Research Paper (Chapter 1-3)

FUNDAMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS IN ADAPTING FASTING

AS A WAY TO ACHIEVE A GREATER SENSE OF

SELF-CONTROL, GRATITUDE, AND PATIENCE

A Research Paper Presented to

English Resource Center

School of Multimedia Arts

Asia Pacific College

Magallanes, Makati

In Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements for the Course

ERESWRIT – Research Writing

Diane Janica Buhain

April 2014

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

Fasting is practice usually done for religious reasons. However, many studies suggest that fasting has several physical benefits as well. One of its benefits includes limiting the risk of obesity. Because of its long term effects on metabolism, fat stores in the body, leptin, and disease conditions associated with obesity, fasting has been found to be one of the most effective treatments for obesity.

In the article "The Health Benefits of Water Fasting," Stephen Harrod Buhner discussed how fasting can affect the human body in several positive ways. These positive changes begin as soon as three days from the beginning of the fast. It was also mentioned in the article how several studies on fasting prove that it has positive effects on diseases such as type II diabetes and helps prevent many forms of cancer.

Buhner writes, "Fasting is an exceptionally ancient, and powerful, approach to healing many common disease conditions. It allows the body to rest, detoxify, and to heal. During fasting the body moves into the same kind of detoxification cycle that it normally enters during sleep. It uses its energy during a fast, not for digesting food, but for cleansing the body of accumulated toxins and healing any parts of it that are ill" (http://www.gaianstudies.org/articles4.htm).

During periods of fasting the body begins to focus on the removal of toxins and the healing and regeneration of damaged tissues and organs. This rest and detoxification cycle that fasting brings has been found to permanently help a number of disease conditions. Our understanding of human physiology confirms the powerful healing effects of fasting and today, fasting is receiving interest on the non-religious front as a practice that can give way health benefits. One of the latest trends is intermittent or alternate fasting.

In the article “What the Science Says About Intermittent Fasting”, Dr. Mercola discussed a new strategy on continuous calorie restriction called Intermittent Fasting which ranges from periodic multi-day fasts to skipping a meal or two on certain days of the week as a way to cut calories and allow regular periods of fasting for daily detoxification. The article discussed how intermittent fasting can provide the same health benefits as constant calorie restriction in maintaining a healthy body weight and overall lifestyle.

Dr. Mercola writes, “Besides turning you into an efficient fat burner, intermittent fasting can also boost your level of human growth hormone (aka the “fitness hormone”) production by as much as 1,200 percent for women and 2,000 percent for men” (http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2013/06/28/intermittent-fasting-health-benefits.aspx)

In an article entitled “Fasting for Mental Health: Does it Work?” Katie discussed how fasting also greatly benefits the brain from short term effects with regards to moods and migraines to treatments of severe neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Katie writes, “Intermittent fasting increases the chemical known as BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), which is associated with increased hippocampal neurogenesis. That means, the more BDNF you make the more likely it is that your brain is building new neurons. In animal models, this chemical improves the functional outcome in situations of stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease.” ( http://www.mindthesciencegap.org/2013/04/10/fasting-for-mental-health-does-it-work/#sthash.tK9eNxfO.dpuf)

Various studies all over the world have concluded the mighty benefits of fasting as an effective preventive measure from various diseases and its positive effects on a person’s body and mind and because of this, the idea of fasting has convinced an increasing number of people trying it.

The researcher observes that the increasing prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes in recent decades has been associated with a lack of self-control. In an article entitled “Kids Who Lack Self-Control More Prone to Obesity Later” written by Alice Park, discussed several studies on how self-indulgence drives children to obesity.

Park writes, “Scientists found that preschool-age children who had trouble with self-control and the ability to delay gratification gained more weight by the time they were preteens than those who were better at regulating their behavior.“ (http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1889942,00.html)

Eating is one form of a destructive human impulse that is disguised as normal, but when uncontrolled, leads to slow development of disorders leading to death. The researcher observes that the practice of fasting is not just about staying hungry or thirsty; it is also a struggle to refrain from any destructive impulses of the human self.

The researcher also observes that fasting is a constant exercise of willpower as the human refrains from eating and drinking, and this practice addresses a fundamental weakness in the human self the tendency to act on impulse. Through waiting and deprivation, fasting brings about a great sense of self-control, gratitude, and patience.

Further study on fasting may provide the reader understanding on the psychological and spiritual benefits of fasting and may provide an exceptional journey through spontaneous healing, not only in the body, but in the mind, will, spirit and emotions as well.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an explanation as to how fasting could provide healing from within and provide a possible solution to personal weaknesses and struggles and hopefully would allow the reader to gain will power and ability to control one’s self that could trigger exceptional human performances.

B. Statement of the Problem

                This study aims to answer this question:

1.      What are the fundamental considerations in adapting fasting as a way for a person to achieve a greater sense of self-control, gratitude, and patience?

C. Significance of the Study

Men and Women (ages 16 and above). This research paper caters to all men and women that have issues regarding self-control or lack of discipline. People who are under stress and unable to cope up with life and wanting to grasp significant change in their lives with regards to better handling of their emotions. Also to people who willing to try out a different kind of healing.

Overweight or Obese Male and Female. This research paper would be able to help individuals who are overweight or struggling obesity. The researcher hope that the further study of fasting would provide them better understanding of the human body and be able to make positive changes In their current lifestyle and body state.

Persons with Chronic Diseases. Persons with chronic diseases would benefit from this study because they would be able to make use of the information imparted in this research in preventing or controlling the onset of debilitating and expensive complications of chronic diseases.

