Hi, sacredshakti,

The "fasting masters" (by that i mean the Westerners like Shelton, Bass, Purinton et al--the Easterners are a whole other world :-) ) would all advocate rest during a fast, since it's in rest that the body truly gets down to working at a deep healing level. But for some, they are doing more of a "conquest fast", in that they are working and caring for others even, and training themselves to stay very focussed.
But exercise, as going out of one's way to 'lose weight', is not part of the genuine
water fast.

The aim is not be be hard on the body, and working while Water Fasting is actually when you think of it, more like what people must do where they are, in reality, starving. Such practices, when *chosen*, often amount to depleting the body of its mineral reserves, which is what would (potentially)cause problems with bones, teeth, etc. But it's more likely that one would suffer certain body pains associated with the body taking from its calcium stores to alkalize a system that is being told it must keep working. This is not in the spirit of the *healing* water fast.

You know I'm sure, the best is to rest and not to work, etc. But it may be that it won't do you "more harm than good", unless you fast more than 7 days or so. The real healing happens, however, in (relative)stillness, when the body is free to scour for places that need attention. As it's Christmastime too, this may make it more stressful. (But one's general state of mind might be more indicative of how stressful the Water Fast might be.) Don't know where you are but keeping warm is vital. Having had root canals, if you are young still, suggests *to me* that a Water Fast where you don't work, would be very good at healing potential areas of bacteria that can exist in the miles of tunnels connected to the teeth. My tooth was a recurring source of discomfort and the fast completely 'cured' that, and a few other things. A *resting* Water Fast could allow healing to happen on levels that the person may never be aware of. Levels that haven't yet become problems. The more a person rests, and gets acquainted with doing nothing, and is able to tune into silence, the more likely the person will be to become aware of what all might be going on.

More and more it seems, people visiting this site have been confusing "water fasting" with a sort of quick "push" toward resolving some issue that is more emotionally-based. If you are already taking care of your body, and eating reasonably well, (not Sad), and are ware of alkalizing and know what "mineral reserves" are, then you are doing well.

Have you read the literature linked to on this site? Very important i feel, to steep oneself in what those masters noted and taught/teach. It's VERY important to keep a level head, and not let ego get the upper hand, wanting to turn the water fast into a contest:I know it sounds like I may have done that (long fast) but I was very careful, and I also had a few extra (like 20 to 40) pounds I could afford to lose.

I highly recommend Purinton's treatise on fasting called i think, Fasting: a message for sinners and seekers". (lol) He's got a lot of insight and humour, and "sin" of course simply means "missing the mark". It's findable on the "Soil and Health Library" a great site which has some fabulous books, free to read: it's in the Natural Hygeine section, as I recall.


best to you

A loving heart I think helps with the water fast, a lot. (love is alkalizing)

FYI - I have done a Water Fast for 4 days while working and juice fast for 14 days while working. My guess is that it will depend a lot on your current state of health whether you will feel find working all day while fasting. I am not on my feet most of the day (desk job). I find that day 2-3 I am wiped out and I go home and sit until until bedtime which will be early. That's about it. Good luck. :)