tips you need to keep in mind when you are fasting

Fast facts

How not to feel hungry when you are fasting

    Fasting is one of the most common practices in our country — almost all communities here, fast for religious reasons. And usually, people who do it for religious reasons are able to control hunger. But then, there are some who have to battle their hunger pangs. Most are so used to eating regularly throughout the day that it can be odd or even alarming when our appetite kicks in. 

Here are some tips you need to keep in mind when you are fasting... 

YOU KNOW YOU CAN HAVE IT LATER One of the good things about fasting is that you know you can have all that you are saying no to now, later. If you are on a normal diet, and have to avoid a particular food, it can feel like a punishment and you keep craving. For example, when you are offered a cake while fasting, you can say you cannot have it, knowing at the back of your mind that you will be able to have it once your fast is off. 

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR EATING Allowing yourself to experience hunger and to see how little food it takes to feel full again is a huge help in taking control of your eating. 

DISTRACT YOURSELF When you feel that pang of hunger, distract yourself — have a glass of water, or herbal tea. Start doing something else to keep the thought of hunger away — if you are an exercise freak you could go for a run. Otheriwse, watch television or go out for a movie. 

 
IGNORE THE PANGS The pangs come in bursts but they will subside if you ignore them. Once you successfully ignore the first bout of pangs, you will reach a plateau when you won’t feel hungry. 

FASTING CAN GIVE YOUR BREAK FROM THE KITCHEN The days when you are fasting can be actually be a relief for your system. Fasting gives you a break from the kitchen. 

FROM RESTRICTION TO LIBERATION Eventually the ‘restriction’ of a fast day begins to feel more like a ‘liberation’ from worrying about food. 

REMEMBER HOW OVERINDULGENCE MADE YOU FEEL When you feel like you just have to eat, remember how bloated some foods make you or how bad you felt in the past after overindulging. 

FASTING IS POWERFUL Fasting has powerful effects on your brain, your mood and your attitude to food. The kind of control you need, to battle hunger pangs makes you stronger and you can ‘pat your own back’ and feel proud of yourself — which in itself is a very positive feeling. 

FASTING WILL HEAL AND CLEANSE Remember that your body is using this ‘fast’ time to heal and cleanse. With time, it should get easier to go on a fast. 

 
IMPORTANT: NEVER FAST TO LOSE WEIGHT Fasting to lose weight is extremely harmful for your body and does not really work, because one ends up putting on that much, and more weight, as soon as you are off the fast. If you want to lose weight, you need to eat small healthy meals throughout the day and exercise. No shortcuts here.