Fasting, wellness, and the spiritual connection...

...by Lori Kostenuk

Why did Jesus often link fasting with prayer? I don't think many clergy types nor biblical scholars really have a common straight answer for this. Perhaps fasting was a time for deep introspection where we become present and more thoughtful of our human vessels that house our soul? Perhaps fasting is a mind over body discipline? Whatever his reasons, fasting seemed to give Jesus a spiritual strength that superseded over any physical weakness he experienced during that long 40-day fast to prepare him for the big temptation.

Fasting these days in 2025 seems to be trending in society... the 18-hour intermittent fasting seemingly the most popular. It seems like more and more people seem to be taking an interest in their health, or maybe I am just seeing this more because of our own newfound interest.

My husband and I began our fasting journey in January of 2025. A few days earlier, we spent New Year's Eve with some friends who were going to begin the new year with a 3-day fast, which they had done before and knew the routine. I consider this couple to be wellness supporters/seekers (chiropractor/osteopaths), so my ears perked up. Even though we talked most of the night on this subject, the one thing that stayed with me was... "Fasting is a mindset. Victory begins in the mind before the body." Fasting becomes an inner mental discipline over the physical desires. I love food, as do most people. In fact, I am a bit of a foodie type. I love to cook and present my dishes in artful form. Therefore, I never saw myself going beyond the trending 18-hour intermittent fasting (which really did nothing noticeable for us). My excuse for not going beyond the 18-hour fast before (not eating until noon every day) was that I enjoyed my food too much... cooking, eating, and the breaking of bread together with family and friends. I smile when I hear someone else say this now, because I can totally relate.

If you know my husband, whatever he decides to do, he does it 100%. It wasn't enough to just begin a 3-day fast with our friends and follow their lead. He researched, watched countless videos until he understood the science behind fasting. Here are a few of many health benefits to fasting:

1. Promotes blood sugar control by reducing insulin resistance

2. Promotes better health by fighting inflammation

3. Promotes heart health by improving blood pressure, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels

4. Promotes enhanced brain function and may prevent neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's etc)

5. Promotes weight loss by limiting calorie intake and boosting metabolism

6. Increases growth hormone secretion, which is vital for growth, metabolism, weight loss, and muscle strength

7. Promotes longevity

8. Promotes the prevention of cancer and other diseases as the body cleans out toxic or damaged cells (autophagy).

9. Sends the body into a metabolic state where it burns fat for fuel instead of carbs (ketosis)

Basically, fasting for an extended time period has the potential to re-set the body. Some friends have asked what my primary reason for fasting is? Even though my weight was within the normal range for my height, according to medical standards, my main purpose was to clean up my inner body of any visceral fat and unwanted toxic proteins that could lead to cells going rogue down the road. Health was my primary goal; losing a few pounds was secondary, and thirdly... I was curious about the spiritual benefits of fasting. In this 3 month period (Jan-March 2025), my weight dropped by 24 lbs. I didn't even know I had (that much) to lose. My husband lost even more than that... almost 30 lbs in that same 3-month period.

BEFORE Fasting - Dec 2024

AFTER Fasting - Apr 2025 -24 lbs

How did we do it? In short, our protocol...

1. One week of keto diet (high fat, medium proteins, low carbohydrates). This diet prepares our bodies for the 3-day fast. If the body burns through carbs first, then hunts down the inner visceral fat around the inner organs, then the proteins, then it makes sense that we move into ketosis and autophagy sooner if minimal carbs to begin with.

2. 3-day fast (once a month) - no calories. Lots of water, coffee, teas, carbonated water, salt/minerals

3. Weekends - we go off keto. We enjoy fish n chips, or a potato, or rice, or toast (or a glass of wine/beer for some).

4. Weekly - Sunday supper is our last meal until Tuesday noon (42-hr) or Monday supper (24-hr). Ketosis kicks in close to the 20-hr mark, autophagy at the 24-hr. The longer you hold off eating, the more effective the fast.

5. Tuesday to Friday is keto - 2 meals/day

6. Weekends - chill

The first day is always the hardest, because we are training our minds. When we feel hungry and don't eat, we are not starving our bodies so don't worry. Our bodies have enough stored energy to feed on/burn through for months. We must keep hydrated, though. Water will satisfy any hunger pains that show up.

What are my take-aways from fasting?

1. Mental clarity

2. Mental discipline over the physical body

3. Physical abstinence influences spiritual awareness

4. Understanding more the connection between mindfulness and fasting

5. Empowering connection to our inner selves

6. No hanging skin after weight loss from a fast. The skin and body re-sets itself naturally, unlike some diets.

7. My husband has become very mindful of his food intake now, so he has taken an interest in looking up keto recipes and now does half the cooking! Yay!

Seeing results after the first week inspired us to keep going for the second week and so on. Now we are on month four, and we are still having fun. We may be done our 3-day fasts (don't want to lose anymore weight), but we will most likely maintain our inner health with a 1-day/week fast. We like to fast on Mondays... after chilling on the weekends, Monday is a good day to re-set.

Ketogenic diet foods - High fats, medium proteins, low carbs

Thanks for getting this far in your reading. I am writing this more for me to have diarized our journey than for anyone else's benefit... although, I hope it inspires some of you to fast. So many benefits, and we are just beginning the learning process. Jesus knew what we needed to do to right the body.... but society gets us accustomed to taking pills to fix our health issues. I will never look back. We cannot unknow what we know now. Fasting heals. Cancer cannot survive if we are not feeding it. Autophagy cleans out rogue cells... the longer we fast, the more it cleans up.

Mental discipline over the body - There is liberty in being able to discipline our body and its habits into submission. How much of our eating is on autopilot/habits. Do we habitually grab a snack before watching a video/TV/sports, or when we sit down to read a book? Is wandering to the fridge a habit for us without conscious awareness? When we become present with our habits, that awareness will help us bring our habits/addictions from the unconscious mind to the conscious mind where we can choose to do something different. When we become more present with our choices, it is a victory for the mind over body battle. Choose intentionally.

In conclusion - If we can more easily conquer a physical goal (fasting) in the higher mental realm (mindset), just think of the potential of conquering the mental mindset in the even higher realm, the spiritual realm. If we can align our body, mind, and spirit as one, that is the beginning of mastery over self. There is power in that alignment. The earth and all things physical in it is our spiritual training ground to raise our level of consciousness to liberty and freedom from the attachments of the earth that keep us stuck in systems, habits, addictions, or lower vibration circumstances. For me, I have come to find that fasting is a discipline that is more than just about food. It is about commitment, strategy, knowledge, wisdom, keeping the body in subjection to the mind and spirit. Good luck. If I have inspired someone to begin a fasting journey, this post will have been well worth it.

Disclaimer - If you are a diabetic or on questionable medications, please check with a health professional before embarking on a potential fasting journey.

Recommended fasting experts to watch on Youtube before you begin your fast - Dr. Sten Ekberg, Dr. Pradip Jamnadas

#fasting #mind #body #spirit #connection