The Power of Fasting - An Ancient Purification Process

One of the most powerful tools I use throughout my weight loss journey is fasting—not only in the physical sense but in the spiritual sense of letting go.

Fasting is an ancient purification practice, an intentional break from what has become habitual to clear space and make room for the new. Within the process of a weight loss course, we face a voice we rarely confront: the silence and space that emerges when we stop smothering our feelings under food, distractions, and substances. We can fast from certain foods, but we can also fast from a negative mindset or having unproductive routines. The goal is to create space within yourself for something higher.

When we fast, we encounter something profound and often unexpected. The absence of food, or whatever we’re accustomed to using as comfort, creates an emptiness that confronts our fears of deprivation, emptiness, and silence. Suddenly, we wonder: What do I do with this space? What do I do when I’m not thinking about food, scrolling through my phone, or  otherwise distracting myself? 

This is where fasting becomes transformative. It is a raw, unfiltered encounter with yourself, without the usual crutches to lean on. Here, you must sit with our emotions, anxieties, and doubts—and learn not to cover them up but to transform them.

Fasting is an act of self-liberation. The freedom we seek isn’t in restriction but in the conscious choice to let go of what no longer serves us. In those moments of fasting, we cultivate strength of spirit and resilience that comes not from denial but from a robust focus on what truly matters. Each choice becomes another building block in cultivating character.

~ Elan