Let’s fast together and experience how and why it clarifies and detoxifies me.

I have been fasting for eight hours, and I have five more hours to go.

Should I be fasting today? My life is full of responsibilities, some physical ones that require energy and strength. After a bit of deliberation, I decided to go for it. I love being able to test my limits and see if I have the willpower, to sustain fasting and forego what I love.

I started my fast at 6 am with a nourishing breakfast and a prayer. That early meal is important as it will need to suffice until I break my fast thirteen hours later. It is imperative to have a meal consisting of protein, carbs, fiber, fruit, a beverage that is your staple, coffee or tea, and as much water as your belly will hold.

By now, we have all heard about the benefits of fasting. In recent years, intermittent fasting has become very popular, as those who have fasted see a huge difference and improvement in their overall health. It not only cleanses our bodies of waste and toxins but also lightens and nourishes our souls. It graces us with resilience and strength and tests our being. It teaches us not only to survive and be satisfied with the minimum but also to thrive. For more information on this, I have added a link at the end of this article.

People are hesitant to fast sometimes because they think it might harm their health if they are not hydrated enough or unable to maintain their routines. To both, the answer is in the negative. There are numerous benefits to fasting. It is not easy for those who have never fasted, but there is a first time for everything, and usually, that first time is hard. Once you get over that day, the body adapts and accepts the new routine. I am going to go through my whole day, from breakfast to dinner, and all that happens in between so you get a clear picture of the effects it has and the reaction of the body by limiting the day's food and liquid intake. Be ready for a ride that is exhilarating and beneficial for us.

5:30 am getting breakfast ready Breakfast Menu:

Spinach and egg omelet 1/2 Avacado sliced Home-made cassava bread A small ground chicken patty A clementine

A large cup of tea with almond milk 3 glasses of water One date( dates have fiber, antioxidants, and minerals, not only are they filling, but they also help with gut health and brain health).

The whole process of making and consuming is about 30 minutes, and then I brush my teeth pray, and meditate for 20 minutes or more. I read for some time to quiet my mind so I can go back to sleep for an hour.

8:00 am: I am up. I get myself ready for the day. Wake up hubby and get him ready. By 9:30 am, I am in the kitchen with my husband. I give him his meds and make his breakfast of cereal and bananas with chia seeds and coconut milk. Though he tries to feed himself, he still needs help, so I stay with him till the aide arrives.

11 am: I go over my to-do list.

I fast-walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes. I usually run, but I didn’t want to feel thirsty. After I am done, I feel energetic and ready to tackle the day's schedule.

11:30 am: I go up to my room and I start with the calls on my list. The town garbage service is coming at noon to pick up the construction debris left from the last unfinished project ( that’s a story in itself). I make appointments with my husband's doctors for follow-up visits after his emergency hospital stay recently.

Next, I have to pay some bills, as the reminders keep popping up. Finally, all done, and I am now restless to sit and write some and publish a story I wrote a day ago. An hour later, that is taken care of.

1:30 pm: I am in the kitchen again instructing the aide about preparing lunch for my husband and his added medicine to be given after lunch. I look to make sure I have all I need to break my fast at 7 pm, which is still 51/2 hours away, so I am not too concerned.

2:30 pm: I put in a load of clothes to wash. My son texted me his meds need to be picked up at CVS, as he is disabled and cannot drive.

3 pm: I leave to go pick up his meds and a quick stop at the grocery store for some veggies I need.

4 pm: I am back and after putting away groceries, the load of washed clothes goes in the dryer. I begin to feel a little tired. A reminder that I need to rest and meditate some more in quiet. Half an hour later, I feel relaxed and ready to start dinner for my husband, my son, and me.

5:15 pm: getting dinner ready. My husband is fed at 5:30 pm, so his dinner gets ready before ours. He loves his cauliflower rice with beans and spinach, and chicken stew with veggies. My son wanted veggie-fried brown rice with eggs and spicy noodles with scallions. All that was cooked, and now it was my turn.

6 pm: an hour left. Enough time to prepare my dinner at a leisurely pace.

Dinner menu: Water and dates to break my fast. As mentioned before, dates are nutritious and filling and the sweetness tastes good after fasting all day. I prepare my tea, which is comforting, especially in winter. And a cup of diced mixed fruits. A bowl of chickpeas, cubed potatoes, chopped onions salt to taste mixed with yoghurt and mint. It is refreshing and light on an empty stomach. You don’t want to eat a lot of fried and heavy foods that will make you feel bloated and stuffed. As my main dish, I had basmati rice, eggplant baked topped with yogurt and tomato sauce, and a small portion of chicken with lentils.

6:50 pm: I am ready and set the table so I can sit in peace and savor the delicious food. To quench the day’s thirst, I have my tea, a yogurt drink, and a tall glass of water. I always open my fast with a date and a prayer. I drink and eat slowly, appreciating the abundance of blessings. My mind is relaxed so is my body, spiritually energized and at peace.

The day without food for me is voluntary, but it reminds me of how blessed and lucky I am that I have a choice. Some are without food not because they want to be but because they have to be. This realization is the spiritual awakening of my soul, and I want to help, I want to give, and I want to share my blessings with those who are less fortunate. It cleans both my body and soul of toxins. For me, the month of Ramadan is a journey of discovering my strengths, my weaknesses, my limitations, and my immensity. My blessings and gratitude for my life and all that I have encountered on this journey. It enlightens and teaches me that the hunger of the body and soul paves the way for empathy, restraint, resilience, patience, mindfulness, and compassion for humanity.

If you do fast, I would love to know your experience. Here is a link, you can read about the benefits of fasting. For those who have never fasted please consult your doctor before you fast.

Video on dates and how they are beneficial for you.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hVvqkIehukc

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