Fitness Enthusiasts and Athletes. Knowledge of this study would help fitness enthusiasts and athletes gain better understanding and align their practice to the psychological and spiritual benefits of fasting to their overall wellness.

Future Researchers. This study is crucial for future researchers to make similar studies especially since there is a need to conduct a prospective study to evaluate the use of fasting in the treatment of many diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Further study and evaluation may effect on long-term costs of care for the patients who undergo fasting compared to those who choose conventional medical care. The researcher believes that if future studies would be made, utilizing this paper as a source of valuable data, might be a contributing force in both a philosophical and practical revolution in health care.

D. Scope and Delimitation

This study will focus on fasting as a spiritual practice and training ground for the discipline of self, which includes all the emotional, mental, and spiritual discipline that fasting generates within the human soul.

This study will no longer focus on the physical health benefits of fasting since studies have claimed it proven already. 

E. Materials and Methods

This research utilizes a document review method. The researcher will keep track and review the information retrieved from the documents and identify relevant information.

In this study the data collection has already been done, therefore the researcher will make use of the secondary data, the type of data that typically comes from other studies done by other fasting programs, studies, and institutions or organizations.  This research will make use of the document review method.

F. Definition of Terms

Fasting. An act of willing abstinence or reduction from certain or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time.

Detoxify. To remove a poisonous or harmful substance from (something).

Intermittent Fasting. A pattern of eating that alternates between periods of fasting and non-fasting.

Metabolism.  A term used to describe the body's capture and use of energy and nutrients to sustain life.

Psychological. The science of the mind or of mental states and processes.

Gratitude. The quality of being thankful

Chapter 2

DISCUSSION

What are the fundamental considerations in adapting fasting as a way for a person to achieve a greater sense of self-control, gratitude, and patience?

I.                    Introduction

History and Definition of Fasting

Fasting is an act of abstinence from food and/or drink for a predetermined period of time. The practice of abstaining from food for extended periods has cultural and religious roots that reach back centuries before the Islamic religion. Historical records tell us that fasting has been used for health recovery for thousands of years. Hippocrates, Socrates, and Plato all recommended fasting for health recovery. The Scripture tells us that Moses and Jesus fasted for 40 days for spiritual renewal. Fasting played a vital part in early human survival.

In an article entitled “Fasting Back To The Future- The Rediscovery of Water-Only Fasting” written by Alan Goldhamer, D.C.. Goldhamer discussed how fasting played a vitally large part in early human survival.  He stated several physiological benefits of fasting and how our natural fasting capabilities as a human best supports healing.

Goldhamer writes, “Human beings have the capability to survive extended periods of fasting. This was certainly known in our hunter-gatherer days, since many humans were forced to live through periods when little or no food was available to them.” (http://www.vegsource.com/articles2/goldhamer_fasting.htm)

All the evidences and historical records go only to say that the human body is designed to fast, and it is and has always been a part of human’s self-healing mechanisms. Fortunately, this ancient knowledge is making a dramatic comeback and is beginning to transform the way modern healthcare providers view their responsibilities to patients.

Today, there are numerous types of fasting such as water fasting, juice fasting, and partial fasting all of which offer the same many healing benefits and is practiced for a variety of reasons, includes fasts to cleanse, detoxify, lose weight, treat a medical condition and conform to religious practices. A person may choose to go on a 24 hour fast, a three day fast or a longer fast depending on the person’s goal or reason.

Factors influencing positive changes through Fasting

A.      Self Control and Gratitude

Self-control is vital to living a contented and fulfilled life. When we lack self-control we may find that our physical body suffers and health problems arise, but more than that, lack of self control may cause us to feel morally insufficient, unfulfilled, and discontent. These damaging thoughts could control us and may sabotage ourselves if we lack inner discipline.

The Researcher read an article entitled, "The Psychological Benefits of Fasting” written by Haleh Banani. The article stated how a lack of self-control in humans results to different negative vices such as addiction, gambling, and violence. This article did not just focused on the man's appetite, but to the fleshly desires of human as a whole. It says there how a person can become a slave to its desire, leaving a person completely powerless if lack of self-control is continued to be practiced. The article presented fasting as a training to practice one's self-control over temptations of different kinds not limited to eating and drinking.

Banani writes, “Aside from gaining will power and the ability to control desires, fasting instills within us a deep feeling of gratitude along with patience. Deprivation leads to appreciation.”

The lack of self control could be the major factor that prevents a person from living its life to the fullest. A person may think that he/she is control whenever they succumb to their desires, but in every single time we give in to temptations, we become a slave to our bodies, leaving us completely powerless to what it desires.

More than abstaining from food and drinks, fasting is a training ground for self-control that strengthens our will power and inner strength. Stepping back from the desires of our flesh allows us to see a bigger picture of the beautiful things in life that we have unconsciously have taken for granted because of our lack of self control. Seeing the bigger picture allows us to feel a deeper sense of appreciation and gratitude

“After a long day of fasting our sense of taste and smell are heightened. Each sip of water is like releasing a gushing, cool river in a dry, barren land and each morsel of food that is consumed is like feeding a person who has been stranded on a desert island with very little to eat, the most exquisite, scrumptious meal.” (Banani) (http://muslimmatters.org/2010/08/11/the-psychological-benefits-of-fasting-saum/)

Fasting instills to us a greater sense of awareness to oneself and its surroundings.

