This weekend, a friend from law school was in town and we pretty much ate and drank our way through the entire weekend. It was an awesomely good time, but my body didn't enjoy the abuse quite so much. I can't even tell you the last time I drank so much alcohol (although, it was only 3-5 drinks each day) or consumed so much sodium and fried deliciousness in a span of 48 hours. To demonstrate how bad it was, between Friday morning and Sunday morning, the scale said I gained SIX pounds. Now, I know that it is almost entirely water weight, but that's A LOT of water. I was so puffy, I could hardly fit into any pair of pants I own. Not fun. (Although, an excuse to wear a cute, flowy sundress.)

I knew that this weekend was going to be about food and drink, because we're foodies. And in our previous law school lives, we were quite the drinkers. (How else could we have been expected to survive those three years?) But my body just does not bounce back from grease and alcohol like it used to, so I decided to try to figure out the best way to help my body recuperate from this past weekend.

TS is actually the one who suggested that I "pretend its Yom Kippur" and fast for 24 hours. I've never fasted before and was worried that I'd get all lightheaded or cranky (which I sometimes, okay often do when I don't eat for an extended period of time), but he said it is a good test of willpower, plus it really helps you recognize when you are actually hungry and when you just want to eat because it's "time to eat." Also, given the number of calories I'd consumed over the past few days, the "hunger" was not going to be because my body needed food. He also said that whenever he fasts for Yom Kippur, his stomach seems to shrink and it takes less food to make him full... that you'd think you'd want to have a big meal after not eating for 24 hours, but all you really want is something light... and then for the next few days he is very conscious about what he's eating.

So, that's what I decided to do today. Starting last night at 8 p.m. (he recommended beginning the fast in the evening, because otherwise it becomes more of a 36-hour fast), I began a 24-hour water (and tea) fast. If I'm absolutely starving this afternoon and it's affecting my ability to work, I'm going to allow myself some fresh fruit. But hopefully this fast will help my body detox, recover from the past weekend, and get back on track with eating healthfully. I'm actually thinking that if it goes well and I feel good at the end of the day, I might try to incorporate one fasting day a month, just to give my body's systems a rest and become more aware of my body's signals and needs. I think it will give me time to reflect on the way I treat my body and inspire me to eat healthier and concentrate on how I nourish myself, both physically and mentally.

And now that I've gone all hippy-dippy on you, I'm going to go back to drinking my "yoga tea." (At least, that's what the box calls it.) Only 8.5 more hours to go until I get to eat some yummy leftover spinach quiche. I think I can make it.