I took the handle of the metal tablespoon and punched a hole in the bottom of the coconut and slid a straw in. I then sat down at the table on the front porch of my bungalow. The stray cat sprawled out on the table sleepily looked up at me and refused to move out of the way.

I then slowly savored the sweet taste of the fresh coconut water, which was my breakfast. It was my last day in Thailand. I was on Day 16 of my fast. In twenty four hours, I would back in my home in cold Kyoto where I would break this fast by eating 5 small organic cherry tomatoes. The first solid food in 17 days.

As I sipped on my breakfast, I reviewed all that had changed in a short amount time. My belly was gone and I had lost about 30 pounds. The stress I had been carrying around had also lifted. I felt clear-minded and energetic, although my physical power had been tuned down a couple of notches. I had a clearer of image of what I wanted in life and how to get there. And I didn’t feel hungry at all.