Anyone have experience with longer fasting

  • Thread starter Thread starter claymcdermott
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
C

claymcdermott

Guest
longest fast I have ever done was three days a few years ago. Thinking about doing a week, because soon I will have some free time, and I will not have that kind of free time again for a long time.

Is there anything I should know? Health precaution wise, or anything else wise? Advice from those who have done it before would be helpful.
 
We’re all following different paths to holiness.Fasting can be a good thing, and I used to fast for about 36 hours. But we need to listen from within and discern the path God wants us to be on. I’m now practicing contemplative prayer, and I believe this is something God wants of me. More specifically, becoming proficient in denying worldly pleasures and to love Him with all my soul, heart, mind and with all my strength. But again, it comes down to discernment.
 
Right, I’m not assuming that everyone has to go on a weeklong fast, for many reasons I think this would be a good idea for me right now. And I am young, healthy, and sane.

Has anyone on CAF ever done it before and would be willing to talk about it.

Or anyone have any advice about safety
 
claymcdermott said:
Right, I’m not assuming that everyone has to go on a weeklong fast, for many reasons I think this would be a good idea for me right now. And I am young, healthy, and sane.

Has anyone on CAF ever done it before and would be willing to talk about it.

Or anyone have any advice about safety
Click to expand...
If you’re asking about safety, you should really be talking with a health-care professional.

And before taking on any extreme forms of penance, I would think it’s a good idea to also talk with your pastor, confessor, or spiritual director (if you have one). Since you mention that you are taking on this fast for spiritual reasons, it’s best to consult a trusted spiritual guide beforehand – help you keep focused on the your purpose, and avoid pride and other pitfalls.

Just my two cents…
 
claymcdermott said:
longest fast I have ever done was three days a few years ago. Thinking about doing a week, because soon I will have some free time, and I will not have that kind of free time again for a long time.

Is there anything I should know? Health precaution wise, or anything else wise? Advice from those who have done it before would be helpful.
Click to expand...
Since I became Orthodox I have had experience with what we call “fasting”, it is de rigueur for us for extended periods several times a year, and on Wednesday and Friday of each week, but it is really abstinence from certain foods rather than strict fasting, which is what I think you are talking about.
 
Medical fact. When you go without food for any length of time, your body goes into starvation mode and produces certain hormones that make you feel able to go on living. / You feel basically high and then some get eg visions…

Which are of course not true spiritual visions…

google fasting and medical effects…

Been there done that but not intentionally but due to illness.

You get “high”
 
Thanks Rosebud, I may supplement my diet just a little and take vitamins to avoid those.
 
Long fasts are potentially medically dangerous.

Worst case, you could pass out because of your blood sugar levels.

Vertigo.

Heart malfunctions.

If you are operating a motor vehicle or some electrical or mechanical equipment, it could be dangerous to yourself or others.

You must not do that unless you are under the supervision of a medical doctor.

Someone at work attempted that and I thought we were going to have to call the EMT’s.

Finally, I quietly insisted that they sip some water.

And to get some supervision from their clergy person.
 
claymcdermott said:
longest fast I have ever done was three days a few years ago. Thinking about doing a week, because soon I will have some free time, and I will not have that kind of free time again for a long time.

Is there anything I should know? Health precaution wise, or anything else wise? Advice from those who have done it before would be helpful.
Click to expand...
Before embarking on an extended fasting period you should consult with your doctor and then with your priest.
 
Have you considered a mixed fast? You can fast from food for a day or so , along with a behavior, and continue with fasting from the behavior for a week and end the last day with again fasting from food again.
There are many negative behaviors such a social media, tv, sleeping late, speaking negative words and so on… to include in a fast like this.
 
Thanks everybody, so, this would not be for a few months so, don’t worry about me being driven into the wilderness tomorrow. And I definitely plan on bringing two incredibly intelligent guys I really trust, Dr. A and Fr. C, into this.

And I will be on vacation, so, I wont have to worry about it affecting job performance or anything.

And I actually did intend to go totally rustic on this one, so, I will be fasting from a lot of behavior actually, which is a good call mommy k.

And alotta you seem real concerned, and I thank you for that, I get the gravity of this. If it allays your concern at all, alotta you guys may know I am hardly a self loathing Catholicguilt guy or a Jesus is in my toast guy or a visionquest guy. Most of the time on here I get accused of being too far in the other direction.

And a partial fast is something to consider, so thanks.
 
I follow the Ash Wednesday/Good Friday fast on Fridays. I also followed it for the whole of Holy Week. That strikes quite a good compromise I think, its basically limited food intake rather than complete fasting, and you can drink water without limits. So it will do you no harm and you will not feel overwhelmingly hungry, but there is some penance in only having a limited amount to eat. Try doing that for a week, it will accomplish the same goal but is not a health risk.
 
I have returned to abstaining from meat on Friday.

[The “alternate sacrifice” got too “nebulous”.]

But it is thinking about giving up meat.

It is ok to eat fish … not limited to peanut butter. Or cheese. Or vegetables.

It’s not a fast.

It’s not about the cost of the meal.
 
Yeah, I am feeling like the alternate sacrifice is a little too nebulous for me.

I may return to abstaining on Fridays as well…although I am leaning toward a particular alternative for me which would solve the nebulous problem.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top