Cleansing or Fasting? What's the difference?

My last day of the juice cleanse. Whoo HOO! Actually, not really because I enjoyed it! It was kind of nice not having to think about food all day long and what my next meal was going to be. I'm not super excited to dive into regular foods, only because I feel so clean! My body is rid of most refined sugars (which is my biggest challenge) that I ate over vacation. I'm kind of in the zone, and that's exactly what I was hoping a juice cleanse would do. It not only helped me clean out my system and remove my sugar cravings, but gave me a jump start into a desire to continue on my normal healthy living routine and eat clean foods and smaller portions.

I wanted to mention, because it came up on the comments in yesterday's post, that what I'm doing as a juice cleanse, is not the same as fasting. Yes, the dietary restrictions may look the same, but fasting goes along with continuous prayer for a specific need. While I'm spending time with the Lord every morning, praying and reading my bible, I want to be clear that I'm not fasting about losing weight. In fact, after doing Beth Moore's study on Daniel several years ago, I've understood that fasting should never be about weightless. Please don't get the two confused or put one in place of the other.

If I'm fasting, which my husband and I prayerfully have done together at times, we are seeking God's counsel for a very specific need. While fasts can be done in a variety of ways like fasting just one meal a day or just fasting specific foods and drinks, our fasts have eliminated everything but water. Again, this should NEVER have anything to do with weightless or be done for that reason. Biblical fasting is to seek God's face, to hear His voice clearly and to use the hunger cries as a reminder to continually pray. We've fasted over parenting issues, we've fasted over our son's health when he was 4 years old and had multiple surgeries and I've fasted as a wife when I've needed extra counsel from the Lord.

My juice cleanse this week, was not fasting. I was not in prayerful attention over a specific need even though I've sought the Lord each day. And I wasn't fasting about losing weight. The juice cleanse was just that- a cleanse to rid my body of all the junk I put in it over vacation. But I will tell you, that while I wasn't consumed with the thoughts of food this week, it did allow me to reflect more on the bigger things in life and hear God's voice more clearly on those subjects.

OK, I'm off to tape a segment on Marie Osmand's new talk show, coming to Hallmark Channel very soon! I'll let you know the details when I get them. I'll say HI to her from you. hehe ;) I'm looking forward to seeing Bugsy- the shaggy dog I worked with on my latest movie called "Puppy Love". He'll be doing the interview with me! I'll take a pic and share tomorrow or share on my Twitter feed.

Have a fabulous day- and remember to do what is good! Keep making healthy decisions, one choice at a time. Oh- and don't forget about working out or get walking!!  Now that my cleanse is over, I'll be sharing my exercise plan. :)