Hey everyone, it’s Alura here, and with the new year in full swing, smack in the middle of all that festive fun, I’ve been thinking about how easy it is for so many of us to gain a bit of weight from indulging in those delicious foods, cozying up in the cold, and getting a little too sedentary without much movement.

It’s the perfect storm for feeling sluggish, but that’s why this time of year is ideal for a body reset. As a biohacking enthusiast, I offer tons of specialized programs customized for individuals, and I’m still perfecting a few more to help you optimize your health. In the meantime, though, you don’t have to wait, you can start with something simple like a water fast to get that fresh start.

For me, a three-day water fast means just that: nothing but water for 72 hours, no food, no juices, no extras. I go with three days because it’s approachable and lets your body switch to ketosis, where it burns fat for energy. I prep by tapering off calories, drinking loads of purified water, and set up a relaxing space.

Throughout, I stay hydrated (2-3 liters daily, sometimes more), pay attention to how I feel, and mix in light walks in my treadmill, sports, or gym trips and I add lots of meditation.

Let me share why this is so rewarding, covering the spiritual, mental, emotional, and everyday health perks. That said, fasting varies for everyone, so consult a doctor if you’re unsure, especially with any health issues.

Spiritual Benefits

Drawing from timeless spiritual practices in various traditions, fasting helps you tune into your inner world or a higher power. The three days clear out the clutter for me, amplifying my reflections and prayers. It builds a profound sense of connection and renewal, rebuilding trust and faith. In everyday life, particularly during the busy holidays, it can sharpen your spiritual awareness, guiding you with more clarity and calm.

Mental Benefits

Mentally, it’s a boost in sharpness, after the early hunger passes, my focus soars, cutting through stress and lifting my mood via enhanced brain processes. It’s like decluttering your mind for better productivity and creativity. Holiday chaos can be overwhelming, but this reset keeps you mentally agile and upbeat.

Emotional Benefits

Emotionally, fasting taught me discipline over urges, building patience and gratitude while balancing my responses to stress. Its helped clients of mine curb emotional eating and promotes empathy. Day-to-day, especially in holiday interactions, it means staying composed, cherishing moments, and handling emotions with ease.

Everyday Health Benefits

Health-wise, it kickstarts fat loss, boosts energy, and improves digestion and skin health. It encourages cellular repair, eases inflammation, and supports better blood pressure and insulin response, great for offsetting holiday excesses and winter inertia.

If this sparks your interest, I encourage you to try a three-day water fast, it’s a powerful biohacking tool for rejuvenation heading into the new year.

But if sticking to a strict three-day water fast feels too challenging, no worries; ease into it this way instead. Do a day, or a few hours in between instead. For some, 72 hours can be hard on them.

Start with a small meal in the morning that’s high in fiber and protein, then stick to protein-packed smoothies throughout the day while drinking plenty of water. This keeps hunger at bay and prevents that deprived feeling. I’ve seen this work wonders for many people I’ve coached who couldn’t manage a full water fast, it’s gentler yet still effective. You could also experiment with intermittent water fasting, like fasting every 12 hours, to build up gradually.

Always check with your doctor first, listen to your body, and break any fast slowly with easy-to-digest foods.

Personally…

Yes, intermittent fasting and water fasting are wonderful ways to keep yourself in good shape without missing out on the fun. I make intermittent fasting a daily habit, usually just one meal, followed by lots of water to stay hydrated in between. But recently, I’ve been dealing with some inflammation from an allergic reaction to the surgical mesh in my stomach from past surgeries. It’s been accumulating over the years and slowing me down a little, so I’m committing to some healing work.

As part of that, clearing out my body with a water fast is an amazing way to detox from any built-up toxicity. I’ve been doing this every week, and it has helped a great deal. 

This approach isn’t just for me; it can work for anyone who has strong mindset. If you’re struggling with any kind of addiction and need to cleanse your system quickly, a water fast does wonders. It’s also a great starting point if you’re looking to build strength, resilience, and mental discipline.

Let’s be honest, the holidays are packed with sugary temptations. I don’t keep sugar in my home except for very special occasions, and I avoid eating it myself entirely. But during the holidays, I’m not going to be rude and turn down homemade cookies if someone offers them, that could add a few pounds.

In 2024, I ended up gaining some weight back due to the inflammation from the mesh allergy, which I think shows in my videos from that period. It affected other areas too; for example, after surgery to correct issues in my upper chest region following childbirth, the weight gain made things larger there. My face got fuller and puffy, and you can spot it clearly in those videos.

I’ve been honing my biohacking regimen with diet, exercise, and consistent practices, and I’ve been losing the weight steadily. I love incorporating body detoxes, and since I don’t eat much anyway, it was shocking to gain any weight at all. I still follow my breatharian diet principles, even with just one meal a day, which really shouldn’t lead to weight gain. Now that we’ve identified the root cause, a solid detox through water fasting is making a big difference. Even though I do this most of the time already, I’ve found that the more I commit to it, the better I feel, the more weight I lose, the more I prevent from creeping back on. This is simply the path to true health; it has nothing to do with appearances. I love myself in any shape or form, amen, but I prioritize feeling good above all.

By clearing out your body, especially during the holidays, you create space to enjoy the season without fretting too much over extra pounds or the toxicity that’s in so much of our food these days. Give it a go and feel the difference!

You’ve got this!

Here’s the water that I’m using, drinking 4 of these day at 1 gallon each!

I have vitamin C for immunity boost.

When I’m finished, I’ll start with soft food like soup or yogurt for two days after, and then add one regular meal back to the weekly regimen. I’ll continue this weekly pattern for a month or more. For those trying, I suggest doing it once, every other month or at least every three months.

Good luck! This truly helps detoxify and stabilize your system.