For years, I have drunk a lot of wine and other alcoholic beverages. Lately, for about the last 6-8 months, the desire to have a drink has been diminishing, and I believe fasting has something to do with it. Also, my desire for sugary foods has wained slightly, but not near as much as my desire for alcohol.

Here is what happened when I began fasting. I found that I could fast for a very long period during the day, up to 23 hours at least. I believe doing this daily causes the stomach to shrink. In my case, when it is time to eat, I find myself overeating. Overeating after fasting has caused me some discomfort. For one, it has caused my issues with acid reflux, GERD, Hiatal hernia to worsen.

If you have suffered from acid reflux for as long as I have(1993), the typical feeling of heartburn disappears because of years of damage. Then the condition becomes somewhat more dangerous and damaging. Without the sense of heartburn, other damage can occur without any warning, which has been happening in my case.

So now, there is so much damage to my esophagus that I find myself choking and coughing. That is because of the hiatal hernia, which keeps the hiatal valve open. I think my stomach contents are spilling into my throat, and it’s like choking on food or drink when I’m not eating or drinking. I don’t know how serious this problem is, but it may require surgery.

At any rate, this is not a very comfortable feeling. Drinking alcohol makes it worse. So does sugar and sugary foods, but one addiction at a time. Since I actively avoid all surgery, I will endeavor to solve the problem naturally. Eliminating alcohol and cutting way back on sugary and starchy foods are a good start. The other thing I need to work toward is not overeating. Overeating is hard to overcome, especially after a lifetime of practice.

For health reasons, I am forced to change some habits.
I don’t think I am in any serious danger. However, I don’t want to neglect these issues or make things worse.