I Will Not Die

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Or maybe five. We’ll see how this goes. Why did I decide to fast? I’ve thought about fasting for some time now. Besides the many medical benefits (which cover reduced-calorie & alternate-day fasting, also try here for lots of research leads), I have wanted to do it simply as a test of my will. You see, it’s hard. Also, in the long scheme of things, when I look at myself in perspective, I sometimes feel surrounded by a constant, often intense orgy of consumption–I am a rat among rats in a race among rats. I, just like anyone else, can get tied up into this sometimes frenzied life style where we get up and plow forward from dawn ‘til dusk, accomplishing this task, tackling that one, and then crash and repeat. Fasting feels like a good way to unplug. At work, instead of being lured by my stomach at midday for lunch, I’m going to just find a quiet place to think. Just me and my glass of water.

Day One

I stopped eating almost exactly twenty-four hours ago, Tuesday evening. It was a very delightful portion of homemade vanilla ice cream with Oreo’s crumbled throughout (sniff). As anyone should expect, no symptoms began until the middle of the day today. Initially it just felt like I was skipping a meal (I don’t generally eat breakfast), but I was hungrier than usual during the time I would normally eat lunch at work. I think the anticipation of not eating was weighing on my mind. Somewhat strangely, about an hour or so after lunchtime, I felt better. I was definitely hungrier during the time I would normally eat.

By mid-afternoon I was starting to get sleepy, and I could clearly tell that my mind was becoming a little foggy. It felt more like initial sleep deprivation than food depravation. Around four o’clock I was beginning to have serious cravings for food. My body was definitely telling me loud and clear that I had forgotten something. It was also around this time where I began to get a mild headache. The woman in the cubicle next to me (who is in on my little adventure and who has fasted before too) saved me from a granola bar that someone offered me–I was having serious doubts about following through with the fast by then.

By the time I was heading home from work, I could tell that my blood sugar had dropped through the floor. I had a slightly increased heart rate, was pretty thirsty, still had the headache, and could begin to detect a slight decrease in my motor skills. I could detect delays in my actions, slight ones mind you. By the time I got home, I decided to take a nap (I was definitely feeling a lack of energy). The weird thing about the nap is that it felt incredible. I slept very deeply, and had very vivid dreams. Oddly, I also got extremely overheated and felt almost like I was running a fever.

Every time I thought about getting back up, I easily slipped right back into sleep again. I could effortlessly doze back off–very strange. I finally got the gumption to get up and move around. I did some errands, got my hair cut and chatted with a friend who stopped by. Unfortunately, I was also getting irritable (er, sorry Honey). The strange thing is that even with the irritability and the mental fogginess, I feel a low-key-ness, a calm. I’m heading to bed soon. Presently, I feel the same mild headache, a constant light hunger pain (with sporadic sharper hunger pangs every 15-20 minutes), a light buzz in my head, a mild sore throat, and slight congestion in my head. I’m interested in describing how I will feel tomorrow.

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Dereck :: Apr.24.2008 :: Health :: 6 Comments »

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