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Want to dance with the Devil in the pale moonlight? Try fasting.

hedgeless_horseman's picture




 

 

I have posted many photos on Zero Hedge of the food we have raised, prepared, and served at our home, as well as a couple of full-length articles on raising rabbits and owning a family milk cow.  We love to eat good food!  We also love to be healthy.  Although eating right and exercising regularly are the two biggest keys to health, for me, I am learning that a regular cleansing of my body is also important.  No.  I am not talking about bathing.  I am talking about fasting.  I will tell you that in addition to the physiological benefits, I have also experienced very powerful spiritual and psychological benefits through fasting.

What is fasting?

Readers may recall that fasting was mentioned, by Jesus, in a recent post of mine:

Concerning Fasting

  

 

"And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

 

 

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-10-06/law-suit-porn-addict-divorcing-...

The Internet Guru of Fasting, Nathaniel Hawthorne Bronner, Jr., tells us that:

Fasting is the abstaining from ALL FOOD.  Fasting means taking in nothing but WATER. NO JUICE, NO FRUIT, NO TEAS, NOTHING BUT WATER.

Dear reader, I will tell that the primary purpose of this Zero Hedge article is to convince you to read Bronner's very short book, available free online:

 

http://quickfasting.com/ftp/quikfast.pdf


I strongly believe that if you read this book, today, then the chances of you wanting to try a fast, like I did, and actually doing it, successfully, are quite high. 

I would like to share a few excerpts with you.

First, what answers will you find in Bronner's book?

Why should I fast? How long should I fast? Is fasting a good way to lose weight? Should I work while I fast? Can fasting hurt me? Am I too skinny to fast? Am I too fat to fast? How do I prepare for a fast? What is a quick way to tell if my body is in condition for a fast? Do I exercise while I fast? Can I have sex while I fast? These are just a few of the questions this book will answer. 

Second, why do we need to read a book to learn how to stop eating?

We spend much time figuring out what to eat but when we decide to stop eating, we don't have the proper knowledge to get the most out of our fast. Often, instead of the fast benefiting our bodies, it does us harm because of our lack of knowledge. Proper knowledge can turn a potentially harmful experience into a blessing that is beyond price. 

 

 

Observing religious beliefs, seeking God, and maintaining and/or improving one's health are the major reasons for fasting. Fasting is recognized by every major religion. The benefits of fasting are universally recognized for spiritual development but how many times have you heard anyone tell you how to properly conduct your fast?

 

Third, what can we gain from fasting?

We may talk about sex being the strongest fleshly drive, but it is not. We may think ego is the strongest of the fleshly impulses, but it is not. From the day we are born, the desire for food reigns dominant.  We eat too much. Gluttony, the lack of discipline of the appetite, causes us to look old prematurely, to feel old before we get old and to suffer many different diseases.

 

 

Fasting allows us to gain control of the appetite. When you can develop the discipline to fast, you automatically develop the discipline not to overeat. When you can control your strongest carnal appetite (the desire for food), you can then gain control of the other carnal appetites.

For me, learning to gain control of my carnal appetites...my animal instincts...my sinful nature...has been an exciting challenge that is leading to significant and real improvements in my physical, psychological, and spiritual well being.  When I fast I have felt myself dancing with the Devil in the pale moonlight as I stand in front of the open refrigerator, at two in the morning, saying, "God help me!"  He does.

Setting spiritual warfare aside, Bronner talks about two very Earthly matters regarding fasting that I also want to address with you: enemas and shitting.

Bronner recommends enemas to help with the physiological benefit of fasting, which is cleansing your body.  I had never had an enema until I tried fasting. Don't be afraid, but others recommend that you do keep good OpSec...lock the bathroom door...your friends and family may have a hard time understanding, although mine all know me well enough that mrs_horseman didn't even raise an eyebrow.

For an enema on a fast, you need a real enema, not the little squeeze jar. You need a MINIMUM of a 1500 ml enema bag. Enema bags generally come in two sizes, a 1500 ml or a two quart bag.  Either will do, but the two quart bag is better.

This is the same unit I purchased and use.  They are about $20.

 

At the end of his book, appropriately located, you will also find that Bronner has a short section titled:  "How to properly BM."

