How To Lose Weight During Lockdown | Fasting, Appetite Suppressants & Rapéh
Everyone remembers where they were in Spring 2020. Coronavirus madness went global and we were all forced to retreat into our homes for a period of lockdown. It was a stressful time and fear was rampant. Keeping a routine and having discipline was one way for people to keep a cool head amidst the madness. In this article I'd like to touch upon a form of discipline that can reap huge rewards if managed correctly and the perfect companion to this discipline. The discipline is fasting and the companion is Rapéh.
What is Fasting?
Fasting is deliberately abstaining from food for an extended period of time. It can be done routinely on a daily basis and this is referred to as "intermittent fasting" which would be having a restricted eating window. It can also be done for longer periods and this is referred to as "extended fasting".
What are the benefits of fasting?
We all love to eat, it's one of our primal drives and for that reason it is extremely pleasurable. We live in a time of abundance and the majority of people in the civilised world have access to food 24/7. This keeps us in a constant fed state and for most people, moving into a fully fasted state is something they've never experienced before. Giving your body a rest from digesting food once in a while will benefit the whole physical system and allow the body to do some internal "housekeeping".
Fasting is like a "cleansing switch" similar to pressing the "clean" button on your coffee machine. All animals instinctively fast when they are sick so it's an inbuilt healing mechanism for all animal life, including humans. By fasting for extended periods your body will start "autophagy" which essentially means it starts to eat itself on a cellular level. The body will burn up old and damaged cells in order to regenerate new ones and fasting is the key to unlocking this miraculous process. When our bodies are not using energy to digest food it can use that energy to heal and cleanse internally.
There are many other benefits to fasting including -
Rapid fat loss - Once the body empties itself of food it starts to use up its stored body fat for fuel. Fat is essentially stored energy for times of famine so by simulating a famine the body starts to use up its energy stores.
Breaking food addiction - Going for long periods without food builds discipline and breaks the addiction of needing to eat all the time
Puts the body into a state of ketosis - Once sugar stores within the muscles and liver are empty the body will start breaking down fat for energy. The body enters into a state called "ketosis" where it turns the stored fat into a form of alcohol called "ketones" and uses them for fuel. Ketosis has many benefits including internal healing, stable energy levels and mental clarity.
Rebuilding the immune system - Scientists have found that fasting for 3 days or more can regenerate the entire immune system. Extended fasting prompts stem cells to produce new white blood cells and these white cells are literally the bodies defence system.
Mental clarity and euphoria - Many fasters report increased alertness and mental clarity when fasting. It makes sense if you think about it from an evolutionary standpoint; as cavemen when we were not digesting food we would be out hunting for it. When hunting we'd want our mental faculties to be supercharged in order that we'd successfully find food. An extended fast is a great time to be productive and get things done.
What is Rapéh?
Rapéh is an indigenous medicine that has been used for centuries by various cultures. It's tobacco that has been ground down into a powder and mixed with ashes and other herbs and ingredients. Rapéhs vary in types and strengths depending on what purpose it's going to be used for. It's blown into the nostrils using a special pipe. Rapéh can be done alone or between two people where one will be the giver and the other the receiver. If done alone a V-shaped "Tomahawk" pipe is used. If it's done between two people then a longer "Peace Pipe" is used and the giver will blow the Rapéh for the receiver.
What are the benefits of Rapéh?
Rapéh is a powerful medicine when used properly. It can have various benefits, including:
Bringing the user to a meditative state very quickly. Rapéh stops mind chatter and brings one to a centred state.
Rapéh is very grounding. It's an "earth energy" medicine so it connects the user to the earth. Great for when one is in a state of anxiety or feels ungrounded.
Opens the the crown chakra and allows the user to connect to source energy. It allows for power