Fasting - A Necessary Evil?

This week's topic in the Zen Super Boot Camp covered Fasting.  Many people perform fasting for many different reasons such as religious devotion, spiritual growth, weight loss, medical procedures, or even as an influencing method.  Of course all of these choices are up to you, but the worst reason in the bunch would have to be for weight loss.  For the purpose of the Boot Camp, a fast is to cleanse the body of unwanted toxins.  Our daily lives bombard us with unneeded and unwanted substances that our bodies were not meant to deal with.  The accumulation of these unwanted materials are stored within the liver, kidneys, and even in our fat.

A Fast can come in many forms.  Some non-specific forms of a Fast are:
1)  Air Fast - No food or water
2) Fruit Fast or Fruit Juice Fast
3) Pure Water Fast
4) Veggie Fast

These are just a few Fasts that you can try if you want, but the important things to find a PROVEN Fast plan and to follow it explicitly.  Deviations to prescribed plans could end up hurting you in the long run if you do not know the effects of changing the plans will do to your body.

So if you decide that you want to perform a Fast, when is the best time to do it?  If you do work a normal Monday - Friday, 08:00-17:00 lifestyle , then it is best to start the Fast on a Friday so you can work through the food withdrawals over the weekend.  This will help get you over the hump so it minimizes the effect o your job.

So our homework for this week is to determine if we would go on a Fast based on the information that we have learned about Fasting and how it affects the body.  I have been thinking about this ever since I started the Zen Super Boot Camp.  My wife and I have talked about this as well and we certainly have different opinions about it.

My wife doesn't see the need to do a Fast.  She says that when she feels majorly hungry she is ready to rip someone's head off and roll it down the street if you look at her wrong.  I have never seen it this bad, but she does get into a mood that you don't normally see her in.  Me on the other hand believe that a Fast can be a good thing.  Based on what I have learned, the release of toxins and the reset of my body's processes by this experience will out weight the discomfort the process my put me through.

I think that may go through a Fast just to say that I did it.  I am currently trying to find a Fast that I find agreeable.  My only worry is the increased loss of energy through the day.  I am already struggling in the morning without a strong cup of Irish tea.  When I cut that out, I may need to stand up at my desk in order to stay awake.  However, I feel that my weight loss efforts could use a boost from a Fast.  It has taken me 15 years to get myself into this unhealthy state, so I am open to anything that will help get me on the straight and narrow.  When I decide when my starting date is, then I will give you the blow by blow of my struggles and successes.

What do you all think?  Are you willing to go through a Fast? Why or Why Not?