Month: May 2025

So, you know how I’m always trying new things and sharing the good, the bad, and the “did that really just happen?” Well, the 36-hour fast has been on my radar for ages. And finally, I just went for it! Twice, actually. And because we’re friends here, I’m going to give you the honest-to-goodness, no-fluff breakdown of my experience.

First Things First: The (Pretty Straightforward) Rules of the Game

This isn’t some crazy complicated diet, thankfully. Here’s the deal:

1. Water is Your Main Squeeze: All day, every day (and night!). Still, sparkling, whatever quenches your thirst.
2. Our Little Extras: Herbal Tea and Black Coffee: Good news for us caffeine and cozy-tea lovers! Plain herbal teas (think peppermint, chamomile, hibiscus – no added anything!) and black coffee (again, nothing added) were my allowed companions on this journey. They can make things feel a little less…empty.
3. Tune In To Your Body: This is super important. If you start feeling seriously unwell – dizzy, super weak, like you might actually faint – please listen to your body and break the fast. No gold stars for pushing yourself too hard.

Now, the cool thing about 36 hours is how it fits into a weekend. Here’s the typical timeline I aimed for:

• Friday Evening (12 hours): From around 7 PM (after dinner) to 7 AM Saturday morning. Hello, sleep! This part is usually a breeze.
• Saturday (12 hours): 7 AM to 7 PM. This is where you really feel it, the daytime stretch without food.
• Saturday Evening into Sunday Morning (12 hours): 7 PM Saturday to 7 AM Sunday. Almost there! Hopefully, you’re winding down and getting ready for a good night’s sleep (and eventual breakfast!).

A little word of my own hard-earned wisdom: If you’re new to this, maybe start with a shorter 24-hour fast first. It’s like a practice run for the main event. Trust me, your body will thank you.

My 36-Hour Fasting Chronicles: The Nitty-Gritty

Okay, let’s dive into my two attempts. I kept notes (because that’s what us organized bloggers do!), so you’re getting the real deal.

Attempt #1: March 22nd – My “Curiosity Got the Better of Me” Fast

• Saturday, 6:00 AM: Woke up feeling…normal. Started the day with a bit of meditation. Trying to set a calm tone.
• 7:30-7:45 AM: Making breakfast for the family. Surprisingly, skipping my own didn’t feel too difficult, probably thanks to my occasional dabbling in intermittent fasting.
• 8:00-8:30 AM: More meditation. Trying to keep the good vibes going.
• 9:30 AM: Sipping on some warm water. Still feeling okay.
• 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Family time! This is when those first little whispers of hunger started. Nothing dramatic, just a gentle reminder that food exists.
• 11:30 AM: Almost went for my usual morning coffee with a bit of healthy fat, but remembered the rules! Settled for a plain black tea instead. My willpower was being tested early!
• 12:30 PM: Okay, energy levels dipping a bit. Standing for too long felt like a chore. Found myself lounging on the bed with my cup of tea.
• 1:15 PM: Made lunch for the kids, did the cleanup at a snail’s pace, and brewed another cup of green tea. The smell of their food was…definitely noticeable.
• 2:00 PM: A light headache decided to join the party. Not fun.
• 2:10 PM: My little trick! I made a “rock salt tea” – black tea with cinnamon and a pinch of rock ginger salt. Sounds a bit odd, but it was surprisingly soothing and the headache actually eased up!
• 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Hit a wall of tiredness. Had to take a nap. Felt really sluggish.
• 4:00 PM: Woke up feeling extremely fatigued. Couldn’t believe how heavy my limbs felt. My stomach was definitely making its presence known – those deep, rumbling hunger pangs. This was real hunger, not just a craving.
• 4:30 PM: Forced myself to get up and move around the house a bit. Gentle movement actually seemed to help lift the fog a little.
• 5:00 PM: Switched to hibiscus tea. The fruity flavor was a nice change and gave me a tiny little lift.
• 6:30 PM: Went for a short walk outside. Fresh air did wonders! My energy started to come back a bit.
• 7:00 PM: Made dinner for the family, did the bedtime routine. By this point, the intense hunger had surprisingly faded.
• 8:00 PM: Feeling okay, the crazy hunger was gone, but my energy was still on the lower side.
• 8:30 PM: Lost myself in a good book. Distraction is your friend!
• 9:00 PM: Lying down felt a bit strange, almost like my body temperature was slightly up. Found it hard to get comfortable.
• Sleep (around 2 AM): Took a while to fall asleep, felt a bit restless. Woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed at 2 AM, then managed to drift back to sleep.
• Sunday, 5:00 AM: Woke up feeling fantastic! Energetic, light, just…really good.
• 5:45 AM: Did some gentle yoga. Felt doable and gave me a nice energy boost.
• 8:00 AM: Made breakfast for the family (apples and khichdi). The smell was tempting, but I stayed strong!
• 8:30 AM: A lovely 20-minute walk.
• 8:45 AM: Broke my fast with some juicy apple slices, followed by the khichdi. Pure bliss!
• Rest of the day: Felt incredibly light and had a very…efficient…bathroom experience. You know what I mean!