I can hear you saying, "I may not know a lot about fasting, but I know how to BM. I have been BMing all of my life."  I know you have been BMing all of your life, but you probably have not been BMing properly.

In summary:

Here is another good article on the internet that delves into the art and science of taking a better shit:

Do You Sit or Squat? Potty Training For Grownups! [How to solve every poop problem and even some non poop problems with one little trick]

I hope you try fasting.  Embrace the challenge.  Seek the benefits.

Peace!

 

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Sun, 01/11/2015 - 22:27 | 5650028 jm
jm's picture

Dear Horseman:

I have perused this post multiple times.  I still can't tell if you are serious or if you are looking for a laugh.  Not one of those nervous titters mind you, but a full-on belly laugh only ending when you pass out. 

That last "in summary" picture is pure Banzai. 

Thanks for the good laugh,

JM

 

 

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 19:09 | 5649468 perelmanfan
perelmanfan's picture

Declaring war on my "sinful nature" ain't for me. But fasting upcycles activity of the autophagous machinery - little things called lysosomes within each cell do an even better job of breaking down metabolic byproducts that otherwise cause illness. Over a million years of evolution, people were often hungry - the body, ever opportunistic, evolved to derive advantage from these periods, so we need to create them even in flush circumstances.

Fortunately, fanaticism is not required. Just "hungry-up" before meals, and never miss a chance to skip a meal or two. When I travel on business, I eat little or nothing on travel days, as these are 1. busy and 2. devoid of decent food anyway, at least at most airports.

Gonna turn 60 this year, and feeling fantastic. Work out hard every day and don't eat too much, and you'll significantly raise your chances for a long, healthy life.

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 21:04 | 5649844 logicalman
logicalman's picture

Turned 60 last week.

I eat well, almost always cook from scratch. Cycle, averaged over the year, about 100 miles a week minimum and get plenty of sleep. Hike a lot and practice archery, which is more of a work out than most would think, with a decent weight bow.

Spent the day out hiking with my 20 year old son today. Pleased I can still keep up, and no, he doesn't give me any breaks.

If I had to choose between long and healthy, I 'd go with healthy.

 

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 18:47 | 5649420 logicalman
logicalman's picture

Lost me with the enema thing.

Call me funny, but shoving stuff up my arse has never held any appeal.

A diet lacking in chemical additives and plenty of physical activity seems to work for me.

60 years old - just got back from a 4 hour cycling/hiking trip.

Started the day with a good old English breakfast then went out and burned every damn calorie.

As for life, I'll go with quality, rather than quantity.

 

 

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 19:02 | 5649436 hedgeless_horseman
hedgeless_horseman's picture

 

 

The enemas are not a requirement, but only a suggestion.

My first fast was three days, and no enemas. I did not, and still do not, have hunger pains.

For me, fasting is really more of an intellectual and spiritual challenge than anything else. The physical benefits are a bonus.

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 19:19 | 5649508 Beowulf55
Beowulf55's picture

going to have to go with logicalman on the enema thing.  I fasted every year for 4 months in HS while on the wrestling team.  It was always a spiritual challenge for me.  Learned a lot about self control.  I did find that fasting for more than 2 days the hunger pains disappeared.  However, when that happens, you are starving and your body and it is converting muscle into energy.  Fasting is a fine balancing act.

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 18:40 | 5649401 Consuelo
Consuelo's picture

Try the rigors of competitive bodybuilding (even with PED's...), and get back to me...  6 weeks of pre-contest rip-your-head-off self-inflicted diet insanity.   Had my fill...

 

 

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 18:37 | 5649393 Fred C Dobbs
Sun, 01/11/2015 - 18:26 | 5649370 spinone
spinone's picture

Fasting for "detoxification" is malarkey.  The book is a bunch of religious and pseudo-scientific mumbo jumbo.

Fasting is good for regulation of insulin and reminding you what real hunger feels like.  Then remember to eat only when you're hungry, not for the dozens of other reasons people eat.

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 18:45 | 5649411 TBT or not TBT
TBT or not TBT's picture

While fasting, the nervous system operates by burning ketones made by the liver, and the very little bit of glucose it needs comes from breaking down fat.   Most of the rest of the time, in persons  consuming a standard western diet, it gets very little ketone burning in, because governments and Big At and Big Food have us eating such a sick overload of carbohydrates.    

