Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fasting

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Anyone else suffer from M.E/ CFS and think because if it fasting is more difficult? I used to be able to fast for a whole day, eat a little bread and a drink and go until the next day.

These days since being diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue I seem to be struggling (not just experiencing discomfort from fasting). I probably should not be Fasting, but I wanted to do so and try to do things like a normal healthy person could, plus offer something up. I feel a little like I am just cooling out for pulling the “Health Card” ,when called to do something difficult like fasting, but I just have an extreme hunger and tiredness when I Fast and feel quite unwell as a result towards the evening.

I managed to do a fast on Ash wednesday and was trying to do another small fast today but just had to eat more than the required maximum for a small fast ( 2 full meals so far) I’m still tired (not tired exhausted like I’ve run a half marathon) and that is the result of recovering from 1 day black fast two days ago. Should I maybe just not fast from food on obligatory days? Anyone else experienced this or anything similar?
 
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It sounds like you are doing a much more stringent fast than the Church requires. Fasting – which is only required on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday – consists of eating one normal meal, plus as much as two additional meals that don’t add up to another full meal.

If you can’t fast due to your health, then you are not required to do so. You can still abstain from meat on those days (plus the other Fridays of Lent).
 
Have you consulted your physician or another competent specialist on this matter? It might be a good idea to do that, and stick to what they say.
 
Yes I’ve tried the small fast (one meal and two small etc) and failed at that today, as I did on 1 of the both days of obligation last year. I also just tried the black fast (nothing) on Ash Wednesday and struggled but managed to force myself to do it.

I tried to do either a black fast it a small fast today and failed at both. There is no guidance on what defines being sick and the illness is not very well understood even by the medical world.i was advised to eat enough and get nutrition for my energy levels though so I guess im better just eating if I really have to. I will try another black fast on Good Friday ,but I have planned to observe extra fasting throughout Lent which I don’t think is going to be a possibility for me. We’ll see.
 
Not really, I was told to make sure I eat correctly and nutritiously as part of treatment. I don’t think the concept of spiritual fasting or self imposed suffering or the importance of why I wish to do it would come across well to my Physician. The specialists I’ve seen would likely say not to.
 
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As noted, fasting is obligatory (for healthy persons of a certain age) only on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On Fridays we abstain from meat (from warm blooded animals).

Don’t put your health at risk. If you want, fast from TV or some other luxury in your life.
 
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If you think your specialists would tell you not to be so hard on yourself, you should probably not be so hard on yourself.
 
SPONP4US said:
I tried to do either a black fast it a small fast today and failed at both. There is no guidance on what defines being sick and the illness is not very well understood even by the medical world.i was advised to eat enough and get nutrition for my energy levels though so I guess im better just eating if I really have to. I will try another black fast on Good Friday ,but I have planned to observe extra fasting throughout Lent which I don’t think is going to be a possibility for me. We’ll see.
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The Church leaves it up to your judgment to decide if you are too ill to fast. You can decide with advice, if needed, from your doctor and/or priest.

If you can’t fast from food, there are always other things to fast from. Fast from TV, fast from gossip, fast from hopelessness.

Your heart is clearly in the right place. Now you have to find ways to put it into practice.
 
SPONP4US said:
Not really, I was told to make sure I eat correctly and nutritiously as part of treatment. I don’t think the concept of spiritual fasting or self imposed suffering or the importance of why I wish to do it would come across well to my Physician. The specialists I’ve seen would likely say not to.
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The reason they wouldn’t approve is because it is bad for your health. I am in the same boat. I have lupus. And I have been told that fasting from food, is not for me.

I feel, so it is just my opinion, that fasting after I have been told not to, could be considered sinful. For me. It goes against respecting the body that God gave me.

So, fast from other things. Social media, salt, soda, TV, or something like that.
 
I know but my Physician may not get why a Catholic would want to be so hard on oneself during Lent 🙂

However the common sense of what you are saying is most appreciated and understood. Thank you , God bless.
 
I never thought of it that way, but that is great insight for me. Thank you.
 
Yes that’s true indeed. I haven’t actually spoken about this with a Priest actually. If at all possible I will try to do so in some way during this season. Thanks and God Bless .
 
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