1 Week After

Hey everybody!

Since some of the blessings and benefits of fasting (especially longer fasts) happen in the days after the fasting is finished, I deemed it important to write about the things that have happened in the last week. I hope these things encourage you to fast and love God more!

This 40 day fast was an exciting time of growth and closeness with God. It's hard to express everything I felt and learned. However, it was obvious that I grew spiritually because I read so much of God's Word, prayed a lot and worshiped Him a lot. Praise the Lord!

One week after my fast, the dark circles around my eyes are gone. They weren't getting bad until around the 34^th day. They were gone about 5 or 6 days after I began eating.

A big change that I made after my fast is my diet. I've changed it quite radically. Unfortunately, I had let some fatty and oily foods creep into my diet and I had been neglecting to eat enough fruits, vegetables and grains. These are the foods I've chosen to avoid (at least in the last week): sodas, pepperoni, daily pop tarts, candy and a few other things. These are the good foods I've added to my diet: oatmeal, honey, nonfat cheese, nuts (peanuts, brazil nuts, cashews, etc.), spices, yellow and orange bell peppers and a few more things.

I've noticed a good deal of energy on my new diet! It's great to put better things into my body. When I'm tired, I know that fruit juices (especially my blended strawberries, orange juice and bananas) gives me a great lift!

In the last few months, most weeks I neglected to go to the gym. However, I've decided that I really need to gain muscle mass and keep doing cardiovascular workouts. I've worked out twice and I plan on going at least two or three times a week.

During my fast, I did my 30/30/30. I prayed, sang worship songs and read the Bible for an hour and a half every day. Since the fast finished, I've tried to stay on that schedule. I haven't been able to do it every day, but I've done a good job of praying, singing worship songs and reading the Word. My goal is still to do a 30/30/30 each day.

I gained about 2 pounds in the last week. When my fast ended, I was 148 pounds. One week after it ended, I weighed 150 pounds. I think the weight gain is because my body is retaining a little water, kept some of the vitamins and minerals that had been depleted and is currently digesting food.

My wife and I went to Costco and spent over $500 for food and household things! The main expense was food and we bought all kinds of great food. This house was needing food quite badly.

One interesting answer to prayer was the money I received in the week after my fast. In this week, I received over $500 in donations! I know that some money issues are private matters, but it's so awesome that God answered my prayers in this area, I had to mention it. These donations really helped us pay rent and bills! Praise the Lord.

I've been married for about 4 months and it's been great. I'm so happy to be with my wife. However, her and I occasionally get into disagreements. On the first day after my fast, I decided to pray every day that her and I would get along well and not argue or anything. God answered that prayer! In the first week after my fast, we haven't even argued or disagreed once! It's been amazing and God deserves all the glory. Praise the Lord.

Lastly, I must mention how great my body has been processing food! Unlike last time, my bowels seem to be working at an incredible level. I think I didn't pass food as quickly before because I was eating poorly (even after the last fast). When a person doesn't get enough fiber, they may have one bowel movement a day. Well, I'm having about three to five a day because my body is working like a fine tuned machine! It used to run like a Hyundai and now it's running like an Acura (no offense to Hyundai owners).

If you have any questions about fasting, please let me know! I'd love to encourage you or help any way I can.