B.      Patience

In an article entitled “The Fundamental Spiritual Benefit of Fasting” written by Mehmet Ozalp, the writer discussed how fasting sharpens the will power and makes self control a habit. According to the article, an interesting experiment was done in the 1960s at a preschool on the Stanford University campus when the ability of four-year olds to resist temptation was tested. A marshmallow was placed in a room and the children were told that they could have the marshmallow immediately, or if they waited until the tester had run an errand and returned, then they could have two marshmallows. Some children waited for two marshmallows, while others ate one immediately. These same children were followed over 14 years to see how they managed in life.

Ozalp writes, “Those who had resisted temptation at four were now, as adolescents, more socially competent, personally effective, self-assertive, and better able to cope with the frustrations of life. The third or so who grabbed the marshmallow, however, tended to have fewer of these qualities and shared instead a relatively more troubled psychological portrait. Even more surprising, those who had waited patiently at four were far superior as students to those who acted on whim. Most astonishingly, they had dramatically higher scores on their SAT tests.” (http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/The-Fundamental-Spiritual-Benefit-of-Fasting)

In attaining personal maturity, one of the most important elements that we have to consider is patience to withstand temptation and patience to wait for the best things that are yet to come.  Whether it is being patient in big things or small things in life, in this world filled with immediate gratification, learning to delay the simple pleasures in life is the key. Through fasting, one is able to truly sharpen its willpower and makes self-control to be a habit, therefore, allowing patience to be practiced fully.

C.      Emotional Maturity and Self Realization

In this article entitled "Could Fasting Change your Business? Your Life? Your World?" written by Justin Brackett, the author intentionally decided to bring about a change in his life through Fasting. He shared his discoveries as he embarked on a 40 day fasting that positively changed his life dramatically in all the areas of his life. To start with, the author is a 54-year old man that has condition called mercury poisoning that negatively impacted his life for seven years, that impaired his ability to walk and talk. He was sick and it had almost left him hopeless. Prior to that, bad things had happened in his life just like most people. All this had left him burdened, and he had to make a change in his life. In his 40 day fasting, he shut off most of the noise in his life, specifically suspending his Facebook account and shutting off his TV. Ate only very limited amount of food, that only consisted of fruits, vegetable, and proteins. He shared on the article all the health benefits he achieved. Having the energy, concentration, balance, strength of a 20-year-old, losing weight, and overcoming his condition. All of this enhanced his relationships, career, and perspective. Fasting, he stated, changed his business, life, and his world. He went on as he summarized how fasting had provided him with spontaneous healing, not only in his body, but in his mind, will and emotions.

The author, Justin Brackett stated "I can ‘hear’ people better than ever before in my life. I don’t mean literally hear, I mean I can hear their heart, their core concerns, the center piece of what they’re trying to share, seems to resonate with me now in a brand new way." (http://www.business2community.com/health-wellness/could-fasting-change-your-business-your-life-your-world-0138176#!w2GnL)

Abstaining from things that we rely to when we feel weak, or things that we find comfort to, allows us to confront the root problem, focus on it, and deal with it. Turns out that when we fast, we also cleanse out not just our digestive system, but our toxic emotions as well along the way as part of the process. We deal with our problems face to face, and we get it over with. We don't just eat it away. It gives us clarity, allowing us to go deep to the core of our hearts and to other people's heart as well. We become more sensitive to our soul leading us to greater sense of self-realization as we take our flesh away from its comfort zone.

Chapter 3

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

SUMMARY

This paper attempted to determine the different fundamental considerations in adapting fasting as a way for a person to achieve a greater sense of self-control, gratitude, and patience.

 The research design used in this study is the descriptive method where data from several different online articles and a survey was used to answer the following research question that was stated. The research finds are the following:

1.       There is a fundamental weakness in the human self-the tendency to act on impulse.

2.       Eating is one form of a destructive human impulse that is disguised as normal, but when uncontrolled, leads to slow development of disorders leading to death.  Increasing prevalence of Obesity and type 2 Diabetes in recent decades has been a result of mindless eating.

3.       Every vice in society stems from a lack of self-control. Whether it's violence, addiction, gambling, infidelity or pre-marital sex – they are all a result of succumbing to desires.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the findings of this study, the following conclusions are drawn:

1.       Abstinence from food puts us in a constant exercise of willpower and self-control as our body is deprived from its desires. Aside from gaining will power and ability to control desires, fasting gradually establish within us a deep feeling of gratitude along with patience as the person learns to appreciate and value more what it was deprived from.

2.       Fasting provides spontaneous healing since it does not only provide multitude of benefits for the physical health but also on the overall emotional, mental, and spiritual health aspects.

RECOMMENDATIONS

After drawing the conclusions of the study, the researchers hereby make the following suggestions/recommendations:

1.       In order to adapt fasting as a lifestyle and reap the benefits effectively, one must first be convinced in his/her mind about the change that he/she is about to embark on her life. It will be hard at first but having the decision place firmly on the mind and body is the first step to gaining will power. One can decide to go on complete water fast for up to 7 days (depending on the person), intermittent fasting or timed eating, or partial fast of eating only very limited amount of food (max 250-500 calories max) that only consists of fruits, vegetables, and proteins. The partial fast could be extended so long as the respondent wants and/or can fully adapt it into his/her lifestyle.

2.       During the fast, expose oneself to inspiration every day, and throughout the day at different times. For example, praying, reading the bible, reading books, listening to inspirational music, or talking to inspirational and motivational people.

3.       Try to fast from television and internet to shut off some unnecessary noise in life that could be one of the source or trigger of stress in your life.

4.       Journal one’s thoughts. Focus on your emotions, and process it. Write one’s emotions and insights and start to deal with it.

