QUOTE from Dr Fung: (emphasis mine)
The Rules
1. If you don’t feel well, stop immediately.
Listen to your body and break your fast if you need to.
2. You’re welcome to use all or none of our fasting training wheels! If you can fast with just water, that’s great. If you need some coffee with cream and bone broth, that’s great, too. If you can only do 16 hours of each fast day, that’s OK, too! Go at your own pace.
3. Remember, progress not perfection! Be kind to yourself. Your fasting muscle will get stronger over time. [1]
Please see “What if I have diabetes?” for particular concerns for type 2 diabetics.
NOTE – What does it say?
If I do not feel well it is perfectly acceptable to stop fasting. In addition, I find that there are times when I am very upset emotionally and also need to stop fasting. I find I need to reduce my stress and then return to fasting with a calm and centered mind. Recovering alcoholics refer to “H.A.L.T.” – the times it is hard to choose to remain sober are when you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely and Tired. The latter three also interfere with the sobriety of fasting.
Dr. Fung offers a variety of what are called training wheels which are techniques and tips to make fasting easier while establishing a good fasting habit. (See post #09)
Finally, at all times while you were fasting, please don’t be too perfectionistic or critical of yourself. It’s a habit and a lifestyle and it takes time to fully implement it in your life.
MY STRATEGY:
Rule #1: If I don’t feel well, stop immediately. There will be another day.
Rule #2: Go at your own pace. This is not a race.
Rule #3: Progress not perfection! Be kind to yourself. Fasting is neither stressful nor a sacrifice, but a normal and natural part of life. Ancient people did not wake up with a refrigerator full of food.
DISCERNMENT QUESTIONS
What gets my attention?
Do I understand the need or problem?
Do I understand the potential solution?
Do I understand how to apply that strategy?
What questions do I have for the experts? What might be the answers?
Who needs to hear this?
What do I do next?
SOURCE – Footnotes:
[1] Quote from https://thefastingmethod.com/group-fasts/, Dr Fung’s teaching website.
Photo Fasting-a-glass-of-water-on-an-empty-plate, via Wikimedia Commons
Please review the page How and Why We Use Quotes.
Key: Fung-02 Shipped: 05/04/2021. Updated 01/11/2022.