How To Lose Weight On The Daniel Fast

The idea of the Daniel fast comes from a passage in the Biblical book of Daniel. The verses state that Daniel asked the guard to serve him only vegetables to eat and water to drink rather than the royal food and wine. He assured the guard that his appearance and health would be vibrant, and indeed at the end of the 10-day trial Daniel and his companions were just as healthy as those eating the standard fare. Susan Gregory authored a book based on this concept, and the purpose is not weight loss, but rather fasting for spiritual purposes. However, because the foods allowed on the diet are naturally low-calorie, those following the diet will inevitably lose weight.

Step 1

Pray, telling the Lord your plans and asking His guidance and help, recommends author Susan Gregory. Make a promise to yourself and to Him to see the fast through to completion. Gregory explains that this will make you more conscious of what you are committing to and therefore will make you more unlikely to back out.

Step 2

Plan the details of the fast, including the time frame and purpose. Make sure there is nothing occurring during the proposed time that would tempt you to stray from the diet. Consider special arrangements you might need to make to ensure success. Susan Gregory advises that you even imagine all parts of your day and how you will handle each meal. You should also decide what you want to accomplish spiritually and plan your Bible study and prayer time accordingly. A daily devotional guide is included as an appendix in the Daniel Fast book, and you may also sign up online to receive emails from Susan Gregory.

Step 3

Prepare your body for the diet by slowly weaning yourself from the food and drink that you will be abstaining from. Substances such as caffeine and sugar can cause unpleasant physical symptoms if withdrawn suddenly and completely. As you are preparing your body, create your shopping lists and menus. Consider cooking and freezing large quantities of some of the foods you will be eating to save time later.

Step 4

Follow the Daniel Fast guidelines for 21 days. The foods included in the fast must be all fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, legumes, quality oils, water, soy foods, herbs and seasonings. All other foods are restricted for this fast. Animal products, sweeteners, yeast, fried foods, processed foods, solid fats and non-water beverages are not permitted. The book includes many recipes, but a separate cookbook containing even more recipes has also been published.

Step 5

Meditate on what you have experienced at the end of the Daniel Fast. Some participants report feeling so much better on the diet that they wish to continue past the 21st day. Reintroduce foods slowly and monitor how you feel with each addition.

Tips and Warnings

While this is not a calorie-counting diet and most foods on the diet are very low in calories, gorging on those that are higher in calories and fat, such as nuts, will not result in good health or weight loss.
Check with your doctor before beginning any diet, and continue talking all prescribed medications unless your doctor gives permission to discontinue. Monitor your blood sugar levels throughout the diet.