Hi Peggysue,
I applaud you--a teacher, with a toddler. :-) I was just thinking today that the fasting experience for women can be quite different from men's... especially if the men are able to take it easy and rest, and the women still (often) carry on with cooking and preparing food, etc. I think there's a place for more writing on the subject from the female perspective. I did a long fast, last year (? might have been the year before; my posts will show--I'm a bit foggy on dates today) and found that I really enjoyed making food for others, especially once I got past the first three-four days.
With the lower back pain, I have it too. Started to
Water Fast on Wednesday, like you. Actually, I had heaviness in the lower back and hips before the fast, which is one reason I was motivated to start. I've also done a couple shorter fasts, but the 29 day one was my first. I jumped right in, filled with faith, after a few weeks of reading a lot of stuff in the Soil and Health library. I especially enjoyed Purinton's book. (Sorry, forget the name too!!) I see someone just reposted the soil and health link. *Lots of inspiration* there, for the Natural Hygiene lifestyle and especially for the long fast. I had in mind to fast to "completion", that first time, but never quite got there--that is, "true hunger" didn't come over me, such as I've heard it spoken of. I strongly feel, and I've posted about this before, that it's best to do the
Water Fast in blocks of seven days. Had I gone a little further in my long fast, I think I would have come out of the slight low I was in, and regained my sense of natural hunger. On the other hand, had I stopped at say 21, when I was feeling 'up' and just starting a deeper level of cleansing, that too would have been good. So, I mention all this, not to discourage you, but just as a consideration. I'm not sure how long I will go with this fast...we'll see is a good place to be, I think.
anyway, I wish you all the best!
Chiron