Good morning. I trust you all have had a pleasant week. Me, not so much. Week four of my water-only fast was, well, let’s just just call it what it really was. It was brutal.
The first twenty-one days felt like a walk in the park compared to days twenty-two through twenty-eight this past week. My body decided to have a Purge Festival by throwing everything but the kitchen sink at me. Its goal was to cause me pain and get me to quit my fast.
There were literally so many symptoms on a daily basis that by the time I got off the phone with my health guide to tell him the latest greatest, I would experience two new nasty ones within a few hours, and be right back on the phone with him.
I was bed ridden for three of the last five days. Lost my voice, had zero energy. Couldn’t leave the house. Didn’t feel bad about falling off my swim challenge as swimming laps wasn’t even an option. Resisting the urge to get on antibiotics or standard over the counter remedies for every new gruesome symptom, was harder than you would think. The pharmaceutical industry sure has done a great job of marketing their remedies for every symptom over the years.
Well, I didn’t quit. I did not deviate. I did not take any medications. Instead, I drank my water with Himalayan Seasalt and suffered through it. Did I think about quitting? Yes, on multiple occasions. Any sane person would. Even found dozens of articles by known doctors that gave me ample reason to. Fear was their main weapon. I learned that there is such a thing as the Day 28 purge zone in water fasting and that most people quit.
I kept this all close to the vest, cause A, I had no energy to talk or write about it, and B, I did not want my family and friends to worry, and C, I was not 100% convinced I would be alright. My wife had to become my nurse and my health guide Christopher Kidawski was my champion. He gave me great information and encouragement when I neeed it most. Without these two supporting me, I likely would have given in.
But, here I am, on Day 29, and over the hump! I am refocused on my goal of making it to 40 days. I have officially lost 45 lbs. The visceral fat in my upper stomach region is completely gone. My energy levels are starting to replenish as I am already thinking about hitting the cold plunge and going for a walk this morning, as had been my pre-purge routine. I miss it.
Doubt I will be swimming a mile today but maybe I will restart that challenge. I made it halfway to 18 laps, which is one mile and 45 minutes of swimming before this happened. Proud of that accomplishment. The true benefit is that I rediscovered my love for swimming as a form of exercise.
I promised to give you all the good and the bad from this journey. I am looking forward to a great weekend. I hope you have a nice one too.
This picture below is of my health guide. I think it’s appropriate for this post and what I just went through.