5.       Take off one’s mind from temptation to food by doing something else that is engaging and productive.

References:

Web

Brackett, J. (2012, February 25). Could Fasting Change your Business? Your Life? Your World?. Business 2 Community. Retrieved April 1, 2014, from http://www.business2community.com/health-wellness/could-fasting-change-your-business-your-life-your-world-0138176#!w2GnL

Banani, H. (2010, August 11). The Psychological Benefits of Fasting (Saum). MuslimMattersorg. Retrieved April 1, 2014, from http://muslimmatters.org/2010/08/11/the-psychological-benefits-of-fasting-saum/

Brown, M. (2013, June 26). Heart and soul: Fasting has spiritual and physical benefits across faiths Read more at http://national.deseretnews.com/article/336/Heart-and-soul-Fasting-has-spiritual-and-physical-benefits-across-faiths.html#sbkHYXdOqBJSpu01.99. National Deseret News. Retrieved April 1, 2014, from http://national.deseretnews.com/article/336/Heart-and-soul-Fasting-has-spiritual-and-physical-benefits-across-faiths.htm

Goldhamer, A. (n.d.). VegSource Article. VegSource Article. Retrieved April 1, 2014, from http://www.vegsource.com/articles2/goldhamer_fasting.htm

Ozalp, M. (2008, September 1). The Fountain Magazine - Issue - The Fundamental Spiritual Benefit of Fasting. The Fountain Magazine - Issue - The Fundamental Spiritual Benefit of Fasting. Retrieved April 1, 2014, from http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/The-Fundamental-Spiritual-Benefit-of-Fasting

Buhner, S. H. (2013, January 1). The Health Benefits of Water Fasting by Stephen Harrod Buhner. The Health Benefits of Water Fasting by Stephen Harrod Buhner. Retrieved January 1, 2014, from http://www.gaianstudies.org/articles4.htm

Post 7: Mirror Off The Wall: Mirror Fast

A research in Britain showed that an average woman stare in a mirror about 38 times every day, and about 50% of women won't leave the house without consulting one. Mirrors and reflections of ourselves are everywhere. No matter where we go, if there's a reflection of ourselves, we check it. Despite our attraction to our own reflections, the majority of women hate looking in the mirror and one study found 39% say it makes them feel negative about themselves. This has prompted a trend where women are avoiding mirrors altogether.

I read an article entitled "'Mirror Fasts' Help Take the Focus Off Yourself"" written by Kate Murphy on the website www.nytimes.com. The article discussed about the new trend among female bloggers that is called "Mirror Fasting" - abstaining from looking at one's reflection for a set period of time. The women who have engaged in the mirror fast reported seeing themselves more clearly and experienced a lot more serenity. The article stated different results from the fast and some did not endure, leading to more self obsession. However, the women who had body issues were motivated to eat well and exercise.

As stated in the article, Dr. Eric Hollander, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, says "While women, like the evil queen in “Snow White,” are more often thought to be compulsive mirror gazers, men are just as likely to admire and appraise themselves"

The Mirror Fast could benefit vain women but some questions lingers my mind, "until when?" and "what will happen next after the fast?". To the women who experienced serenity, how long will that serenity last and what will happen after? Certainly the answers would differ since we all have different vanity levels and tendencies. But as I meditate on what Dr. Eric Hollander said, perhaps the case isn't about the mirror being taken off the wall, but the evil queen inside us that looks on the mirror. Shifting our perspective the same as how men look at themselves in the mirror: with more acceptance and admiration of oneself without going overboard.

I read another article entitled "Don't look now: US bloggers claim avoiding the mirror can improve your image" written by Megan Conner on the website www.theguardian.com. This second article that I read, however, suggest the opposite of "Mirror Fasting", stating that "mirror fasting" would not have a long-term positive impact on body image. The article stated that mirror fasting is throwing the issue of appearance into sharp relief in the same way that crash dieting often serves to make people obsess even more about food. Thus encouraging people to do the direct opposite of fasting by looking in the mirror and focusing on the things they like.

As stated in the article, Kate Fox, a social anthropologist at the Social Issues Research Centre in Oxford, says "We're now able to curate so much of our public image via social networking. I wonder if part of the reason this [mirror-fasting] speaks to people is because there's something appealing about giving up the ability to control our image in such a major way. When I've talked with people who quit Facebook they speak of it in terms similar to how I describe the mirror- fast: serenity, liberation, a feeling of knowing oneself and one's priorities better."

Mirror fast will not change the way we look at ourselves. Our own internal lens is the one that influences us most as our self-image continues to be shaped by what we see with our own eyes. Our sense of self is an accumulation of how others viewed us throughout our lives, and if we have issues with what we see in the mirror, avoiding the mirror will not be the solution because a good sense of self image is a developmental process that is best understood, not avoided.

Mirror fasting changes the way we see other people. Taking off the focus on ourselves gives us a new perspective to everything that surrounds us. This explains why some women experienced serenity and liberation. By choosing not to mind ourselves, we break free from our self obsession. We gain freedom from our self imprisonment. We gain better understanding to our surroundings, therefore improving our relationships and performing better at our tasks. We take a clearer view of our priorities, and all that sums up to knowing ourselves better.

Post 6: Media Fasting Psychology

In recent years, the growth of social media has certainly changed the way we connect and communicate. Everything has developed and exchanging information has never been this effective and instant. It has impacted our lives enormously and we've all become so addicted to it that it seems impossible to imagine a life without it. Heck, forget a life without it - most of us can't even go a day without checking their Facebook.

