25 days now.
Though i have been weak every step of the way, everything had been quite smooth until day 23 when i stepped into an intensified state of weakness. Interestingly, in my previous fast this same kind of "crisis" occurred from day 24 to 26, but this time around it is a milder version, last time feeling somewhat sickly as well. As long as i am laying down it's not bad, but energy is nearly at zero to get up and do anything. I believe i may already be easing out of this stage.
Also about 3 days ago i began to have bloody saliva each morning upon awakening, again something that happened for a period in the previous fast. I am not the least bit concerned about it, but would be curious as to the source of this blood.
In the previous fast before i hit day 24 i was coasting along so nicely i felt i could go 50 days if nutritional stores held out... but once the turbulence arrived, 50 days seemed an abject impossibility and i very quickly changed my mind, forcing myself even to reach 30 days. This time around i will just have to see what happens. I would absolutely love to reach the return of genuine hunger and otherwise i would be happy to reach 30 days once again with the possibility for more.
My weight has become ridiculously low, but as i have stated before, it has everything to do with copious amounts of temporary water loss which through experience i expect to see back on my body within about 3 weeks of breaking the fast, returning at a rate of about a pound per day. Starting at 177 pounds, i weigh 147 today with an estimated 21 pounds of this being temporary water loss, 8 pounds fat and a pound of easily re-buildable protein-type tissue, much of it unhealthful as the fasting body will preferentially choose to utilize the worst tissue first.
A picture at the end of the fast compared with another one 21 days later would provide quite an amazing contrast. If a person is reasonably lean, the 21 pounds of normal water looks fantastic back on the body.
MightyST, you're doing awesome! You had said in the beginning of this Fast that you'd like to go on over 30-days but would be happy with a 20-day minimum. And you made it!
You will know intuitively ("listen to your body") what to do. I know on my WF weakness was OK, as all i had to do was lay around like a rug while my body worked to heal, but it was when the discomfort set in that i wanted out. (Like spitting vile-tasting, watery saliva every 10 mins, being disoriented etc)
Keep us posted and Congratulations!
Hello WaterDesign :),
Thank you for your supportive words. Yes like you if i had to get up and be doing things, this would be really tough and the freedom to lay down all day makes it so much more tolerable and also it's a lot easier to make it through a day when the strong symptomology is not there... the warrior's spirit is tested in the hard times ;).
PS: sorry to everybody these replies i am making today were not more prompt. I haven't felt the normal strength to write in these past few days.
Hello , Mighty !
Great job so far, dont think numbers 30-50-70-90..Its important what is happening with your body now , hope you get to feel some ease soon... Weight loss sounds normal to me.
30 days are almost here, are you going for it ? You made another big step, very happy for you
Vidda
Hi Vidda :),
Thank you always for your kind support. Yes i agree that the weight loss is very typical. 30 days? If i don't make 30 days at this point (27.4 now) i would be very surprised unless genuine hunger arises first. Another big step towards the ultimate goal, that's for sure. Thanks again :).
Maybe you'll take such pictures? It would be very interesting to see. About the weakness--remember that in the supervised fast you were instructed to stay in bed. So naturally anything more was taking energy away from the real work at hand. I think the bloody saliva may be just a temporary thing with the gums. Pretty sure I noticed a bit of this around three weeks water in. It goes, later.
take care,
one day at a time.
Hi there Chiron :),
Maybe i will take such pictures indeed :). Good reminder about the weakness. The way i see it, my only job at this moment is to fast and I really don't expect anything additional of myself during this time and am happy to lay around most days for 23 hours. The bloody saliva issue seems to be resolving itself. For about 4 days there was about a tablespoon of estimated blood mixed with my saliva in the morning, then over the past 3 days it has worked its way down to perhaps 1/6 that. Interestingly enough, the same thing happened in my previous fast 2-3 months back, both times a temporary issue and both times somewhere in the 20's.
One day at a time is right and with each passing day a new goal is reached and the end of the fast is that much closer :).