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 17:42 | 5649215 kaiserhoff
kaiserhoff's picture

The quotation must be from the book of John.  Don't think the synoptic gospels mention fasts, but there are many differences.  Paul knew nothing of a virgin birth, any sayings of Jesus, or any miracles aside from the resurrection. 

I'm not that hard core HH, but there are health benefits.   I just go veg for a few days now and then.  I'm enough of a hard core carnivore that my body thinks I'm starving;)

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 22:35 | 5650046 knukles
knukles's picture

Anything green surrounding the meat is garnish.

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 17:28 | 5649163 TheAnswerIs42
TheAnswerIs42's picture

I've done a lot of fasting over the years, usually as a spring tonic. Read the Quickfasting link, it was pretty good, lot's of knowledge there.

My favorite fast is the Master Cleanse, which is essentially a morning salt water flush followed by a lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper tea during the day.

I've done that for 3 - 4 weeks, with great results, definitely worth trying it out.

One thing to watch out for, while researching these things, is the use of absolutes.

Take any advice which uses the words "Never" or "Always" with a large degree of skepticism.

This is your body. It is unique. You need to find out what works for you.

 

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 18:38 | 5649400 willwork4food
willwork4food's picture

Yes, I've learned not to say " I never leave my beer fridge empty". ..to "It's a good idea to try to keep it full."

 

I think I'm slowly improving.

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 17:21 | 5649161 SMC
SMC's picture

Willpower over desire.  Fasting is worth the effort.

 

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 17:20 | 5649153 Bangalore Torpedo
Bangalore Torpedo's picture

I thought Putin was public enema #1

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 17:19 | 5649151 YHC-FTSE
YHC-FTSE's picture

I won't go into my own spiritual stuff that involves fasting during Lent and other times prescribed by Canon Law, but to support this article I'll just point out the associated proven clinical benefits of a low protein diet. There are plenty of research papers devoted to this subject to be found on Google Scholar that show longevity (of life), major reductions in IGF-1, cancer, and overall mortality. Fasting really does have some remarkable beneficial effects on the body.

Never tried enemas and the rest in this article (Not quite sure I would personally) but to each his own - whatever works for you and makes you happy is always to be recommended.

Many european and asian countries still use the squat toilets. I've always "felt" that the sitting position while on my throne may not be the healthiest nor conducive way to do what comes naturally. There's probably a benefit in strengthening the core muscles too. Well, enough potty talk. :)

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 17:18 | 5649148 Katastrofenhausse
Katastrofenhausse's picture

After working with some IT geeks, I prefer to say "logout on the porcelain terminal" rather than BM

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 17:02 | 5649099 3.7.77
3.7.77's picture

Pass..

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 17:00 | 5649094 Bobby Lee
Bobby Lee's picture

I will offer that if you are a lifelong drunk and can quit for good (or evil), fasting should be trivial. Second best is the hard extraction of an impacted wisdom tooth.

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 16:43 | 5649033 Lmo Mutton
Lmo Mutton's picture

Did you step on his toes during that dance?

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 16:34 | 5649002 Everyman
Everyman's picture

Ginger extract and jalapenos!

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 16:32 | 5648992 Radical Marijuana
Radical Marijuana's picture

I first learned about the ideas outlined in the article above from reading books by Paul Bragg, back in the early 1970s, when I was in my twenties. Obviously, having enough motivation is a lot more difficult than merely assimilating such information.

 

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 16:15 | 5648945 Hulk
Hulk's picture

For added fun, fill up your enema bag with a nice, cheap, fortified wine...

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 18:58 | 5649441 Consuelo
Consuelo's picture

MD 20/20...?

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 19:19 | 5649507 Hulk
Hulk's picture

That will do it !!!

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 22:01 | 5649979 0b1knob
0b1knob's picture

I always thought most of the writers on ZH were full of shit.  After your enema article I shall have to re-evaluate that idea. 

Sun, 01/11/2015 - 22:32 | 5650042 knukles
knukles's picture

There's nothing like a good warm Thorazine and Ativan enema to relax after a hard day's work

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