I read an article entitled "Addiction to social media leaving kids 'disconnected" written by Radhika-Acharya in the website www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. It states in the article that excessive use of social networking sites is causing the youth serious behavioral damage. Increased activity on social networking causes people to lose touch with the real world and that leads to depression, isolation, and aggression. Over-exposure on "happy" images and lives of other people increases the feeling of discontentment. The article also states that social network addiction is also as serious as addiction to alcohol, smoking, or gambling.

Dr Radhika Acharya, psychologist at Deccan Hospital stated in the article that "Internet addiction has to be treated like any other addiction for which the person must undergo rehabilitation. Patients are first counseled, advised to undergo digital fasting and are also made to go through cognitive behavioural therapy."

Gone were the days when kids actually gather outside to play with one another, allowing themselves to really socialize and build friendship. Most games that the youth play today are on their phones, tablets, pc, and laptops. They connect easily to any people, but rarely do they build real connection and friendship, thus causing behavioral damage. A lot more factors contribute to this that the social media brings. There has been numerous media reports of death cases among youth that was caused by social media and it's not surprising anymore to know that experts now have gone as far as to say that social network addiction is as serious as addiction to alcohol, smoking, and gambling. As the psychologist advised treatment for this, I believe cold turkey is the key. A person who is currently addicted to social networking has to abstain from it completely and fasting from social networking sites is not easy to do, but it's the best way to grow in self-reflection. There is a discipline in fasting and it will allow the person to really think hard about what's going on, what really matters, and can give the person a new perspective on his/her life.

I read an article entitled "Media Fasting For Mental Health" written by author William Curtis in the website www.futurefocusdirect.com. The article shares a concept called "media fasting". Media fasting is simply abstaining from all kinds of media like radio, internet, television, and spending the time instead with family, friends, or any other valuable activity. The article states how media providers repeat and exaggerate news and how rarely news nowadays promote values and positive stories to uplift its listeners, but providing too much negativity instead. All these stresses the mind, stealing happiness and causing danger to health. The article promotes media fasting as a great stress reduction tool.

The author, William Curtis, states in the article "As the days went on however, I began noticing a clarity of thought and renewed creativity. I also noted my days became more productive, focused, and less stressed."

If you’re like me and a lot of other people, you get a lot of your news on the Internet, you also read a lot of blogs, read books, magazines and newspapers. You listen to the radio on your way to work, and as you get home you watch a lot of TV, where you get entertainment and news as well. Information overload. Our brains are not made to process this much information. We can do it, but it gives us a lot of stress, and we cannot think about any of the information long enough for it to give us real value.

I've found excess and unmeasured consumption of information can contribute a lot to stress and removing this from your informational diet changes your mindset. Fasting from any form of media will clear the mind and heal our own mental state from negativity and information noise. This process will give you a new perspective on the wasted time we allow our minds to be polluted. It could help us engage more deeply in the real world around us allowing examination of one's own conscious thoughts and feelings. It's time to finally heal, and the first step is to unplug.

Post 5: Fasting as a Political Weapon: The Psychology of Hunger Strikers

I remember when I was a child, I used to threaten my mom by not eating to get what I want. It sounds silly, rude, and selfish. I was disobeying her and pressuring her at the same time for my own selfish desires. But it was an unconscious act of selfishness since It was a time in my innocent years. I was growing up and I was at a stage when I thought it was a smart thing to do. But I believe I was not alone in this as a child and I bet most of us are guilty of this: using hunger strike as a weapon to get what we want. While our cause was for our own selfish purposes, there are people today who actually unite and use hunger strike as a weapon for the benefit of all.

I read an article entitled "Hunger Strikes Turn Fasting into a Political Tool" written by author Renee Saucedo in the website www.npr.org. The article states how activists use fasts as tools for social change. It states that a hunger strike is a non-violent strategy for change. Hunger strikes were done along with dozens of other activists to protest by sitting outside the establishment with no food for a significant period of time. The hunger strikes brings physical discomfort but the support they receive from people and co-activists inspires and moves them. It elevates their purpose from fasting for political reasons to a spiritual experience. The purpose goes deep, making it a good cause since it is used as a tactic for years in  non-violent struggle that is organized and inspired role models such as Cesar Chavez and Mahatma Gandhi.

The author Renee Saucedo stated in the article "A hunger strike, in my view, is one tool for us to get our message out to the world, to show that something is happening that's so drastic that we, as people who care about any given issue, will put our bodies on the line to expose how urgent the situation is."

While many people fast for the health benefit it provides, some people use fasting for social change. As a child, depriving myself from food is a really big thing to implement for myself and when I do that it sends a signal to my mom how important and how I really want this thing. Seeing people on television perform hunger strike makes me think how badly they want this change and how important it is to their lives. The hunger strike I perform as a child was a shallow one that is only effective in one meal. But the activist today performs hunger strike that lasts up to days, spending their time outside their target influence. I find it extreme, making me wonder on how they think and how it affects their actions.

I read an article entiled "The Psychology of a Hunger Striker: Factors Influencing the Death of Bobby Sands MP" written by author Sean P. O'Connell in the website www.hungerstrikes.org. The article is about the death of Bobby Sands, a prisoner who drew worldwide attention to his name in early 1981 as he embarked on a hunger strike. It was Bobby Sand who first began hunger strike for political reason in October 28, 1981 for a demand that he and his fellow prisoners be given back the right to be classified as political prisoners. His fast lasted for 66 days having consumed only water and salt, Bobby Sands died at the door of the British government.Violence erupted as worldwide news of Sand's death spread and more prisoners followed Sands to their deaths. As the death of Bobby Sands motivated more prisoners to participate in hunger strike, more and more died, and yet the demands were unmet and the movement further deaths.

