Bad at Fasting- any advice?

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KameronTraxler

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Hey all,

I have been trying to implement fasting into my spiritual life, as when I am able to procure a successful day of fasting and self denial my prayer life becomes extremely fruitful. I don’t want to do it to appear as though I am strong, but rather link myself to the sufferings of Christ, and as a way to offer up reparation to our Lord for the sins of our many lost brothers & sisters. I am always trying my best to pursue an act of self denial in order to draw myself closer to Christ, and one thing I have always struggled with is fasting- I am NOT that good at it. I am rather gluttonous, admittedly. So you could say that this is also another way of trying to kick a rather pernicious vice, whilst offering up my self denial to our blessed lord.

I’ve been avoiding meat on Fridays, and I have in general been trying to add small acts of self denial in certain things whether it be avoiding certain foods I like or choosing something to eat that I am not that find of. However, my problem lies in how I always tend to eat far more than what is necessary. I’m always catching myself saying “well, who else is going to eat the rest of this” and I can even end up taking food that others would have wanted.

So what would you personally reccomend to kick this habit, and what would be the best way to have a more refined approach to fasting and self denial?

Thank you in advance

P.s I do not know as much about ember days as I would like, due to growing up in a Novus Ordo setting- would anyone have any good tips on how I should go about observing them?
 
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KameronTraxler said:
I’ve been avoiding meat on Fridays, and I have in general been trying to add small acts of self denial in certain things whether it be avoiding certain foods I like or choosing something to eat that I am not that find of.
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Sounds like a good start. Do that for a while, then maybe incorporate more, but even that is fine.

You should be speaking with a spiritual director about this sort of thing, of course.

-Fr ACEGC
 
Focus on progress. Little by little.

For example, if your ultimate goal, after speaking with your doctor & spiritual director, is to Fast every Wednesdays & Fridays, initially you could cut out snacks between meals everyday and after that becomes a habit, then push out breakfast an hour until eventually you’re Fasting on those days.

Once you achieve your goal, to help avoid falling into Pride with thoughts like “I’ve Fasted every Wednesday & Friday for the last 3 months”, you might chose to Not Fast on your chosen days every so often, but your spiritual director will have better suggestions.

One step at a time. Progress, not perfection.
 
Start smaller. This isn’t about your strength of will, after all.

Instead of full-on fasting, try skipping meals on certain days, then lengthen time between meals, etc.

Remember that your body treats fasting as starvation, and is set up to keep you alive, not to take on extraneous hardship for spiritual reasons. So take time to train the body properly.

ICXC NIKA
 
Other posters have given you good advice, particularly Fr. @edward_george1. I would just add this: Try setting yourself time limits. Three meals a day, one hour max for each, and nothing in between. Coffee, okay, or fruit juice or any liquid, but no solid food at any time, ever, outside your three programmed meal times.
 
I can’t add much to what more knowledgeable people than me here have said. A thing that helps me is drinking a lot of water. Some people chew gum. I’m most hungry at night and find if I use mouthwash a few hours after dinner while I’m getting hungry it helps to curb my appetite. Then brushing my teeth an hour or so after that helps.
 
Does anyone know of good books on Catholic fasting and prayer?
I am wanting to learn more, however due to medication requirements I have a lot of conflict.
 
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I understand your problem. Actually fasting is almost a psychological issue for me as the days I try to fast become an eating frenzy for me as I find myself eating more those days ( I am weak).

So for now I am fasting from things that keep me away from prayer ( no Facebook on Weds or Fridays, less tv, no favorite snacks like candy or Chips, ice cream)
So I’m fasting from bad habits first, then frivolous foods. Think of those who have NOTHING to eat, then you’ll feel guilty for over-eating.

Hope this helps
 
Like NHeath above, when i fail at fasting i end up eating more than i usually would have.
You can fast on bread and water though. Replace your meals with a glass of water and 2 slices of bread. Maybe add a pinch of sugar/salt to the water to prevent headaches.
I get cold when fasting and can’t sleep on an empty stomach. I’m no fan of fasting.
 
Are there activities you can do where the time seems to fly by, you don’t know where it went? Sometimes physical works fits the bill here. i am gluttonous, and it seems to be programmed into me, I don’t know how.

My diet is dictated primarily by my many health issues. It is difficult to stick to a regimented diet, let alone fasting.

I find that drinking water (in reasonable amounts, none of us drinks enough, the doctors say – like 2.5 liters per day for an adult man) The fluid fills me up with smaller doses of food.

One doctor recommends not taking “seconds” at a meal for at least 20 minutes after the first reasonable portion, for, as he says, it takes 20 minutes for the brain to realize the body is not hungry.

I had acute pancreatitis and was hospitalized on three occasions of five days each. I was on three liters of salty IV’s per day, nothing by mouth (food) for those five days. Lost 17 pounds on at least one occasion, with no more activity than hanging around a hospital bed. You might call that a supervised fast, as an extreme example (with blood tests every day to make sure my electrolytes were OK).
 
Try smaller fasts. For example, try giving up coffee, soft drinks or tea. I’m currently fasting from energy drinks. I used to drink one every day. Since I started fasting, I have noticed that it’s easier for me to fall asleep. One of the other things the Lord has encouraged me to do is to fast from caffeine. That’s a tough one, but it is manageable as long as I have juice or milk.

Since you can’t seem to do a full blown fast, don’t give up food or drinks altogether. Like I said, do smaller fasts.
 
from Isaiah 58 (“true fasting”)

5Is this the manner of fasting I would choose,

a day to afflict oneself?

To bow one’s head like a reed,

and lie upon sackcloth and ashes?

Is this what you call a fast,

a day acceptable to the LORD?c

AUTHENTIC FASTING THAT LEADS TO BLESSING*​

6Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose:

releasing those bound unjustly,

untying the thongs of the yoke;

Setting free the oppressed,

breaking off every yoke?d

7Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry,

bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house;

Clothing the naked when you see them,

and not turning your back on your own flesh?e

8Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,

and your wound shall quickly be healed;

Your vindication shall go before you,

and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

9Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,

you shall cry for help, and he will say: “Here I am!”

If you remove the yoke from among you,

the accusing finger, and malicious speech;f

10If you lavish your food on the hungry

and satisfy the afflicted;

Then your light shall rise in the darkness,

and your gloom shall become like midday;

11Then the LORD will guide you always

and satisfy your thirst in parched places,

will give strength to your bones

And you shall be like a watered garden,

like a flowing spring whose waters never fail.g

12Your people shall rebuild the ancient ruins;

the foundations from ages past you shall raise up;

“Repairer of the breach,” they shall call you,

“Restorer of ruined dwellings.”
 
BlueMaxx said:
Does anyone know of good books on Catholic fasting and prayer?
I am wanting to learn more, however due to medication requirements I have a lot of conflict.
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You need to consult your doctor first. Fasting is very hard on the body. Your health may not permit you to fast from food.

You can fast from things other than food. One I do frequently is a fast from technology. Another highly beneficial one is a fast from radio and tv. Another great one is to fast from mindless scrolling on internet devices. With all the extra time you have, you can fill that time with prayer and praise to God. It is hugely spiritually beneficial.

Yesterday, I fasted from radio and TV as well as mindless scrolling. In all that extra time, I was able to pray the Hours and practice a little Benedictine “Ora Et Labora” as I had several physical tasks I needed to complete. It was a great day.

I have not read this book yet, but it is on my (exceedingly long) book list:


Here is a review: https://www.uscatholic.org/forum/culture/us-catholic-book-club-spirituality-fasting
 
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