Ok... I was totally planning on writing on New Year's day but that first F took priority!
We found ourselves back in the UK for New Year's Eve and the first week of 2019. Although not for the reason we would ever have hoped for, it was an incredibly special family-oriented trip that brought us all so much closer together.
And if your family is anything like ours, time together invariably involves food, drinks and all the things associated with that second F!
I'm not kidding, guys... I think I drank a whole bottle of wine EVERY NIGHT and ate maybe 5 vegetables the entire time we were away.
Which brings me to that third F!
I've been doing research on completing an extended fast for quite some time now (for those of you who don't know, I intermittently fast daily), super fascinated by the health benefits associated with going without food for up to 96 hours.
Well... after the way my digestive system welcomed 2019, I figured this was as good a time as any!
So, this past Tuesday, I began a 48 hour water fast followed by a 3 day intentional refresh of my insides. Yes, you read that right - I just completed 5 whole days without 'real' food! Whaaaaaaaat?!
The water fast was actually fantastic - water ONLY for 2 days was not as challenging as I thought it would be. I had a solid 20hr headache and I was soooooo tired (jet lag did not help) but I, surprisingly, barely felt hungry. Almost all the bloating and fluid retention that came home with me was gone at the end of that second day and I felt pretty good.
So good that I have vowed to go for the full 96 hours next time and I will definitely be doing a water fast twice yearly from now on!
I am a fan but I encourage you to do your research if you consider doing this for yourself. There are countless health benefits to fasting and, honestly, weight loss was not the one I was most excited about! Check it out (google is your friend)!
Now, I have just completed the 3 day refresh and I feel AMAZEBALLS!!
1. When they say clearing out the gut, they mean clearing out the gut (if you know what I'm saying)!
2. It's 100% plant-based, with superfood, fiber and protein drinks to be consumed daily, as well as (more) water and herbal teas.
3. After the holiday season, it felt REALLY good to not be thinking about food!
4. ALL of my pre-trip bloating etc. is gone!
I am a fan of not eating, yo! (for the right reasons, of course)
So... in a nutshell... Fasting gets a big ol' thumbs up (although next time I have to plan better and not schedule a 21 hour training that I'm leading to fall over those same water-only days - the attention and communication struggle was real!) and I wholeheartedly recommend doing the refresh, again maybe two or three times per year, and certainly right before an event or vacation where you want to look bomb.com!
Now I am well and truly ready to tackle the next physical challenge that lies ahead - 6 weeks of high intensity, heart-pounding workouts and focused nutrition with the rest of the #InspiredNation!
2019 is gearing up to be a pretty great year for this community and I am here for it!!!
If you have any questions about what you just read, please feel free to reach out to me! You can get me here at:
Happy New Year, fit fam!
xoxo Sabs.