The author, Sean P. O'Connell, states in the article "Throughout Irish history, the hunger strike has been used as a weapon against injustice. It was believed that to starve oneself at the door of another who had done you wrong was to force a reply of pity. The one causing the grievance would realize their mistake, offer the protester food and beg to be forgiven."

After reading the article I saw a glimpse of the life of Bobby Sands, allowing me to understand what made him push through such an extreme act of depriving itself from food until death. Bobby Sands and his family experienced extreme cruelty from the British government. Sands was subjected to discrimination and violence throughout his life and that played an important part in the decisions he made in his life. His actions was influenced by his perception of his surroundings and environment. Sands grew up with love and peace as he was surrounded mainly by a Protestant community. He and his family practiced their faith quietly as anti-Catholic sentiments disrupted their life. It caused them too much emotional stress and Sands had to fight for it.

Throughout Sand's life we see that the little love and compassion he experienced as a child still gave him hope to believe that people could still find it in their heart some bits of kindness even in a form of force reply of pity. He begged and sacrificed himself hoping that showing grievance could bring justice to his fellow prisoners and loved ones.

Hunger strikes may seem extreme for most, but if we allow ourselves to look closely at the psychology and background of these people, we may be able to understand and see where their deep groaning come from. Only these people who went through so much difficulty in such issues that could bring them to the point of extreme willingness to put their lives to test, to offer themselves as sacrifice as to hope for a change. As we look to deep, hopefully we may be able to bring honor, respect, and support as they perform such unselfish act for justice and benefit of all.

Post 4: Fasting for a Change

Self-change is tough, but it's not impossible, nor does it have to be traumatic. Hearing the word "change" tend to make people feel uncomfortable in many ways. In minor things like being asked to change seats in a class room, to major ones like migrating to an unfamiliar place and having to experience a massive change in environment and lifestyle. It has to do with something different, and something that is "different" is out of our comfort zone, thus making us uncomfortable. It requires effort. In the world today, in order to make a change, something huge has to be done. Massive effort and unity from people is required in order to be heard and for a change to happen. Change definitely requires effort. While the thought of change scare most people, change on the other perspective happens effortlessly without us even knowing.

As we all gradually cruise through life, our habits, experiences, and character will unknowingly sum us up at one point or another. While we think of change as something "different" and "uncomfortable", according to Heraclitus, "The only thing constant in life is change.". We all go through change without knowledge or intention. Our feelings change, we grow old, these are the things that happens that most of the time we are unconscious of. These things proves that change is without reproof, inevitable. Our free will, genetics, experiences, choices, relationships, environment, sums up our character and our life as a whole.

In this article entitled "Could Fasting Change your Business? Your Life? Your World?" written by Justin Brackett from the site www.business2community.com, the author intentionally decided to bring about a change in his life through Fasting. He shared his discoveries as he embarked on a 40 day fasting that positively changed his life dramatically in all the areas of his life. To start with, the author is a 54-year old man that has condition called mercury poisoning that negatively impacted his life for seven years, that impaired his ability to walk and talk. He was sick and it had almost left him hopeless. Prior to that, bad things had happened in his life just like most people. All this had left him burdened, and he had to make a change in his life. In his 40 day fasting, he shut off most of the noise in his life, specifically suspending his Facebook account and shutting off his TV. Ate only very limited amount of food, that only consisted of fruits, vegetable, and proteins. He exposed himself to inspiration everyday, which includes reading the bible, playing inspirational music, reaching out to mentors, focusing on positive emotions, and writing down all his thoughts. He wrote as his emotions we're being cleansed, as his body changes, as he gain insights, and as he felt as if God was breathing into his soul as he goes through the changes he needed to make. He shared on the article all the health benefits he achieved. Having the energy, concentration, balance, strength of a 20-year-old, losing weight, and overcoming his condition. All of this enhanced his relationships, career, and perspective. Fasting, he stated, changed his business, life, and his world. He went on as he summarized how fasting had provided him with spontaneous healing, not only in my body, but in my mind, will and emotions.

Among all the benefits and the things he shared on his journey with fasting, the thing that caught my attention most was the change in his relationships and interaction with people. The author, Justin Brackett stated "I can ‘hear’ people better than ever before in my life. I don’t mean literally hear, I mean I can hear their heart, their core concerns, the center piece of what they’re trying to share, seems to resonate with me now in a brand new way."

Abstaining from things that we rely to when we feel weak, or things that we find comfort to, allows us to confront the root problem, focus on it, and deal with it. Turns out that when we fast, we also cleanse out not just our digestive system, but our toxic emotions as well along the way as part of the process. We deal with our problems face to face, and we get it over with. We don't just eat it away. It gives us clarity, allowing us to go deep to the core of our hearts and to other people's heart as well. We become more sensitive to our soul as we take our flesh away from its comfort zone. Knowing this part of change in his life makes fasting over all worth the journey.

In the article entitled "Fasting for Families: When We Act, We Can Change the World" written by Heather Booth from the site www.huffingtonpost.com, the author fasted for the purpose of bringing attention to the moral need for immigration reform. The author, along with other people from different movements, fasted to touch the hearts of the authorities as they show their true commitment on making a movement for justice. The author stated that as they fast, they gained deep respect for the passion and determination from people, and sought justice and democracy as the movement draw attention. She ended the article stating how wonderful it is to be on the right side of history, with a tag line "To Fast. To Act. To Change the World."

By the 5th day of the author's fasting, Heather Booth testified "As I felt weaker, I felt even more strongly the commitment to the effort as we could see the way the news was spreading and the impact we were having."

