"Fasting" as a CBT tool.

[WilliamAnderson]

"Active Fasting" is a CBT (cognitive behavior therapy) reframing tool of "Therapeutic Psychogenics" that changes how we experience abstinence of eating and compulsive overeating between the planned meals of a structured habit pattern of eating.

With active fasting, we think of the period of abstinence as an important activity (devotion to health in a holistic way similar to religious fasts), burning fat and calories, instead of eating and storing them. We think of it as a satisfying experience of accomplishment and progress instead of a period of deprivation, suffering and nothingness.

Food addicts often fall into a habit of eating as an activity that provides pleasure and meaning when we get home, often eating all night that can add up to thousands of calories. There was a time where I thought, "If I can't eat what I feel like, when I feel like it, what's the use?" It was as if the freedom to eat was what I lived for, the reason for it all. When I contemplated not eating between meals, not snacking, it shook me, and I would white-knuckle it for a while, and usually break down. I could not live my evenings with that nothingness.

But when the periods between meals became "fasting" in order to achieve my hearts desire of a healthy weight, burning calories and fat, I was able to sustain abstinence until the next meal I had planned. I substituted the gratification of snacking and grazing for the gratification of fasting and burning fat. I was able to delay the gratification from eating until the next meal.

CBT is a form of therapy derived from the observation that the way we think causes the way we feel. If we can change the way we think about a situation or experience, we can change the way we feel about it, and our feelings have a powerful influence on our behavior and "will power".

"Active Fasting" is cited by clients as one of the most important and helpful of the Therapeutic Psychogenic techniques they learn about and use.

[Esya]

Very interesting read. I have not struggled with this myself with respect to food, however I do know from my experience with anxiety that my way of thinking greatly changes the way I feel and more. And that I can change my way of thinking with practice over time to the thought pattern I want to have. Also we are not what we think, but we have thoughts. Realising this creates space in which you can observe your thoughts and emotions. I like to compare it to a roller coaster ride, instead of actively being in it, you can watch it from some distance. Meditation can also be used as a tool to help create this space.

I think it is great when you manage to change your way of thinking around to a thought pattern that is helpful to you. From feeling deprived to feeling accomplished is a huge shift. It is awesome when you start to realise how much you can be in control and to me it is a very empowering experience.

[WilliamAnderson]

Behavioral Science is a wonderful field, teaching us that our behavior, habits and attitudes are not so much the result of our conscious mind and will, but of the natural programming (what behavioral scientists call "learning") that we have have experienced growing up, such as conditioning and modeling. Changing those things, like our eating habits, thoughts and feelings, is also not just a matter of will and conscious intent, but of the application of those factors in behavior therapy, so that the new habits and feelings (what we have tried to change with will, but could not) become the new automatic habits and feelings. 

Behavior therapy, which cognitive behavior therapy and Therapeutic Psychogenics are examples of, is a solution to many problems, such as depression, anxiety disorders, addictions, eating disorders, weight control, and even more garden variety human problems like procrastination and self esteem issues. It is also widely used in business, not for disorders, but for personal development and enhancing performance.

@Esya , it is a great thing when a person discovers this and works to put it to work successfully. Just great!