's as well? 
I have got some sort of cold, no swimming tonight, better rest the body a bit, I dont have it as bad as others who have spend several days in bed, I just felt very tired and time to rest.  which i will do tonight as well.  Might rise up early and go for a light splash tomorrow. 
Can any one tell me why you get heaps of belly gas when you eat watermelon.  I have a craving for it at the moment and my belly is full of gas - jet propelled 

Hey Frang, I did harp on about the rest didn't i? I know you realise its important, yes i agree walking is great during a fast :-)

Yes one type of fruit ONLY for the whole week - its sort of like an elimination diet where you slowly add raw food back in one item at a time, not only is this easier on your healing digestive system but also you can pay attention to how that particular food feels and digests.  No avocado or overt fats like nuts for a good while if you go down this path.  You can eventually add them back in when your digestive fire is strong enough, going without overt fats is one of the most healing practises.

Ahh good ol' melon belly eh?
yeah i agree with what Neety said.  Even if you have waited overnight and you having melon for breaky, there still could be last nights food in your stomach hence they will mix and cause digestive distress.  Melon has a very fast digestion rate and should always be eaten alone and hours away from all other foods.
You may also be eating it too quickly, slow down and chew , its so easy to hoover melons :-D

Good news Frangi! Let's hope those pants don't fall down in the shops! eeeeek!

So glad your skin is healing. Hugs!

xoxoxo