I believe that this part is the most important struggle during fasting. It is the part when one really finds out it's core purpose for the fast. The part of the journey where you start to recognize what really matters, where you really draw your strength to. The part where you find out the deepest passion of your heart. A passion that could not be aggravated by anything that the flesh could grasp itself into.

Whether it be making a movement for justice in the world, or simply making a change to straighten our lives, making a change requires sacrifice. An effort we have to make.

When things go wrong, we can't always just sit back at our comfort zone and watch things straighten its own magically. What you reap is what you sow. And if you don't have a sole purpose in life, most likely you'll end up reaping nothing, and feeling lost. Perhaps it's time to abstain from things that's keeping us from finding out our true purpose in life. To seek our very core of our hearts, the reason of our existence. It may surprise us how much difference it can change our lives. Our world. A surprising revelation that makes every effort for change, worthwhile.

Post 3: Fast and Be Fit: Intermittent Fasting

One of the many advantages of the people today is that we have more access to information than in the past. We now have the internet which makes learning a lot more easier. Given our advantages, we still have to be careful since not all information that is readily available outside are credible. Whether it is from the internet or not, it is crucial that we take a closer look on the information given before believing it right away. This would prevent wrong assumptions that might lead us into the wrong direction of life. That is generally speaking, but in this topic I'd like to take a closer look on the information revolving around fitness.

There are actually a lot of misconceptions about fitness that people surrounds us with. When it comes to health and diet, I grew up with a notion that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. They also say that skipping meals slows down metabolism therefore preventing the burning of fat. The statement about breakfast is not entirely false since we need energy to perform our daily activities, but tracing the diet of the early humans, breakfast are non-existent since they only eat at night after they've finished hunting. In becoming fit and healthy, how could it happen that skipping "meals" and not having to eat "the most important meal of the day" and yet their physique are incredibly and effortlessly lean and muscular? What is really the link between timing of meals, breakfast and fitness?

I read an article entitled "The Case for Intermittent Fasting" written by Sheila Mulrooney Eldred from the site experiencelife.com. The article states that fitness experts now argue about the conventional wisdom of eating. Scientists and experts have concluded that constant eating can actually interrupt metabolic pathways and that the best way to kick our metabolisms into high gear is to occasionally eat less often — in short, to observe an eating pattern known as intermittent fasting. The article elaborates intermittent fasting to be beneficial in obesity-related diseases as limiting the periods of food intake limits the risks obesity. "Researchers have found that after a few hours of fasting, the body starts to burn fat and break down cholesterol into beneficial bile acids — as if it were flipping a fuel-selector switch. The liver, meanwhile, shuts down glucose production for several hours, lowering blood glucose levels. Instead of ending up in the bloodstream, extra glucose is used to repair damaged cells and make new DNA, which can help prevent chronic inflammation. Meanwhile, liver enzymes are activated and help in the creation of brown fat (the good kind, which converts extra calories to heat)." Other than weight loss, intermittent fasting is a relief to eating, longevity booster, and may also help stave off Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other degenerative brain conditions. The article stated the different ways to do intermittent fasting such as Eat Stop Eat by fitness guru Brad Pilon, in which you fast for 24 hours once or twice per week, and eat normally on non-fasting days. The other one is by nutritional consultant and personal trainer Martin Berkhan, called Leangains, which advises condensing your nutritional intake into an eight-hour period. 

According to the author, Sheila Mulrooney Eldred, "Frequent eating means the body keeps making and storing fat, enlarging both fat and liver cells. Take that too far and liver damage can occur."

Upon reading about intermittent fasting and its facts, I remembered one of the misconceptions I heard about fitness- the need to level up metabolism by eating 6-8 meals a day, or else the metabolism will slow down and lead to weight gain. I was once a supporter of that notion and remember getting "hangry" hungry + angry every time I miss a meal. I learned that what we call hunger is really a learned reaction to a combination of metabolic, social and environmental cues to eat. This includes having the social cues to eat breakfast as the most important meal of the day. While the thought of fasting may scare some of us and think of it as hunger strike, intermittent fasting is simply short-term periods of caloric restriction. We are unaware but all of us actually practice fasting everyday when we abstain from food during our sleep. That is the reason why our first meal of the day is called breakfast, because we "break" the "fast". It is only during our sleep that we allow our digestive system to rest. Therefore these short-term fasts causes our metabolisms to operate more efficiently when freed from the burdens of 24/7 digestion and nutrition assimilation. Intermittent fasting is just taking “intermittent” times of fasting (no food) and working them into your lifestyle. Through multiple short-term periods of caloric restriction, our metabolism is able to operate more efficiently when freed from the burdens of 24/7 digestion and nutrition assimilation. 

I read another article entitled "A Look at Intermittent Fasting and Muscle Building" written by LJ Walker from the site muscleandstrength.com. The article discussed the possible downside of restrictive eating. The article states that intermittent fasting, when taken a bit far may induce negative metabolic effects despite its benefits. The article suggests that if a person still plan to follow an IF eating pattern, it is best to conside keeping the fasting period short enough (around 8-12 hours) to get the benefits and avoid the downside of fasting. Some of the downside of fasting that's stated includes the feasibility of the eating pattern's compliance, the possibility of binge eating, and it may limit the person's capacity to build muscle.

According to the author, LJ Walker "The body is adaptable and can make do with what you give it, but sometimes we can push it a bit too far for our own good."