Attempt #2: May 10th – 11th – The “Okay, I Know What to Expect” Fast

• Friday, 6:30 PM: Had a bit of a “last supper” – samosa, dhokla, and pani puri. Maybe not the wisest choice, but hey, live a little!
• Saturday, 10:00 AM: Black coffee. Feeling surprisingly energetic and focused.
• 12:40 PM: Hunger pangs are present, but my energy level is still pretty good.
• 1:12 PM: Sipped on some pink salt water.
• 1:12 PM – 2:40 PM: Energy levels remain steady, and my determination is strong!
• 2:40 PM – 3:00 PM: Felt a wave of sleepiness and took a short nap.
• 3:15 PM: Enjoyed a cup of hibiscus tea. Feeling a bit weaker, but still manageable.
• 5:30 PM: Managed a light workout! Felt a little sluggish beforehand, but the movement actually gave me a nice lift afterwards.
• 6:30 PM: Cooking dinner for the family. Surprisingly, no intense cravings or overwhelming hunger. Just a fleeting thought of wanting to taste things, quickly dismissed by asking myself if I actually needed to eat. Nope!
• 7:00 PM: Movie night! A great distraction.
• 9:00 PM: Feeling completely normal, full of energy and surprisingly calm.
• 10:00 PM: Slept like a log! No issues falling asleep this time.

My Simple Dos and Don’ts for This Fasting Thing

Learned a few things along the way, so here’s the easy-to-digest version:

The “Yes, Please!” (Dos):

• Drink plenty of water. Keep that water bottle handy!
• Listen to what your body is telling you. If it screams “stop,” then stop.
• Rest when you feel tired. Don’t try to push through extreme fatigue.
• Engage in gentle movement if you have the energy. A short walk can sometimes help.
• Find things to keep your mind occupied. Boredom can lead to food thoughts!
• Have a clear reason why you’re doing this. It helps with motivation.
• Reintroduce food slowly and gently after the fast. Your tummy will thank you.

The “Oh No You Didn’t!” (Don’ts):

• Engage in intense exercise. Save that for after you’ve eaten.
• Ignore signs of serious discomfort or illness. Your health is paramount.
• Constantly talk or think about food. It just makes it harder.
• Break your fast with a huge, heavy meal. Ease back in!
• Attempt this if you have underlying health issues without chatting with your doctor first.

My Go-To Hacks and Simple Tips

How did I, a busy woman in her 40s, actually make this happen? Here are my easy-peasy tips:

• A Pinch of Salt: A tiny bit of pink or rock salt in your water or tea can help with electrolytes and those pesky headaches.
• Embrace Your Allowed Drinks: Herbal teas and black coffee can make the “no food” thing feel a little less stark.
• Focus on Your “Why”: Keep reminding yourself of your reasons for trying this fast.
• Distraction, Distraction, Distraction: A good book, a captivating movie, a fun hobby – anything to keep your mind off food.
• Remember It Gets Better: The first few hours can be the toughest. Stick with it, and it often eases up.

So there you have it, my friends! My 36-hour fasting adventures, the slightly longer but hopefully still easy-to-understand version. It’s definitely an experience! Would I do it again? Maybe! There’s a certain feeling of lightness and accomplishment that’s quite interesting. But it’s not something to take lightly (pun intended!).

Have you ever dabbled in fasting? Got any simple tips or funny stories? Share them in the comments – we’re all in this together!

Stay awesome!

Love,

Renu

Yeah, yeah, we hear about all these tremendous health benefits of ditching the sweet stuff. But let’s be real, the thought of actually doing it? For 60 whole days?! It sounds less like a health kick and more like a hostage situation with carrot sticks. So, how do we make this “no sugar challenge” not end in tears and a midnight donut raid? Let’s dive into making this thing actually work, shall we?

This plan is designed to help you eliminate processed sugar from your diet and adjust to a healthier way of eating.

Rules of the Road:

• No Processed Sugar: Absolutely no processed sugar in any form. This includes white sugar, brown sugar, jaggery, coconut sugar, syrups, caramel, sugar substitutes (artificial sweeteners), and anything labeled as “added sugar”.
• Read Food Labels: Meticulously check food labels to identify and eliminate products with added sugar. Be aware that sugar can be listed under many different names (e.g., sucrose, fructose, glucose, corn syrup).

_{Photo Credit: https://www.ithrivein.com/blog/how-to-read-food-labels}

• Allowed Sweetness: The only sources of sweetness allowed in your diet are:
  • Raisins
  • Dates
  • Fruits (in moderation)
• Duration: 60 days

Expectations:

• Initial Cravings: Be prepared for strong sugar cravings, especially in the first week or two. This is normal as your body adjusts. You might feel sad or depressed, these are symptoms of withdrawal.

_{Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash}

• Taste Bud Adjustment: Your taste buds will change. Over time, you’ll become more comfortable to the natural sweetness of foods and enjoy sweetless flavors.

Tips and Hacks for Success

• Sugar-Free Environment:
  • Remove all sugary items from your kitchen and any easy-to-access locations.
  • Create a designated “sugar box” in a less accessible place to store these items (for others in the household, if applicable).

• Protein and Healthy Fats: Eat a lot of protein and healthy fats in each meal to help curb cravings.

• Anytime your Sugar Craving kicks in: Tell yourself, my body doesn’t need it, its just my addiction calling. I have given enough nutrition to my body to survive and thrive. If my body needs fuel it will tell me via hunger pangs, headaches, fatigue and low energy sensations and I will give it what it needs. I won’t give up to my mind.

• Build a support group: Include your friends of family members to take part in this challenge. It creates a huge difference to do it together and keeps you motivated and on track.

• Additional Tips:
  • Dry coconut helps with sugar cravings.
  • Hibiscus tea can be a helpful beverage.
  • Cinnamon tea comes handy in fighting the sweet urges.

Google Calendar for Daily Motivation:

Add this calendar to your Google Calendar for daily motivation and reminders:

• https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/r?cid=49b05ccd18c8a589d0d3c855f3f22405856b82da6fb1b4d4a0a97244f7fcc54f@group.calendar.google.com

Lets journey together! We’re talking better energy, clearer skin, stronger heart health, smaller waist and the power to say “no” to that 3pm cookie like a boss.

So grab some willpower (and maybe a friend to suffer with), and let’s crush this challenge!!!!