I do a full fast four days a month.  It is very helpful for me physically, mentally and spiritually.  Most people could benefit from fasting on a periodic basis.  In fact my Guru said that this is one of the secrets of long life.  You do not have to do it four time a month, like me; two times would be great.

Today I was doing a fast and noticed that I was completely functional in all respects.  I could work at the computer, and I could even go to the gym for a normal workout. This is good, because often when I fast my mental and physical strength is diminished. I am not myself, and I can’t really work effectively.  But today I was working even better than on a normal day, especially because I didn’t have to spend any time preparing food, eating and cleaning.

So what was different about today’s fast? I believe it is the physical preparation that I did the night before.  I made a vegetable soup using about 300 grams of fresh vegetables: beets, string beans and zucchini from my garden.  I cut the vegetables and put them in a pot and added water, not enough to drown the vegetables, but filling up the pot halfway up the mass of the vegetables.  Then I added some salt, pepper and a bit of olive oil and let it cook.

I ate the vegetables and drank the soupy water and had a bit of whole wheat bread too. It was a satisfying meal and it provided me with enough liquids and other nutrients so that I could endure a complete day of fasting (without food or liquids) at full energy.  If I had eaten a grilled cheese sandwich and potato chips the night before, then I do not think I would have had the same result.  So my advice is to prepare for your fast in a physical way.  Eat properly the day before the fast, and in the evening take a lot fresh vegetables with enough liquids too. It seems to work for me and I hope it helps you as well.