Intermittent fasting can cause a multitude of lifestyle benefits such as not being a slave to eating all day long (like modern “diets” seem to preach), having more natural daily energy/focus, and even just learning how to enjoy eating once again (with good foods and friends). Overall it can be a simple eating lifestyle that can not only help you lose weight, but more importantly let you relax and provide relief from obsessing about food or “diets” all day. But at the end of the day, It’s all about finding what works for you and helps you achieve your goals. Nutritionally, many people find eating frequent, smaller meals too stressful and time consuming – for them intermittent fasting provides optimal results. Others find that frequent small meals help them keep hunger at bay with fewer calories so they can lose fat and get ripped easier. Again, find what works best for you.

Post 2: Fasting Culture To The Future

Fasting played a vital part in early human survival. Early human beings have the capability to survive extended periods without food. This could be traced back to our hunter-gatherer or caveman days, when humans were forced to live through little or no food. Despite living with little food and considering that their only way of survival is by hunting food for their family, denotes how strong and productive they've been for our culture to evolve at this point. During that time though, the improvement of one's health has not been considered and taught about yet. It is only in the 1940's when the health benefits of fasting have been appreciated, and today when most modern humans have already lost awareness of our natural capability.

I found an article entitled "Fasting: Back To The Future (The Rediscovery of Water-Only Fasting)" written by Alan Goldhamer, D.C. from the site www.vegsource.com. The article started by stating the history of fasting back when the early humans were unaware of the health contribution of the way they eat. Until it came so to a time of the primitive "cultures" when they had become more aware of their innate capability, then in the bible when Moses, David, Jesus, and Elijah started to fast for up to 40 days. The article presented some physiological benefits of fasting and evidence on a man's successful fasting experience that led him through a serendipitious survival. The article states how the modern medicine is now making its way to a new direction towards the path of traditional healing, since health science has now realized that health and healing are best supported when the biological roots of our nature are understood and respected.Since most health problems today are results of the food we consume, fasting is making its way to detox our bodies from all unnecessary chemicals that is making our body sick. Lastly, the article states that fasting is now making its way to the modern culture as it draws attention from health programs. Doctors and associations are now conducting different fasting studies for the treatment of high blood pressure and diabetes. With all the benefits, evidence, and scientific studies, fasting may be the hope for the future.

According to the author, Alan Goldhamer, D.C., "Going without food for a period of time provides the ultimate opportunity for the reversal of the consequences of dietary excess - a chance to let an overfed and overburdened body take steps to restore health."

The food that is widely available to humans today are generally unhealthy, and we can see the effects of what we eat since most of our health problems are the result of eating too much of the wrong things. Too much preservatives, too much salt, too much sugar, and too much fat. It's no surprising that Obesity rates have risen three-fold or more since 1980 and 65% of the world's population live in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight. The world has to take this issue seriously since this is a health problem that build up slowly and unknowingly. Eating is one of the habits that may seem harmless but once handled without awareness of its dangers, obesity may be on its way of taking a man's life.

At one point in our life, we have to step back and see the bigger picture of how we are living this life. Take a second look at how we eat and how we take care of our body. Perhaps we need to go back to our roots, go out of our conventional eating that the world patterned us to eat, and take time to go back to the basics, seek knowledge for our own benefit, and take charge of our lives by not allowing food to control us. Fasting may indeed be the key and the hope for the future of our health, but how does really fasting occur in our culture today?

I read an article entitled "Culturally-based Fasting as a trigger for Eating Disorders" written by Elizabeth Claydon from the site www.examiner.com. The article discussed fasting as a potential trigger in creating eating disorders among adolescents. It was based on an observation at a hospital in Turkey, where adolescents who were found to have eating disorders were reported to be consequent by Ramadan, which is a religious practice requiring fasting from dawn to dusk for a month. The article shared an interview of which the diagnosed patient reported feeling that the religious practice served both to their religious duty and diet at the same time. Lastly, the article states that there are a lot of potential triggers that exist in the society today and we must not exclude the practices we have today that may justify the danger of possible eating disorder.

According to author, "any cultural or religious holiday that restricts food or allows an individual to selectively limit certain foods posses a potential trigger to individuals already predisposed to disordered eating."

The concept of fasting on this other side of our culture today seem to be extremely dangerous since it promotes deprivation and if not handled correctly,may also promote asceticism,as psychological behavior of self-denial or finding pleasure in pain. Today fasting has taken its toll in many forms not just in religious practices but has also taken its spot in the fitness industry. Although the full benefits of fasting is still there, fasting is still a candidate target for people to use as cover-up to their eating disorders.

For me, eating disorders are results of the feeding of food corporations and the information we get from advertising that manipulates our minds. It is a by product of supply and demand. People get obese because of the unhealthy food the food corporations feed us. The advertising from world's false perception of beauty and body image causes the people especially women to develop certain disorders- psychologically, which affects the way they eat. Fasting isn't the only trigger that's around, a person with a psychological disorder may turn any eating habit a disorder. Even a healthy eating plan.

On the other hand,fasting is also a product of the demand of the need for solution to weight lost and health problems. Lately there has been a craze over different detox method such as Juicing, Cabbage Soup Diet, General Motors Diet, and a lot more. Yes they do work, but if not maintained, may result to more weight gain.

In maintaining body weight and health or preventing health problems, self-control is key, but knowledge is more crucial. Make time to get to know your body. It is very important that we know how our body functions and to know our innate capabilities. Trace your roots and go back to the basics. Our bodies function simpler than we ought to think. There are available and proven solutions, but with misconceptions and wrong use because of the lack of knowledge, we miss a great chance of our body being renewed, healed and transformed. And that chance could only be claimed through fasting.