I am on day 4 of the Isagenix 11 day cleanse. Today, was our second fasting day. A fasting day is a day that we only consume liquids and minimal snacks. I have done this cleanse many times, each time it has been hard, but in the end always worth the struggle and work. This time around, I am feeling very zen and calm. I don’t have any strong emotions towards eating certain foods, and no main cravings are rearing their nasty heads. 
As I sip my cleanse for life (liquid Isagenix cleansing agent), my senses feel more awakened. When I smell food I feel my stomach growl, but I am able to easily say “no.” Typically cleansing and fasting is a mental game, it is game of letting go of impulsivity and ultimately control over what we put in our bodies. We live in a culture of abundance and instant gratification… where typically we can get any kind of food we want 24/7. Fasting is not only a physical purging, but a mental purging of those foods we have become addicted to… the ones that are the hardest to let go of. Cleansing and fasting is about losing weight and improving your health,. There is another side benefit that comes with restriction and discipline. It helps you become a stronger person, it gives you more “grit” to weather the storms of everyday life. It also builds your confidence level, once you complete a cleanse or fast, others challenges don’t seem as daunting. We are stronger than we think!
I have definitely come a long way… when I did my first Isagenix cleanse 10 plus years ago, I was detoxing off of sugar and candy, and believe me I feel off the ban wagon and cheated, but you just keep going, if you fall off just be kind to yourself and start again. That is the best thing we can do for ourselves, don’t dwell on the things you did wrong… instead focus on getting back on track. Over the past 10 years after many cleanses and learning to eat more healthy… my taste buds have changed drastically. I no longer eat a lot of candy or consume a lot of sugar. In many ways this cleanse has been the easiest for me since I didn’t need to change my diet drastically or cut back on anything addictive. Once again… I have been cleansing for 10 plus years. If you are cleansing for the first time, please be gentle with yourself. We have to honor where we are in our own process and life.
Personal transformation is a process that is slow and steady. Anything worth doing, whether it is saving money, losing weight, getting healthy, building a business, growing friendships and marriages, the process is slow and steady. There is something in our humanness that rebels against slow, mundane and steady. Instead we want fast, exciting and instant. Ultimate joy is found through the discipline of slow and steady.
Today, I celebrate the discipline found through cleansing and fasting. When things seem hard in life and you want to take the easy road… remember you will reap amazing benefits if you remember to take things slow and steady. In the process be kind and gentle with yourself, do your best at that moment. Things will only get better and easier.
To your health!
Sharon Hwang
5 benefits of Fasting and Cleansing:
1) Changes the function of cells, genes and hormones. The body induces cellular repair processes, flushing out wastes in your system.
2) Lose weight and belly fat. When you fast, insulin levels drop significantly, this facilitates fat burning.
3) You can reduce insulin resistance, lowering your risk of Type 2 Diabetes. Fasting has been shown to have major benefits for insulin resistance.
4) Fasting can reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the body, improving your overall immune system. Oxidative stress accelerates the aging process and increases inflammation.
5) Fasting brings great awareness, helps you break your addiction to eating certain food and helps people feel more connected to life and brings a more clear sense of awareness in your surroundings.
